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Re: Calvary Field Supprt
In Response To: Re: Calvary Field Supprt ()

The Federal Cavalry was organized as follows:
A regiment was commanded by a Colonel, and had a Lieutenant Colonel, 3 Majors, and staff of an Adjutant, a Quartermaster, a Commissary, and a regimental Surgeon and assistant. The noncoms included: one Sergeant-Major, one Quartermaster Sergeant, one Commissary Sergeant, one saddler Sergeant, a chief farrier or blacksmith, and two hospital stewards.

Each troop, which numbered 82-100 men, had its 1st Sergeant, Quartermaster Sergeant, a Commissary Sergeant, in addition to five Sergeants, eight Corporals, two teamsters, two farriers, one saddler, one waggoner, and two musicians.

All Federal horses were required by regulation to be fully shod.

Troops on raids into enemy territory brough along everything they needed to be self sufficient except spare mounts. Each trooper carried his rations in his haversack. There is little to no room in the saddle bags for anything other than the horse grooming tools. Strapped across the saddle pomel, each trooper carried a ration bag with forage for the horse, usually a 2 or 3 day supply.

Rations for the men were typically issued for 3 days at a time and cooked as soon as they were issued. The meat portion was consumed within the first day or so. The meat was heavily slated to prevent spoilage and it would have been cooked in any number of ways from frying to boiling it. Troopers would often scavange from the countyside fresh fruitand vegetables to supplement the dull and bland army ration. Most often trooper ate out of their haversacks while in the saddle. Troops on raids or patrols were typically in the saddle for 18 to 20 hours a day and sometimes longer. When they did have a chance to rest there was little time or inclination to get cook fires going since horses needed caring and the men needed sleep.

I hope this info is useful.

Dave Myrick
1st Maine Cavalry

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Calvary Field Supprt
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