

!!i 



CHAP. XXIII.] WARS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



346 



the result of the example set by the Austrians in their 

 splendid outpost service, was the organisation of a 

 numerous and efficient body of light horse, which was 

 much more required than ever, on account of the great 

 increase in the size of armies, and the consequent 

 necessity for a more extended and more active system 

 of advanced posts. ^ 



These light horsemen were well equipped for the 

 duties for which they were organised, being armed with 

 a carbine, a pistol, and a sabre, which last weapon they 

 soon learned to rely upon mainly. These horsemen 

 carried a very heavy load upon their chargers, however, 

 in the shape of a weighty saddle, a cloak and valise, 

 beside forage and provisions. Marshal Saxe had seen 

 the evil of this, and had expressed himself strongly 

 against superfluous baggage — an important point that 

 the cavalry officer should never lose sight of. 



Under Louis XVI. further improvements were made 

 in the cavalry service : the rear rank was closed up to 

 within two paces of the front rank, and the movement 

 by groups of three files, which had followed the in- 

 troduction of the manoeuvre copied from the Germans, 

 called Wiederzuruck, by which changes of front were 

 made to the rear, was abolished, and the movement by 

 sections of four files was adopted. This is now the general 

 system in all civilised countries for the movement of 

 small bodies of cavalry to a flank.^ Schools of horseman- 

 ship were also established, and greater care taken in the 

 individual training of the horsemen. 



On the outbreak of the Revolution the French cavalry 

 consisted of 30 regiments of heavy cavalry, containing 

 12,960 men ; 17 regiments of dragoons, containing 6,528 

 men ; 4 regiments of hussars, containii^g 1,280 men, and 

 3,414 cavalry of the guard, making in all over 24,000 

 horsemen.' 



The Prussian cavalry retrograded in the last years of 

 Frederick's reign. The best officers had grown old or 

 had died, and the army was filled with new soldiers. 

 Although the principle upon which it was organised was 



> Humbert, 113, » Ibid. 118. « Carrion Nisas, ii. 389, 390. 



