About this book
James Harvey Kidd's Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman With Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade in the Civil War offers an intimate firsthand account of one soldier's extraordinary experiences during America's greatest conflict. Originally published in 1908, this historical memoir captures the perspective of a Union cavalry trooper who rode alongside the legendary George Armstrong Custer through some of the Civil War's most pivotal battles and campaigns.
Kidd, a former colonel of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry and brevet brigadier general, recounts major engagements including Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Cedar Creek, and the daring Trevilian Raid. Beyond the dramatic narratives of combat and cavalry maneuvers, his recollections reveal the daily realities of military life, the bonds forged between comrades, and the strategic brilliance that made Custer's Michigan cavalry brigade one of the Union Army's most formidable fighting forces. Kidd's modest yet compelling storytelling brings readers into the saddle, presenting history through the eyes of those who lived it.
This biography and military history is essential listening for Civil War enthusiasts, history scholars, and anyone seeking authentic period perspectives from those who shaped the nation's destiny. Kidd's dedication to honoring his fellow cavalrymen ensures that their sacrifices and valor receive the historical recognition they deserve, making this memoir an invaluable primary source for understanding cavalry warfare and leadership during the 1860s.
