426 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period v. 



The time had now come, however, when a new inven- 

 tion, which obviated the difficulty in loading, was about 

 to cause the gcDcral use of the rifled firearm in all 

 armies, and in every branch of the service. As far back 

 as 1823, Captain John Norton, of the 34th Kegiment 

 of the English army, invented the cylindro-conoidal 

 shot, which was the basis of all the modern improve- 

 ments in small arms.' He was not encouraged, however, 

 in his efforts, and it was not until 1853 that the elon- 

 gated bullet upon the same principle, which was invented 

 by Captain Minie of the French service, began to be 

 used in European armies. 



This bullet, which expanded after loading, by the force 

 of the explosion, and so took the shape of the grooves, 

 at once did away with the difficulty of loading, and gave 

 to the infantry a weapon which, to greatly increased 

 range and power of penetration, added much greater 

 precision in aim. 



This was the second great blow that cavalry received 

 through the introduction of gunpowder. In the first 

 place the great power of penetration obtained by the 

 use of firearms had soon caused the abolition of armour, 

 and the revival of the infantry force. This second in- 

 vention, which trebled the range and increased the 

 accuracy of fire, could not fail to alter materially the 

 relations between cavalry and infantry. This being 

 soon followed by several effective and practical methods 

 of loading at the breech, the rapidity of fire has been 

 increased fourfold, so that a body of cavalry charging 

 upon a force of infantry would now have to run the 

 gauntlet of at least ten shots, well aimed, where in the 

 time of Frederick the Great or Napoleon, one volley 

 alone would be fired. 



It cannot be denied that these important inventions 

 must materially afiect the tactics and employment of 

 cavalry in modern wars, and it becomes important to 

 consider carefully what changes should be made in the 

 organisation, armament, and employment of cavalry, in 



* Beamish, 145. 



