20 Introductory Chapter, 



of a whole brigade (Perouse), so that on the 24th June 

 (Solferino), the total number borne on the lists was 

 10,206.* But it subsequently tra^5pired, from the 

 report of the Cavalry Commission ordered by Marshal 

 Randon to inquire into the causes of the tear and weai 

 of horses during the campaign, that, on the day of that 

 decisive battle, not more than about 3500 horses were 

 really fit for sen-ice, the remainder having been dis- 

 abled by less than one month's marching ; for, with the 

 exception of one or two squadrons that fought at Ma- 

 genta, the French cavalry was never under fire up to 

 the 24th June, and an immense proportion of these had 

 been rendered unserviceable by the saddle and other 

 portions of the equipment. 



Most of us, too, have heard of what happened to that 

 portion of our own cavalry that was employed in the 

 reconnoitring expedition into the Dobrudscha. A 

 proverb current amongst the Continental military men 

 says that more men are put hors de combat by the 

 calfskin (the knapsack) than by either bullet or bay- 

 onet ; and there seems good reason to believe that the 

 oigskin stands in the same fatal relation to horses. 



There is no lack of books in which very full and 

 particular descriptions of model seats on horseback may 

 be found, nor of riding-masters who both know how 

 to sit a horse themselves and impart to their pupils 

 their own particular method. But this will not answer 

 the purpose ; for there exists not only a certain number 

 of typical seats, more or less suited to various ends — as 

 racing, hunting, the cavalry service, etc., all of which, 

 as has been said, have their peculiar justification — but 

 there is also a great variety in the build of horses, and 

 especially in the relative power of their fore and hind 

 quarters, which demands consideration, if we would 



* " Campagne de I'Empereur Napoleon III. en Italic en 1859" 

 (official). 



