The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-10
BRITISH vs.. AMERICAN CAVALRY.
ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL, !
NEW YORK. Jan. 4, 1874. (


New YORK, Jan. 4, 1874
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Some time ago published, at the establishment
Of Aessrs. Harper Brothers, in this city, "His-
tory OF the United States Cavalry" which was well
received by the public. although certain passages
therein appear to have gwen pain TO some Of our
English cousins. Lieutenant Colonel George T.
benson Jr, OF the British service. has published
work at the house OF Thomas Bosworth No. 215
Regent street, London, on "Modern Cavalry" in
which he takes exception to some statements
made by me. On page IS oil his book he says -
'Noans criticisms have given the English dra-
goons bad reputation IN foreign countries, but
the criticisms were unfair and carried to TOO great
an extreme. See what Colonel Bracket, in
his History Of the United States Cavalry says
upon this polnt:-As to riders the United States
cavalry under the old system had few superiors
The English, as general thing. are wretched
riders, and IT Is no wonder that they are unlver-
sally whipped whenever they 90 into battle. The
dumping up and down on their saddles is not only
excrucIatng TO themselves, but rulnous TO their
unfortunate animals. Nolan, IN his work on cav
airy, speaks IN most dsparaging terms OF the Eng
lish cavalry as does Lieutenant General Sir Charles
Napier. and no doubt justly SO, as 1t is hard to
imagine more h.lpless body oil men thar they are
Poor Nolan himself lost his lie while charging at
Balaklava, where the English horse was entirely
dered where this officer received his historical edu-
cation" Inssmuch as never, up to the time Of
reaulnK colonel DenlSOn'S DOCK, hau seen an init
nation that the English cavalry was not 50 cut to
as great as his. To show, however,
that the Colonel knows the facts to
be as / have stated them, find this admission on
the l54th page OF his work:-"At Baaklava the
light brigade cavalry charged and took 80 guns
IN position drove the supports away, and went
on beyond the battery. leaving the cannon de-
serted 400 yards behind them; but no supports
came up, no reserves, no assistance, and the cav
alry-a few hundred 0nly-found themselves VIC
t0ri0us In the midst Of the whole Russian army,
but blown broken, and II confusion from success ;
ami reduced to one-thlrd OF their oiiginal number
to retire and give up all the advantages they had
gained" Now, II losing twO-thrds OF a command
Is not being "entirely cut to pieces" confess
do not understand the use OF words. Had the loss
to the English been any greater 1t would have been
o massacre simply. II Coionei Denison will look
more closely into this subject perhaps he win
think as do about IL.
Captain Nolan Was unquestionably the best cav
airy soldier In the British army at the time OF his
death, and his memory 10 respected as highly in
America a. 1t Is 10 Great Britain. The trouble
was he thought the cavalry could do more than IL
was able to do, and the result was 1t was almost
stricken or the lace Of the earth.
Clam that our cavalry 10 superior to the British
cavalry, for the reason that II Is kept marching
and scouting IN the Indian country during the
greater portion Oi the year, 30 that IL n ct Oil
times actively employed, whereas the British morse
- kept at home In good stables and quarters and
the 011cers thereof are enloined to give II gentle
their cavalry were stationed out on our plains or
in our extensive mountain regions the Indians
would give them 81, the exercise they would re-
quire. lam yours. very respectfally,
Lieutenant Colonel Second United states Cavalry.