Added background on cavalry defense

In reply to David Werdegar (in the Aug. 25 letters column) who wants to know how Capt. Marcellus Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry could possible fire the first shot at Gettysburg when a "cavalry charge was usually preceded by a covering artillery barrage."

I suspect you may be watching too many John Wayne movies. The truth is, Jones and the 8th Illinois Cavalry were part of Brigadier General John Buford's First Division of the Cavalry Corps, which was providing cover for the infantry of the Army of the Potomac as it marched northward looking for the Confederate Army.

Just outside of Gettysburg, they made contact with elements of the rebel army and fought as dismounted cavalry, not charging, but rather holding back Confederate infantry units until the Union Army's infantry could arrive on the field.

While eventually the Confederate Army pushed several Unions Corps out of Gettysburg, the federals ended up holding the high ground and the rest is history.

Incidentally, the 8th Illinois Cavalry was considered to be one of the most fierce fighting units in the federal Army and greatly respected by its foe.

Bob Kurek

Bloomingdale

PH Sheridan Camp 2

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War