466 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period v. 



s 



In the Ame^ Civil War the cavalry performed 



great services . these services were performed in 



their capaci^ xiounted riflemen. The Southerners 



originated Jiployment of cavalry in this way, and 



were very K^^iccessful until the Federals had learned 

 their system, and in time, with their superior resources 

 and overpowering numbers, beat the Confederates with 

 their own weapons. We have detailed the operations of 

 the Southern cavalry first, and will now proceed to show 

 the great results gained by the same type of horsemen 

 in the Northern armies in the closing years of the war. 



In the spring of 1863, it was at once seen that the 

 United States authorities had become fully impressed 

 with the value of the new style of cavalry, and aware 

 of the importance of having a large force to be employed 

 in raids and excursions into the enemy's lines. During 

 the previous winter, immense efibrts had been made to 

 organise large bodies of mounted riflemen, well equipped 

 and well armed, and trained to fight on the new system. 



The first great successful raid on the part of the 

 Federals was that through Mississippi in 1863 com- 

 manded by General Grierson. He set out from La Grange, 

 Tennessee, on the 1 7th April, with a brigade of cavalry 

 some 2,000 strong, and went through the heart of the State 

 of Mississippi, ransacking the whole country, destroying 

 supplies, cutting railways and telegraph lines, and burning 

 bridges, stores, &c. He passed through Pontotoc and De- 

 catur, and reached the Southern Railroad at Newton on the 

 24th April.' Having destroyed some cars, engines, and 

 bridges, he moved on to Georgetown, where he crossed 

 the Pearl river, and moving over to the New Orleans 

 and Jackson railroad, cut it at Hazelhurst, destroying 

 stores and trains, and then moved down the railway to 

 Brookhaven, where he burned the railway depot at that 

 point and the cars found in it.^ He arrived at Baton 

 Rouge on the 2nd May, having travelled over 300 miles 

 through the heart of the enemy's country, inflicting serious 

 blows upon his communications, and without sufiering 



^ Johnston's Narrative, 168, ^ PoUard's Second Year of the War, 

 268. 





