ASU to Host Lecture on the Post-Civil War U.S. Cavalry Versus the Indians

Dr. Emmett Essin, professor emeritus at East Tennessee State University, will make a return appearance for Angelo State University’s Civil War Lecture Series, speaking on “The U.S. Cavalry and its Horses in the Post-Civil War Indian-Fighting Army” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Fort Concho Stables Hall, 236 Henry O. Flipper St.

Essin, author of “Shavetails and Bell Sharps: The History of the U.S. Army Mule,” spoke on the role of the mule in the Civil War for the ASU lecture series in November 2012. This time, he will focus on the challenges the U.S. Cavalry faced after the Civil War in providing its soldiers the number and quality of mounts to maintain effectiveness.

“According to some officers, there were never enough good horses in the United States Cavalry until horse cavalry was no longer needed,” Essin said.

Essin will also talk about the many challenges cavalry officers and quartermasters faced finding good horses and touch on the Army program that distributed stallions to ranchers for breeding cavalry horses. His presentation is free and open to the public.

The Civil War Lecture Series, organized by ASU’s History Department to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the conflict, will conclude on April 9, the same month and day of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox in 1865. The Fort Concho Foundation and the ASU President’s Office provided funding to make this event possible.

For more information, contact the History Department at 325-942-2324 or  [email protected] or go online to www.angelo.edu/CivilWarLectures.