II 



354 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



the Trimacresie among the Gauls. They formed alto- 

 gether a magnificent body of horsemen, but were very 

 deficient in discipline, and steady manoeuvring at speed 

 was unknown to them. 



Their servants do not appear to have been intended to 

 take any part in fighting in the field. One servant 

 carried the baggage and provisions uT)on a horse, the 

 other carried a carbine. The Mamelukes were armed 

 with a pair of pistols and a poignard in the girdle, 

 another pair of pistols upon the saddle, a sabre, and a 

 blunderbuss. They were clothed in shawls and turbans 

 with voluminous folds, almost serving the purpose of 

 armour, although according to Napoleon they wore coats 

 of mail and casques. They trusted more to their 

 dexterity in the management of their chargers to evade 

 a sabre stroke, than to parrying with their finely-tempered 

 light blades, which would not stand a severe blow. 



Napoleon gives some interesting particulars in reference 

 to the Mamelukes in his memoirs. He says that "two 

 Mamelukes would hold their own against three French, 

 because they were better armed, better mounted, better 

 drilled. They had two pairs of pistols, a blunderbuss, a 

 carbine, a helmet with visor, a coat of mail, and many 

 horses and servants on foot to aid them. But 100 

 French cavalry would not fear 100 Mamelukes, 300 

 would conquer a like number, and 1,000 would beat 

 1,500, so great is the influence of tactics, order, and 

 manoeuvres." * 



The French cavalry generals, when they had become 

 acquainted with the system of fighting of the Mame- 

 lukes, were accustomed to meet them in many lines. 

 When the first line moved up the Mamelukes would 

 attempt to outliaiik them ; the next line would there- 

 upon ndvance to the right and left to the succour of the 

 first, tije J^lLimclukes Avould tlicii wheel out again to 

 outflanlv tlio second line ; at this moment the French 

 generals usually gave the order to charge, and always 

 broke them and drove them ofi". The early actions, 

 however, were all won by the infantry and artillery. 



' Liskcmie, iv. 355. 



I 



