The American Civil War was a period of significant milestones in the history of military cavalry. Not only did America’s use of cavalry peak in the Civil War with more than 1 million cavalry troops between the Union and the Confederate forces, but the role of cavalry also evolved. Limited at first to scouting, patrolling, and escort missions, by the end of the war, mounted cavalry troops were effective and highly mobile strike forces.
While the function of horse-mounted cavalry units in the U.S. military is now strictly ceremonial, in the Civil War, they were indispensable to both Union and Confederate armies, accounting for nearly one-in-every-five enlisted soldiers, according to government records.
In most aspects of the war, from money and manpower to guns and supplies, the Confederacy was outmatched by federal forces – and cavalry units were no exception. According to The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database, maintained by the National Park Service, Union armies had more than 675,000 cavalry troops throughout the war, compared to about 467,000 mounted Confederate troops. This imbalance is also reflected in Civil War cavalry enlistment figures by state or territory.
Using historical records compiled by the NPS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most cavalry troops in the Civil War.
Though most Union cavalry units were formed in Northern states, some were also assembled in the South. Supplementary data on the number of cavalry units formed for the preservation of the United States within each state or territory is from A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Civil War statistician Frederick H. Dyer, first published in 1908. Companies generally comprised about 1,200 mounted troops, while battalions were made up of about 330, and companies 100. (Here is a look at the 20 largest armies assembled during the Civil War.)
In cavalry units of both the North and South, cavalry troop weaponry typically consisted of sabers, revolvers, and breech-loading, single-shot or repeating carbines. Cavalry firearms were relatively easy to reload on horseback, and though cavalry carbines had limited range, relative to infantry rifles, their shorter barrels made them more maneuverable. Many confederate cavalry troops also carried sawed-off shotguns and cut-down hunting rifles. (Here is a look at 22 guns that helped fight the Civil War.)
Click here to see states with the most civil war cavalry.
43. Utah Territory
> Total cavalry troops: 96
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (96 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Utah Territory: None
> Utah Territory’s official side in the Civil War: N/A
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42. Arizona Territory
> Total cavalry troops: 266
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (266 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Arizona Territory: None
> Arizona Territory’s official side in the Civil War: N/A
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41. Dakota Territory
> Total cavalry troops: 269
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (269 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Dakota Territory: 1 battalion
> Dakota Territory’s official side in the Civil War: N/A
40. Nevada
> Total cavalry troops: 1,028
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (1,028 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Nevada: 1 regiment
> Nevada’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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39. Delaware
> Total cavalry troops: 1,206
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (1,206 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Delaware: 1 regiment, 1 company
> Delaware’s official side in the Civil War: Union
38. Oregon
> Total cavalry troops: 1,467
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (1,467 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Oregon: 1 regiment
> Oregon’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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37. District Of Columbia
> Total cavalry troops: 2,042
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (2,042 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in District Of Columbia: 1 regiment, 1 company
> District Of Columbia’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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36. New Hampshire
> Total cavalry troops: 2,533
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (2,533 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in New Hampshire: 2 regiments, 1 company
> New Hampshire’s official side in the Civil War: Union
35. New Mexico Territory
> Total cavalry troops: 3,527
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (3,527 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in New Mexico Territory: 1 regiment,, 1 battalion, 5 companies
> New Mexico Territory’s official side in the Civil War: N/A
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34. Vermont
> Total cavalry troops: 4,077
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (4,077 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Vermont: 1 regiment
> Vermont’s official side in the Civil War: Union
33. Connecticut
> Total cavalry troops: 4,095
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (4,095 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Connecticut: 1 regiment
> Connecticut’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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32. Rhode Island
> Total cavalry troops: 4,953
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (4,953 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Rhode Island: 3 regiments, 1 battalion
> Rhode Island’s official side in the Civil War: Union
31. Nebraska Territory
> Total cavalry troops: 5122
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (5,122 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Nebraska Territory: 2 regiments, 1 battalion, 2 companies
> Nebraska Territory’s official side in the Civil War: N/A
30. Minnesota
> Total cavalry troops: 5,725
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (5,725 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Minnesota: 2 regiments, 2 battalions
> Minnesota’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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29. Colorado Territory
> Total cavalry troops: 5986
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (5,986 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Colorado Territory: 3 regiments
> Colorado Territory’s official side in the Civil War: N/A
28. Maine
> Total cavalry troops: 6,106
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (6,106 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Maine: 2 regiments
> Maine’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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27. California
> Total cavalry troops: 6,811
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (6,811 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in California: 2 regiments, 1 battalion
> California’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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26. Florida
> Total cavalry troops: 9,276
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 23.7% Union (2,198 troops); 76.3% Confederate (7,078 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Florida: 2 regiments
> Florida’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
25. Maryland
> Total cavalry troops: 12,677
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 81.2% Union (10,291 troops); 18.8% Confederate (2,386 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Maryland: 4 regiments, 1 battalion, 1 company
> Maryland’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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24. New Jersey
> Total cavalry troops: 13,081
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (13,081 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in New Jersey: 3 regiments
> New Jersey’s official side in the Civil War: Union
23. Wisconsin
> Total cavalry troops: 15,012
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (15,012 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Wisconsin: 4 regiments
> Wisconsin’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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22. Massachusetts
> Total cavalry troops: 15,091
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (15,091 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Massachusetts: 5 regiments, 3 battalions
> Massachusetts’ official side in the Civil War: Union
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21. North Carolina
> Total cavalry troops: 15,229
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (15,229 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in North Carolina: None
> North Carolina’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
20. West Virginia
> Total cavalry troops: 15,558
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (15,558 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in West Virginia: 7 regiments
> West Virginia’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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19. Louisiana
> Total cavalry troops: 16,810
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 29.6% Union (4,969 troops); 70.4% Confederate (11,841 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Louisiana: 2 regiments
> Louisiana’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
18. South Carolina
> Total cavalry troops: 18515
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (18,515 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in South Carolina: None
> South Carolina’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
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17. Kansas
> Total cavalry troops: 20,209
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (20,209 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Kansas: 9 regiments
> Kansas’ official side in the Civil War: Union
16. Iowa
> Total cavalry troops: 21,651
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (21,651 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Iowa: 9 regiments
> Iowa’s official side in the Civil War: Union
15. Arkansas
> Total cavalry troops: 25,689
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 33.9% Union (8,708 troops); 66.1% Confederate (16,981 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Arkansas: 4 regiments
> Arkansas’ official side in the Civil War: Confederate
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14. Alabama
> Total cavalry troops: 28,481
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 10.0% Union (2,838 troops); 90.0% Confederate (25,643 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Alabama: 1 regiment
> Alabama’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
13. Indiana
> Total cavalry troops: 31,155
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (31,155 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Indiana: 13 regiments, 3 companies
> Indiana’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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12. Georgia
> Total cavalry troops: 37,039
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (37,039 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Georgia: None
> Georgia’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
11. Michigan
> Total cavalry troops: 40,579
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (40,579 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Michigan: 11 regiments, 2 companies
> Michigan’s official side in the Civil War: Union
10. Mississippi
> Total cavalry troops: 42,724
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (42,724 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Mississippi: 2 regiments
> Mississippi’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
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9. Ohio
> Total cavalry troops: 44,919
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (44,919 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Ohio: 13 regiments, 5 battalions, 10 companies
> Ohio’s official side in the Civil War: Union
8. Illinois
> Total cavalry troops: 58,035
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (58,035 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Illinois: 17 regiments, 3 battalions, 17 companies
> Illinois’ official side in the Civil War: Union
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7. Kentucky
> Total cavalry troops: 61,543
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 52.2% Union (32,140 troops); 47.8% Confederate (29,403 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Kentucky: 17 regiments, 1 battalion
> Kentucky’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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6. Virginia
> Total cavalry troops: 65,413
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Confederate (65,413 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Virginia: 1 battalion
> Virginia’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
5. New York
> Total cavalry troops: 65,711
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (65,711 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in New York: 32 regiments, 1 battalion, 3 companies
> New York’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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4. Tennessee
> Total cavalry troops: 82,644
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 33.9% Union (28,011 troops); 66.1% Confederate (54,633 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Tennessee: 20 regiments, 1 battalion
> Tennessee’s official side in the Civil War: Confederate
3. Pennsylvania
> Total cavalry troops: 89,071
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 100% Union (89,071 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Pennsylvania: 28 regiments, 3 battalions, 22 companies
> Pennsylvania’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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2. Texas
> Total cavalry troops: 90,940
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 4.6% Union (4,187 troops); 95.4% Confederate (86,753 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Texas: 2 regiments, 2 battalions
> Texas’ official side in the Civil War: Confederate
1. Missouri
> Total cavalry troops: 96,646
> Cavalry troop allegiance: 67.7% Union (65,407 troops); 32.3% Confederate (31,239 troops)
> Union cavalry units formed in Missouri: 32 regiments, 16 battalions, 10 companies
> Missouri’s official side in the Civil War: Union
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