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Arme Blanche And Revolver: The French-Austrian School Of War, The Frontier And The United States Cavalry, Michael E. Bryant

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This thesis is a study of United States Army war fighting doctrine, tactical and strategic, and weapons in the years 1815 to 1861. The primary emphasis is upon the mounted forces, specifically the Dragoon, Mounted Rifles and Cavalry Regiments. The most traditional branch of the 19th Century Army, the Cavalry, was largely American in design albeit conventional in nature, not following any specific European model. As with the rest of the Antebellum Army, however, France was the wellspring for tactical and strategic doctrine, military instruction and weaponry. In order to answer the long debated question of why the Union defeated …