My long-awaited copy of Sergeant Larson, 4th Cav. arrived yesterday via InterLibrary Loan. I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time, as the book is nearly impossible to find. Upon opening the cover, I found out why. Only 300 copies were printed, and that was in 1935. The majority of the remaining copies are in small southwestern libraries, and the few available on the internet are several hundred dollars.

I hope to have the book read and a review ready by the end of next week, but at first glance the book appears to be a treasure. Sergeant Larson served the entire war in the western theater with the 4th US Cavalry, and participated in all of the major campaigns with his regiment. The book promises to do for the western regular cavalry what Sidney Davis Morris’ Common Soldier, Uncommon War does for the 6th US Cavalry and the Regular Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. I’m especially looking forward to the Chickamauga section, but that’s a rant for another time.