Cavalry Company by color?

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

I've heard guys talking about cavalry companies being "ideally" organized by color of the horses. Co A blacks, Co B bays etc... I know Napoleon did this in Europe and who here hasn't heard of the grays with Custer at Bighorn... but I feel the reality was it didn't happen when “During the first eight months of the year 1864 the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was supplied with two remounts, nearly 40,000 horses.” . Was there an Army regulation for this either pre-war or during that I'm missing or did this come into practice post-war? I've went through the REVISED REGULATIONS for the ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1861 and 1863 with no luck. Any direction is appreciated. Z

[Tom Craig]

Re: Cavalry Company by color?

I can't say that I've ever seen it proscribed as regulation, but it was tradition in some outfits. In the 1st Massachusetts regimental it talks about the horses at least initially being sorted by colors and companies. It makes mention of at least some of that color sorting holding on surprisingly late in the war. I'd also check Starr's history of the Union cavalry for references.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Andrew German]

Re: Cavalry Company by color?

Hello Zack,

Yes, at least some of the federal units early in the war attempted to "color-code" their companies, though it does not appear in and regulations. The 1st Massachusetts and 1st Michigan reported the effort, and in the 1st Pennsylvania at least one company in each battalion had horses of a unified color. The justification was both that the troopers would recognize their companies and that horses worked better with horses of the same color.

But as you say, the need for remounts in the field eventually eliminated the possibility of maintaining this conceit.

Andrew German

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Cavalry Company by color?

Thanks Guys, That's sort of what I thought I knew... it seems practical and hey put in gray out with 7 or 8 bays and see who is picked on! I couldn't ever remember it being "regulation", but I am getting older and the mind is supposed to be the first to go you know!!

[Mark Choate]

Re: Cavalry Company by color?

Gents,

This was an interesting discussion. I knew that Napoleon did it (at least some) and I believe that Hannibal used some color segregation with his Numidian light cavalry (used primarily on his right flank) for identification purposes.

As beneficial as it would have been from a commander's vantage point, like all have mentioned, the process of adding "remounts" would make it a short-lived endeavor as would just the continual shortage of horses in general.

I have never heard of it's usage on the CS side. Has anyone??

regards,
Mark