During the first half of the American Civil War, Confederate cavalry was, indeed, superior to Union cavalry due to superior training and experience on the part of Southern officers and troopers. As the war progressed, Union quality increased dramatically, while attrition among Confederate cavalry led to a sharp decrease in its fighting effectiveness.
the union. about 350,000 on the union side about 250,000 on the confederate side
The goal of Confederate attacking troops (the divisions of Generals George Pickett, James Pettigrew and Isaac Trimble ) was that to break through the center of the Union line on the Cemetery Ridge.
Southerners were closer to the horse-riding way of life. Also the Confederate spirit can be traced back to the Cavalier traditions of the English Civil War. So for the first half of the American Civil War, the Confederate cavalry, with its colourful heroes like Jeb Stuart and Jubal Early, was way ahead of any Union equivalent. The first major Union cavalry operation was an astonishingly successful raid across Mississippi in the spring of 1863 - more so because it was led by a totally inexperienced non-regular soldier (Grierson) who was a music-teacher with a lifelong dread of horses. This raid fully achieved its objective, which was to distract and confuse the commander of the Vicksburg garrison, while Grant got his army across the Mississippi undetected. It continued all the way down to Louisiana, with almost nil casualties. The raid was the subject of a film 'The Horse Soldiers', starring John Wayne. After this, Union cavalry began to gain credibility, one particularly effective leader being Phil Sheridan, who made up for his lack of height by expert horsemanship.
The North had far more railroads, which gave them a big advantage in the transporting of men and material. Also a bigger navy throughout, including gunboats for navigating the rivers. The South had more horses and more of a cavalry tradition.
General Joseph Hooker's addition of cavalry to the Union Army during the Civil War significantly enhanced the army's reconnaissance capabilities and mobility. This allowed for better intelligence on enemy movements and more effective flanking maneuvers in battles. The increased cavalry presence also helped secure supply lines and protect against Confederate raids, contributing to more dynamic and flexible military operations. Overall, it marked a shift towards more modern warfare strategies that utilized cavalry effectively.
General Joseph Hooker's addition of cavalry to the Union Army during the American Civil War significantly enhanced its mobility and reconnaissance capabilities. By integrating more cavalry units, Hooker was able to gather intelligence on Confederate movements, secure supply lines, and conduct effective flanking maneuvers. This strategic use of cavalry played a crucial role in the Battle of Chancellorsville, allowing Union forces to better respond to enemy actions and ultimately influencing the broader campaign in the war.
The Confederate States lost the war. They were not more successful.
union , both used it mostly union
At the outbreak of the war, most of the best cavalry officers joined the Confederates. Southern boys were more accustomed to the riding and shooting life, and not surprisingly, the Confederate cavalry ran rings round the Union in the first half of the war. There was a dramatic moment in May 1863 when the North suddenly pulled-off the most successful cavalry operation of all - a raid right down through the state of Mississippi that enabled Grant to cross the river unobserved by the garrison commander at Vicksburg. This not only helped to liberate the Mississippi and end the war in the West, but it was a triumph of good cavalry tactics in itself. The fact that it was led not by a West Point cavalryman but by a music teacher who was frightened of horses did not diminish the impact it made. After that, Union cavalry began to show equal calibre, though the legendary cavalry leaders of the war are still the Confederate ones.
It is not known precisely who shot first at the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is likely, however, that it was Union cavalry troopers which were responsible. On July 1, 1863, as Confederate troops approached the town of Gettysburg, cavalry troopers observed their approach, quickly decided to put up a defense, and then set to laying down effective fire that held off the superior numbers of Confederates until reinforced hours later.
The Union States
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