Cavalry Clash at Hanover - January ‘98 America’s Civil War Feature

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Some credit for Stuart’s embarrassment must be given to the Union cavalry itself. Custer and Farnsworth both fought well in their first engagement as brigadier generals, particularly against a legendary figure such as Stuart. Hammond also fought well, and even Judson Kilpatrick deserves credit. By arriving in Hanover before Stuart, Kilpatrick kept him from finding Early and thus prevented him from being of service to Lee at Gettysburg until late on the second day of the battle. The Union horsemen showed a vastly improved ability to fight mounted and dismounted. Their valor and aggressiveness had a great deal to do with the tactical victory at Hanover, which in turn kept Robert E. Lee’s “eyes and ears” closed for another vital 24 hours–and contributed greatly to the momentous Federal triumph at Gettysburg.

Brent Vosburg writes from Elizabethtown, N.Y. His great-grandfather served in the 5th New York Cavalry at Hanover, and Vosburg is in the process of writing a book about the regiment. For further reading, see: The Cavalry at Gettysburg, by Edward G. Longacre; or The Union Cavalry in the Civil War, Vol. I, by Stephen Starrs.[ Top | Cover Page ]

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