The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-26
THE CHARS CAVALRY.
Noble HOdy Of Men-Dra8Oons Who Fight Indinerently Mounted Or
 on Foot = Their HOrs1s

FIght Iudincrently Mounted or
 on Foot Their Horses
 and Equipmcnts.
 MT, MacGahan, of the London Daily News, who recently witnessed a review of the Russian troops near Turnu Magu- relli, writes as follows of the cavalry:
 The artillery moved of and the de tachment of dragoons came up. The Russians do not claim to have any tech- nically "heavy" cavalry of the line. There used to be a whole division of cuirassiers which were very heavy cav airy, but there remain of cuirassers now but three regiments, and these belong to the imperial guard. But the dragons saw were virtually heavy cavalry-cav- airy indeed as heavy as any in Europe. Horses seventeen hands high, neither clumsy nor wcedy, strengthened, close coupled, powerfully-quartered, noble crested, with small, well-bred heads, and the stamp of immense power and leonine courage pervading the whole frame. Men tall, square~shouldered, clean hanked, rather heavy-limbed, perhaps, but without clumsiness-men, in fine, of the stamp of our dalesmen, who fur nish the best troops to our household cavalry, only for the most part of greatcT breadth of shoulder and massiveness Of limb. I will frankly aver that it has never yet befallen me to see troop horses so grand Then saw handful of Uhlans the men, take them as a whole, run ming little smaller and lighter than the dragoons, but only trife so-the horses of equal substance and another handful of hussars, the men perceptibly slighter and shorter than the dragons, yet still big men, the horses hardly so tall, but with almost as much power. The Rus sians, as they have technically no heavy cavalry of the line, so they have techni- cally no light cavalry of the line; the Cossacks constitute their light cavalry. It is fair question for discussion whether it is wise or otherwise to have all the regular cavalry thus massive, for really no other expression conveys so truthful an idea of their character.
 The Russian cavalry saddle is very rudimentary, yet serviceable article for practical works. It consists simply of a wooden frame raised on two wooden pan nels, which fit the horses back, lying | lengthwise on either side of the back bone. The only leather about the saddle are the flaps, which come only little way down, but extend the whole length of the pannels. Both pommel and cantle are high and cut out, so as to allow a current of air to circulate along the backbone between the pannels. In front are pair of immense wallets which are stuffed with belongings of man and horse. Above the wallets is carried sheepskin pea-coat, above that again the cloak, neatly folded, not rolled, and the whole is covered by the horse-rug, which en- velops the wallets and their superstruct- ure, and being carried back to the cantle, furnishes also the seat of the saddle there being no leather seat, as in our military saddles, above the wooden frame. Behind the wallets, or rather, perhaps, behind the top of the rommel, the dra- goon carries rations for two days, bread, rice, salt, &c., in canvas bags made for the purpose. Behind him. across the cantle, hangs also in canvas bags on either side his horses ration of grain for two days, with two days allowance of hay, packed very close in hay nets, hang ing down on either flank. On the pannel ends behind the cantle is carried small round valise, much of the same shape as that used by our cavalry, but without & dragoon carries the following kit: One uniform tunic, one white tunic, three shirts, two pairs draws, one sleeping com 1 forter covering head and neck, one pal of boots, aud one pair feathers for making new legs to boots. Each third man rarries copper cooking-pot which fits exactly over one end of his valise. Above the valise is half tent d'abri, with one of the stakes. should have said that above everything in front are strapped the picket pegs and ropes, which, however, seem to be very litt,e used. Underneath the saddle frame is felt blanket folded four-fold, which does duty for our numna. It is refolded daily, so that fresh surface is always next the horses back, an admirable preventive of chafing. One inch-broad leather girth maintains the saddle In its place with the aid of another passing under the horses belly some distance further back. A surcingle keeps the rug in position, and straps it down on to the frame. There is no breast-plate or crupper to the Russian saddle, but a leather band crosses the ! uulsc CucSl to hCCp thC sauutC III PoSi- tion. The headstall is simple, strong, and eminently practicable; there is no gimcrackery of many buckles or brasses. The dragoon, who wears kepr, a blue tunic, and pantaloons, with boots coming up to the knee, carries breech.loading Krink short rife, not carbine, in & leather case slung on his back, with the butt on the right side and the muzzle above. the left shoulder The non-cem- missioned officers carry no rifles, but are armed with revolvers. The private dra- goon has no pistols. He carries sabre without a basket hilt. Indeed in the Russian army there are few basket-hilted swords, in leather scabbard lined with wood and tipped with brass, and bound by brass rings. On the sword scabbard is also the leathern sheath of bayonet, for use with the rife when the dragoon is fighting on foot For the Russian dra- goon is drageon proper, according to the original acceptatien of the term. He is armed and trained to fight indifierently on foot or on horseback; you may call him mounted infantryman when he is on horseback, but I should prefer to call him dismounted cavalryman when he is on foot. The Russian dragons march in sections of threes, and at the order to light on foot, the centre of threes takes charge of the horses of his two comrades, the sous. .capitaine of the squadron taking charge of the horse detachment, and