458 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period v. 



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dispersed their gunners, threw the infantry supports into 

 confusion, and carried off the caissons of three of the 

 pieces. This gave time to liis dismounted men to regain 

 their horses and to mount. When mounted they were 

 again able to resume the offensive ; and moving rapidly 

 out of reach of the immensely superior numbers of 

 the Federal infantry, Forrest with his ^characteristic 

 impetuosity made a dash upon the waggon train of the 

 enemy, seized it, and carried it safely from the held. In 

 this action Forrest used a large portion of his cavalry 

 dismounted to form in line of battle as infantry, and so 

 to drive his opponents out of a strong position. 



When attacked suddenly in rear, he made a brilliant 

 charge of cavalry with those men who had been held in 

 hand mounted, and gave an opportunity for lii>, force t ) 

 regain their horses. Then the whole command resuming 

 its cavalry rdle, dashed around the rear of the enemyV 

 lines, and carried off tho whole Ijaggage train and 

 supplies. 



This is another gootl illustration of the admirable 

 fighting qualities of For.'est's cavalry, and of their 

 ability to act boldly and effectively either mounted or 

 dismounted. This may be attributed to the superior 

 intelligence of the Southern gentlemen of whom his 

 force was mainly composed, men of extraordinary self- 

 reliance and strong common sense ; men who knew 

 perfectly well when each system of fighting would bo 

 most advantageous, and who had gained their experience 

 of the practical work of war upon the battle-field. It 

 must be admitted that the circumstances in America 

 were peculiar to the continent, and that the same system 

 might not be quite so successful in European armies, filled 

 with peasants of less intelligence than the American 

 citizens. 



At the battle of Chickamauga, fought on the 1 9th and 

 20th of September, 1863, Forrest's cavalry, as well as all 

 the other cavalry of the Confederate army, fought on the. 

 flanks of the army in line of battle, ])eing dismounted 

 as infantry, a small force only being kept mounted to 

 act promptly in case of emergency. These dismounted 



