Dismounting examples at various times in the war:
1862 Dismounting troops in Van Dorn’s Army of the West
In the early spring of 1862, General Van Dorn and his Army of the West was summoned by General Beauregard to reinforce the troops that were gathering to resist the enemy in Mississippi.
Before embarking for Memphis, cavalry units were dismounted by order of General Van Dorn. His dismounting orders applied to Texas, Arkansas and Missouri mounted commands
Samuel Benton Barron, The Lone Star Defenders, A Chronicle of the Third Texas Cavalry, Ross' Brigade.
Victor M. Rose, Ross' Texas Brigade
4/6/62 The 3rd Texas Cavalry waited for boats several days at Devall’s Bluff, Ark… at which place, to our utter astonishment, we were ordered to be dismounted, our horses sent to Texas, and the men embarked on a steamboat and transported to Memphis, en route to Corinth. We regarded this order as a breach of faith, totally at variance with our contract, yet the men being impressed with a correct idea of the critical condition in which recent reverses had placed the Confederacy, yielded their own inclinations, with patriotic zeal and devotion to the cause, and complied.
The War Child's children; the story of the Third Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, Calvin Collier
http://community-1.webtv.net/billboggess-gray/COLONELSOLONBORLAND/
4/6 [3rd Ark cavalry] The Company was dismounted at Des Arc, under the promise that the men should be in a short time remounted & that while they were dismounted they should receive the pay & emoluments of regular cavalrymen
Henry Watson Letters, 1861-1864 | East Texas Research Center
4/17 Henry Watson [10th Texas cavalry] writes from Des Arc, saying the order to dismount was “very much opposed “but the choices were that or to disband. They decided to remain on foot but they are not to be considered infantry and will continue to receive the wages of cavalry. He continues stating “ although did not like to give up my horse much but our country needs our assistance and I expect to serve my 12 months out some way...” He also notes the horses are being sent home
National Archives, RG 109,
Ch II Vol 210 Van Dorn’s Command, Special Orders Jan-May 1862
Van Dorn Papers Ch II Vol 179
Military Departments
Major Gen Earl Van Dorn’s Command
Letters & telegrams sent Jan-June 62
4/8/62 Special Order # 42 Des Arc, Ark-General Van Dorn orders all cavalry to be dismounted until further orders
4/8/62 Des Arc, Ark S. O. #43....unable to supply forage to such a large mounted force nor transportation.... All to be dismounted until further orders...........
4/9/62 General Van Dorn to Col T. L. Snead, AAG to Gen Price-order issued requiring all 12 months Cav to temporarily dismount & to proceed to Memphis.
4/12/62 Des Arc, Ark-instructions to Capt W. R. Bradfute of Van Dorn’s staff-Go to Devall’s Bluff & buy horses from dismounted men of Greer’s Brigade. Buy no more than 300 horses, at no more than $200 each, for Artillery. Be in charge of horses until further notice. The QM will furnish forage & payment for horses.
5/15/62 HQs Army of the West, Gen Van Dorn commanding-Staff officer Maury to B W Stone, Col cdg Roane’s Brigade-It would be very desirable to carry out the suggestions contained in your note of this morning for we are much in need of good cavalry. But the absolute want of forage will very soon compel a further reduction of our mounted force. Therefore, at this time we cannot hope to remount your regiment.
Summer 1862-Dismounting cavalry in the Trans Mississippi
[After Van Dorn had taken his army of infantry and dismounted cavalry out of Arkansas and into Mississippi, General Hindman was assigned to the command in Arkansas to organize a new army to replace Van Dorn's]
The Peter Wellington Alexander papers
Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Columbia University
New York, NY
Head Quarters Trans Miss District Little Rock Arks July 10th 1862. General Hindman cdg issues Spec Order # 26
The extreme scarcity of forage renders it an impossibility to maintain a large mounted force, without causing distress, if not actual starvation, among the troops and poorer people of the country; therefore all commanders of companies and Regiments of mounted men, now en route to these Headquarters from Southern Arkansas and Texas, upon seeing this order, are required to dismount their men before proceeding farther, and send the horses with suitable details home, and move forward as Infantry. This order applies to those commands which have been heretofore formally accepted, as well as to others. The imperative necessity of the case admits of no exception whatever, and it is hoped that a proper degree of patriotism will ensure a ready obedience.
July 11, 1862 General Rust to Hindman-Col Nelson informs me that the Texans coming into LRock (sic) are all mounted. For God’s sake don’t allow them to bring their horses into Ark. Nelson says the people are hurrying them forward from Tex because they are devouring the state. Do not allow them to cross the Ark line. I pray you…
July 11, 1862 General Rust to Hindman -The mounted men, Texans and all, are a nuisance. Dismount or disband all but a squadron or two. We are scattered everywhere herding or watering horses unable to bear their riders.
7/17 General Hindman to Gen Roane, Monroe, La-…For God sake send no more mounted men. Dismount them and move them as Inf.
7/19 Gen Hindman to Col Randall cdg Tex Regiment-dismount your command and send horses home.
I deem it regretful but this order is absolutely necessary due to lack of forage I have dismounted all I have here but for about one regiment and ordered all en route to dismount and come as Inf and send their horses back home- commissaries along your route will feed you only if dismounted.
[Note: General Hindman dismounted several Arkansas and Missouri commands in addition to the Texans.]
1864-1865 Dismounting Arkansas and Missouri Cavalry in the Trans Miss Department
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
12/9/64 General Kirby Smith to General Magruder-Great fears seem to be entertained by the people on Red River near the line of the Indian Territory, that their forage will be consumed by the horses of Price's Cav, and that they themselves will be subjected to impositions and outrages from the troops. The surest relief will be to hasten the reorganization of Price's command and to put the largest possible number of men in the Inf. Every man without a horse should be immediately transferred before he has time to mount himself at the expense of the country, already too much reduced in agricultural resources…
2/4/65 Gen K Smith to Gen Magruder, Cdg Dist of Ark, Washington, your letter of the 27th ultimo is received…The present organization, as the cdg Gen understands it, is unsatisfactory, retaining in service 17 regiments & 2 battalions, [Arkansas and Missouri mounted troops] a larger force than the necessities of your District require, & a much greater one than can be subsisted, mounted.
The cdg Gen has directed the dismounting of 9 regiments of Gen Wharton’s command [Texas Cavalry], & he is reducing the mtd force of the Districts of Louisiana & Texas. It is impossible longer to maintain a large cavalry force in this dept. If a sense of justice & of patriotism does not satisfy the men that the interests & necessities of the country all demand its reduction they are valueless as soldiers. 3 regiments are sufficient for a Brigade of mounted men. A greater number is cumbersome & cannot easily be foraged in one locality. You can retain the organization proposed, two Div’s of two Brigades each, but the Brigades must be reduced to 3 regiments each. This will leave 12 regiments mtd; the remainder should be immediately dismounted. Enclosed is a copy of a letter addressed to Gen Wharton…. time subject of the reorganization of his command. If you adopt the plan recommended to Gen Wharton, & concentrate the revolvers & cavalry arms in one Brigade, you may have sufficient to arm it effectively as cavalry proper, [the others as mounted infantry].
1864-1865 Dismounting Louisiana and Texas Cavalry in the Trans Miss Department
11/21/64 Shreveport, IG’s OFFICE, TM Dept, W. C. SCHAUMBURG, Lt-Col & AIG to Gen K Smith-
... The country from near Alexandria to the Atchafalaya and down the Teche to Berwick Bay is in a state of such devastation as to render it impossible for the horses to be foraged from any portion of the territory which they occupy or which is contiguous. During the months of July and August they were able to subsist scantily on the grass, and partially so in September. Now, however, this recourse is taken from them, and I do not see how the lines, extended as they are, can be maintained by using cavalry, unless some means is devised to supply them with corn.
.This matter of forage is a serious one, and unless measures be taken, and at an early day, the cavalry must be withdrawn from their present lines or the animals will die.
…In the cavalry are many men mounted on mules. This is contrary to Gen Orders from your headquarters, and the officers cdg those troops know that such orders are in force. From their dislike, however, to deplete their commands they suffer the disobedience to continue….The train mules of this Brigade I may here mention are in most wretched condition, and by no means able to move the wagons should a forced march become necessary.
1/30/65 General K Smith to Gen Wharton, Cdg Cavalry forces, Nacogdoches-I have carefully considered the question of reorganizing & reducing the mtd force. The necessities of the country as well as the best interests of the service require its immediate & material reduction. It is greatly in excess of its proportion to the other arms of the service; it numbers more than half the whole army in the Dept & its further maintenance has become an impossibility.
…You have in your command 21 Regiments or Battalions. Retaining 12 for your reserve corps, there remain 9 to be dismounted…
The Gov’t will require the mules for transportation and at least 500 horses for the artillery from the dismounted Regiments…
1/30/65 General Smith to Gen Walker Cdg Dist of Tex, Houston: I have written Gen Wharton directing him to dismount 9 Regiments of his command, to be organized into a Div of two Brigades… I have determined upon reducing the cavalry force throughout the Dept. Already has it been partially accomplished in Ark, & I wish your assistance and cooperation in effecting it with the troops under your command.
2/2/65 General K Smith to Gen Buckner, Cdg Dist of West Louisiana, Natchitoches: The cdg Gen directs me to inform you that he had ordered 9 Regiments of Wharton’s command to be dismounted… One of Wharton’s Divisions will be armed & equipped as cavalry proper and instructed as such; the other considered & used as mounted Infantry. The Gen cdg desires to be informed whether you have yet dismounted Harrison’s. The horses are much needed for your batteries.
2/22/65 Gen K Smith to Gen Wharton cdg cavalry-…The reduction of the cavalry has become a measure of absolute necessity and will be made to fall equally upon the troops of the different States of the Dept. The proportion of cavalry is greatly in excess over the other arms of service. Their horses are consuming the breadstuffs of the country. Already have we been forced back in search of forage to the inland streams of Texas. If continued mounted they would soon be driven from the country without an effort on the part of the enemy. All good and true men must recognize the necessity for this reduction. The law authorizes it and every patriot will readily acquiesce…