CAVALEY. 421 



solid masses, whether of infantry or horse, at speed, in the 

 actual shock of battle. For the first of these duties, activity, 

 rather than speed, quickness, hardness, and endurance, are the 

 essential qualifications — for the second, the union of the maxi- 

 mum of speed with the maximum of the weight-carrying 

 capacity. 



In the charge of cavalry the measure of the impetus, or 

 momentum, of the attacking body, is that of the weight multi- 

 plied by that of the velocity of the impinging body. 



It is evident, therefore, that the heavier the body which can 

 be propelled at a given rate against a lighter body, going at the 

 same rate — or the greater the speed at which any given body 

 can be propelled against an equal body moving at inferior 

 speed — the more powerful and certain the efi'ect of the charge. 



In a word, the problem given to be answered is, how to 

 propel the maximum weight at the maximum speed ? 



The weight of an English trooper fully accoutred and in 

 heavy marching order, is prodigious ; that of a hussar or light 

 dragoon, averaging eighteen stone, or 250 lbs. ; that of a heavy 

 dragoon, twenty stone, or 280 lbs. ; and that of a life-guardsman, 

 or cuirassier, twenty-two stone, or 308 lbs. 



Great power is of course required to mount these ponderous 

 masses, but great speed is also required to move them ; for 

 unless they can be launched at a tremendous rate, all the 

 horses being so equal in their pace and stride tliat the line is 

 kept perfectly dressed, and even, to the moment when the shock 

 is to be given, the charge is a failure. 



To attain thispower of immense speed for a short time under 

 a crushing weight, in the actual charge, and to combine with it 

 the power of staying long distances, coming again quickly, 

 moving actively, and enduring severe distress, nothing but the 

 highest possible degree of blood that can be combined with bone, 

 size, shape and action sufiicient to endure such weights, and all 

 this capable of being furnished at a possible price, can succeed. 

 This can be, and is attained by the crossing choice blood stal- 

 lions of the proper build and style on properly selected mares, 

 to the second or third generation. The light brigade of Lord 

 Cardigan, which made that prodigious charge and retreat, each 

 of a mile and a half, was mounted on three parts blood-horses. 



