Silent Cavalry

In Silent Cavalry, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Howell Raines uncovers the overlooked saga of the First Alabama Cavalry, a regiment of Union soldiers from Alabama—comprising yeoman farmers and formerly enslaved men—who played a crucial role in the Civil War, particularly under General Sherman. Despite their significant contributions, these soldiers have been largely omitted from mainstream historical narratives, a silence shaped by a conspiracy linked to the Lost Cause ideology. Through meticulous research and personal reflection, Raines reveals how their legacy was suppressed, highlighting the powerful role historians play in preserving or distorting the truth of our past.