CHAP. XIV.] 



FRENCH CAVALRY. 



277 



manded by the throe li(aitenants and the three ensigns, 

 according to their seniority.^ 



They were armed when on active service with the 

 sword, pistol, and a mousgueton, a species of short 

 musket. They were accustomed to fight with the pistol 

 and sword, the mousqucton being only used in guarding 

 a defile, in pursuit of a routed enemy, or in any service 

 of a similar nature. 



In 1G76 Louis XIV. created a company of mounted 

 grenadiers to form part of his guard. It was composed 

 of 130 men, forming one squadron of three "hrujades." 

 It had three liciutenants, three sub-lieutenants, three 

 marechaux des logis, six sergeants, and six " appointez."'^ 

 They carried the sword, th(j fusil, and two pistols, and 

 fought both on foot and on horseback, distinguishing 

 themselves as cavalry at Leuze, and as infantry at 

 Valenciennes, where they stormed by a coup-de-main a 

 fortress of the strongest kind. 



The company of gendarmes contained about 200 men, 

 with two captains, three ensigns, and three guidons, 

 besides a number of officers of lower rank. In 1657 

 their arms consisted of the sword, the pistol, and in time 

 of war a portion of them were supplied with rifled 

 carbines. The uniform was of scarlet, and without 

 defensive armour. 



The company of light horse of the guard consisted of 

 200 men, two lieutenants, four cornets, ten marechaux 

 des logis, besides the inferior officers. This company, 

 like all the other light horse, had attached to them in 

 time of war a body of fifty carabins, under the command 

 of the officer of the company. They usually opened the 

 action by firing upon the enemy. This practice was in 

 use about the year 1620, when afterwards Louis XIV. 

 organised these bodies of carabins into regiments of 

 carabineers. They were no longer attached to the coijjs 

 of chevaux legers, and the company, which had been 

 under the command of the captain of the light horse of 

 the guard, was formed into a company of mousque fairest 

 The chevaux legers were armed with swords or sabres, 

 ' Daniel, ii. 83. 2 ibid. ii. 128. » Ibid. ii. 143, 144. 



