Spurs, Sabers, and Shot: The Maturation of Union Cavalry, 1861-1865

Senior Honors Thesis that explores the development of the Union Cavalry from 1861-1865. It argues that the Union cavalry began in a poor state, largely due to the influence of George B. McClellan alongside an early adherence to Napoleonic light cavalry doctrine. Through better organization, technological advancements, and better leadership, however, the Union cavalry gradually began dominating its Confederate counterparts. In 1864, with the rise of Ulysses S. Grant, two generals emerged who finalized the cavalry's evolution: Philip H. Sheridan and James H. Wilson. Under both, the cavalry in the East and West emerged as a potent weapon that heavily contributed to ending the Civil War.