Cavalry life in tent and field

A vivid portrait emerges of a young family torn from a quiet New York hamlet by the fevered call of the Civil War. Through the eyes of a cavalry officer’s wife, the narrative weaves the ordinary rhythms of farm life with the sudden, unsettling departure of her husband and sons to distant camps. As the men answer the nation’s demand, the woman steps into an unexpected role—tending fields, managing the household, and holding the family together while the war’s first thunder rolls across the countryside.

The book balances tender recollections of tender goodbyes with the stark realities of early military service, from flag‑bearing youths to a youthful lieutenant thrust into command. Interlaced with affectionate tributes from fellow soldiers, it captures both the pride and the anxiety that accompany a home front pressed into wartime service. Listeners will feel the echo of 1860s patriotism and the intimate, day‑to‑day struggles that defined cavalry life in tent and field.