ACW 10mm NOT 6mm!

[Last Hussar]

I'm more worried the Bad Men are tempting you to buy cavalry.  Now I love a lot of men on top of some eastern European lasagne (see the name) but with ACW any time painting cavalry is time not spent painting infantry. Combined sunjester and I have about 120 US and 90 CS stands of infantry, AND THAT STILL ISNT ENOUGH

[toxicpixie]

The tactical usage shifted back to actual mounted infantry by the ACW although in Europe cavalry preferred/was wedded to mounte action still. Not to say there weren't mounted cavalry actions in the ACW, as with Custer at Gettysburg as mentioned

But that's really reall rare. Tbh I'd suggest something like but infantry and more infantry and maybe a couple of blokes on horses to stick behind your "cavalry" to show when they're mounted

[fsn]

Every time I play ACW, I find my cavalry tend to move to a point, dismount and then act basically as infantry. And I thought the dismounted figures were the luxury!

Remember the Charge of the Light Brigade and von Bredow's Death Ride - FSN

[getagrip]

I don' t really care their "real" effect, I simply cannot have an army without cavalry. 

[FierceKitty]

I don' t really care their "real" effect, I simply cannot have an army without cavalry. 

Don't let them talk you out of it. Cavalry are a defining feature of a good wargame. Even if you have an army with no mounted, the Conquistadors will be using them, for instance.

[toxicpixie]

At least it gives the catering corps something to do post-battle

And they do look pretty! The new mounted sculpts are lovely.

[FierceKitty]

I know, I play SYW too, where I don't even have dismounted figures for dragoon regiments. I do have dismounted figures for the scramble for Africa regular forces, who are real cavalry but seem to dismount to shoot rather a lot. One of my opponents has even been known to attempt to form square with them when facing cavalry attack, in fact, but he's about to get married, so perhaps his attention is a bit divided.

[cbr3d.com]

Undoubtedly the best way to start is by purchasing or including in your purchase an 'Army Pack'.  The Army Pack contains 15 mounted figures (call them cavalry, dragoons, mounted infantry, or anything you like     ).  Now after acquiring this unit of mounted figures you may decide that you do not want anymore, but the thing is that at least by getting them in the Army Pack you have the 'OPTION' to use them.  What is more if considered as the cheap bag included in the Army Pack then they have only cost you a solitary, lonely, singular £1 coin, now that cannot be bad.   

[getagrip]

That's pretty much what I thought Fight.  I originally ordered 1 army pack and several "add on units" but, following discussion here, changed it.

Thanks also to Leon for accommodating my whims.

[petercooman]

I'm painting my union cavalry this weekend, pretty sculpts! I'll be using small numbers, just because i like them! i'll use them as reserves, riding where it is most needed, dismount and strengthen the line, or more historically, scouting forward, and holding an important objective (like high ground etc) untill the foot sloggers arrive, after wich the cavalry will be pulled back.

[Leman]

Isn't that called July 1st, 1863.

[petercooman]

Isn't that called July 1st, 1863.

Indeed, That's one battle most people know, so I found it fitting to base my cavalry tactics upon that. It's not that easy to incorporate the flanking moves and raiding parties on the table top unless your table represents a significant area.

Having them grab objectives and plugging gaps is the easiest to represent the cavalry on smaller tables.

I'll probably make my dismounted cavalry without horses on the base, and have the horseholders on a separate base to place behind my unit. That way they can represent skirmishing infantry when i con't use the cavalry in battle.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

But US cavalry are far less use than the English variety - they don't add any class.

IanS

[Last Hussar]

And the uniforms aren't as pretty.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

And the uniforms aren't as pretty.

Well there is one temporary Brigadier - guess...

IanS