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The cavalry — mounted soldiers lightly armed and able to move fast and far — served as the eyes and ears of the army. (See Figure 4-2 for an illustration of the 1st Virginia Calvary.) It provided information about the enemy’s location and intentions (attack, defend, withdraw). Cavalry served an important role in screening, a tactic that employed friendly cavalry to prevent enemy cavalry from finding out anything about the friendly army commander’s intentions. Cavalry also conducted raids. Raids are a special type of offensive operation, usually conducted by a small force that enters deep into enemy territory to disrupt communications, destroy or threaten vulnerable lines of supply, capture supply wagons or trains, or frighten and demoralize the civilian population. In some instances, cavalry could fight as infantry, but only in an extreme defensive situation to delay or slow down the enemy force until friendly infantry could arrive.

Waud, Alfred R / The Library of Congress / Public Domain

FIGURE 4-2: 1st Virginia Cavalry.

Because of its mobility and ability to operate in small numbers that are hard to detect, cavalry also provided an invaluable service to an army commander — reconnaissance. Reconnaissance is the process of finding out about the enemy’s size, activity, location, disposition (how an army has arranged its forces), morale, equipment, and intentions (attack, defend, and retreat). If a commander can gain information about the enemy while keeping the enemy’s reconnaissance from finding out anything of value about his own forces (through screening — see the preceding paragraph), he will — if he’s any good — be able to use this information to outfight and defeat his enemy.