CAVALRY is a general name for horse-soldiers or troopers. The subdivisions aro very numerous; such as guards, dragoons, lancers, hussars, cuirassiers, mounted rifles, etc. The C. force of the British army is usually divided into household aud line. Tho numbers voted for 1876-77 were: The difference between the household C. and the line is this The former belong to the guards, a specially favored body of troops; while the latter comprise all who are not guards. The regiments are 31 altogether. During more than half a century, the num ber was 26; but in 1858, two new regiments were created—to restore the 5th and 18th. dragoons, which had been struck out of the list in 1799 for disloyalty in the Irish rebellion; and in 1862, 3 regiments were taken over from the abolished local European army of India. The list comprises 2 regiments of life guards (red), 1 of horse guards (blue), 7 of dragoon guards, and 21 of dragoons. Of these last-named 21 regiments, the 1st, 2d, and 6th are simply called dragoons; the 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, and 17th, lancers; the 3d, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th, llth, 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st, hussars. A. distinction is often made between heary and light C.; and, in continental armies, this distinction is very marked; but in England, the men and horses are not selected with much reference to this matter; the heavy being often too light, and the light too heavy, to correspond with their designations. In so far as the distinction holds in the British army, the dragoon guards, horse guards, and life guards are classed and equipped as heavy C., the dragoons medium,•and the lancers and hussars as light C., for scouring a
country. It was in the capacity of light C. that the Prussian Uhlans played so import ant a part in the late war between Prussia aud France, acting as wide-stretching feelers to the main bodies to which they were attached.
The line C. reghnents in the British service have generally 8 troops of 55 rank and file each, with 88 commissioned and non-commissioned officers to the regiment. The officers for a full C. regiment comprise 1 col. (as general officer), 1 lieut.col , 1 maj., 8 capts., 18 subalterns and other commissioned officers, and 59 non-commissioned offi cers. A lieut.col. in the guards C. takes rank with a full col. in the line C.; and a maj. in the former with a lieut.col. in the latter—an arrangement that gives rise to some favoritism and jealousy; for the guards are in no sense more meritorious sol diers than the line.
Nine months of drilling is the least time requisite to make a recruit fit to mount on duty, during which period he is drilled for eight hours a day. Londoners and agri Cultural laborers are mostly sought for; provincial mechanics are not found so available. The purchase of C. horses is an important matter. The veterinary surgeon of the regi ment is sent out to buy; but no horse is paid for till approved by the commanding officer. The usual maximum of price fixed is £33 for a horse 3 to 5 years old; but the horse costs the nation £50 or £60 pounds by the time it is thoroughly fit for service. See DRAGOONS, GUARDS, LANCERS, etc.