Ill 



the ARMS of LlGnU CAVALRY. 



249 



when the dragoon is mounted, hangs to his carabine-belt, 

 or to a button placed below the right fhoulder. By means of the 

 iron-plate, and the excavation in the butt, the dragoon is ena- 

 bled to act on the defenfive againft the iabre, by parrying, in 

 cafe of neceflity, with the ufual protects eftablifhed in the fword- 

 exercife, and, with the bayonet fixed, he is likewife enabled to 

 act on the offenhve, by giving point, as well againft infantry as 

 cavalry. The carabine is alfo ufed with fo much eafe and ac- 

 curacy as a piftol, as to fuperfede the neceflity of encumbering 

 the dragoon with one. When he difmounts, it is thrown over 

 the left moulder, flung by means of a ring faflened to the han- 

 dle of the butt ; and the muzzle is flipped into a fmall leathern 

 bucket, attached to the belt, a little above, and behind the right 

 hip-bone. In this pofition, it is carried without impeding the 

 movements of the fword-arm. 



It is to be obferved, that a powder fomewhat finer granulated 

 than the common Government powder, is required for the ufe 

 of this carabine ; and I have found, on inquiry, that the ex- 

 pence of granulation is a mere trifle. 



The carabine is placed with the muzzle downwards, behind 

 the right thigh of the dragoon, in a long holfler, (fig, 4.) which 

 reaches above the lock and protects it, and which is fattened at the 

 bottom to a girth, by means of a ring and ftrap, and at the top 

 by a loop-to the back-part of the laddie. It might be faflened on 

 before, in the manner in which dragoons ufually fix their buc- 

 kets, but, by the above method, it is not only out of the way of 

 the action of the fword-arm, but it is of no more encumbrance 

 to him than the piftol, and can be drawn and returned with 

 greater facility, there being no flounce to the holfler, which is 

 trumpet-mouthed, in order to render this operation the eafier 

 when performed at fpeed. The hammer is likewife raifed as 

 high as the top of the cock, as a guard, in order to prevent the 

 poffibility of the piece cocking itfelf, which fo often happens to 



the 



