Date
8-29-2025
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
Chair
John T. Broom
Keywords
American Civil War, Cavalry, Western, Trans Mississippi
Disciplines
History
Recommended Citation
Malone, Tony R. Jr., "The Significance of Cavalry in the American Civil War in Deciding Victory and Defeat, specifically in the Western and Trans-Mississippi Theaters of the War." (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7388.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7388
Abstract
This research examines how effective cavalry was in the American Civil War, and the ultimate decision in victory and defeat. To answer this question, one must first investigate the origin of the American cavalry from its foundation in the American Revolution and trace it to the beginning of the American Civil War; this brings the reader to several sub-questions that help answer the main question. Why was Confederate cavalry dominating early in the war, and why did Union cavalry ultimately gain parity and superiority over its Confederate counterparts?
The readers will start with a solid look into the history of cavalry from ancient times through the Napoleonic period. This sets the stage for American cavalry and shows how it developed differently from its European counterparts during the American Revolution. It will also show how not only culture, but geography also had an impact on the American Civil War. From this point, the reader transitions into the history of American cavalry up to the American Civil War; this lays the foundation for the American cavalry at the beginning of the American Civil War.
Chapter 3 looks into the raising, equipping, and training of cavalry, which connects American cavalry pre-Civil War to the Civil War. Chapters 4-6 look at the Civil War, the campaigns, and battles, tracing the cavalry's impact and the process that took hold, allowing Union cavalry to dominate by 1864. The conclusion brings it all together and shows the actual effect of cavalry on the war.
