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The Largest Cavalry Battle of the Civil War
And the largest ever fought on US soil
On June 5th, 1863, the flamboyant southern cavalry general, General J.E.B. Stuart, organized a grand review of his army. Stuart ordered all 9,000 of his combat ready troops to perform a simulated charge on an enemy for the benefit of General Robert E. Lee. The exercise was meant to impress the eminent general and reinforce Stuart’s self-aggrandized image of a beau sabreur, the dashing cavalier. Unfortunately for Stuart, Lee declined to attend this show. Lee was busy covertly moving his massive army into position for a surprise attack into northern territory.
Not to be dissuaded, Stuart ordered his cavalry to do another parade three days later, on June 8th, when General Lee could attend. He marched his cavalry around in tight formations this time but eschewed the simulated cavalry charge. His forces returned to their cots exhausted.
Unfortunately for them, the next day, June 9th, would bring the largest cavalry battle of the war and the largest ever conducted on American soil. As the Confederate horsemen slept in their bivouacs, they had no idea that the next day would change the face of Confederate cavalry and begin a course correction for the entire war that would not abate until 1865.
