(iiAP. xxxiii.] ARMAMENT AND EQUIPMENT. 



088 



seldom looked into in the actual campaign. Railways 

 and improved roadH have made great alterations in the 

 necessities of a warrior, both by shortening the duration 

 of campaigns and facilitating transport." " Soldiers 

 need no longer be weighed down by heavy loads upon 

 their backs, held back from their real use, marching and 

 fighting, to be converted into beasts of burden." ' 



This applies with equal if not greater force to the 

 cavalry, whose speed and endurance constitute their 

 great value. 



II. — LIGHT DRAGOONS, OR MOUNTED RIFLES. 



This force should be dressed more lightly than the 

 other, and do not require the helmet or gauntlets, as 

 (jvery point must be considered that will tend to render 

 them effective dismounted. A light head-dress, fitting 

 (dose to the head, should be used instead of the helmet, 

 as the mounted riflemen may often be obliged to skirmish 

 through woods and broken country. The boots should 

 be worn outside the trousers, but might be lighter than 

 those of the heavy horsemen. The carbines should be 

 carried in a bucket on the saddle behind the right leg, 

 and it would seem as if a weapon somewhat larger than 

 the ordinary carbine would be the best kind of arm for 

 this force. The infantry long rifle is not suited for use 

 on horseback, as it is too large and clumsy. A medium 

 might easily be secured between the two. This carbine 

 should be a breed. • '^ader, not a repeater. 



A revolver should be carried on the waist-belt as a 

 reserve weapon for close quarters, either mounted or 

 dismounted, while a sword might be attached to the 

 saddle to be used only when mounted, and then only in 

 case of fadure of ammunition or some other contingency. 

 It might be available, for instance, in a pursuit when the 

 enemy were broken and flying. In the Confederate army 

 many of the mounted riflemen had no swords at all. 



The sword should not be attached to the man, as it 



is a most troublesome encumbrance to a rifle skirmisher 



when dismounted. In fact the sword, the high shako 



and plume, the tight strapped trousers, and the spurs, 



' Hozier, Seven Weeks' War, 445. 



