History of the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac

A history of the great age of United States cavalry

Author Charles D. Rhodes has written a superbly concise and incisive book on the formation and activities of the Union Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. It naturally chronicles all the engagements in which union cavalry was involved, including Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and many more, to the defeat of the Confederacy. The accounts are written in a spare and thorough style which ensures the reader is able to gain a highly informed overview of the subject. This makes this book an important and essential reference work for anyone interested in the campaigns and manoeuvrings of the horse soldiers during the great American Civil War.

General Farnsworth reached his position to the left and front of the “Round Tops” about 1 o’clock p. m. and became engaged with his skirmishers, the Confederate division immediately opposed to him being Hood’s division under General Law. About this time (1 o’clock) began the grand cannonade from one hundred and twenty-five pieces of artillery, which was to precede the assault of the Confederate infantry column. The arrival of Farnsworth’s brigade had the effect of constantly threatening Law’s right, and greatly embarrassed that general’s movements.<br>
Meanwhile, the Reserve Brigade under Merritt, having marched from Emmittsburg, did not reach its position on Farnsworth’s left until about 3 o’clock. Then, advancing along the Gettysburg road, Merritt s dismounted skirmishers caused Law to detach a large force from his main line in order to protect his flank and rear. This so weakened the Confederate line in Farnsworth’s front that Kilpatrick ordered Farnsworth to charge the centre of Law’s line. The ground was most unfavourable for a charge, being broken, uneven, and covered with stone. It was, moreover, intersected by fences and stone walls, some of the latter being so high as to preclude the possibility of passing them without dismounting and throwing them down. Posted behind these fences and walls were veteran infantry. <br>
After making a dignified protest against what he considered a most reckless sacrifice of life, Farnsworth placed himself at the head of his brigade, and rode, as became a brave soldier and gallant cavalryman, boldly to his death.3 When his body was afterwards recovered, it was found to have received five mortal wounds.<br>
The charge was most desperate. The First West Virginia and Eighteenth Pennsylvania moved through the woods first, closely followed by the First Vermont and Fifth New York, and drove the enemy before them until the heavy stone walls and fences were reached. Here the formation was broken; but two regiments cleared the obstacles, charged a second line of infantry, and were again stopped by another stone wall, covering a third line of infantry. One of the supporting cavalry regiments, after passing the first wall, encountered a large body of the enemy which had been sent from the enemy’s left to cut off the retreat of the first charging column. The contest became hand-to-hand, and the cavalry used their sabres to such advantage as to disable a great many of their opponents and cause others to surrender. Being exposed to the enemy’s artillery and sharpshooters, this regiment was at length obliged to fall back. If even a portion of the Federal infantry posted on Kilpatrick’s right had advanced on Law’s attenuated line at the time Farnsworth’s men had gained the enemy’s rear, the Confederate division must have given way. But no cooperation took place. As it was, one of the regiments in the first charging line the First West Virginia after passing the two stone fences already referred to, was entirely surrounded, but succeeded in cutting its way back with a loss of but five killed and four wounded, bringing with it a number of prisoners.<br>