The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
AMERICAN CAVALRY.
Praise From Gen. Negrier and Other
Foreign Au. hOritles.


Special attention has lately been directed
in Europe to the cavalry of our army, and
this is due partly to the visit of Ma Gem
Baden-Powell and the recent memo
randum order on armament Of clvalry by
Lord Roberts, but largely also TO the excel
lent paper on American cavalry by Brig
Gen. William H. Carter in a recent number
of the United Serrice Magazine CHamersy 81.
In an essay entitled "Cavalrymen and
Drag "ons," which appeared in the Rerue
des Deur Mondes, and which is attributed
to Gen. Negrier, the well-known French
military authority, our cavalry also receives
full credit for it's work in the past
The author brings out the principal points
in the use Of our cavalry in the civil war,
especially the great use made of fighting on
foot Tor dismounted action by the Use Of
the carbine). and constant raids against
the enemys lines of communication. at the
same time preserving the power of the cav
airy to fight other cavalry, or mounted
action in the charge.
The following quotations from this arti-
Gle are Of great interest to us
Speaking of the cavalry attacks Of 1870,
the author says
First, it is necessary to examine how
cavalry was employed by nation free from
prejudice and unhampered by wise doc
trines: that learned war by practice and the
Use of common sense. We are speaking
of the war Of secession, which brought to-
gether in conflict the Confederate forces of
the Southern States and the Federal armies
of the North. This war opened new field
TO the cavalry. The Americans free from
the letters OF routine which restrained the
older armies of Europe. adopted the tactics
best suited to their operations.
THE forces of the North and those of the
South found ra ilroads to be absolutely es-
sential to all their movements. Cavalry
became the most redoubtable enemy of the
locomotive, thus showing one Of its most
important uses in future wars. In Europe
however, this fact passed lmost unno-
ticed
Actually all this cavalry was composed
Of dragons tin the European 5ense), The
regiments made constant use Of dismounted
action, but this did not prevent them from
making charges with revolver or sabre in
hand. AZ at Fairfax, Rockville and Hanover
But the Carbine and cannon We're most often
employed. Often whole brlgad" was dis
'''S Snaak;pg y oF tba wor,, oS tbe Cerwor c,,-
a,ry in 1s70-7i the amthor cali, attnnii ; "" "
tbs fact that althomrh snccessfmI at frst IN in
tS raconnaissanca hSca,,se he Fr"rnh ~ cav, ~
aIrv never attemnted r. SION then, ther.
were powerless later on when the franc
,h. infsntrw COLUMN. in ,ba rear and ad,. ~
an ameyica on thn ntmer bana ,ha 40
airy, ,eallsrs Serv enrl,, ren,nni,a,I ' ,ha Nv
"rea ga Of nower ~ b.. aa;ned rs, arrr ,lt nav
,,,en uit| n ,r;ee in sdd;,;on ,c tha sa Itu,
Thsir tac,;cs aaainat hntb cav.,ry ond IN
fantry we're a cSmhinstion Of fire and sbocl.
anr ;be;r ach;amaman,o u'.ra Ca r,nr ~,
Militant than thnse ~ the (:ernans IN ,s1n
VI anntber art icle on the same smh;en 1sJ ba.
u., arr;,.od from, sar-oy Ind;a Tbs Tn,i;no
I.oIyaieey Pocord nnhIisbaI in Taicutta '
nraises tho work az o,r vairv ,",i,n a.