ciiAi'. xviii.] PETEll THE GREAT'S CAVALRY. 



305 



three legimeuts of dragoon grenadiers. These carried no 

 flags.' 



The dragoons were organised for the express purpose 

 of fighting both on foot and on horseback, their arms 

 and equipment being specially designed for that object. 

 They had muskets with which they fought when dis- 

 mounted, and long straight swords and pistols, for use 

 when fighting as cavalry on horseback. The intention 

 of using them principally as dragoons, and upon foot, is 

 clearly shown by the fact that one-fifth of the men 

 carried axes, one- tenth of them large shovels, and one- 

 tenth spades, all carried in the same way attached to the 

 saddles. These implements were evidently intended to 

 enable the dragoons to cut down abattis, and throw up 

 field entrenchments to cover them when using their 

 mu8k(}ts in defending important posts.^ From 1700 till 

 1708 the muskets were provided with a species of sword- 

 bayonet, which served both as a sword and as a bayonet. 

 The dragoons were clad in blue coats ; the collars, 

 facings, and lining being of white or red. The vest 

 and trousers were of chamois leather. Spurred boots were 

 also worn ; the head-dress was a three-cornered hat. In 

 1802, this was changed for the casque. After the year 

 1708, the muskets were provided with a bayonet like 

 that used by the Swedes. The ensigns, paymasters, 

 standard-bearers, sergeants, and corporals of the 

 dragoon regiments were not provided with fusils, but 

 used the pistol only in addition to their swords. 



The formation of these regiments was in three ranks, 

 except when the men were dismounted and formed up 

 to fight on foot, in which case they were accustomed to 

 be ranged in four ranks. 



The proportion of the cavalry to the infantry in Peter 

 tlie Great's time was very great. In the year 1720 

 the infantry were only 57,956 in number, while the 

 cavalry comprised 36,333 horsemen.^ This is an evi- 

 dence of the high value placed upon the mounted 

 force by one of the greatest soldiers in the world's 

 history. 



' Tviuihoff, l.'i. 



-' Ibid. '27. 



•' Ibid. 3G. 



