Tibbits' Boys A History of the 21st New York Cavalry

by Reed, Thomas J.

• ISBN13: 9780761806882
• ISBN10: 0761806881
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-02-20
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

Tibbit's Boys is a new form of a combined regimental and campaign history. The 21st New York Cavalry regiment's unit history is the means by which readers may experience the Shenandoah valley campaign of the summer of 1864. As the story of this late war regiment unfolds, readers can watch the regiment's birth from a cadre of experienced officers and men. At the same time, readers will also be able to review the tactical and strategic context of the Union high command's final offensive designed to end the War Between the States. The Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864 was a major theater of operations that contributed to the downfall of the Confederacy. Although the 21st New York Cavalry did not participate in the climatic fall battles of the campaign of 1864, the regiment returned to action during the mopping up phase of the offensive, directed at Mai John S. Mosbey's 43rd Virginia Partizan Rangers. An epilogue describing the Indian War service of the regiment has been included to make the story complete. This book has something to say to the present generation about the War Between the States that has not been said by other writers. It tells the history of a major campaign from the viewpoint of the soldier on the firing line as well as from the commander's perspective. Civil War and middle period students will be interested in this book.

Table of Contents

Preface
Prologue
Table of Contents
Chapter One Overture to the Griswold Light Cavalry	1	(34)
I. Will Tibbits Raises a Rifle Company	1	(17)
II. Charles Fitz Simmons of the Black Horse Cavalry Regiment	18	(17)
Chapter Two Recruiting and Training the Regiment	35	(28)
I. The First Companies Raised	35	(5)
II. The Bounty Men and the Griswold Light Cavalry	40	(4)
III. The Men of the Griswold Light Cavalry	44	(2)
IV. Basic Training at New Dorp and Giesboro	46	(17)
Chapter Three Into Action in the Shenandoath Valley	63	(22)
I. First Blood	63	(14)
II. The Hero of Pea Ridge Assumes Command	77	(18)
Chapter Four New Market	95	(26)
I. Sigel Spars with Breckinridge	95	(9)
II. The Griswold Light Cavalry at New Market	104	(17)
Chapter Five. Piedmond	121	(24)
I. General Hunter Succeeds to Command	115	(11)
II. Hunter Smashes up Jones' Army at Piedmont	126	(19)
Chapter Six. The Lynchburg Filibuster	145	(32)
I. Hunter's Raid	145	(17)
II. Retreat from Lynchburg	162	(15)
Chapter Seven. Sheridan Takes Command	177	(40)
I. Jubal Early's Raid	177	(2)
II. The Reaction to Early's Descent on Washington	179	(6)
III. The Second Battle of Kernstown	185	(6)
IV. Matching Wits with Jubal Early	191	(7)
V. Remount Camp at Cumberland	198	(1)
VI. Winchester & Fisher's Hill	199	(4)
VII. Cedar Creek	203	(1)
VIII. Return to Active Duty	204	(13)
Chapter Eight. Gordonsville and War's End	217	(28)
I. Service Under One Eye Powell	217	(12)
II. Winter Quarters	229	(16)
Chapter Nine. The Griwold Light Cavalry and the Indian Wars	245	(34)
I. The Origins of the Indian War of 1864-1866	245	(6)
II. Sand Creek	251	(3)
III. General Connor's Expedition Fizzles	254	(4)
IV. The Move to Colorado	258	(5)
V. Fort Collins	263	(16)
Epilogue. The Afterglow	279	(4)
Appendices	283	(1)
Appendix One Table of Casualties	283	(12)
Table One. Combat Casualties	283	(10)
Table Two. Persons Dying of Accident or Disease, Griswold Light Cavalry 1863-1866	293	(2)
Appendix Two. Regimental Statistics	295	(8)
Table One. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment, National Origin of Officers and Men	295	(1)
Table Two. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment, Age of Officers and Men Upon Enlistment by Rank Order	296	(1)
Table Three. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment, Enlistment Terms and Dates of Officers and Men	297	(1)
Table Four. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment. Recruits and Veterans for Bonus Purposes	297	(1)
Table Five. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment, Source of Veteran Enlistments by State and Regiments	298	(1)
Table Six. Griswold Light Cavalry Source of Officers in Regiment	299	(1)
Table Seven. Griswold Light Cavalry, Source of Officers by Prior Experiences	300	(1)
Table Eight. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment, Disposition of Officers and Men after Initial Enlistment	300	(1)
Table Nine. Griswold Light Cavalry Regiment, Disposition of Prisoners of War	301	(1)
Table Ten. Griswold Light Cavalry Disposition of Men Wounded in Action	302	(1)
Bibliography	303	(10)
Index	313