REPORT OP CAPT. GEORGE B. MTLELLAiJ. 



255 



t=^ 



In the Crimea, the cavalry usually encamped in line, with two rows of picket roi^es, and a 

 line of shelter tents in front of and behind the picket ropes ; the arms and equipments between 

 the shelters and the picket ropes. 



The picket rope is stretched on the 

 ground, and the horses secured to it by a 

 hobble on the right fore foot ; the hobble 

 is of leather, and about 3' long ; it buckles 

 around the pastern joint ; sometimes the 

 hobble is attached to a picket j^in, in- 

 stead of a picket rope. 



The annexed sketch shows this arrange- 

 ment ; it is spoken of by the French 

 officers as being the best manner of secur- 



ing the horses. 



Officers' horses are on the flanks of the squadron picket ropes ; those of the field and staff 

 are near the tents of their owners. 



For the latter, rude stables are usually formed, by excavating to the depth of a couple of feet, 

 banking up the earth around three sides, and then forming a roof and walls of brush. 



When time and circumstances permitted, the same was done for the horses of the men, espe- 

 cially in the winter. It was stated that a very slight protection of this kind produced very 

 marked beneficial results. In this connexion, I would remark, that companies of cavalry ought 

 always to be provided with a sufficient number of tools to enable them to improvise some such 

 shelter in any camp at all permanent ; anything which jiartially protects the horses from the 

 cold winds is of great service. 



The French horses were blanketed in camp. 



The annexed sketch is a 

 section of the conical tent 

 used by the French staff 

 officers ; it will be observed 

 that it has low walls, and 

 but one central pole. 



In the Crimea, the horses 



were fed 3 times each day ; 



when the ration was large, 



4 times. They were watered 



y»Ee>'>-''^'i'''«^^^^^^^^^^ twice a day — early in the 



morning and at about 3 p. m. ; sometimes but once a day. 



They were cleaned twice a day. 



The men of the African chasseurs never go to bed without cleaning and rubbing down their 

 horses, whatever may be the weather and the hour of night when they reach camp. 



On the march, each man carries 4 days' barley, 2 days' hay, and 4 days' rations for himself. 

 When going into action, the men, whenever it is possible, leave their forage rations, cooking 

 utensils, &c., in charge of a few men, or the dismounted men, retaining only cloak, arms, and 

 ammunition ; for a division to effect this requires about half an hour. 



There are always a number of dismounted men to take care of baggage animals, act as officers' 

 servants, &c. 



