One of the most enjoyable ways to reflect on the War Between the States is to place oneself in the role of the cavalry recruit. Whether or not you know much about riding, there remains a great deal to learn if you hope to survive the crucible of battle. The material below, taken from an official cavalry training manual, constitutes one aspect of the education of Union cavalry troops. Doubtless the Confederate equivalent was similar.

Cavalrymen needed to learn how to fight on foot as well as horseback. Particularly during the early days of the war, the Union treated much of its cavalry wing simply as mounted infantry.

The pages reproduced here come from the conclusion of the manual, and represent the "School of the Squadron, Mounted." Some of the information seems self-evident ("in the charge, as in every other direct march, it is important to keep the horses straight") but when educating new recruits, little can be taken for granted!

The final note in the section is sobering. Dashing the gallant notion of the cavalryman as a noble warrior pursuing glory, the comment suggests the grimmer face of war: "generally the skirmishers should charge with the revolver; they have the sabre for the last resort."

Cavalry Tactics Authorized by the Secretary of War

"The object... is to instruct the platoon to execute together what they have been taught separately..."
"At this command the troopers count off in the four platoons at once, commencing on the right..."
"If the Captain omit the command, HALT, the column moves forward..."
"The object of this march in column being to calm the horses..."
"At the command, MARCH, the first four files continue to march straight forward..."
"The same principle applies to the formation of line faced to the rear..."
"The Captain and chiefs of platoons remain mounted in order to superintend the movement..."
"The unevenness of the ground may make it sometimes impossible to preserve the direction of the guides..."
"The Captain observes that the platoons halt, step off, and change the gait at the same instant..."
"This is executed throughout the squadron, as prescribed for the platoon, No. 225..."
"The foregoing movements are employed in passing defiles..."
"The guide... should take rather too much ground than not enough..."
"The other platoons continue to march forward without approaching the line..."
"The squadron being halted, or in motion, in open column... the Captain forms, right--front into line..."
"The chief of the 1st platoon repeats the command, MARCH..."
"When the troopers keep their horses' heads, and their own, square to the front, the alignment... will be easily preserved..."
"This exercise becomes more important when the number of privates in a squadron may be so reduced..."
"In every kind of wheel, the marching flank of a squadron should measure with accuracy its arc of circle..."
"The troopers placed between this file and pivot diminish proportionally their gait..."
"To cause the squadron to resume the primitive direction, the Captain commands: Platoons left half-wheel..."
"The first platoon marches on, its chief giving no words of command..."
"The squadron marching in line and encountering an obstacle impassable by either of the platoons... will oblique..."
"The squadron being in line, the Captain orders the sabres to be drawn..."
"The platoon then disperses and charges as foragers..."
"To give the troopers the habit of rallying promptly... the Captain causes the rally to be sounded..."
"When the entire squadron is to act as skirmishers, the Captain orders sabres to be drawn..."
"A column... passing a defile, if suddenly attacked or threatened... would instantly dismount..."
Illustration of a cavalry trooper learning to handle the reins...

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