^^^ 



CHAP. XXIV.] CAVALRY UNDER NAPOLEON. 366 



casque was given to all tjie cuirassier regiments in pl^ce of 

 the shako.' The two carabineer regiments being also 

 changed, made the total force of cuirassiers in 1812 

 amount to fourteen regiments. 



The dragoons formed ar important portion of 

 Napoleon's cavalry. In 1802 he had twenty-one regi- 

 ments dressed in green uniform, faced with other colours, 

 and with the casque as the head-covering. They were 

 foot-soldiers on horseback, but soon became real cavany, 

 although with a greater capacity to fight dismounted 

 than any of the other horsemen. The dragoons, who in 

 the campaigns on the Rhine had not succeeded well, 

 were sent into Spain when the war commenced in that 

 country, and under Soult, Suchet, and St. Cyr, they 

 soon acquired a very high reputation. The guerrilla 

 warfare which noon broke out in the Peninsula, rendered 

 the dragoons the most eflScient type of soldier that 

 could be employed. In 1812 Napoleon had increased 

 his dragoons till they amounted to thirty regiments.^ 



In 1807 Napoleon formed a regiment of Polish Lancers 

 at Varsovie, consisting of about 1,000 men, which was 

 attached to the Imperial Guard under the name of 

 chevau-legers landers. They were armed with a lance, 

 with a pennon, a hussar sabre, and a pair of pistols. In 

 1810, a second regiment of light-horse lancers was 

 organised, and called the red lancers, from their scarlet 

 uniforms. In July, 1812, a third regiment of the same 

 type was created. It wos composed of Poles, and 

 contained five squadrons. These three regiments all 

 formed part of the Imperial Guard. ^ 



A decree of the 25th November, 1811, ordered a 

 regiment of light-horse lancers to be attached to each 

 division of cuirassiers. The first regiment, which appeared 

 in 1812, was armed with carbines, carried on the left 

 side, the second with the mousqueton, and both had 

 bayonets. Nine regiments of the dragoons were 

 converted into lancers in 1811. 



Napoleon, in his wars in Germany, had been met by 



» Ambei-t, 146. ^ General Foy, i. 112 ; Ambert, 156. ^ Ambert, 

 171, 173. 



