Weapons of the Civil War Cavalryman

by John Walter, Adam Hook (Illustrator), Alan Gilliland (Illustrator)

Overview

Replete with specially commissioned artwork, this lively study assesses the effectiveness of the various weapons equipping the Civil War cavalryman and the decisions made concerning the armament of the US cavalry after 1865.

During the American Civil War, the mounted soldiers fighting on both sides of the conflict carried a wide array of weapons, from sabers and lances to carbines, revolvers, and other firearms. Though some sections of the cavalry placed their trust in the sabre, the advent of viable breechloading carbines—especially repeaters such as the Spencer—was to transform warfare within little more than a decade of General Lee's final surrender at Appomattox. However, output struggled to keep up with unprecedented demands on manufacturing technology and distribution in areas where communication was difficult and in states whose primary aim was to equip their own men rather than contribute to the arming of Federal or Confederate regiments. In addition, the almost unparalleled losses of men and equipment ensured that almost any firearm, effectual or not, was pressed into service. Consequently, the sheer variety of weaponry carried reflected the mounted soldiers' various roles in different theaters of operation, but also the availability—or otherwise—of weapons, notably on the Confederate side.

Fully illustrated, this study assesses the effectiveness of the many different weapons arming the Civil War cavalryman and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the decisions made after 1865 concerning the armament of the US cavalry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472842237
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Series:	Weapon , #75
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

John Walter is among the world's most prolific writers on small arms, and the author of 70 books.

Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and the history of fortification. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.

Alan Gilliland, a contributor to more than 70 Osprey titles, notably in the Weapon series, writes, illustrates and publishes fiction (www.ravensquill.com), as well as illustrating for a variety of publishers (alangillilandillustration.blogspot.com).

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Development 8

The march of technology

Use 48

Weapons and war

Impact 71

Weapons: fact and fiction

Conclusion 75

Appendix: Us Patents 77

Select Bibliography 79

Index 80

Editorial Reviews

Copiously illustrated with colour plates of the various weapons, this is a handsome guide.” —Chris Jarvis, Miniature Wargames

From the Publisher