The Boy Generals: George Custer, Wesley Merritt, and the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac: Volume 2 - From the Gettysburg Retreat Through the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864

“Al Ovies combines an impressive array of source material and intricate analysis to craft a historical gem. This is a must-read for anyone interested in Civil War cavalry and later war actions in the Eastern Theater.” ? Scott Patchan, author of The Last Battle of Winchester The second installment of Al Ovies’s The Boy Generals trilogy encompasses a period jammed with tumultuous events for the cavalry on and off the battlefield and a significant change of command at the top. Once below the Potomac River, the Union troopers raced down the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains but were unable to prevent General Lee’s wounded Army of Northern Virginia from reaching Culpeper. The balance of 1863 was a series of maneuvers, raids, and fighting that witnessed the near-destruction of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade at Buckland Mills and the indecisive and frustrating efforts of the Bristoe Station and Mine Run campaigns. Alfred Pleasonton’s controversial command of the mounted arm ended abruptly, only to be replaced by the more controversial Philip H. Sheridan, whose combustible personality intensified the animosity burning between George Custer and Wesley Merritt. Victory and glory followed the Cavalry Corps during the early days of the Overland Campaign, particularly at Yellow Tavern, where Rebel cavalier Jeb Stuart was mortally wounded.