Re: Michigan 7th Cavalry, Company "F"......
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Michigan 7th Cavalry, Company "F"......
Rod Haynor 10/13/10
The 7th Michigan Cavalry was one of relatively few western units (as "western" was defined back then) to fight in the East.After completing its organization in Michigan, the reigment was sent East.In the spring of 1863 the Army of the Potomac's cavalry was reorganized, and in that reorganization the 7th Michigan was brigaded with 3 other cavalry regiments - all from Michigan - to form the famous "Michigan Brigade."At the same time, they also got a new commander - a newly-promoted brigadier general named George Armstrong Custer.I'm guessing you've heard of him.Anyway...the brigade fought at Gettysburg, and pretty much everywhere else the Army of the Potomac went from then till the end of the war, and were with the army at Appomatox.Between Gettysburg and Appomatox there were LOTS of fights, some large, some not.
As to whether Co. F was always with the regiment...maybe but not necessarily.The sort of work done by the cavalry - scouting, screening, patroling, etc. - didn't necesarily always require large units.So it wasn't rare for cavalry squadrons or even companies to operate alone for short periods of time.For the most part, though, the regiment would have operated together.
How to find out more?Start reading.There are plenty of books out there, from the general to the quite specific.A good place to start for general information would be a book called "Lincoln's Cavalrymen" by Edward Longacre - a fairly good history of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac.For a more specific look at the Michigan Brigade, there's a book called "Custer's Wolverines."Unfortunately, the author of that one escapes me.There's also a fairly recent book specifically about the cavalry fighting at Gettysburg.And for really specific information, I would bet there's been a history of the 7th Michigan written.
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Re: Michigan 7th Cavalry, Company "F"......
Rod Haynor 10/15/10