CHAP. XI.] 



THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR. 



259 



the first to appreciate the true uses of that arm in 

 the position in which it was placed under the system 

 of modern warfare. His ameliorations were very im- 

 portant, not so much in the arms and equipment, as in 

 the tactical method of using it. 



When he came upon the scene the cavalry tactics of 

 the age were of the clumsiest and slowest type. The 

 squadrons were large, the mi^n heavily armed, and moving 

 at slow pace, they relied mainly upon their muskets and 

 pistols. The charge at speed was unknown. Gustavus 

 organised his cavalry into regiments, consisting of eight 

 troops, each containing about 70 men ; the regiment 

 therefore, when full, having a strength of about 560 men.* 

 These regiments were formed four ranks in depth, and 

 afterwards in three, which was a great reduction from 

 the massive formation in use before his time. The 

 weight of the cavalry appointments wns also lessened as 

 much as possible. He retained only the cuirass and 

 helmrt in the heavy cavalry, the light cavalry wearing 

 no defensive armour.^ 



He suppressed the caracoles and half wheels, and half 

 halts, which were commonly practised in his time in order 

 to draw the fire of the enemy before riding closely up, and 

 ordered his troops to ride boldly up to the enemy's line, 

 when the front rank, firing a single volley with their 

 pistols, were to draw swords and dash in among the 

 troops opposed to them, the second and third i-anks 

 generally reserving their fire, to be used when the 

 enemy's line was broken. 



It was in the hand-to-hand combat that Gustavus 

 taught his cavalry to be famous. He wished them to 

 depend upon the keen edge of the sword, and the shock 

 of the charging men and horses, and he was therefore 

 the first to revive the ideas of Alexander and Hannibal, 

 and to introduce into modern Europe the true principles 

 of cavalry tactics.' 



Gustavus is generally reported to have mixed his 

 infantry and cavalry in the- manner of the ancient 

 Komans. Scliiller says he mach' ii]) for his want of 

 ' ('hapman, !I5. - Fonscolonibe, .'il. •' ('hapninn, Vt7. 



V ! 



'I II 



I 



s -Z 



