MOUNTED INFANTRY. .1 general term applied to foot soldiers mounted on horses. mules, eamels, or on wagons for transportation niv. Such were the ancient infantry carried swiftly to the battlefield in war chariots. In the sixteenth century Louis of Nassau made 500 of his cavalrymen take up behind their saddles an Nina) number of infantry, and Alexander of Parma. wishing to surprise the Duke of Alencon. mounted several companies of infantry on pack horses. This was followed by mounting several divisions of the infantry of that time, to which was given the name of 'dragoons.' pnthaldy from the matchlock carried, which was ornamented at the muzzle with the head of a dragon. Eventually this name 'dra was given to certain cavalry which fought either mounted or disneamted. Louis XIV. es tablished a corps of ',Mounted Grenadiers.' James 11. created a similar corps in the British Army. called 'Ilorse who were armed with muskets and grenades; in action they dismounted. linked horses. fired. and then threw their grenades V ranks. in 1750. during the American Revollit ion.a body of 1500 mounted rifle men from Kentucky and North Carolina, each man armed with his own rifle and mounted on his own horse, attacked the British at King's .1Iountain. and after a spirited dismounted contest. defeated the enemy, who lost Major Ferguson killed. 300 others killed and wounded, and SOO men and a quantity of arms and ammunition captured. Napoleon in Egypt. mounted a body of selected infantry on eatnels, as did forty years later the British in India, in which their eamel-infantry covered forty miles daily for six days. Again. in the Sudan campaign camels were used with success. In Tongking and Algeria the French often mount their infantry, sometime: allotting one mule to two sabers, by which plan they have acemnplished 110 miles in three days. The hest authorities agree that mounted infantry should be used for the sole purpose of moving quickly to the place where they are required for duty as infantrymen. not It es itat ing. if necessary, to sacrifice the means of transporta tion.
During the war in South Africa (1599-1902) the Boer army was almost entirely composed of mounted infantry or riflemen. These were IIIPTI aeeustuau•d to the saddle and the use of fire arms from boyhood. versed in the arts of the hunter, in the science of woodcraft. and familiar with the topography of the litdd of operations. }laving. by eao1 ions and noiseless approach, reached unperceived a spot near the enemy. the Boer dismounted. hoppled his horse. leaving hint
a short distance in rear. crept forward. and from a secure position opened lire upon the un siispeeting foe. If forced to retire, he did quietly and quiekly to take up a new position. From impregnable natural fortifications small bodies of these mobile troops often repulsed vastly superior British forces supported by ar tillery. In operating against the British cavalry the liners advanecd toward it on bor.:eh:1A up to within 500 meters, then dismounted and opened fire. In battle the Boers left the reins thrown over their horses' necks and dragging the ground: the horses did not move until their riders returned: these animals were of a great variety of size and breed, from the stolid Basuto pony to the blooded stallion.
The British under Lord Roberts had a force of about 3000 mounted infantry, originally or ganized into two brigades of five regiments each; of which 2000 men were regulars and the re mainder colonials. Owing to the want of in struction in mounted field duties. this force (with the exception of the colonial contingent) was not very useful.
During the American military operations in the Philippines small detachments of regular in fantry mounted on active native ponies were found useful in expeditions where rapid marches were necessary during the rainy season or as a temporary substitute for cavalry.
In t hose European countries where large cavalry establishment, are maintained and traditional method, are deeply rooted, there will be provision for three classes of mounted troops: one on large. heavy horses trained in 'shock tactics' and for ceremonial purposes; another on lighter horses for scouting and pursuit of an enemy; a third, of infantrymen armed with long range Hiles on small, active horses for escort, eolivoy, and picket ditty. In the United States all of these duties are performed by a single class. To give greater mobility to infantry without impairing its fire action, it may be mounted temporarily on anything that will trans port it rapidly to the place where it is needed in advance of its comrades on foot ; this kind of mounted infantry must he employed in masse•, never individually.
Bint.101,RApilY. Reports on ili to ry ions in Nona .1 f rico and China ( NVar Depart ment, Washington. July, 1901) ; Molyneux, and Equipment of Cavalry. Alounted Infantry, in the Journal of I hr n ed 1- ice I ns tit nt ion of India ( 1902). See the articles ARMIES; ARMY ORGANIZATION; CAVALRY; IN FANTRY; TACTICS. MILITARY; and SOUTH AFRI CAN WAR.