The First Vermont Cavalry in the Civil War

The First Vermont Cavalry participated in 75 major Civil War engagements from 1862 through 1865. As the state’s only mounted regiment, riding Vermont–bred Morgan horses, the Cavalry unit battled some of the most notable Confederate cavalry commanders, mostly in Virginia. This history explores in detail the battles and leaders of the unit, including generals George Custer and Philip Sheridan.

After forty-seven years in public education as a teacher and administrator, Joseph D. Collea, Jr., is now retired and lives in Scotia, New York.

Joseph D. Collea, Jr.

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 343
Bibliographic Info: 44 photos, 22 maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3383-4
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5719-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
List of Maps      xi
Preface      1

1 Recruitment: The Birth of a Regiment      3
2 Training Days: You’re in the Army Now, Boys!      10
3 Departure: Look Out, Johnny Reb—Here Comes the 1st Cavalry!      15
4 Annapolis: The Molding of a Regiment      21
5 Moving Up: Don’t Let the War End Without Us!      26
6 Mt. Jackson: A Reputation Is Born      35
7 Banks’ Advance: The Valley Will Be Ours      46
8 About Face, March to the Rear: Banks’ Retreat Begins      53
9 Banks’ Retreat: See How They Run      60
10 The Williamsport Crossing: To the Safety of the Far Shore      70
11 The Aftermath: Putting the Pieces Back Together      79
12 More Hard Riding Under Pope: But with the Same Results      87
13 Rebuilding the Regiment: The Winter at Fort Scott      92
14 Ashby’s Gap: A Blaze of Glory to End the Year      100
15 Picketing and Patrolling: Someone Has to Do It      111
16 Aldie Mill: Mr. Mosby Up Close and Personal      117
17 Herndon Station: Outfoxed by Mosby Again      125
18 Miskel’s Farm: Disaster Along Broad Run      134
19 Greenwich: Last Chance to Even the Score with Mosby      147
20 Marching North: A Rendezvous with Destiny Awaits      155
21 Gettysburg: The Ride to Glory      165
22 Lee’s Retreat: Head Them Off at the Potomac!      185
23 Back in Virginia: Summer of Recovery, Fall of Action      195
24 The Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid: Ride to Disaster      211
25 Richmond Under Attack: The Summer Raids Begin      224
26 The Wilson-Kautz Raid: Taking the War to the Enemy      233
27 Back to the Shenandoah: The 1st Vermont’s Shining Hour      251
28 One Last Winter: The War Begins to Wind Down      269
29 The Road to Appomattox: Sheathing the Swords, Furling the Flags      276

Epilogue      288
Appendices:
A Muster Roll of the First Vermont Cavalry      289
B Engagements of the 1st Vermont Cavalry      296
C Assignments of the 1st Vermont Cavalry      297
D Medal of Honor Recipients in the 1st Vermont Cavalry      298
E “Farnsworth’s Charge” Revisited: The Second Battle of Gettysburg      301
F Garryowen      304
Chapter Notes      307
Bibliography      319
Index      325

• “a well-told story about a gallant regiment…a pleasure to read”—Civil War News
• “impressively researched…a good regimental history”—North & South