Blue-Blooded Cavalryman

Archival Summary & Scope

Eighteen-year-old William Brooke Rawle left a privileged life in May 1863 to command a company in the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, Army of the Potomac. Within weeks, he was thrust into major engagements like Brandy Station and Gettysburg. Documented through his 150 meticulous letters and diary entries, this intimate account chronicles Rawle's service through April 1864, detailing his experiences in battles such as Bristoe Station and Mine Run, and skirmishes against partisans. It offers a unique, richly detailed look into the daily life of a Union cavalry officer during the Civil War's pivotal eastern campaigns.