Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28
HInfa for CaYalrY.

Hints for Cavalry,
The following has just, reached Us. I, :.
written by gentleman whose opinion on l.,
subject involved. is we'll entitled to serier,
consideration. We commend its perusal es,e
cially to the cavalry officers of the State:
EFFECTS on ARMIES OF IMPROVEMENT! IN syr,
ARMs-PRACTIcE WITH CoLr's PISTOL.
: New MEXICO, Jan. 26, 1851,
It may be long before the military publ,
can decide upon the changes which mi s., he
sioptcd in order to meet the consequences .;
the recent improvements in small urm:. F..
they mus. in great measure be dec!iei BIZ e.,
perlcnce in war.
There are some important notifications, hos.
ever which have been announced by n!:.arr
writer's and justified by recent ercnts oI w.;
which we will venture TO indicate.
Heretofore, armies have been composed #
cavalry. artillery and infantry in Certain nr,
uort;ons varied by circumstances. .sad i.
tnnctions Of each have been satisfactorily i
down One of the consequences Of L.
nrw nroiectiirs has been to disturb ihi. j..
r,nocmrnt and Ia convince military r!gn IL.
:, :,@w combination Of these great a:".. Il ~.
.;ra nil, be necessary; though in w:s: ;ru.,,.
lions, L as yc, undetermined Some c:E:.r
nnnc;,r 10 ttnl; that the numeEie;:i stree n .,
Tie field a.:.iie-y will 5e Increased, II o:3y: T.
meet the increased power OF the :hiaatry. B.,
this yiew is, pro;'ablr, peculiar 70 o..!c.7: G!
lie artillery service. The genera! S9.!a,.,
- military .ncii docs not connrm Il. c.-...-
sense seems 10 contradict It
And. notwithstanding, the eHjrts wa:' L.,5
bred made during the past four yes 70 e.
sture the relative power Of field art.er7, b;
increasing the range ard accuracy 4 i. E.:
the probability is, that in fi;tn:e Ii: :,e, Il
This nrm Of service oil the battie fed vi. 4
materially circumscribcd and diminished
The cavalry arm Of the service vii: sj.o ::
affected b. the new inventions 10 pr0.ec.cS.
One Of the most esteemed French authorize:
u! the present day says upon this poin:, Nat
henceiorth the functions Of Cavalry NJ: Re
,oucI, extended, for to its decisive ?oser ::
charging sword in hand, will be added the CD
rs,i,y Of acting On foot ms skrushe's; ,!l4:
therefore All cavalry should become ll-gHteG
riN,uien. And as il will often disrioant to
& hit It's tactics should be Sc clisngra 81 70
-,abIc il 10 &C. in single rank AID in oTS:i c..
der while the sabre should be ,ra!er:r-i
f.cni the trooper 10 the saddle.
r.,. Secretary Of War, in his last Teior,
HIS 10 some extent recognized this view, and
expresses the opinion that all Of our cavalry
s;,ould Law aside the sabre, aud rely Upon lie
rib. and the Colts revolver.
There are few cavalry officers In 'avo: q ths
sabre cs an offensive weapon Tor the present
ru-no.es Of Indian warfare. But it should {:
retained for civilized war and il seems pTc:i
bi. that is transfer from the trooper 10 u:
sudd,e will best meet ail future rcqu reu::c;:
Of the cavalry n O. service
Colts revoly!.s pistol il p0we.;Gl w.1p:2
fc1 cavary, when charging as foraecrs, "a per,
suit or in defence. II is un9uestlon"tly TIC
HOS. elective Of all FIREARMS which caa 9s pci
into the hands OF mounted ma:'. Ai!c :. 'he
hore Of giving useful suggestion: to or
mounted Virginia volunteers, we will :eseF:oe
l.. detail the method Of practice with Ibis az.
which has bcen adopted by nahy .! our troops
of regular cavalry, with satis'actor; results.
4 level stretch Of ground haS'n- hsen %
,ected about three or four hun,:vd !s!Gs IL
extent, a straight track is laid of up9n i
abou; twelve wards wide Along each eGAe a
the central portion Of this track, three or 'ao!s
upright posts are planted about fifty PAGES
apart, and 50 that the posts Of earh pa: vi,
be opposite to each other
The targets. Of abou; the size Of q mars
body, should be fastened :" these res;$, - ha'
their canters will DE seven !agt aboEc :ae
ground.
Il the t-oop he on drill fur the first Lac, i
Should he marched By file, quietly up and jowa
the track, until the horses become accus;9cl":
10 The sight eli tho targets; and then BE- icFi"cd
in one rank. near or across the track ai1
ahou, one hundred yards distant from The i!>!
pair OF targets.
The trooper on the right o. tie squad then
moves out from the rank, At the walk, eaters
upon the track, draws pistol, takes the gaIIop,
clcxs pistol, and when between the first pair
of targets, fires to the right or left, as he ins!
hare been ordered to do, re cocks his pistol i.
tine to fire again whrn between the second
pair of targets, and SO 81 lh: third par, and
then moves Oh aboat one hundred yards, halls,
and waits for tue squad Ia re form Oh LiG a.
the troopers successlve!y ic,!Dw him.
In firing, he should not attempt TO look Along
the bnl rel, but should fx bis eye stead at:
upon the target. Grh drop Tie pistol quIes.y
On it. The ha.al viii l1.!o~ ,hc eye.
For service against lI'ii.::s. he bring 10 lie
lctc is the most useful BG tie: troopers should
be drilled to Gre 10 both r!::h! aud ief..
The greater Tie speed u The horse, Tie more
steadily lie luns, and the bette: viii be tie
practice.
shcrt ranges ere best. The distance lrca
trooper TO target when he iTes, should nor e.
coed twelve or fifteen feet
The drill! is very interesting. But it is yer!
exciting to men and horses, ind great watch:
fnlness must be observed by the officer IS
command, to prevent accidents from the un!n'
tention discharge Of pistols.
lie must therefore require the troope: a:,er
drawing pistol to hold It, nuzzlc up-barrr.
vertical-risht arm bent anG pressed closely
against right breast, with the wrist Hbou, 81
inches in front Of right shoulder.
Fifteen or twenty drills are sufficient 10 CO
able an ordinary good hOrseman TO put more
Than halIhis balls Into the targets. c: tell spee:
As no provision has been made in any C4'a!.
~ Tactics for practice with Colts Revolver,
submit tins to the yocng gentlemen Of VirsiuE
in the hope, that they Will try i. aud fad II
useful. SPoTsTLrASiA