532 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



fPEIlIOD Vt. 



Cavuliy 80 cqui|)i)cd riding witli pistols against an 

 op; osing force ot cavalry armed with sabres would be 

 almost invulnerable, while able themselves to infliet 

 fearful losses. The helmet wouhl protect the head, the 

 chain-straps the shoulders, the jack-boots the legs, and 

 with armed gauntlets and the revolver in one hand, the 

 chances in favour of the horsemen coming out of a mclce 

 with swordsmen without serious injury would be very 

 great. 



The losses inflicted by the sabre, even when the oppos- 

 ing parties are closely mingled together, often astonish 

 one by their trifling nature. Colonel Von Borcke, in his 

 " Memoirs of the Confederate War," gives an account of 

 a night surprise, in which two Southern cavalry regiments 

 charged through each other by mistake. He says, "The 

 Ist and 3rd Virginia, under this mutual delusion, had 

 charged through each other in a splendid attack before 

 they discovered their error, which was fortunately 

 attended with no worse consequences than a few sabre 

 cuts." 



Every care should be taken to cut down the luggage 

 of cavalry men to the lowest possible point. They 

 should carry but little more than is upon their backs, 

 reserve supplies of clothing being kept in waggons far to 

 the rear. The men should not be allowed to carry their 

 valises on their horses while campaigning, as they would 

 be sure to be filled as full as possible, and the horses 

 would sufl'er. 



Dragoons and cavalry should have a long overcoat, or 

 cloak with sleeves, split up a little behind to spread on 

 the horse, and made so that the belts might be worn 

 over it in case of need, as well as under it. The cloak 

 without sleeves is very awkward and clumsy. 



Hozier, in his history of the war of 1866, speaking 

 of the dress of the Prussian soldiers, makes a remark which 

 strongly supports the idea of not allowing the cavalry 

 to carry valises. He says that the Prussian infantry 

 were " weighed down by their heavy knapsacks, which, 

 although of a better construction than those of most 

 armies, ivere hardly required, and though present were 



