The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry in the
Closing Scenes of the War for the Maintenance of the Union, from Richmond to Appomatox, by William B. Arnold and Edward T. Bouve and Lasalle Corbell Pickett

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Title: The Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry in the Closing Scenes of the War for the Maintenance of the Union, from Richmond to Appomatox

Author: William B. Arnold
Edward T. Bouve
Lasalle Corbell Pickett

Release Date: April 13, 2010 [EBook #31977]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The
Fourth Massachusetts
Cavalry
in the
Closing Scenes of the War
for the Maintenance
of the Union

From Richmond
to Appomattox

[Illustration: Col. Arnold A. Rand

4th Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry]

The Battle at High Bridge
by
Major Edward T. Bouve, U. S. V.

The life of the American Cavalry is almost coeval with that of the
American people. Laws were passed for the formation of a mounted force in
1648, when the colony of Massachusetts Bay had not yet attained its
majority. Twenty-seven years later, in 1675, when the war with Metacomet
(King Philip) broke out there were five troops of cavalry, which in point
of equipment, discipline and appearance, had received the commendation of
European officers who had seen them.

Captain Prentice's troop formed a part of Major-General Winslow's army,
which fought at Narrangansett Fort. It participated in the terrible march
and the awful battle which ensued. Of that battle, the latest and most
exhaustive of its historians says:

"This must be classed as one of the most glorious victories ever achieved
in our history, and considering conditions, as displaying heroism both in
stubborn patience and dashing intrepidity never excelled in American
warfare."

So much for the first great battle in which Massachusetts cavalry took an
honorable part. I may be pardon