1 'I ■ 



42 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



PERIOD I. 



)' I II ! 



V I 



Ji 



m 



I 



The spear is planted at the side of the horse, and has a 

 hook upon the shaft, on which the man placing his foot 

 easily bestrides the horse.^ This explains the above 

 passage. The same writer adds that Livy mentions 

 likewise this met'iod of getting on horseback as prac- 

 tised by the Roman soldiers. 



In mounting from the right side Xenophon says it is 

 very proper to practise it as well as the other, as there 

 is nothing more to learn than to perform those move- 

 ments with the left hand and foot which the rider had 

 previously performed with the right. 



The horseman was taught to sit well upright upon 

 his thighs, and not as if seated on a chair ; and was 

 taught to cling to his seat with his thighs, letting his 

 legs from the knees down hang loosely. The body of 

 the rider was carried erect, so that he could have full 

 command over his weapons. The reins were carried in 

 the left hand as at present, the arm being kept close to 

 the side. 



The horsemen were drilled in sham combats with each 

 other, using spears and javelins blunted with balls, and 

 by alternately retreating and charging, they gained the 

 necessary skill in the use of their horses and weapons 

 which was required in actual warfare. 



SECTION IV. — XENOPHON's TREATISE ON CAVALRY. 



This is the most ancient work we have which treats 

 specially of the cavalry service, and is very interesting 

 as an expression of the ' 'ews of a skilled soldier who 

 throughout all his writings seems to have shown not only 

 a thorough knowledge of the cavalry service, but an 

 appreciation of and fondness for it of a very marked 

 character. 



The treatise is addressed to some particular person, sup- 

 posed to be his son Gryllus, who served in the Athenian 

 cavalry, and it details fully all the duties of a com- 

 mander of horse in the Athenian service, how the force 

 may be maintained at the proper number, how to equip 



' Xenophon, 284 nnle. 





