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

65itsd AID Intentionally blussd on The edge, ihe spsx'
ledge Of the sxofd etefcse might be dispensed eltR-
The lance moro formidable (because longer-reachng
than sword or ssbre) may DO used at once efficiently
and sthout danger by any trooper who can ride, for
although there is lance exercise in which proficiency
l. more difficult than With the sword t s not once In
hundred cases that II proves practically useful.
In fact the writer has repeatedly cavalry only
few months in service, but formed OF nsn previously
skilled in the management Of the horse, and armed with
nothi but the lance break, rout aud uhct terrible
loss on regular cavalry both light aud heavy, and con-
sisng Of old wedrilled troops forcing their adver-
safies before the end of campaign. in sFf defence,
universally to adopt the lance even for tbeis and
Finally, "W w g." summing up the exploits Of the
cavalry, says: "Sua,ts ChckabouiIy circuit blazed
the road for Jacksons in the battles around
Richmond" aud asks, Is not evident tbas the caysl-
~ have performed gallant deeds any arm In Vir-
gins ?" and "that no cavalry in the world b-s ever
been formed, armed and equipped under the same fl
culties who have done mucb?'
To this it may be replied, that undoubtedly the cav
airy Of the Army Of the Potomac have rendered various
Distinguished services If Is only the exploits Of
Ashby, OF Mosby, OF Wade Hampton; Stusrss bod
and important dash Cstetts Station and lmboden's
6ght at WiIliamspor where, with smaller forces, he
saved large train against more dangerous attack
/ than ever occurred In modern times eH
Az 70 the patriotism and willingness OF prvaies
Hho often exemp. through smeness from performing
duty on foot and who formerly when not forced there
INTO Wien dismounted, would purchase successfully
/ from two to twelve horses each, TO be in 90 No
| comment cao be necessary. lfls .t,el do
u.rts Ghickahom'ny raid, like biz rad .asO Penn
sylvana, was simply daring, costly and without result
As TO blazing the road for Jackson it is sheer
If anything, its effect to put Mcclellan on his
guard. Common sense, in fact elbows that IL bErgsr
/ intends to break into dwelling house Monday
night he does not increase his chances of success oy
robbDg ben roost In the yard the preceding sa:
urday The writer happened TO examine this cavalry OIL
| the horses, &C. they bad captured after they re
crossed The Chckshominy, and, from the jsded sp-
pear6noe of the animals il was plain that the expedi-
tion did not pay for the horte shoe nails used. That
into Pennsylvania still wcrse, and IL would be low
estimate 70 that after balancing captures In boh,
tho result was 10 leave the cavalry few weeks after
minus five hundred horses Both, Il Is true, tempora
lily alarmed the enemy, Richmond was alarmed By
the counterpart raid OF Stoneman; but, Ale Lincoln
says, "nobo5y was hurt" on eit,es side.
In concius o. IL may be replied that the cavalry ct
the Army Of the Poomsc have not realized the just Ell
pectaons of the pubic in the manner that theta
anTy and artillery who, uader great disadvantage,
hSve done well any troops thus crcumsaneed.
To the enquiry whether any cavalry in the world
under the same difficulties have done 20 uch tie
answer is with us looking further, reference to the
instances Of Morgan and of Forrest
But this question suggests another, viz, whether,
ceping perhaps Wheeler, any cavalry leader in recelt
tiaes has ever had a'arge cavArycommaud that 10
say during two ears, many and prodigous
number OF horses and the whole done little with
lit! NvEsTGAIoR.