June 24, 1863, The New York Herald
The recent great battle between General Pleasanton’s cavalry forces and those of the rebel Stuart, in which the former were victorious, goes to prove the superiority of that branch of our service. It was supposed by the rebels that their cavalry was able to defeat ours under any circumstances; the repulse of their vaunted General Stuart will dispel the illusion. It must be evident that were our cavalry forces tripled we could soon put an end to the raids of the rebels, and in fact penetrate into regions in the South which as yet have not suffered from the effects of the war. Had we, say fifty thousand cavalry, under the command of such officers as Pleasanton, Buford, Gregg, Kilpatrick, the dashing English baronet Sir Percy Wyndham, Stahl and Grierson, we could soon show to the world that Northerners make as good cavalry as the rebels – a fact which would be proved to the great discomfiture of the latter. They from the first understood the utility of a large cavalry force. It was, owing to this foresight, that they were enabled to commit so many depredations upon our soil. Our administration has seemed unwilling to take the lesson taught them by the successful raids of the rebels; but now, that our own forces are proving the great efficiency of this branch of the service, we may reasonably look for a large increase of our cavalry.
With fifty thousand mounted men we could prevent the rebels from making those captures of horses which give them the opportunity of recruiting their broken down cavalry, and as a speedy result the effectiveness of this rebel arm would soon be impaired. We should hear no more of such daring raids as they are in the habit of making if they were aware that an overwhelming force of cavalry was ever ready to swoop down upon them should they dare invade our soil. We could also then cut to pieces the enemy when in retreat. In fact, the need of a large cavalry force is so imperative that the War Department should see to its immediate enrolment. There are officers, men and horses enough. The government could easily raise a cavalry force of one hundred thousand; there should be no delay in this matter. By all means let us have an overwhelming cavalry force.