REPOET OF CAPT. GKOKGK B. M'CLELLAN. 271 



the 4th officer is posted, as a file-closer, (he is called "squadron serrefile,") one-half a horse's 

 length in rear of the centre of the squadron; the 5th and 6th officers, (called "troop serrefiles,") 

 at the same distance behind the centres of the troops ; one sergeant, the standard bearer, is in 

 the front rank between the troops ; 8 sergeants are on the flanks of the divisions, in the front 

 rank, all covered by corporals or old soldiers ; the 10th sergeant, as squadron marker, is in the 

 rank of file-closers, one horse's length on the right of the squadron serrefile; the trumpeters are 

 in the rank of file-closers, behind the second files from the flanks of the squadron ; super- 

 numerary officers and sergeants and the farriers are distributed in the rank of file-closers. 



The formations are by single file, by files, by sections of threes, and by threes, as in the 

 Russian system. 



The front of column is increased or diminished as in our own tactics. 



The English tactics being easily obtained, and copies of it being in the possession of the War 

 Department, it is deemed unnecessary to give extracts from it. 



Much of the preliminary instruction is worthy of consideration ; it is very concise ; the com- 

 mands are generally short, and it should by no means be passed over by officers engaged in the 

 revision of our own tactics. 



HOESE EQUIPMENTS, ETC. ' 



The saddle has a lower cantle and pommel than our Grimsley saddle ; it is covered with leather. 



The snaffle bit is attached to the halter headstall by a chain and T ; the curb has a separate 

 headstall, which, on the march, is sometimes taken off and hung on the carbine stock ; the halter 

 shank is a chain, and is worn in the field. 



No schabraque is worn ; the pouches, valise, &c., present nothing peculiar. 



There is a difference between the saddles for the heavy and light cavalry. 



The cavalry are armed with the sabre, carbine, and pistol, with the exception of the lancers, 

 who have two pistols and a lance in lieu of the carbine. 



The sabre is long, and has a steel guard ; it is formed rather for cutting than for thrusting. 



Large numbers of the Drane & Adams' revolvers were being made at Liege for the English 

 cavalry ; none had been issued in the Crimea. 



The Cape mounted riflemen have a sabre, pistol, and a carbine with a double barrel. 



The carbine is carried in a boot, and has also a sling. 



The cartridge-box is suspended from a shoulder belt. 



The heavy cavalry wear helmets ; the light dragoons, shakos ; the hussars, fur cylindrical 

 hats, or shakos ; the lancers, the czapka. 



The cuirassiers have both breast and back plate. 



The frock-coat was in the course of adoption, but had been issued in the Crimea only to a 

 few regiments. 



In the Crimea, the cavalry had their full dress. 



The horses of the English cavalry are large and excellent ; for the heavy cavalry they leave 

 nothing to be desired ; it may be a question whether they have light cavalry, in the true 

 sense of the term, except, perhaps, some of the regiments who have been serving in India, and 

 are mounted on Indian horses ; for the men and horses of the light cavalry are scarcely to be 

 distinguished from those of the heavy, and it may be doubted whether they would stand the 

 severe work, exposure, and short rations, which usually fall to the lot of light cavalry in 

 campaign, as well as the less imposing but lighter and more active material of the light cavalry 

 of other nations. 



