210 CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GUNS AND CAVALRY. 
his cuirassiers all the accounts tell us that not a man would have 
escaped had the Horse Artillery not been delayed by the execrable 
state of the roads. We have seen the same thing happen with us 
not thirteen years ago in spite of these experiences, and of an hundred 
similar ones, and we would do well to bear in mind that mobility is the 
first essential to artillery, that we do not make war on grassy lawns, 
or only in summer weather, that horses lose their strength when 
underfed and overworked (loud applause). And, so far as we can 
read the future, it seems probable that harder work than ever will 
be asked for from Horse Artillery. Because, as I have said, it 
now has to fulfil two réles; one as Horse Artillery with the cavalry, 
Sometimes acting quite independently, and the other, a more frequent 
one perhaps, when it takes its place with rest of the Field Artillery 
in line of battle, what in fact for want of a better term we may call its 
role as “ Corps Artillery.” 
With the advanced cavalry, when merely feeling for the enemy, it will 
not have to fight decisive actions, for its duty will be to furnish just 
enough force to rend the hostile veil, and it can utilize its range often 
here, yet will have to do a lot of hard work in moving rapidly over long 
distances. But it may have severe fighting too even with the advanced 
cavalry, for it may be sent to seize some important strategic point as 
after Tel-el-kebir in 1882, or as when the 5th German Cavalry division 
(Rheinhabens) went ahead to seize the passage across the Moselle in 1870; 
to make a raid on the line of hostile communications, as when the Horse 
Artillery and cavalry of the lst army—Prince Frederick Charles’s 
dashed on and cut the line of rail at Lundenberg ;? or to fasten on and 
hold fast an enemy endeavouring to escape, as ab Vionville. All this 
may have to be done before the opposing bodies of infantry and Field 
Artillery see one another at all, and, when a pitched battle is joined, the 
labours of the cavalry and Horse Artillery will be by no means less- 
ened. For these two must work together then with the other arms, 
and must watch eagerly for every chance which may enable them 
to operate for the common good. And while awaiting an opportun- 
ity the Horse Artillery, be it remembered, will probably take the 
same share in the action as do the other guns. TF imally the duties 
of cavalry and Horse Artillery in retreat or pursuit will demand an 
immense expense of energy, but we have no time now to do more 
than just refer to them, or I would like to tell you of the wonderful re- 
treat from Quatre Bras to Waterloo, “ the prettiest field day of cavalry 
and Horse Artillery I ever saw in my life,” as Lord Anglesey termed it, 
when the 7th Hussars greatly distinguished themselves. But I know 
I may ask you to spare me a moment to say that the Captain Fraser, 
who handled a troop of that regiment so well that day, was the father 
of the Inspector-General of Cavalry, and of Sir Charles Fraser, whom 
we all regard as perhaps the best friend the Horse Artillery ever had 
(loud applause). 
1“ Ti waurait pas sauvé un seul homme sile Général Couin, qui avait ordre de suivre le Comte 
Grouchy, avait pu arriver assez tot avec deux batteries Vartillerie léegére ; de chemins presque 
impracticables i’en enpécherent.” ‘* Victoires et conquétes,” Vol. XXIII, p. 97. 
2 July 15th, 1866. 
