Civil War Cavalry Equipment

Civil War Cavalry Equipment. . , 1) 1840 Heavy Cavalry Saber , 2) Trooper’s forage bags – included coffee, sugar, hardtack, and mess gear , 3) Blanket roll – change of clothes, wrapped around a wool blanket and covered with a rubber blanket , 4) Canteen , 5) 1859 McClellan saddle, designed by the general with the comfort of the horse in mind , 6) Uniform comprised of 1859 Forage cap, sack coat, cotton shirt, reinforced trousers, cotton underwear, braces (suspenders) , Not pictured: 1860 Colt Army revolver, primer and cartridge box (40 rounds of ammunition), horse rations (corn, oats), horse care items (brush, comb, pick), housewife kit (sewing kit with buttons, fabrics, needle), rifle/carbine (unit dependent) , Here at Goose Creek Bridge, Confederate mounted cavalry barely got to this spot before Union Cavalry and their horse artillery got into position on the far side. Elements of the 1st South Carolina Cavalry, the last Confederates across, were hit by artillery on the bridge; nine went down from a single shot., The first Union forces trying to cross in pursuit were likewise mounted troopers – from the 6th Ohio Cavalry. Like their Confederate counterparts, they were in perfect range of horse artillery, that of Hart’s and Mooreman’s Batteries of J.E.B. Stuart’s Horse Artillery positioned on the high ground you can see above the parking lot. Well-ensconced Confederate sharpshooters from Wade Hampton’s brigade were positioned just below them. The Ohioans were turned back., Because horses and cavalry equipment were tremendously expensive and hard to replace, much of the fighting around here was done by horse artillery, dismounted cavalry sharpshooters, and infantry. The Union forces ultimately pushing across Goose Creek Bridge were from the 4th New York Cavalry, assisted by the 16th Michigan Infantry. It could not have been done without the simultaneous help of three additional infantry regiments, splashing on foot across the flooded creek under heavy fire. The 44th New York, 83rd Pennsylvania, and 20th Maine would become famous eleven days later at Gettysburg’s Little Round Top., In the cavalry battles of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, both sides made considerable progress learning how to employ horse artillery, mounted cavalry, dismounted cavalry, and infantry together for maximum advantage., More than 1.500,000 horses and mules were killed in the Civil War. , Pictured: Eve and Union cavalry reenactor Mark Dudrow. , Eagle Scout Project Troop 1158 , William Withworth , September 2022