The Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry in the Closing Scenes of the War for the Maintenance of the Union, from Richmond to Appomatox

The Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry traces its roots back to the colonial militia of the 1600s, a tradition of mounted soldiers that earned praise from European observers long before the nation was born. By the time the Civil War erupted, the regiment had become a tight‑knit group of veteran officers and battle‑hardened troopers, shaped by rigorous training and a fierce sense of duty. Listeners will hear how its leaders, from Colonel Arnold A. Rand to the charismatic young officer Francis Washburn, forged a unit renowned for both discipline and daring.

The regiment’s most celebrated moment comes at the Battle of High Bridge in Virginia, a fierce clash that historians call one of the war’s most gallant and desperate actions. In the heat of combat the cavalry pressed a risky assault that helped seal the Union’s final push toward Appomattox, while the sounds of gunfire, galloping hooves, and the tragic loss of a beloved war horse underscore the human cost of victory. This vivid account captures the bravery, chaos, and camaraderie that defined those closing days of the conflict.