The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-29
THE. CAvALaYM.ANs WEAPON.
Praise Eram LVrsi HVbcrts for the Amer
team Cavsiry In the CIVIL War.

Praise Ersm LVrti HvbcrtS for the Amer
team Cavsiry in the civil War.
In a recent memorandum issued to the
British army, Lord Roberts makes some
interesting remarks on the United States
cavalry The memorandum discusses the
proper armament for cavalry, and. to deter
mine this, considers the action Of cavalry
In the field under three headings: First
cavalry against cavalry. Second, cavalry
against infantry and artillery Third
cavalry in pursuit.
Under the first, after considering the
German cavalry of 1870. and tho fact that
1t still chung to the tradition Of rdrme blanche
and made very little use of Are. Lord Roberts
proceeds as follows:
AIN America, on the other hand, the
cavalry leaders very early recognized the
Increase OF power to be gained by arming
their men with a rife in addition to the
sabre. Their tactics against both cavalry
and infantry were a combination OF fire
and shock, and their achievements were
far more brilliant than those OF the Ger
mans in 1870
4The cavalry was no only employed to
capture and hold strategical positions
to cover flank marches, to delay wide turn
ing movements and to cut the communica-
lions In far-reaching ranks, but as rear
guards and advance. guards. Compared
with the Germans. who made very little
use Of fire. the Americans were far more
and strategically, owing to their capacity
for defer cs, distinctly more effective.
Under the third head, after showing
that there has been no instance since the
time OF Napoleon Of cavalry In masses
riding down demoralized army and caus-
;,O (sop Rnharta Adds.
Pursuit, when effective, has been carried
out mainly by fire. and The cavalry has
endeavored to get ahead of the retreat
ing infantry and guns to retaLd fhe'r Prog
line Of rifles. 1t was, by adopting these
tactics that Sheridans cavalry brought
about the dispersal Of Early's army on the
Shenandoah, In 1854, and the surrender OF
Lees army at Appomattox, in 1895.
airy fought in two pitchedbattles and drove
the enemy back 1870 miles In nine days
10th to 27th Septemher), capturing over
thirty guns. 1900 to l 100 prisoners, ana
turning every position which the oonied-
crates attempted to hold The f1gntlhg
was not all dismounted.
During the bait le of the 10Th SHpte en-
Der, one division alone made six distinct
charges three against cavalry ano three
against infantry and artillery; but as
rule, the fire-arm and the horse artillery
guns were the decisive weapons.
Such tactics, which the powerful arma-
ment and defensive strength Of the Ameri-
can cavalry made possible, are infinitely
more effective than charges in mass with
Parme blanche. Their scope Is far larger,
their aim being the surrender Of the enemys
whole force, and not merely the slaughter
Of few batteries
One Of the objecti ions raised to the ays-
tenn OF tactics proposed was that cavalry
cannot be trained to fight Unfortunately
on foot and in the saddle; that on foot they
will he very indifferent infantry, and In
the saddle very timid cavalry. To this
Lord Roberts replies:
THE American cavalry were not only
admirable when employed as dismounted
skirmishers. but could always be trusted
to charge home when mounted