Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-13
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The Austrian 6oldierA
There are Forty regiments Of cavalry In the
Austrian army, sixteen Of heavy cavalry, (cui
rAssiers and dragoons), and twenty. four Of
light cavalry (hussars and lAncers.) The men
aud horses Of the former are chiefly from the
German provinces, and Of the latter from Hun.
gary, Pennsylvania and Poland. The men Of
these regiments are admirably trained al
riders and In the use Of their arms, and sad.
ding, packing and bridling their horses by
severe discipline they are taught to control
the horse perfectly, and to cause him to exc.
cute all possible movements. In the course
Of training the recruit IL never passed from
one lesson to another until he fully compre.
hcnds and can execute well oil that preceedes.
They arc also taught to swim their horses
The foundation Of tho efficiency and well de.
served reputation of Austrian cavalry
seems to b. the great perfection Of the indi-
vidual instruction Of the men.
Tho hussars use the sabre, pistol and car
bine; the lancers, the lance, sabre, and two
pistols; the cuirAssiers, q sabre and two pis-
tolls; and the dragons q sabre, pistol and
carbine. The clothing is well.madc and ol
excellent material. The overcoat is of thick
white CLOTH with long cape. Tho uniform
coat is short, double. breasted ffock-whitc,
for the heavy cavalry, dark green for the
lancers and light blue for the huSSars The
pants are Of light blue, with red cord for the
heavy cavalry, aud same color rs the coat for
the rest tight fitting aRd-w0ER- under the
boots, which reach to the knee. The heavy
cavalry wear metallic helmet with . high
crest the lanccrs, the well-known Polish hat,
and the hussars = cylindrical shake, with a
peaked vizor.
The food Of an Austrian soldier consists
chiefly Of bread and sOup-Irom one and .
half to two pounds Of bread being the daily
ration. An allowance Of 10 cents q day Is
made, to enable the soldiers to purchase meat
and vegetables for soup. The soldiers make
their breakfast and supper, generally, on q
piece Of bread and little glass of brandy,
purchased at the suffers. The horses are
branded on the left hip " it'll the initials Of the
Emperor, and ofthc province where purchased.
On the lrN side Of the neck, under the nanc,
is branded the number Of the horse. The
ration Of a cavalry horse is six pounds Of oats,
ten Of hay, and two Of straw for litter. Five
days ratiOna, attached to the saddle, and car.
rivd on the march.
ARGUMENT being suddenly alarmed In camp,
may be mounted and found in marching or.
der in forty minutes, baggage packed, pla.
toms told on, officers at their posts, etc. An
alarm il not unfreQuently given BY the En-.
pcror, for the purpose Of testing the discipline
and prOmptitude Of the men. Marches arc
conducted at the rate Of three to four miles an
hour, and over rough, steep ground the horses
are generally led. The men are punished %
verrly for not girthing tight. They ride on
the curb, on march. the snatfle rcins hang.
ing free. Before going into action the men
manage to throw away the hay and "blced'
the forage bag.
There are schpOls at Vienna Tor instruction
in equitation, fencing, stabling, and veterinary
art, which are said TO be excellent in every
respect. The veterinary school IN said to bV
one OF the very best in Europe, its purpose
being to instruct veterinary surgeons Cnr the
army. IL is supplied with specimens Of natu.
raj history and comparative anatomy, embra.
cling admirable preparations of the muscles Of
the different parts Of the horse, the veins, ar.
terics, etc, diseased. and sound, and is in every
respect complete and perfect.
The Austrian infantry consists Of about 80
regiments Of the line and Of the frontier in.
tantry and 80 battalions Of rifles. All small
arms are ritied, and have q uniform calihre
and lock. The calibre IN about the same a.
our new model rifle muSket. The uniform
consists Of excellent thick white cloth frock
coats, lined with thick linen. White cloth Is
preferred to any other color, and is said to be
more easily kept clean in the field, BY wash.
Ing and pipe clay. The pants are light blue,
With white cord, and garters Of black cloth,
The overcoat Is gray and made loose. The
shake is felt, with leather top and vix0r; large
brass eagle in front and wooden p0mpOu
trimmed with brass. The uniform Of the
rides Is bluiSh gray coat and pants, felt hat
turned up on both sides, with large black
plume Of cocks feathers. Since the Affairs
OF 1889, which found the Austrian army
Indeed It did ell the armies Of Europe,
a. consequence Of protractcd peace-some.
what deficient in discipline, the organization
and instruction Of the infantry, as well a. that
Of the other arms Of tho service, have been
much improved. In the present war We shall
no doubt witness the effects Of this improve.
ment. The rifles are said to be Q flne BODY Of
men, who will hold their own against any
similar troops with whom they may DO brought
in contact
The duty Of the Austrian engineer corps is
confined to that Of sappers and miners, and
the construction Of permanent works In q
siege, the batteries are built by the artillery
The construction Of ell kinds Of bridges and
field Notifications the repair Of roads. &c
are entrusted to the pioneers, q special corps
attached to the general staff. There are IL
hattallons OF engineers Of companies each
and battaliOns Of pioneers Of 1 companies
each. The Birago equipage Ia used BY the
pioneers, the boats being Of iron. An tn,
bridge materials are made by the men of thu
corps the principal arsenal Of construction
being at KlosterncUberg. near Vienna.