He was singularly handsome, and possessed great personal strength and a constitution which enabled him to bear all hardships.

He possessed unfailing good spirits, and had a joke and laugh for all he met; and while on the march, at the head of his regiment, he was always ready to lift up his voice and lead the songs with which the men made the woods resound.
He seemed to live in his saddle, and was present at all hours of the night and day along the line he guarded, seeing that the men were watchful and on the alert, instructing the outposts in their duty, and infusing his own spirit and vigilance among them.

He had been educated at West Point, and had seen much service with the cavalry against the Indians in the West.

Such was the man who was to become the most famous cavalry leader of his time.

So far he had not come in contact with the enemy, and his duties were confined to obtaining information regarding their strength and intentions, to watching every road by which they could advance, and to seeing that none passed North to carry information to the enemy as to the Confederate strength and positions, for even in the Shenandoah Valley there were some whose sympathies were with the Federals.
These were principally Northern men settled as traders in the towns, and it was important to prevent them from sending any news to the enemy.