Combat Confederate Cavalryman vs Union Cavalryman 1861-65

The Union army began the American Civil War deficient in its cavalry arm. In contrast, the Confederacy almost immediately fielded a cavalry whose troopers were better riders and better prepared for combat. That situation would change over time. Experienced author Ron Field provides a highly readable narrative in this Osprey Combat Series book. The author has narrowed his focus to the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. Following a introduction to the respective sides and their tactics and equipment, the narrative covers three separate cavalry combats in detail: Lewis Ford in 1862, Buckland Mills in 1863, and Tom's Brook in 1864. The respective analyses include illustrations, maps, and battle diagrams which outline the context and describe the outcome of each fight. This book is a good introduction to the topic. The discussion of equipment and tactics is surprisingly detailed given the short length of the book. The three battles chosen for analysis are less well known than the more obvious examples of cavalry combat at Brandy Station and Yellow Tavern, but the author uses them well to illustrate his points. Recommended to the general reader and to the student of the Civil War.