Use of Cavalry in ACW

[Last Hussar]

As mentioned in 'One Rules to Ring them all' I am wondering about using ECW rules for ACW.

Drew up a quick army list, then wondered about the use of Cavalry in the ACW.

Exactly how did they use it? How did the infantry respond?  I know there are a few photos of infantry practicing square, but what actually happened on the battlefield?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

OPen to correction but mostly as mounted infantry and scouts. Not as battle cavalry as in War of 3 Kingdoms.

[Ithoriel]

I'm with our esteemed Lord Kermit. Main use for cavalry is as scouts, raiders and mounted infantry. The epitome of the latter is probably the opening moves of Gettysburg.

There is some cavalry vs cavalry action with both mounted but cavalry vs infantry is pretty much both sides dismounted.

[fred.]

As mentioned in 'One Rules to Ring them all' I am wondering about using ECW rules for ACW.

That feels a stretch 


Infantry fire power was massively higher in the ACW - not least as half the unit wasn't carrying pikes. But also the move from how weapons were loaded, speeded up rate of fire significantly. 

Then artillery was very different too

And as stated above Cavalry changed role too. 

Armies were bigger

Supply situation completely different with railways

Unless you are zoomed out a lot (like BBB) I'm struggling to see this working (and ECW is very early even for BBB). 

[Gwydion]

Many dismounted actions, many mounted: successful and failed.
Battle of Winchester 1864 - Torbert's Union cavalry broke 3 (small) regiments under George S Patton on the way to take Collyer's Fort. They were mounted and used sabres to do it.
It was of course notable because it was a rare occurrence. But it happened and other commanders tried it. Usually in too small numbers to work well: 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry at Cedar Mountain charged and broke the Confederate line near the end of the battle but were only a squadron strong and had to return almost immediately.
At the Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864 Federal cavalry - Sheridan - attacked both ends of the enemy line, with drawn sabres, and defeated the Confederates. He did the same thing at Sailor's Creek in 1865.
The 'trick' was assembling a large enough cavalry force with the attitude that they could charge home, and choosing the right time in the battle to do it. Also there was little enemy cavalry capable of opposing the Union cavalry by the end of the war.
So, initially cavalry often tried to charge home against infantry and enemy cavalry- they were usually in penny packets, poorly trained and led and frequently failed. They became used to being used as mounted infantry as wide ranging scouts and raiders until the Union trained and fielded sufficient number to be used as a decisive battlefield force at the correct moment. They were still vulnerable to steady well trained infantry and their days were numbered - but not quite yet.

As for using rules for ECW cavalry...
Make them more vulnerable to firearms when charging confident well positioned infantry. They really should not contact firearm troops frontally unless the infantry are poorly trained, poor morale and or badly placed.
ACW cavalry are a lot lighter than most seventeenth century cavalry, they should move a little faster on the battlefield and considerably better on campaign.
Give all ACW cavalry, after the first year, dragoon capabilities, later dismounted fire with repeater carbines will be more devastating at close range than infantry, but much fewer of them usually. (If they can get that close).
Best battlefield use remains against weakened infantry, flanks and cavalry, in numbers.

I think if your ECW rules work for ACW there is something wrong with the rules or the scenarios, or both. Two hundred years of military evolution should be catered for differently, otherwise your rules are VERY generic.

[Last Hussar]

D'oh yes - 'Dragoons' in FK&P not Cavalry of the flashing blade kind!

Fred, Gwydion - I've answered your points in the thread I started for exactly this kind of discussion.

https://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,24017.20.html

Sorry it's a bit long. I didn't proof read properly, so any slight on you is accidental, not meant.