530 



A HISTORY OB' CAVALRY. 



[period VI 



with the horses, so as to secure cover, to follow the 

 advance of their dismounted comrades, and to move 

 rapidly up, in case of a necessity for remountino- the 

 whole force. 



A mounted force of this type would be useful in every 

 situation, and particularly on dv^.tached service. General 

 Stephen D. I.ee, already quoted from, says : " The equip- 

 ment of the cavalry man with the recent repeating rifle, 

 and revolvers of modern invention, in my opinion has 

 increased his efficiency, proportionally, more than either 

 the infantry or artillery arm has been by the inventions 

 applicable to those arras. It enables the commanding 

 general almost to detach an army corps of infantry with 

 the celerity of cavalry, for an important blow at a dis- 

 tance, or even on an extended battle-field for a critical 

 flank." " A large body of cavalry, as now armed, 

 is a match for almost any emergency, it is an army in 

 motion, and on a flank its blow is terrible, and against 

 communications, magazines, &c., its damage disastrous." 



