622' 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period VI. 



boldly. The troops of Frederick continually did so ; but 

 now the conditions ai ^ changed. Except under the most 

 extraordinary circumjtances, the cavalry would be 

 exposed to fire for some hundreds of yards, and the 

 losses of men and horses would naturally be so great, 

 that the attack at the moment of contact could not be 

 made in order, but would necessarily be in loose, shaken, 

 and confused lines. Now, with the sabre alone, even 

 when surrounding groups of infantry at close distance, 

 how can the horsemen inflict much inj iry upon 

 them ? The blow could be received on the rifle, the 

 thrust parried by it, the only real advantage woulr! ''^o 

 that gained by the momentum of the horse anJ -^; r, 

 moving at speed. This momentum, however, acquires no 

 additional force through the sabre, and would be equally 

 efiective were the man unarmed. This principle was 

 well illustrated by Colonel Shewell in the Balaklava 

 charge. He returned his sword, and with a rein in each 

 hand, led his men at full speed into the centre of the 

 Russian horse. He was successful, forced his way 

 through, and got ofi", although practically unarmed.' 

 Adjutant Moore, at Bushire, in Persia, let his sword 

 hang by the sword-knot, and, taking a rein in each 

 hand, burst through the hostile square without being 

 wounded. 



Now, suppose that cavalry of the future in attacking 

 infantry were to charge at full speed revolver in hand, 

 each man taught to fire at the galop, and each man 

 instructed that he was, without halting, to shoot a gap 

 for himself in his own front, and so to effect an entrance : 

 why should not this be a more effective system than 

 riding up with the sabre ? 



Two or three shots from each man at within say 

 seventy-five paces, should certainly cause some loss — 

 distract the aim of the infantry, shake their formation, 

 and lead the most timid to fall to the rear. Then suppose 

 a hand-to-hand fight to ensue, would not the revolver be 

 the most deadly of idl weapons ? 



Careful training would produce cavalry that could fire 



' Kinglake, ii. 560. 



ana! 



•<-]->, i 



