Wednesday, November 11, 2009

From the Shelves of the Paco Library


The American Civil War represented the twilight of the cavalry service in the United States, and though frequently romanticized, this branch of the army did indeed have some glorious achievements. Covering the Southern side of the war, William R. Brooksher and David K. Snider collaborated in writing Glory at a Gallop: Tales of the Confederate Cavalry, a colorful review of some of the more notable exploits of the mounted men in gray.

The book begins with an account of J.E.B. Stuart’s amazing ride around General George B. McClellan’s 100,000-strong Army of the Potomac in the late spring of 1862. McClellan – much beloved by his men, but fatally cautious – had been closing in on Richmond and was preparing to deliver a decisive blow against the capital of the Confederacy. The new commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee, had a few ideas of his own, however, and planned an attack against McClellan. His strategy involved marching up the Shenandoah Valley and combining his forces with Stonewall Jackson’s army, then launching a surprise attack on McClellan’s right and rolling it up. To accomplish this daring maneuver, he needed reliable intelligence about the strength of McClellan’s right wing. Enter J.E.B. Stuart, who not only reconnoitered McClellan’s right, but swept around his entire army, capturing Union soldiers and supplies, burning wagon trains, and generally creating confusion and panic in the Army of the Potomac. Lee, assured that McClellan’s right was “in the air”, carried out his attack and won a smashing victory at Cold Harbor.

Inspired by Stuart’s ride, another Confederate officer champed at the bit to accomplish a similar feat in Kentucky
The significance of Jeb Stuart’s ride around the army of the Potomac was not lost on other Confederate cavalry leaders eager to add to their laurels. None was more eager than the transplanted Alabamian who commanded a portion of Maj. Gen. E. Kirby Smith’s cavalry guarding the Cumberland Gap, Col. John Hunt Morgan. In many ways, Morgan was cut from the same cloth as his Virginia counterpart. Like Stuart, this six-footer was a flashy dresser and always superbly mounted, studiously presenting the air and manner of a gentleman…Morgan was such a staunch advocate of developing a plan for invading Kentucky that he stubbornly and aggressively pushed for it at every opportunity…Pointing out that Stuart had just impudently ridden around Maj. Gen. Gerorge B. McClellan’s entire army, he sarcastically noted that “…it was a slur on the Blue grass, the finest horse country in the world, to leave great riding to Virginia!”
Finally given permission to conduct an extensive raid, Morgan assembled his force, consisting of his own Second Kentucky Cavalry, and a grab-bag of volunteers from Texas and Georgia units, totaling 867 men. Over the next 24 days, Morgan’s men raided in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. By the end of their campaign, they had “ridden over one thousand miles, captured seventeen towns, and destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Union supplies and arms. Over fifteen hundred Home Guards had been scattered, twelve hundred Regulars captured and paroled, and three hundred recruits added to Rebel roles.” And along the way, Morgan periodically tapped into telegraph lines to send flippant messages to General Jeremiah Boyle, the hapless commander of Union forces in Kentucky, among which is this farewell: “Good morning, Jerry! This telegraph is a great institution. You should destroy it, as it keeps me too well posted. My friend Elsworth has all your dispatches since July 10 on file. Do you wish copies?”

Also included here are accounts of Mosby’s capture of a Union general, Bedford Forrest’s brilliant victory at Brice’s Crossroads, and Wade Hampton’s cattle-rustling mission (which was the basis for a movie, Alvarez Kelly, starring William Holden and Richard Widmark). Glory at a Gallop is a fine historical page-turner, enjoyable as well as instructive.

5 comments:

kc said...

Ordering this book for My Chief for Christmas. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I love American history, Paco, especially ACW history.
Americans are awesome the way this struggle, over a century ago now, is continually relived and refought in a friendly sort of way.

Thank you for your "From the Shelves of the Paco Library", articles.

My favorite anecdote of the American Civil War is about the legendary Nathan Bedford Forrest at the Battle of Shilo:

"A month later, Forrest was back in action at the Battle of Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862). Once again, he found himself in command of the Confederate rear guard after a lost battle, and again he distinguished himself. Late in the battle he charged the Union skirmish line, driving through it. Finding himself in the midst of the enemy without any of his own troops around him, he first emptied his pistols and then pulled his saber. A union infantryman on the ground beside him fired a rifle at Forrest, hitting him in the side, and lifting him out of his saddle. The ball went through his pelvis and lodged near his spine. Steadying himself and his mount, with one arm he lifted the Union soldier by the shirt collar, and used him as a human shield to avoid more gunfire before casting him aside. Forrest is acknowledged to have been the last man wounded at the Battle of Shiloh.".

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest_-_Military_career/id/1791082

Mike_W

SwampWoman said...

A couple of SwampMan's forbears were lost at Cold Harbor.

Paco said...

Mike: That is one of my favorite stories from the Civil War, too. That scene is featured in Shelby Foote's novel (actually, thinly fictionalized history), Shiloh, which I highly recommend.

Anonymous said...

Shelby Foote: American legend.

"Shiloh is a wonderfully dramatic battle. The leader of one side is killed, and the other one is going on to glory, and it was the first great battle. It lasted two days."


"I think making mistakes and discovering them for yourself is of great value, but to have someone else to point out your mistakes is a shortcut of the process."

"I'm crazy about Grant: his character, his nature, his science in fighting and everything else. But I don't like the idea that he never accepted the blame for anything, always found someone else to blame for any mistake that was ever made, including blaming Prentiss for Shiloh."

"Longevity conquers scandal every time."

"Of all the passions of mankind, the love of novelty most rules the mind. In search of this, from realm to realm we roam. Our fleets come loaded with every folly home."

"When you grow up in a totally segregated society, where everybody around you believes that segregation is proper, you have a hard time. You can't believe how much it's a part of your thinking."

Mike_W