If you want to see how mid-war cavalry operated, watch this (skip around a little bit, to 2:30):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQvj2HfEokE[/youtube]
Buford's Cavalry is already dismounted and engaging the infantry in this scene. The following scene is Buford and his cavalry preparing for engagement, if you're interested.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzZOp-nPho8[/youtube]
It's taken from the movie
Gettysburg (1993). A very good movie, rife with inaccuracies. If you want to watch a more correct movie about the ACW, check out
Gods and Generals (2003).
Cavalry in the ACW dismounted a lot, especially Federal units who were better trained in that procedure, but you couldn't be further from the truth when saying they did not fight mounted.
Mounted cavalry engagements were so rare. Getting that close to rifles so accurate was death (Lasalle would be proud!). Would you really charge 600 men with your 200 cavalry, lost about 60 guys, before even hitting the enemy line? I sure as hell wouldn't.