REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 245 



INSTRUCTION AND TACTICS. 



No change of any importance lias been made in the system since it was adopted as the basis 

 of our own ; it is therefore unnecessary to remark upon it. 



ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS. 



Carahiniers and cuirassiers. — Metallic helmet, back and breast pieces, pistol, and sabre. The 

 sabre has a Montmorency blade, very slightly curved. 



Dragoons. — Sabre, pistol, and musket. The sabre is the same as that of the cuirassiers. 

 The musket has no bayonet ; barrel 36" long, and weighs 7.9 pounds. On ordinary marches, 

 on parade, &c. , the musket is carried with the hutt in a boot, attached to the right side of the 

 , pommel ; this boot is 5" deep, 6" long, and 2|" wide. The muzzle of the musket rises about 

 3" above and behind the right shoulder, and is attached to the pommel by a strap. When in 

 expectation of meeting an enemy, the musket is slung over the shoulder, muzzle up. 



Lancers. — Light cavalry sabre, pistol, lance, musketoon. It has been proposed to abandon 

 the musketoon ; I do not know whether that has been done or not. 



Chasseurs. — Dragoon musket, light cavalry sabre, and pistol. 



Hussars. — Musketoon, light cavalry sabre, and pistol. The musketoon has both boot and 

 sling. 



African chasseurs. — Armed as the other chasseurs, but always carry the musket slung over the 

 left shoulder ; never in a boot. 



Spaliis. — Musket and pistol as for the African chasseurs, but carry the sabre attached to the 

 saddle, in the Mexican fashion. 



Cent-Gardes are cuirassiers, armed with a pistol, and a breech-loading carbine, with sabre 

 bayonet; this bayonet is a very long, light, and nearly straight sabre, without guard; alone, it 

 is an excellent sabre ; when fixed on the carbine, it may be used as a lance when mounted, as an 

 ordinary musket and bayonet on foot. 



In all the cavalry, the pistol is attached to the saddle by means of a strap fastened to a ring 

 in the butt. 



The cartridge-box has a shoulder belt, and contains 20 rounds ; the men carry spare packages 

 of cartridges in their pouches, or wherever may be most convenient. 



The belts, &c., are quite like our own ; the sabre belt fastens with an <X) hook. 



A camp hatchet is carried by the corporals and 1st class privates. 



HORSE EQUIPMENTS. 



Our own being at present but little else than modifications of those generally in use in the 

 French service, it is only necessary to describe those of the African chasseurs, and a model 

 very recently adopted. 



The saddle of the African chasseurs is a plain wooden tree, with a pad on top, and no skirts ; 

 the model not unlike our own, (the Grimsley,) but rather lower in the pommel and cantle. 



The girth and surcingle are of leather ; stirrups steel ; no schabraque. Two shoe pouches of 

 the usual kind, for 2 shoes and 32 nails each, attached to the hind fork. Nose bag of hair 

 cloth. 



The valise is replaced by canvas saddle bags, re-enforced with leather. The forage bag and 

 tente d'abri are fastened to the cantle. 



