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Horses of Gettysburg - CIVIL WAR
MINUTES®
IV 2 DVD Box Set
Chapter List
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1. Introduction
Humans have been relying on horses since the dawn of
time. By the onset of the Civil War in 1861, horses were
a staple in daily American life. The history of the
Battle of Gettysburg is well known, but often overlooked
are the stories of the estimated 72,000 brave horses and
mules that fought in the battle.
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2. Buford's Cavalry
During the Civil War, the cavalrymen were the eyes and
ears of the Union and Confederate Armies. Their job was
to ride ahead of the infantry and look for the advancing
enemy. John Buford's cavalry played a large part in the
first day of conflict in the Battle of Gettysburg on
July 1, 1863.
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3. Buying and Selling Army Horses
In 1861 along with war fever came horse fever, and
horses of all shapes and sizes were in great demand. The
Union Army had strict guidelines for purchasing and
training its animals, while Confederate cavalrymen
provided their own horses. Historians estimate that
between one and two million horses may have served on
both sides of the Civil War.
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4. The Army Mule
The mule was another vital component for the Union and
Confederate Armies and was used to pull heavy loads and
deliver ammunition. Renowned for their stubborn
temperament and strength, mules were used in different
capacities than horses.
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5. Bigelow's Stand
Bigelow's Stand is the heroic story of the horses and
men of the 9th Massachusetts Battery who stood their
ground against all odds on July 2, 1863. Featuring many
drawings from Charles Reed, participant in the battle
and Medal of Honor recipient, this chapter also includes
one of the most famous photographs from Gettysburg,
showing dozens of fallen horses strewn about the ground
in front of the Trostle Barn.
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6. A Most Heroic and Hazardous Ride at Gettysburg
Medal of Honor recipient Captain James P. Postles made
one of the most daring and suicidal rides at the Battle
of Gettysburg. Postles volunteered to deliver a set of
orders to his fellow soldiers under a barrage of
Confederate fire.
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7. Custer vs. J.E.B. Stuart at the East Cavalry Field
8,000 men and 8,000 horses from the Union and
Confederacy's mounted armies met in one of the largest
cavalry battles of the Civil War. Years before his
famous stand at Little Big Horn, General George
Armstrong Custer was known as a fearless cavalry
commander. His encounter with the forces of Confederate
General J.E.B. Stuart on the East Cavalry Field helped
to determine the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg.
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8. Maintaining an Army of Horses
During the Battle of Gettysburg, an estimated 3 million
gallons of water, 3.5 million pounds of oats and 4
million pounds of hay were needed to feed the hungry
animals in the field. The Union and Confederate Armies
had unique methods for keeping their animals healthy and
productive in the field.
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9. Farnsworth's Charge
Despite the obstacle course of granite boulders, stone
walls, trees and uneven ground, the Union Cavalry
engaged in a bloody assault near Big Round Top on the
third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The men who
fought that battle received many accolades for their
bravery, but they gave the credit to their horses in a
dramatic show of respect.
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10. A View from the Saddle
Of the 10,000 Union defenders at Pickett's Charge, only
a handful were on horseback to witness the legendary
event. Lieutenant Frank Haskell was one of them. After
the battle Haskell wrote a detailed letter to his
brother describing the scene. The observations he made
were some of the most descriptive eyewitness accounts
ever written of Pickett's Charge.
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11. Pickett's Mounted Officers
Pickett's Charge was a charge on foot yet thirteen brave
Southern officers rode their horses into the brutal
fray. Through their heroic actions, the Confederate
warhorses proved themselves equally as brave as the men
who participated in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.
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12. The Great Equestrian Statues
Gettysburg National Military Park has become a virtual
art museum of American sculpture honoring those who
fought in the three-day battle. There are more than
1,400 monuments, markers and memorials, the most
magnificent ones honoring the men on horseback. Each
statue has a story. General George Gordon Meade riding
"Old Baldy," General John Fulton Reynolds, General John
Sedgwick and "Handsome Joe," General Henry Slocum,
General Winfield Scott Hancock and General Robert E. Lee
mounted on his horse "Traveller."
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