The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-10-29

Tie contemptuous manner IN which Sheridan
eveaks Of cavalry in the Valley is sufficiently
CALLING ~ pride; yet, if will be content TO
rIctt b the hint he gives Us, MAJ Well afford to
endure his contempt ior the timt being. 1t is evil
dent that the Yankees have discovered our weak
point, and that that weak point is our so-called Ca
yzlry, rather the mounted infantry that doesduty
under that name for cavalry, properly called, We
taye none. They have discovered it, and they have
taken advantage OF the discovery by attacking lis
upon u. We have not beca able TO resist the pres
stre, and have been twice defeated in consequence
c; II. But year ago their horse was like ours, a
Iaerc body of mounted GUNNER, trained to fire off
thur bies and revo!vers from their horses or to
disEnount and fight like sharpslooters, from behind
s.unps bushes and trees. They have seen that
fJrce Of this Kind be dispersed by body of &C.
tptne cavalry, trained to charge horse to horse and
msu to man, for, in many instances, they have no
s~orls and nothing else, to receive a charge They
have acted upon this discovery. They have trained
a portion of their force cavalTy,-bo;,a 6de,
charging, cavalry,-aDd they have beaten us already
on two important occasions Two Years ago we en-
N-ayored to demonstrate the necessity of having
some cavalry that knew how to charge with the
sabre. We were not attended to, or we were
swered that our country was Of such descrip-
ton that cavalry could not charge here
The YANKEES have shown the preposterous charae-
yer OF thus objection by training in the style we
proposed aud by beating our mounted gunner
with it, That question is, therefore, settled. We
must hare catai,y, real cGral'y, to confront the
tdnkecs If We do not wish to be beaten in every
t3ttir Ii is late in the day to begin teproyile
selves pa. must have il, aud the set
about It the better.
Intbe first place, want man who is capable
ot making great cavalry officer himself; one who
has the electric spark III him. ani who can comma
nlcate it 10 his men; one who can head charge
amidst helmets cleft and sabres caslng. We have
such a man III Hampton. We believe him. in fact
Il be the very man to place at tho head of reyolu
ton IN cur tactics such as is absolutely necessary
ii We do not wish to be eyerfastingly defeated. J
In The second place, the Government must own
the horses. Two years ago We pointed out the
enormous error OF trusting to the uncertain espe-
aeIt Ct every man keeping himself provided with a
sarse II has now been found to fail completely Ii
has already cost the Government more than if
would have done 10 furnish horses out of the Iroa-
sury, and 1t has aGded greatly to the list e do
acknowledging, as it does, constantly to sxss To-
ttlisthat the whole country unites IN rry' oq ont
against il.
~ N"e thfd place, thoss rne,intei troops which
hare been beaten so Constantly in the Valley should
be dismounted ar-a distributed among the infantry
regiment fn their place, rlen should be selected
from the other branches of the service and tho
roughly drated to the Of the sabre and the man
Ier CT charging with it. 1t is impossible to depend
en- troops who have been 50 often stampeded
Lastly, we should have camps Of instruction for
the cavalry, with men who thoroughly understand
The use Of the sword for instructors In the ranks
u our army, men, out Of number, may be found
who are capable OF teaching the broadsword exer-
case. dozen or so Of those nlen could instruct
class CT say hundred, and these could each in
s1fuct certain number, and SO forth, until the
whole body could be instructed. We believe all We
nave here said to be absolutely necessary and that
II has been shown to be SO by recent events 1t is
stu necessary TO have mounted infantry; but their
Numbers must be greatly reduced.
We have the finest horsemen in the world and
yet We have not had charge Of cavalry f,om the
beginning Of the war; and now the Yankees. who
are the worst riders in the world, routing our
hoTsemen III every encounter. 1t is because our
cavalry vent wrong at FIRST not from their fault but
tom the fault Of others.
II IS important 10 have for officers men who un-
aerstand the Use Of the sword, and who know how
70 arm the cavalry as cavalry ought to be- drilled
We understand that we have not cavalry officer
ini~eniy who can defend himself with his sword IL
attacked. This must not be any longer. Our ofa-
cess must be taught 10 the sword aud to drill as
well Is lead their men in the close and deadly
charge, or they must be exchanged for other officers
who can do it, or who at least learn or lastly,
We must calculate on being shamefnliy beaten in
syery battle.
Arthur Legendre, nephew and private secretary
Of General Baauregard, died in Charleston, South