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350 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



enemy in great columns, covered by large masses of 

 artillery, which gave them the support they required. 

 To aid in these attacks and to pave the way for them, the 

 French adopted the custom of throwing forward clouds 

 of skirmishers, or tirailleurs, composed of the best 

 marksmen, who, like the velites of the Koman legions, 

 commenced the action by a heavy fire upon the enemy, 

 to cover the advance of the massive columns, which, 

 following in their rear, were i sort of revival of the 

 ancient phalanx. 



These skirmishers did not require a high amount of 

 tactical skill to perform the services demanded of them, 

 and gave an opportunity of using to the best advantage 

 a class of men who would otherwise have been un- 

 able to render effec'Ve aid. The heavy columns 

 which mp^^^ed to the attack under this cover were 

 composed of raw troops, who gained confidence and 

 courage from the weight of numbers; for it requires 

 high training and experience to enable troops to fight 

 boldly in line. It is the natural instinct of men to crowd 

 together in masses under visible danger, and the French 

 system followed that instinct in the deep masses in 

 which their infantry attacked. They were called 

 columns, and were columns originally, but in action they 

 often became nothing but heaps of men crowded 

 together in disorder. 



This system among the infantry naturally led to a 

 more extensive use of artillery ; horse ftrtillery being 

 also employed in large force in connection with the 

 cavalry. Napoleon augmented that arm very materially, 

 and attached batteries to every division of cavalry. 



The cavalry were armed with the straight sword and 

 pistol ; the dragoons with fusils, pistols, and swords ; 

 the chasseurs with carbines, pistols, and curved sabres ; 

 the hussars with pistols and sabres. They were used 

 for outposts, patrols, and reconnoitring parties. In the 

 early actions of the Republic the cavalry did not make 

 charges upon tV^ battle-field, but were used more in 

 partial combats, where their individual address and 

 enthusiasm had a considerable influence upon the result. 



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