The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-11-09
SOME OF THE FAMOUS cAvALRYMEN
Murat, Hodson, LasaIle, Skobeloff; and
Roberts as Swordsmen.

Time was when to be an expert
swordsman was looked upon as one of
the most essential qualifications an Of
ticer could possess, and several of our
most celebrated soldiers at the COM
mencement of the century were re-
markable as much for their personal
prowess with the sword as for any of
the larger gifts which go to form
great commander. Sir William Napier
could run or jump with any one of the
gallant memb bers of his regiment, and
records show, in the race for the rocks
at La Rhune, he was mot a foot be-
hind" the most active of them. And
he could hold his own with the folls,
the single-sticks, or the bayonet, as
well as in mere bodily activity.
Marshal Beresford was a man of
magnificent physique, and owed his
| life to his thews and sinews when he
found himself engaged in a rough-and-
| tumble that would have shocked Won
Moltke with the Polish Lancers at
Albuera. Lord Anglesey was also
typical "beau sabreur," and even when
he lost a leg could sit horse with
more grace than most mortals can dis
play with two. During the Mutiny
and Sikh wars hand-to-hand encoun-
ters, in which the leaders on either
side set shining example to their fol-
lowers, were by no means uncommon,
and almost all the men on our side
who came to the front could hold their
own, and more than did so, even with
the expert hereditary swordsmen who
rode against them.
| Nicholson was as efficient with his
arm and wrist as with his quick deci-
sion and active brain. Hodson of Hod-
sons Horse was the very ideal of cav
airy leader, and his name was terrible
to the natives, as much, perhaps, by
reason of his reputation as swords-
man as because of any of the other
soldier-like qualities of which he was
possessed. Sir Dighton Probyn, when
he was at the head of his native cav
alrv squadrons, was looked up to by
his followers as very Paladin, and
could beat the best of them at tent
pegging, lemon-shcing, or any OF the
tests of horsemanship dear to men who
are soldiers by tradition, birth and pre-
dilection.
Last, but not least, there were few
men in India twenty years ago who
would have cared to meet Lord Rob
erts, as we must now learn to call him,
at any of these exercises if heavy
stake depended on the issue. Even
now, when years and the cares of of
! flee may reasonably be supposed tc
have dimmed his eye, it is a refresh
ing sight to see the commandment.
chief take the first "peg," as he usually
D does, at the Simla gymkhanas, and tc
e note that he can WELD lance with 9
dexterity which none of those who fol
low him will surpass, and not mar
of his age in all India equal.
D Nor is it in our armies alone tha
such qualities in officers have evel
= commanded admiration. The brillian
Murat, vain and theatrical as he wa
in dress and manner, when the battle
was at it's height was never more thor
oughly at his ease, and never showed
more strikingly to advantage. Ih'
handsome figure covered with lac
and frippery was always wont to shoe
far ahead of the squadrons behind hin
, into the melee, and regarded chanc
as thrown away which did not enabl
him to lay several opponents low b,
the superior skill he could display wit
the saber.
!; Lasalle, young, bright and intelli
= gent, who fell at Wagram, the bes
? leader of cavalry of Europe, with til
one exception we have just been speak
! ing of, at two-and-thirty years of age
] owed much of his influence and author
ity to his fine riding and his cunnin
: of fence In our own times Skobelo
was just such another, and the halo {
d romance which played about him aros
in large degree from the physical at
vantages he could boast of among hi
= uneducated troopers. Valentine Baker
is another name which will occU
among several others, some of whol
are with US SATURDAY ReUseW.