Buford Protege

Having done my thesis on the Union Cavalry during the early portion of the War Between the States (through the McClellan period). I believe perhaps some light on period cavalry tactics might help. I do have a copy of Brackett's work on my bookshelf, along with many other cavalry references. Cavalry in the United States was always deemed as "light cavalry." Never intended for the heavy shock methods of the French Cuirass. The 1st and 2nd Dragonns were (better known as the 1st and 2nd Cavalry to Civil War battle fields) were equipped to move rapidly and dismount in order to fight in thick (forested terrain). As was the Regiment of Mounted Rifles (3rd Cavalry). They were, however, also armed with heavy sabers to be used if needed. When the War broke out the regular cavalry units were scattered so much that out of 6 regiments only 7 companies were available at 1st Bull Run. They were nominally armed with the traditional carbine/revolver/saber that was the typical load out at the time. Many subsequent volunteer units had trouble finding enough weaponry and quite often only had 1 company armed with carbines per battalion due to shortages early in the conflict. Until production caught up to demand. The straightforward shock charge was already known to be a thing of the past and was taught as such at West Point. A rifle armed adversary could decimate a frontal cavalry charge. As they did to poor Farnsworth at Gettysburg or to the 6th Regulars at Malbern Hill. Instead the officers were being trained to use terrain and fight dismounted while keeping a portion mounted for quick strikes. In effect a regiment might keep 1 battalion mounted in action while 2 dismounted. The best examples of modern cavalry warfare and what it would become in the Civil War are shown by Buford, Gregg, Sheridan, Stuart, Wilson, Forrest, Wheeler, and others. Move rapidly. Delay and possibly hold the enemy until the main army arrives. Scout the enemy and ascertain their movements whenever possible. And dream of finding that big wagon train. If we want the game to go historical, we should have a weaponry option of the trifecta of carbine/revolver/saber. Yet perhaps make it more expensive. While keeping the other sub ideas less expensive so you can build up to it as they did in the War itself. Increase the power of a charge at the flanks or rear while keeping the frontal charge suicidal. Woods are best to fight in dismounted for cavalry as the tactics said to do. The only thing I would really like to see is improved rate of Fire and power in the carbines to make them more realistic. The Spencer should be a savant, yet it is woefully unrealistic as is the ability of the late Sharps mode.

The problem with that is it was generally the most senior officer left in the unit would be required to take command. That said, it was not always a streamlined situation. Information in the midst of a battle was not always the easiest to send along. Also, it is not guaranteed that the officer who would take over is remotely as good as the one he replaces. Perhaps if it is a multi-day battle the command hit could be lessened as the unit would figure things out to fill the void. There were many times on both sides that sub-par next in line officers would be sent to other commands or jobs. For instance a commander may decide his next best commander wasn't the next in line. So he would send that officer to serve on Courts Martials or other background tasks instead of frontline command which could make for bigger hits to the next in line. You can see battles later in the war where a brigade would drop all the way to a Major in command until the end of the day before the division/corps command would rectify the issue overnight and send a higher ranked officer. So maybe a medium hit for a commander lost and regain half of that loss on the next day of the fight?

Well Mr. Mercanto, As a Minnesotan who did a good amount of research on all 11 Minnesota Infantry regiments. I can add a bit to your estimation of "the old thunderbolt" the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Governor Ramsey was in Washington D.C. when news reached the city that Fort Sumter had been fired upon. He went to the White House and offered President Lincoln 1,000 men to help put down the rebellion. Lincoln then told Cameron to muster them in first. The youngest state thus became the first to tender Volunteer troops to serve. They were mustered in with 3-year enlistments. They served first at 1st Bull Run in William B. Franklin's 1st Brigade of Samuel Heintzelman's 3rd Division. They the highest percentage of casualties of any Northern Regiment in the battle as they were placed in an exposed position to cover artillery. In McClellan's reorganization of the army they became part of the 2nd Corps (eventually the "Damned Cloverleafs") They served through McClellan's drive on Richmond under Edwin Sumner's command. Missed 2nd Bull Run due to Sumner's corps being one of the last to leave the Peninsula, yet arrived in time to aid in covering the retreat. Served with distinction at Antietam while the 2nd Corps assaulted the Sunken Lane. They were on the right of the 2nd Corps and was, with the rest of the brigade caught in enfilade fire in a counterattack by Hood from the Dunker Church area. They held long enough to allow the Sunken Road to be overwhelmed. They suffered immensely to hold together that long. At Fredericksburg their brigade commander was cashiered for not fully committing his brigade in the assault on Mayre's Heights which saved the command from the extreme casualties of Hancock and French's divisions. At Chancellorsville they were among the rest of Couch's 2nd Corps in advancing rapidly up the Confederate rear only to be recalled and join in the defense around the mansion. There they aided in holding back Anderson and McLaws' diversionary attacks and like the rest of the 2nd Corps did not break. Mr. Mercanto gave a nice description of their work at Gettysburg. (There is a cool story of their captured battle flags from the fight here and at Deep Bottom). The final tally from their suicidal attack was 82% casualties. Most sources say that after the entire battle of Gettysburg they left with less than 100 effectives. They then served until the end of the year. Taking part in the Bristoe Campaign (helped inflict devastation on Heth's division in a matter of minutes) and the aborted Mine Run maneuvers. Then with their enlistments expiring enough of the regiment re-enlisted to form the 1st Battalion 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. As such the survivors served until the close of the war, in their old position in the 2nd Corps. A much longer commitment than many regiments who served for the North. Anything I miss Mr. Mercanto? Also I recommend reading on the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, they served George Thomas and William T. Sherman rather admirably for the entire conflict.