Infantry, Cavalry Artillery
It's Thursday...and we're back with some more history for the "At Ease Club"! This week you'll find photos and quotes themed by the main branches of Civil War armies. Don't miss the survey results and the new video about a story of artillery during the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Survey Results
Last week we asked if Infantry, Cavalry, or Artillery was your favorite Civil War military branch. The CVBT staff has been waiting for weeks to ask this question and have enjoyed speculating and guessing the outcome. Now, the wait is over! The results are in. And there is a clear winner:
Out of 36 responses, Infantry took the prize with 48.6% of the vote, followed by Cavalry at 31.4% and Artillery with just 20%.
In many battles, the infantry battled using tactics from the Napoleonic Era—in long lines of battle, moving across open fields. However, some commanders started evolving the tactics as the war progressed since the new weapons caused horrific casualties on the old-school formations.
"But Most I Love The Infantry"
Here's a Civil War-era song that celebrates the favored military branch this week: The engineer with science crowned In action traces out the ground Artillery at a distance play And troopers often clear the way A skirmish sharp, a pistol short, a quick retreat at rapid The foe advances now light and free Who meets them now the infantry. Chorus The infantry the infantry, Who would not love the infantry? Though other corps are dear to me, Yet most I love the infantry And see the gallant host move on Their bayonets glittering in the sun On and on it holds its glorious way Though death shots madly round it play Their comrades slain Their banners torn Those noble hearts still nobly form And hark the shout, 'tis victory Who would not love the infantry?
"If You Wanna Have A Good Time..."
Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart wrote (or "borrowed"?) this song. As the accounts read, Stuart sang verses of the song, detailing his rides around McClellan and the Chambersburg Raid of 1862. CHORUS: If you want to have a good time, jine the cavalry! Jine the cavalry! Jine the cavalry! If you want to catch the Devil, if you want to have fun, If you want to smell Hell, jine the cavalry!
"Fire!" - Artillery Video
To feature artillery, we created a new video about some history behind one of CVBT's most popular preservation sites: Pelham's Corner.
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust's mission is to preserve, protect, and educate about Civil War hallowed ground at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania.
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