CHAP. XIV.J 



FRENCH CAVALRY. 



279 



is to Kfiy, about the latter half of the seventeenth 

 century, that dragoons were used to the greatest extent ; 

 in fact, almost all the cavalry, as we have said, were 

 virtually dragoons. They were often used on foot as 

 infantry when no infantry were at hand for the purpose. 

 In 1664, six days before the battle of St. Gothard, 

 dragoons were used as infantry in a reconnaissance.^ 



On the accession of Louis XIV. to the throne he found 

 only one regiment of dragoons in the French army. In 

 1659 he created a second ; and it will give some idea of 

 the system of cavalry tactics of the period when it is 

 mentioned that in 1690 the total force of this kind in 

 France had increased to forty-three regiments.' One 

 reason for this increase is said to have been that it was 

 found that in long wars the dragoons were the most 

 suitable, as they had greater solidity than the other arms, 

 and were better able to endure fatigue. Napoleon I. 

 imitated the idea in Spain, and for the same reason. 



Hussars v/ere also introduced about 1691. They were 

 expected to rely much upon the sabre. They used short 

 stirrups, and manoeuvred very loosely. The cuirassiers 

 and light cavalry ranged as the others in three ranks, 

 did not fire as formerly by successive ranks, each retiring 

 to load after having fired, for it seems, on the contrary, 

 that all three ranks fired at once, and then generally 

 charged sword in hand.^ 



The charge, however, was not very vigorous, for they 

 usually moved at the trot. They sometimes advanced 

 at a slow pace, pistol in hand, and then after firing at 

 close range, took to the sword when the mSlee com- 

 menced.'' The cavalry service had somewhat fallen back. 

 They did not press on with even the vigour of the 

 horsemen who were led by Gustavus Adolphus, Crom- 

 well, and Pappenheim, while the charge at speed with 

 hand-to-hand weapons, which had been the custom of 

 the cavalry of Hannibal, was yet to be revived. 



The cavalry formed in three ranks, generally at twelve 

 paces behind each other, although under Turenne the 



* Duparcq, ii. 210. ' Rocquanoourt, i. 378. ' Duparcq, ii. 211. 

 * Ibid. 



