Riding with the Comanches - William N McDonald - Bog

An outstanding Confederate cavalry unit during the American Civil War

The Confederate cavalry unit that bore the name of the fearsome Indian tribe of the American south-west was, in fact, The 35th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, which was also known as White's Battalion or White's Rebels. It was raised by Elijah V. (Lige) White in Loudoun County, Virginia during the winter of 1861-62. The battalion-it was never large enough to be termed a regiment- was initially formed to operate as border guards along the Potomac River below Harpers Ferry, but was eventually mustered into the regular Southern states army, serving in the latter part of the war as part of the renowned Laurel Brigade. The Comanches also took part in partisan warfare throughout the war. The battalion was active during the Gettysburg Campaign,1863 particularly in the Battle of Brandy Station and it thereafter conducted a series of raids on Union-held railroads and defensive positions in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The battalion's battle history was an impressive one. These six companies-five from Virginia and one from Maryland-also fought during Jackson's Valley Campaign, The Waterford Fight, The Beefsteak Raid, The Battle of High Bridge and the Battle of Cedar Creek. An interesting extract from the history of the Laurel Brigade by McDonald accompanies the principal text. Includes photographs and illustrations not present in the original texts.
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