The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-12

tho Service. Ia,
The progress Of the war has developed the
Importance of cavalry, which was almost COM
p&etely overlooked in the beginning; and
though in an unsettled country like this,
Astounding with forests, cavalry is not of che
same value as II is In Europe, yet events have
demonstrated that 1t is not TO be altogether
despised. Light cavalry is indispensable to
reconnoitre, to obtain and report intelligence of
the enemy's movements. II is the sight and
hearing of an army, and without 1t an army is
constantly imperilled, as was Hooker's at Cham
cellorsvllle, whom he sent away on an expedi-
ton nearly all his cavalry force. But cavalry
is needed to fight the ensmy's cavalry as well
a. his infantry drawn up to resist. 1t Is needed
above all to pursue conquered enemy
Instead Of the enemy being outnumbered in
the late battle On the Rappahannock, as was
supposed it turns out that he was at least equal
to us, if be did not exceed our numbers The
South possesses two great advantages over the
North in cavalry II has more blooded horses
and better horses and better horsemen. Every
man knows how to ride we'll This is half the
battle. In fact, Craftsmanship is everything.
Good cavalry realize the tabled centaur-man
and horse are one. To counterbalance this ad-
vantage our cavalry are better armed and
better equipped. In addition to sabres and
large revolvers, they have Sharpe's rihed car
bine, which is light and handy and at the same
time sure. It will kill at distance Of half q
mile, and, in the hands of a good marksman, it
will hit man every time at two hundred yards.
Tue Southern cavalry are indihferently armed
some with double shot guns, some with pistols Of
various descriptions. only few with sabres and
fewer still with carbines or rifles. Had earlier
attention been directed to cavalry organi-
cation in our armies the late battle on the Up
| per Rappahannock would have been rendered
disastrous to the enemy. But the great object
seemed to be in those days to see how bad and
worthless horse might be imposed on the
government at very high price, and we be-
lieve there is very little reform as yet in this
particular. Perhaps the War Department
will soon awake to its folly and imbecility;
but it may then be too late.
The only great cavalry duel in the wars of
Napoleon resembling the battle in Virginia on
the 9th inst was that at Echmul, after his wonder
|
cases being about equal. The Austrians num-
bered one hundred thousand men of all arms,
under the celebrated Archduke Charles; the
French ninety thousand. led by the Emperor.
The battle commenced at noon and ragged till
near sunset, when the Austrians showed symp-
toms of wavering. Napoleon ordered forward his
twelve thousand cavalry reserve Of the Tmpe
rial Guard, under Murat, who were perfectly
| fresh, and whom he always held in reserve to
finish up fight They were met by the same
number of the heavy cavalry Of the Impe rial
Guard of Austria. The infantry and artillery
on both sides, rs if by mutual consent, suspend
ed their operations and looked a. spectators
with breathless interest at the tremendous col.
lision.0f twenty-four thousand horsemen, who
shook the plain like thunder or an earthquake.
The scene was sublime beyond description.
gone down, and the com5atants smote each
other by the light of the moon, till at last two
thirds of the Austrians were put hors de combat
and the rest took to fight, which was the signal
for the retreat Of their whole army. Besides
six thousand killed and wounded, they lost
twenty thousand prisoners and nearly their
whole artillery. Here the value of superior
cavalry was remarkably illustrated. At Wa
gram, after the bloody infantry charge of Mac
donald, who started with sixteen thousand men
to cut the centre of the Austrian line, and
reached it with only one thousand one hun
dred, but succeeded in bis mission, the caval.
ry Of the French Imperial Guard were ordered
to charge into the opening made and wheel
around upon the Austrian right wing. Not only
was great victory won, but the rout of the
enemy was complete. At Jena the twelve thou
sand cavalry Of the Guard made terrific charge
upon the discounted and disordered Prussian
host and destroyed the whole army. At
Marengo it was the famous cavalry charge of
the younger Kellermann, when Desaix was
leading his division against the advance ng
Austrians, that won the day after it had been
lost. At the second battle Of Bull run it was
charge of cavalry on the flank of Pope's
army that turned the scale and produced q dis
aster after the Union troops had been sue
cessful.
/ Napoleon intended to win the field of Water
loo by his cavalry. But he had not Murat with
him. who was the best cavalry general in the
world. Only three good French generals ap-
pesred before him in twenty years of war-the
younger Kellermann, Montbrun and La Sale
And in addition to this loss he had lost his
whole cavalry. with his grand army in the
Russian campaign, and never recovered the
blow. Hence il was that at Lutzen and Bant-
zen, in 1918, when he defeated the Russians
and Prussians with bis infantry, no important
results followed those victories; for flying
enemy can always be rallied when be is not
reached rapidly and in the moment OF disorder
There was not time to organize another great
cavalry force, and Napoleon had to employ
troops greatly inferior to those which he was