"In The Union Cavalry Comes of Age, cavalry historian Eric J. Wittenberg debunks the persistent myths that have elevated the reputations of the Confederate "cavaliers" over their Union counterparts. In so doing, he sets the record straight on the evolution of the Army of the Potomac's cavalry, showing that the consolidation during the winter of 1863 of numerous scattered Federal units into a single corps, 10,000 strong, transformed the Union troopers in the east into a force to be reckoned with."

"This study chronicles the numerous challenges that occupied officers and politicians, as well as the harrowing existence of the troopers in the field. The Union Cavalry Comes of Age shows that the Northern cavalry began helping to turn the tide of war much earlier than is generally acknowledged and became the largest, best-mounted, and best-equipped force of horse soldiers the world had ever seen. Remarkable in its depth of research and analysis, it is a major contribution to our understanding of the role of cavalry in the Civil War."--Jacket.