Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/155

CAVALRY 147 its national weakness of getting out of hand. Since the peace of 1815, Napoleon's tactics, though still preserved in the regulations of most armies, have again made room for those of Frederick. Noticeable advancement in the proper organization and use of cavalry was made in the United States during the civil war, the men of both armies, as well as the horses of all sections, being admirably adapted to this branch of the military service. At first the confederate cavalry had the advantage both in organization and commanders, and yet took no very important part in the battles which were fought. A large number of cavalry regiments were organized by both armies, but being com- posed of men almost entirely ignorant of mili- tary life, they were at first used for scouts, or- derlies, and outpost service, and were attached to corps, and in some cases to divisions of in- fantry. Gen. Hooker, while in command of the army of the Potomac, collected the cavalry into a corps, and made an effort to use it in connec- tion with the infantry in battle, but met with no success worthy of record. In the west the practice and result were similar, but attention was drawn to the cavalry by the successful march of a small brigade of horse under Col. Grierson from the neighborhood of Memphis, through Mississippi, to Port Gibson. But the first successful organization of the cavalry was made under the direction of Gen. Grant, by Gen. Sheridan, who was placed in command of all the mounted troops serving with the army of the Potomac. This organization was known as the cavalry corps of the army of the Po- tomac, and consisted of three divisions each about 5,000 strong, or of two or three brigades of three or four regiments each. They were mostly armed with repeating carbines and sabres, and habitually fought on foot, though they showed a partiality for charging with the sabre when opportunity offered. Up to this period of the war (the spring of 1864) the im- provements in the organization and use of cav- alry kept even pace with each other in the con- tending armies ; but Gen. Grant having detach- ed Sheridan with his entire force after the bat- tle of Spottsylvania Court House, the latter met and defeated the confederate cavalry at Yellow Tavern, near Eichmond, killing their leader, Gen. Stewart, and ever after, till the termina- tion of the war, retained his superiority over his opponents, increased the efficiency of his own troops, and made them an important portion of the army, taking an essential part in all the campaigns and battles. The battle of the Opequan, near Winchester, in which Sheridan defeated Early, was begun and ended by the cavalry, Wilson's division having broken through the enemy's picket line and under cover of darkness secured the position upon which the battle was mainly fought, while Merritt's divi- sion, later in the day, turned the enemy's right, and, aided by the advance of the infantry, swept the confederate infantry from the field. The part taken by the cavalry in the final battles near Petersburg, and especially at Five Forks, and in the capture of the confederate army near Appomattox Court House, was no less con- spicuous and important. The western armies had with them a large number of mounted regiments, which were organized at various times into brigades and divisions, but hone of the com- manding generals seemed to appreciate their value, or to know how to use them effectively. Sherman made several efforts to concentrate the mounted regiments and to give them a coherent organization, but met with nothing but disap- pointment, till Gen. Grant sent Gen. Wilson to take the place of chief of cavalry. Sherman gave this officer a carte blanc'he, and put him in command of 73 regiments (each nominally 1,200 strong), comprising all the cavalry and mounted infantry of the armies of the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee. Gen. Wilson or- ganized these regiments, after mustering out and disbanding a number, into seven divisions, most- ly of two brigades each, forming a corps designa- ted as the cavalry corps of the military division of the Mississippi. At the time of its organiza- tion (on paper), in October, 1864, the troops con- stituting it were scattered from Gaylesville, Alabama, to the Big Blue river in Missouri, and were mostly dismounted. They had worn out their horses by hard usage, and the war de- partment had so little confidence in the utility of this arm of service, that it made but feeble efforts to furnish horses for a remount, so long as they were to be used as they had been here- tofore. The success of, Sheridan in the army of the Potomac, however, gave renewed confi- dence, and the war department made extra- ordinary efforts to secure horses. The secre- tary of war authorized the cavalry to seize and impress horses wherever they could be found. Meanwhile Sherman had marched toward the sea, and Hood had invaded Tennessee, and press- ed back the forces of Gen. Schofield to Frank- lin, where a stand was made, and a decided victory gained both by the infantry and caval- ry over the corresponding arms under Hood and Chalmers. During the 15 days of the siege of Nashville Wilson increased his effective mounted force, by the impressment of horses and the use of remounts forwarded from the north, from 5,000 to 15,000. At the battle of Nashville, on the 15th and 16th of December, he had 12,000 mounted cavalry and infantry, be- sides 3,000 dismounted men, and a detached force of 3,000 men operating in Kentucky. Du- ring the first day's operations he turned the left wing of Hood's army, capturing 16 guns and many prisoners, and on the second day contin- ued his operations upon the left wing and rear of the enemy, pressing them by repeated char- ges of his dismounted horsemen under Hatch, Coon, and Hammond, till Hood sent word to Chalmers, " For God's sake drive the Yankee cavalry from our left and rear, or all is lost." But Chalmers failed, and by nightfall the con- federate army was broken, scattered, and in full retreat. The cavalry pursued with vigor,