[ 



364 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



the trot, at which pace alone tney could preserve order 

 in movements en masse. 



This slower pace made the losses by the fire of opposing 

 infantry so much heavier, that Napoleon took steps to 

 protect his cavalry as much as possible from this danger. 

 He consequently reintroduced cuirasses, and supplied a 

 number of the regiments of the heavy cavalry with them, 

 as well as with casques, or helmets, to protect the head. 

 The carabinier regiments were afterwards also provided 

 with these portions of defensive armour. 



The cuirassiers soon acquired a very high reputation, 

 and on many a field of action performed feats which 

 shed a lustre upon the cavalry service, and had a great 

 influence upon the result of the campaigns. 



Napoleon Lad many different types of cavalry in his 

 army. After the combat of Borghetto, in 1 796, he 

 organised a corps of Guides, whose principal duty was to 

 watch over his personal safety.^ They were all veterans 

 who had served for ten years, and were chosen with 

 great care. This corps formed the origin and nucleus of 

 the Consular Guard, which afterwards was increased, and 

 became almost an army, under the name of the Imperial 

 Guard. 



There were two regiments of carabineers in the French 

 army. In 1791 their armament consisted of a carbine 

 .with bayonet, pistol, and a straight sword. In 1794 

 at Landau, the carabineers, having encountered some 

 battalions of tiraillevrs, without arms, gave to them their 

 carbines and bayonets. Afterwards in Austria they 

 captured a store of English arms in a chateau, and 

 provided themselves once more with mousquetons, which 

 they had still at the battle of Austerlitz.^ In the wars 

 of 1809, and until they were changed to cuirassiers, 

 they had the small musket without the bayonet. 



The cuirassiers were originally organised in December 

 1802, when three regiments were formed, from the 

 fifth, sixth, and seventh regiments of cavalry. These 

 cuirassiers were found so effective, that in 1804 nine 

 more regiments were provided with the cuirass, and the 

 ' Humbert, 126. ^ Ambert, 131. 



