A typical Confederate cavalry officer during the American Civil War was usually a young, daring, and highly mobile soldier, often drawn from the Southern planter or landed classes. Skilled on horseback from an early age, he prized speed, initiative, and personal bravery. Dressed in a gray or butternut uniform—sometimes adorned with a slouch hat and boots suited for long rides—he carried sidearms, a sabre, and often a carbine or shotgun. Many Confederate cavalry officers cultivated a chivalric image, blending frontier riding skills with a strong sense of Southern honor and identity.