628 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period VI. 



position, and placing their horses under cover, say 100 

 or 200 yards to the rear, would only have an opportunity 

 of making an eflfective fire at short range, and in case of 

 a rapid and vigorous attack, would only be able to fire 

 a very few ineffective rounds before the infantry would 

 have crossed the narrow zone, in which alone their arms 

 could inflict any damage. Again, in those days the 

 action was not decided either way until the opposing 

 forces had come to close quarters, often evon to the shock 

 of bayonets. Si pposing, then, the dragoons to be over- 

 matched and obliged to withdraw, if they retreated to 

 the horses when the enemy were close upon them, they 

 would be caught in tb " istant of mounting, and badly 

 handled. The fear of this would lead them to break for 

 their horses too soon, and they would often consequently 

 be defeated from that cause. 



Now how different are the conditions of such a fight ! 

 The dragoons, or mounted rifles, can place their horses 

 in the rear, and taking up a defensive position, can begin 

 to annoy at 1,000 paces, to inflict loss at 600, and after 

 +hat to pour in deadly volleys, so that the action can be 

 decisively settled before the approaching enemy would 

 come within 200 yards. There would be nothing to pre- 

 vent mounted riflemen, provided their horses were under 

 cover, say in a wood, or behind a village, to remain 

 fighting until the enemy were within 150 yards, and 

 then run to their horses and mount, and galop away in 

 case of being overmatched. 



It will be at once admitted that the modern weapons 

 and system of fighting have given an opening for the use 

 of mounted rifles, such as that arm never had under the 

 old method of armament. The much greater breadth of 

 the zone of fire, the great increase of the distance at which 

 the result is now decided, has completely revolutionized 

 the conditions under which dragoons used to fight. The 

 time taken by the dismounted horseman, in case of 

 defeat, to regain his horse has not been increased, while 

 in the future the time he will have to accomplish it in 

 will he quadrupled. The power of his weapon, dismounted, 

 both in range, rapidity of fire, and execution, has been also 



