The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Price's Missouri Expedition

Horses were worn out quickly in the ACW and it was a most pitiable thing that happened to the poor animals. For example, the life expectency of an ACW artillery horse was only 7.5 months. If the troops were on quarter rations as quoted in the diary, you can pretty much assume the horses and draft animals were already dead. The situation in Arkansas was severe, but the overall effect was not uncommon during the war. Once a region was depleted of forage the animals quickly succumbed if there was not a reliable supply line, CSA or USA.

At some point, as a garrison that cannot be adequately supplied, you write off the horses to keep an occupation force in place. It appears to have been fairly standard in siege conditions where it was determined that a breakout could not or would not be attempted. Horses provide mobility. If mobility is no longer needed then the animals become expendable or a liability rather than an asset. Horses consume too much compared to men, and they are not as resilient as men when it comes to poor nutrition.

Long raids invariably broke down large numbers of mounts (as did regular campaigns.) Once a long raid was completed it could be a long time before cavalry and associated artillery could be remounted or their serviceable mounts restored to operational levels.

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Price's Missouri Expedition
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