Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-14
WAR ON HORSEBACK.

To tie Editor Of the Wing!
The Richmond Enquirer Of the 7,h republshes from
the Savannah RspuJtieGa a communication signed Nv
W. Co. on the SUBJECT OF the Confederate Cavalry This
letter contains many truths especially where the
respondent states q" that the community hare groom TO
regard tho cavalry Nth dsrast" aud taAt the popular
ideas about cavalry are erroneous" The former ssser
ton is still more emphatoay regards what may
be termed our Irregular cavalry" if in referog the
opinion Of the community" he include therein the
vast majority of the infantry serving with them, from
B.ieader Generals down to privates.
"W. w. G." himself however, falls into SO many err
rors together with these suggestive truths and draws
fron both deductions SO faaciOus that the "communi
ty" will hardly be much enlightened by his communi-
cation unless through the discussion to which it may
give RISE few of these errors i is herein proposed
to pont out in all due coure'y aud with due respect
because "W. w. g." has evidently read on the
subject, and attempted to investigate. it, and be-
cause although litHe learning as dangerous thing
even that little learning is respectable considering that
the Litte mast always have been precursor of the
much.
He saws " that the public make no distinction be-
tween light and heavy cavalry" That the cry is IF in
Nauoeons age the cavalry could break squares, take
batteries ride over columns Of infantry, H., why can
we not do the sameg' '-l
He proceeds TO explain that in Europe "the troops so
used we're heavy cavalry. They hemst and cuirAss
o. steel which would resist the mnsket ball. They
never used for fatigue or outpost duty, 30. &c. At
Bdlaklavs alone in the Crinean and Italian wars were
the cavalry extensively used"
Now the Gu rssse3 portion Of the heavy cavalry is
very slaau enc. At hundred yards the ball Of the
old flint musket driven by tho old charge CT 45 granS
pierces through both helm and cuirass of Napoeon's
time and Of the present through sheet OF paper
the writer has tested of times These have
no more to do With efficiency than the high bear skin
caps Of the Horse Grensdcrs (heavy cavalry without
curasscs or the lace upon the hussSrs pesse or
dOlmln
What are called eight cavalry" have been usually
preferred TO charge batteries, and quito frequently
the heavy cavalry to charge infantry squares Wit.
ness the famous charge by Nspoeons Polish lancers
the batteries of the Sierra Aorena and of Ponsonbys
cavalry Waterloo Infantry and batteries and of the
light brigade at the very BilaslAva nstanced.
He Gays that the heavy cavalry picked, both
man and horse, for size aud weight Now, it is noto
rous that the French horses had wonderfully improved
thirty years after the battle of Waterloo as they
bave siuce gone on improving. Mihaud's famous cui-
rAssers not, by the evidence of those who had
served in them as well mounted at Waterloo the
French heavy cavalry in 1915; yet, of about sixteen
regiments Of French heavy cavalry in lS46 the writer
did not see one as well mounted at least dozen re-
giments of Confederate cavalry when rst music ed 10.
to the service and proceeding 10 join the army and Of
the Potomac. ;ts.r --r
o. that field of Waterloo these celebrated cuiras.,
sers chiefly on account Of the nferioy Of their hor
SEES. who, under the weight of rider and equipments,
could not lift their cavaliers through the s clay sue
cumbed to tho heavy Batsh cavalry TO wit, first aud
second life guards, then without curossee) mounted
on better bred and more powerful steeds
So much for historic instances. Now fer brief ex-
PLANTATION OF the nature of cavalry, in which oonfu
sion of nomenclature leads frequently to confusion of
IDEAS The old cavalry of the middle ages Who cased
in steel charged with the lance finding that even the
maichl5 ck would damage them through their Shells and
being better able afford the improved firearms of
the time had become comparatively worthless about tie
time Of GusAvus Adophus, because, resorting the
habit Of fool z with their firearms from hOrsebsck
ius.ead of charging home with sword or lance. usa
vus Adophus the great inDOvator in modern warfare
gave tho improved fire locks Wbee-locks his infan
try, and made the cavalry charge home with the cold
steel From that time, in all European armies, and up
to the present time the fire. lock directed never TO
be used except 10 diminishing when dsmounted or in
pursuit. where lance sword or sabre would not reach
Shortly AFTER however, were formed what we should
call amounted ncantry" under the name of dragons,
or dragons This force WasNdestined to fight on foot
using their horses chiefly to convey them rapidly from
one point to another bpt only secontary 70 perform