Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea (Unabridged)

Delaware's Forgotten Cavalry: A Failure of Command tells the remarkable true story of the First Delaware Cavalry during the American Civil War and the leadership crisis that nearly destroyed the regiment. Drawing from soldiers' diaries, letters, military records, and contemporary newspapers, historian David L. Tabler reveals a forgotten chapter of Civil War history through the eyes of the men who lived it.

The story begins in June 1863 when Delaware cavalrymen unexpectedly faced J.E.B. Stuart's Confederate horsemen during the Gettysburg Campaign. What follows is more than a tale of battlefield action. It is the story of ordinary soldiers confronting extraordinary failures of leadership as they struggle to serve under Major Napoleon Bonaparte Knight, an officer whose political connections outweighed his military abilities.

Through the firsthand accounts of Sergeants Harrison Vandegrift, Spencer Hitch, and Townsend Downes, listeners experience cavalry life as it unfolded day by day. Their diaries chronicle scouting missions, camp life, combat, hardship, and growing frustration with a commander they increasingly distrusted. As Knight's actions come under scrutiny, the regiment becomes divided by questions of loyalty, duty, and honor.

Rather than focusing on famous generals and major battles, Delaware's Forgotten Cavalry explores the human side of warfare. It examines how leadership affects morale, how soldiers respond when trust breaks down, and how courage emerges in unexpected places.

Rich in original source material and historical detail, this book offers fresh insight into Civil War military history while restoring a long-overlooked Delaware regiment to its rightful place in the historical record.

Perfect for listeners interested in Civil War history, cavalry history, military leadership, warfare, Union Army history, Delaware history, Gettysburg-era campaigns, and true stories of soldiers facing the challenges of war both on and off the battlefield.