Organization of the Cavalry
A very generalized command structure of a cavalry regiment of the period would look something like this:
- 1 Colonel Commanding the regiment
- 1 Lieutenant Colonel: Second in command of the regiment
- 1 Regimental Surgeon: A medical doctor, equal to a captain
- 1 Regimental Sergeant Major
- Assistant Surgeon(s): Usually more like a physician's assistant (number, pay and importance varied)
A regiment consisted of 12 troops, usually labeled from A to M. There was no J troop because in the handwriting of that era it was easy to confuse the letter I with the letter J. A cavalry troop was equivalent to an infantry company. Four troops comprised a squadron or battalion. A major commanded each squadron. The troop itself was comprised of about 95 men broken down to the following ranks:
- 1 Captain
- 1 First Lieutenant
- 1 Second Lieutenant
- 1 First Sergeant
- 5 Line Sergeants
- 4 Corporals
- 2 Trumpeters
- 2 Farriers (horseshoers and veterinarians)
- 78 Privates (approximate number )