The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-09-15
Cavalry Of History.

Originally horses were only used in war
for the purpose of bringing the chiefs
fresh into action, and this was affected by
means of ehariots, from which the warriors
descended and fought on foot Even when
cavalry proper first came into use the horse
men did not charge in organized bodies or
engage in hand to hand encounters, their
arms being bows and arrows, or javelins.
In fact, the first cavalry we're but mount
ed skirmishers. When Xerxes invaded
Greece the Persian host comprised cavalry
who were accustomed to charge in regular
formation and fight hand to hand with the
enemy Alexander the Great was appa-
rently the first among the Greeks to un-
derstand the proper use Of cavalry and to
derive full advantage from their momeu-
tum. His cavalry were Of three sorts;
heavy, with coats Of mail, helmets and
brazen greayes, swords and short spikes;
light, with lances sixteen feet long, used
mainly for outpost duty; and dimachi,
genuine dragons, accustomed to fight
either on foot or horseback. Alexander
organized his cavalry in troops two hun
dred and fifty strong, with eight ranks.
Between the troops he placed light infantry,
practice which has found favor with com.
manders who lived two thousand years
later. The early Roman cavalry used
neither saddle nor stirrups, wore no cui-
rass, and had only a shield and helmet.
Their arms were light lances, javelins and
swords. They sat on pad, kept in place
by girth, breast-plate and a crupper.
The Roman cavalry, as such, were for
some time only used for accommodating
purposes, aud to pursue a beaten enemy.
As late as the battle Of Gamma the Roman
knights leaped off their horses to fight.
Hannibal introduced great improvements
in the Carthaginian cavalry and the Ro-
mans, ever ready to learn from an enemy,
followed his example, and raised the
mounted branch to pitch of efficiency.
The Germans formed their cavalry in
double order, with sometimes as many as
sixteen ranks. Their method of fighting
was by riding up to the enemy without
charging, and upon arriving within range
Of their pistols, they fired two pistol shots
each and then the front rank wheeled to
the right or left and unmasked the second
which took up the fire while the leading
rank were retiring to the rear, where they
formed up in reserve and recharged their
pistols. Each rank did this in turn until
the whole force had discharged their
weapons. A practice arose among the
French cavalry of charging at full speed,
sword in hand, and the result was always
the overthrow of their opponents. Yet
gradually the French adopted the vicious
practice Of the Germans, aud soon all over
Europe tie lance and sword were abau-
doned for a pistol, and the pace of the
charge reduced to a tret. Hence, for
some time, cavalry was of little use in war.
Gustavus Adolphus was perhaps, one Of
the greatest military reformers that ever
lived. He reduced the depth of cavalry
to three ranks, retained only the cuirass
and helmet in the heavy cavalry, abolished
defensive armor altogether for the light
cavalry, and ordered the cavalry to charge
at speed and after single discharge Of
pistols Of the first rank, to dash in with
the sword. His successes caused his
practice to be adopted all over Europe.
Frederick the Great improved on the les
sons of Gustavus Adolphus, and brought
the tactics, the organization, the drill and
the individual instruction of his cavalry to
great perfection. The Austrian regular
horse still depended much on their FIRE
and were cumbrous in their movements.
The French either attacked, without squad
ron intervals, at trot, or at speed, in
dispersed order.