Cavalry of the American Revolution

by Michael C. Scoggins, Jim Piecuch (Editor)

From the bitterly contested no-man’s-land between American and British lines in New York and New Jersey to the scorching pine forests of the South, the cavalry of both armies fought valiantly throughout the American Revolution. This volume explores several aspects of cavalry’s role in the war, which has often been overlooked in general histories. The topics covered include the development of the Continental Army’s cavalry arm, European influences on American cavalry training and tactics, accounts of several important cavalry raids and battles, and histories of mounted units such as the Continental Light Dragoons, American rangers in the South Carolina backcountry, and the British army’s Queen’s Rangers and “Black Dragoons,” the latter force composed entirely of former slaves. The essays also examine the roles of important commanders, including Brigadier General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion, Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, and Colonel Anthony Walton White of the American army, and British cavalry leaders Banastre “Bloody Ban” Tarleton and John Graves Simcoe, as well as the American prisoners of war who switched sides and served in the “British Legion.” The authors of the essays include acclaimed military historians Gregory J. W. Urwin and Lawrence E. Babits. Readers with a general interest in military history, as well as those with more specific interests in the American Revolution or the history of the cavalry arm, and anyone who wishes to undertake further study of these subjects, will find the essays fresh, engaging, and informative.

Contents

Gregory J. W. Urwin: The Continental Light Dragoons, 1776-1783

Lee F. McGee: European Influences on Continental Cavalry

John M. Hutchins: Cavalry Action at Poundridge, New York

Donald J. Gara: Cavalry Battles in New York and New Jersey

Scott A. Miskimon: Anthony Walton White: A Revolutionary Dragoon

Michael C. Scoggins: South Carolina’s Backcountry Rangers

Lawrence E. Babits and Joshua B. Howard: Continentals in Tarleton’s

British Legion

Charles F. Price: Cavalry Operations at Eutaw Springs

Jim Piecuch: The “Black Dragoons”

Genres: History, American Revolution, Nonfiction, American Revolutionary War, American History

284 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2012

Reviews

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this collection of essays on various reading lists pretty much since it's been published, but always held off seeking it out because there seemed to be something more compelling to request at the given time. My main response is that I should have read it sooner, as this is the best work I've read on cavalry in the Revolutionary War. Besides giving accounts of various actions from the cavalry perspective, if there is an over-arching theme, it's how the Continental Dragoons evolved from being a reservoir of scouts and messengers into being a force capable of delivering "shock action" with cold steel. Much of this seems to have come from William Washington's interaction with the European officers of Pulaski's Legion. Other particularly interesting essays deal with the impact that turn-coat American soldiers had on Tarleton's Legion at the battle of Cowpens (not good from Tarleton's perspective) and African-American dragoons in British service.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of essays that collectively bemoan the fact that there aren't many primary or secondary resources on the subject. Sheds a little light on personalities like Anthony Walton White, William Washington and the "Black Dragoons."

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems to be geared more for academic historians than as a popular history; also four essays focus exclusively on the American cavalry versus just two on the British cavalry. It might have helped if Donald J. Gara's essay included some maps to help readers understand the action better.