Riding Maroon: Episcopal Cavalrymen
Many Episcopal students were part of the cavalry, 19% of fighting Episcopal students. This percentage is not representative of the masses, but more so, that of Episcopal students' affluence. It was a position for men of wealth, and wealth only, as they had to provide their own horses. Cavalry itself had changed extensively since the Revolutionary War. Due to the advancement in rifled weapons, cavalry charges were no longer as effective as they had been in earlier wars. At the outset of The Civil War, the cavalry's role in the war was limited on boths sides to patrolling, scouting, guarding supply trains, and providing escorts to generals. Initially, they were mainly as ‘shock troops’ that were more for show than for battle. The cavalry’s military role dramatically changed by 1863 when commanders utilized them more as scouts and mobile fighting forces.
A notable scout was Episcopal’s own Franklin Stringfellow who scouted for General Robert E. Lee. Stringfellow became Lee's most famous scout, and was the personal scout for Jeb Stuart. The Union placed a $10,000 reward on his head for capture, which is the equivalent of $134,000 today. He was indeed captured 5 times, and notably escaped an equal five times. He was then made captain, but resigned. Later, Stringfellow was offered command of a regiment in 1865 but declined to stay with Lee. After the war, he refused to take a loyalty oath to the Union and moved to Canada. If you want to find out more about Stringfellow, visit the page named 'Franklin Stringfellow'.
The confederacy’s new cavalry oriented strategies culminated in the largest cavalry battle of the war on June 9, 1863 at Brandy Station, Virginia. Brandy Station was the opening clash of the Gettysburg campaign. J.E.B. Stuart had much to prove following the Battle of Brandy Station where he fell victim to two surprise attacks. This battle was a loss for the Confederates.