REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 125 



Circumstances of geography and climate have given to these men a race of horses in every 

 way adapted to their riders ; the Cossack horse is excelled by none in activity and hardiness. 



The Cossack neglects no opportunity of feeding his horse ; during short halts, even under fire, 

 he gives him whatever is to be had ; the horse refuses nothing that is ofi"ered him, and eats when- 

 ever he has the opportunity, for he has not acquired the pernicious habit of eating only at regular 

 hours. Some idea may be formed of the power of endurance of the Cossacks and their horses 

 from the fact, that, in a certain expedition against Khiva, there were 3,500 regular Eussian troops 

 and 1,200 Cossacks ; of the regulars but 1,000 returned, of the Cossacks but 60 perished. 



The tendency of events, during the present century, has been to assimilate the organization 

 of the Cossacks to that of the regulars, to a certain extent ; whether the effect of this has been 

 to modify or destroy their valuable individual characteristics may yet remain to be proved in a 

 general war ; the events of the campaign of Hungary are said to indicate that more regularity 

 of action has by no means impaired their efficiency. 



This brief description of the qualities of the irregular cavalry indicates at once the use made 

 of them in war ; they watch, while the regulars repose. All the duty of advanced posts, patrols, 

 reconnaissances, escorting trains, carrying despatches, acting as orderlies, &c., is performed in 

 preference by the Cossacks ; the consequence is, that, on the day of battle, the regular cavalry 

 are brought upon the field in full force and undiminished vigor. Under cover of these active 

 irregulars, a Eussian army enjoys a degree of repose unknown to any other ; while, on the other 

 hand, it is 'difficult for their antagonists to secure their outposts and foil their stealthy movements. 



The rapidity and length of their marches are almost incredible ; a march of 40 miles is a com- 

 mon thing ; they will make forced marches of TO miles ; in a thickly settled country they have, 

 in two days, made six marches of ordinary cavalry without being discovered. 



In concluding this subject, it is impossible to repress the conviction that in many of tlie tribes 

 of our frontier Indians, such as the Delawares, Kickapoos, &c., we possess the material for the 

 formation of partisan troops fully equal to the Cossacks ; in the event of a serious war on this 

 continent, their employment, under the regulations and restrictions necessary to restrain their 

 tendency to unnecessary cruelty, would be productive of most important advantages. 



In our contests with the hostile Indians, bodies of these men, commanded by active and ener- 

 getic regular officers, and supported by regular troops, would undoubtedly be of great service. 



The term dragoon was originally applied to troops who were, at the same time, cavalry and 

 infantry. For example, the French dragoons of the time of Louis XIV would, on one day, as 

 cavalry, meet and defeat the imperial cuirassiers, and on the next day form the assaulting column 

 in the attack of a breach. 



It is necessary not to confound the true dragoon with such troops as our mounted rifles, for 

 instance, whose proper purpose is to use the horse merely as a means of rapid locomotion, always 

 dismounting and fighting on foot upon reaching the scene of action. 



The Eussian dragoons are the only real dragoons in the world ; their arms, equipment, &c., 

 have been heretofore described. 



They are principally employed in covering retreats, occupying isolated posts, making sudden 

 attacks upon villages, &c. 



When they dismount to fight on foot, one man of every three remains mounted, and holds the 

 horses of the others ; one officer remains mounted with each squadron. 



When dismounted, they conform to the infantry tactics. 



Since the 9th and 10th squadrons, armed as lancers, do not dismount, each regiment furnishes 

 a battalion of about 800 infantry. 



