Sherman's Horsemen: Union Cavalry Operations in the Atlanta Campaign

by David Evans

Hardcover, 1996

Collection

Publication

Indiana University Press (1996), Edition: First Edition, 688 pages

Description

". . . massively researched . . . those seeking a richly detailed journal of the cavalry's role in one of the war's crucial campaigns will find this book irreplaceable." --Blue & Gray Magazine "This volume is meticulously detailed and comes to some convincing conclusions." --The Journal of American History "A vivid account of the campaign that helped decide the outcome of the Civil War. . . . A rich narrative that will delight students of the Civil War." --Kirkus Reviews Attempting a quick, decisive victory in the 1864 struggle for Atlanta, William Tecumseh Sherman's cavalry wreaked havoc in the countryside around the city. This book, based largely upon previously unpublished materials, tells the story of Sherman's raids. Through exhaustive research, David Evans has been able to recreate a vivid, captivating, and meticulously detailed image of the day-by-day life of the Yankee horse soldier.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member dhughes

Well document history of Sherman's cavalry during the Atlanta campaign. The author used regimental histories of the cavalry and artillery units assigned to the cavalry. It breaks the myths that the cavalry were ineffective during the campaign and deals with the failures of its superior officers ie.

Stoneman, McCook and Kilpatrick. While at the same time it enlightens us to how affective Rousseau was on his little known cavalry excersion through Alabama and west Georgis. It also explains why Sherman who never had cavalry experience expected too much from his cavalry and when they failed he never assigned them a primary role even through his March to the Sea. It also explains why Sherman choose Kilpatrick as his head of cavalry on his march to the sea and refused James H. Wilson's talents which set the stage for Thomas to benefit of Wilson's skills at the Battle of Nashville. This history also gave evidence why Thomas was more affective on using Stoneman, McCook's talents in a more controlled area during the fall and winter of 1864.

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