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My favorite pass time is reading diaries or reminiscences written by cavalrymen. Why? In addition to being a good read original, first-hand accounts and reminiscences such as these are very valuable in the study of movements, engagements and organizations such as companies, regiments, batteries and even armies. Possibly of more importance, these written records offer a great wealth of knowledge to us as reenactors and historians as to what the individual soldier of these mounted units wore, their arms & equipment (and how they used them), what they ate, how they traveled, endured weather, interacted, fought, lived and died. They also make for reading that is thrilling, adventurous, sometimes unbelievable, often sad, but always interesting.
So, in an effort to share “a great read” WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES AND WHY? Please limit yourself to first person diaries and reminiscences ONLY (no regimentals or campaign studies). Here are mine (I have tried to limit myself to just one but that is difficult): Ken R Knopp
CONFEDERATE:
Eastern (ANV):
1. Blackford, William W. War Years with JEB Stuart. New York: Scribner & Sons, 1945; Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1993. Memoir by an important staff officer serving JEB Stuart. A classic! No doubt, one of the finest ever written of the Confederate mounted arm and Stuart’’s cavalry in particular.
2. Henderson, Prioleau E., Autobiography of Arab., Camden SC, J.J. Fox Publishers, 1991. Henderson was a member of the pre-war Beaufort District Troop and entered service with the Hampton Legion. Later it was attached to the 2nd SC. Henderson was one of the Iron Scouts” for Stuart and Hampton passing through many narrow and daring escapes in Virginia and later the Carolinas. Interestingly, Henderson uses his horse “Arab” as the narrator of his service which allowed him to be more candid than perhaps otherwise. The fact that both Arab and his master served throughout and survived the war is remarkable. Well written, humorous, thrilling reading. One of the best reminiscences ever written about Confederate cavalry.
Western:
1. Hancock, R.R., Hancock’’s Diary, or, The History of the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry with Sketches of the 1st and 7th Battalions., 1887, Reprinted by Morningside Press 1999. Wonderful account of the hard fighting with Barteau’’s battle scarred regiment under N.B. Forrest including Shiloh, Britton’’s Lane, Okolona, Harrisburg (Tupelo), Memphis, Brice’’s Cross Roads, Franklin, Nashville and Selma. One of the west’'s best cavalry narratives.
2. Montgomery, Frank A., Reminiscences of a Mississippian in Peace and War., Lieutenant-Colonel, First Mississippi Cavalry, Armstrong’’s Miss. Brigade; Member of Legislature, 1880, 1882, 1884, 1896 and one term Judge of Fourth Circuit Court District of Mississippi. Cincinnati, The Robert Clarke Company Press, 1901. Excellent narrative of Montgomery’’s exploits with the 1st Mississippi Cavalry. Serving under Gen’’ls Jackson, Armstrong, Wirt Adams, Chalmers and Forrest the First Mississippi fought through many of the west’’s campaigns in Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. Montgomery details much of his unit’’s hard service with fairness, intelligence, compassion and detail. His war time exploits take up most of the book but his post war experiences detailing politics and race relations during Reconstruction in Mississippi is particularly interesting. This has been reprinted recently.
PS: I also like James Dinkins, “By An Old Johnny”
Trans-Miss:
1. Merrick, Morgan Wolfe. From Desert to Bayou, The Civil War Journal and Sketches of Morgan Wolfe Merrick. San Antonio, Texas: Texas Western Press, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, The University of Texas at El Paso, 1991. Brief narrative includes rare and wonderfully detailed drawings and sketches of war time service in the Trans-Mississippi.
2. Anderson, John Q, Campaigning with Parson’’s Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., The War Journal and Letters of the Four Orr Brothers, 12 Texas Cavalry Regiment, Hill Junior College, Hillsboro, Texas, 1967. The four Orr Brothers enlisted as privates in the 12th Texas and all survived the war. Two brothers remained with the cavalry fighting in eastern and Southern Arkansas and in Louisiana including Pleasant Hill and Mansfield. The other two brothers also served west of the river with the 12th before being captured at Arkansas Post in 1863. Imprisoned at Camp Douglas upon returning they were assigned to the infantry east of the Mississippi River. With Gen’’l. Pat Cleburne’’s Division they fought at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Atlanta and Franklin. The Orr’’s differing personalities shine through their very intelligent, engaging and descriptive letters weaving an interesting narrative of their relationships, travels, hardships and battles most notably the campaigns around Atlanta and the horror of Franklin. An excellent read.
Mounted Artillery:
Morton, John Watson. Artillery of Nathan Bedford Forrest’’s Cavalry. Nashville: Publishing House of M.E. Church South, 1909; Paris TN: The Guild Bindery Press, 1988. Excellent account and a must-read classic for mounted artillery or Forrest buffs. Simply the best of its kind.
Neese, George M., Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery. New York & Washington DC, 1911, Preprinted by Morningside, Dayton Oh. 1988. Chew’’s Virginia Artillery Battery. Faithful diary of Neece’’s experiences fighting the war in the Shennendoah Valley and the Army of N. Virginia from 1862 until Neece was captured in the fall of 1864 and sent to Point Lookout MD. until the summer of 1865. Almost poetic, a well written classic for ANV horse artillery and cavalry purists.
FEDERAL: (Help us here guys...)
Eastern: (Sorry I need help here. Anyone??)
Western:
1. William F Scott, The story of a cavalry regiment. The career of the Fourth Iowa veteran volunteers from Kansas to Georgia, 1861-1865, G. P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y., 1893. Good narrative for the "other side" of many of Forrest's exploits.
Trans-Miss: (I need help here too....)
Artillery: (and here...)
So, in an effort to share “a great read” WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES AND WHY? Please limit yourself to first person diaries and reminiscences ONLY (no regimentals or campaign studies). Here are mine (I have tried to limit myself to just one but that is difficult): Ken R Knopp
CONFEDERATE:
Eastern (ANV):
1. Blackford, William W. War Years with JEB Stuart. New York: Scribner & Sons, 1945; Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1993. Memoir by an important staff officer serving JEB Stuart. A classic! No doubt, one of the finest ever written of the Confederate mounted arm and Stuart’’s cavalry in particular.
2. Henderson, Prioleau E., Autobiography of Arab., Camden SC, J.J. Fox Publishers, 1991. Henderson was a member of the pre-war Beaufort District Troop and entered service with the Hampton Legion. Later it was attached to the 2nd SC. Henderson was one of the Iron Scouts” for Stuart and Hampton passing through many narrow and daring escapes in Virginia and later the Carolinas. Interestingly, Henderson uses his horse “Arab” as the narrator of his service which allowed him to be more candid than perhaps otherwise. The fact that both Arab and his master served throughout and survived the war is remarkable. Well written, humorous, thrilling reading. One of the best reminiscences ever written about Confederate cavalry.
Western:
1. Hancock, R.R., Hancock’’s Diary, or, The History of the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry with Sketches of the 1st and 7th Battalions., 1887, Reprinted by Morningside Press 1999. Wonderful account of the hard fighting with Barteau’’s battle scarred regiment under N.B. Forrest including Shiloh, Britton’’s Lane, Okolona, Harrisburg (Tupelo), Memphis, Brice’’s Cross Roads, Franklin, Nashville and Selma. One of the west’'s best cavalry narratives.
2. Montgomery, Frank A., Reminiscences of a Mississippian in Peace and War., Lieutenant-Colonel, First Mississippi Cavalry, Armstrong’’s Miss. Brigade; Member of Legislature, 1880, 1882, 1884, 1896 and one term Judge of Fourth Circuit Court District of Mississippi. Cincinnati, The Robert Clarke Company Press, 1901. Excellent narrative of Montgomery’’s exploits with the 1st Mississippi Cavalry. Serving under Gen’’ls Jackson, Armstrong, Wirt Adams, Chalmers and Forrest the First Mississippi fought through many of the west’’s campaigns in Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. Montgomery details much of his unit’’s hard service with fairness, intelligence, compassion and detail. His war time exploits take up most of the book but his post war experiences detailing politics and race relations during Reconstruction in Mississippi is particularly interesting. This has been reprinted recently.
PS: I also like James Dinkins, “By An Old Johnny”
Trans-Miss:
1. Merrick, Morgan Wolfe. From Desert to Bayou, The Civil War Journal and Sketches of Morgan Wolfe Merrick. San Antonio, Texas: Texas Western Press, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, The University of Texas at El Paso, 1991. Brief narrative includes rare and wonderfully detailed drawings and sketches of war time service in the Trans-Mississippi.
2. Anderson, John Q, Campaigning with Parson’’s Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., The War Journal and Letters of the Four Orr Brothers, 12 Texas Cavalry Regiment, Hill Junior College, Hillsboro, Texas, 1967. The four Orr Brothers enlisted as privates in the 12th Texas and all survived the war. Two brothers remained with the cavalry fighting in eastern and Southern Arkansas and in Louisiana including Pleasant Hill and Mansfield. The other two brothers also served west of the river with the 12th before being captured at Arkansas Post in 1863. Imprisoned at Camp Douglas upon returning they were assigned to the infantry east of the Mississippi River. With Gen’’l. Pat Cleburne’’s Division they fought at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Atlanta and Franklin. The Orr’’s differing personalities shine through their very intelligent, engaging and descriptive letters weaving an interesting narrative of their relationships, travels, hardships and battles most notably the campaigns around Atlanta and the horror of Franklin. An excellent read.
Mounted Artillery:
Morton, John Watson. Artillery of Nathan Bedford Forrest’’s Cavalry. Nashville: Publishing House of M.E. Church South, 1909; Paris TN: The Guild Bindery Press, 1988. Excellent account and a must-read classic for mounted artillery or Forrest buffs. Simply the best of its kind.
Neese, George M., Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery. New York & Washington DC, 1911, Preprinted by Morningside, Dayton Oh. 1988. Chew’’s Virginia Artillery Battery. Faithful diary of Neece’’s experiences fighting the war in the Shennendoah Valley and the Army of N. Virginia from 1862 until Neece was captured in the fall of 1864 and sent to Point Lookout MD. until the summer of 1865. Almost poetic, a well written classic for ANV horse artillery and cavalry purists.
FEDERAL: (Help us here guys...)
Eastern: (Sorry I need help here. Anyone??)
Western:
1. William F Scott, The story of a cavalry regiment. The career of the Fourth Iowa veteran volunteers from Kansas to Georgia, 1861-1865, G. P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y., 1893. Good narrative for the "other side" of many of Forrest's exploits.
Trans-Miss: (I need help here too....)
Artillery: (and here...)
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