In Spain. at that time. there were many gal lant actions. Under Wellington the cavalry of the German legion attached to the British army was conspicuous. making, on one occasion, ac cording to the French general. Foy. "the most daring charge during the Peninsular At Garcia Hernandez (1S12). when the French army was retreating. three squadrons of Bock's German brigade, which had been ordered to charge the cavalry of the enemy's rear guard. unexpectedly encountered three battalions of in fantry formed in squares. Without hesitation, Boek's cavalry charged these squares. success fully penetrating them at places whore wounded horses or falling men had caused a gap in the side of the square. The vigor and skill with which this small force (ahout 110 sabres) was handled resulted in the of the French with a loss of 1 general officer and 1000 men; the German casualties were 4 officers. .18 men, 67 horses killed. and 2 officers, 56 men, 4fi horses wounded. with fi men missing.
Napoleon's disastrous RilsFdall campaign de moralized his cavalry. The intense cold, deep snows. want of food for horses and men, and eeaseless encounters with the Cossacks reduced the French horsemen in numbers and spirit. General )Inrand says of the Cossacks: "These natural horsemen are not organized in division, pay no attention to regular alignments, rest their feet in great stirrups which serve as sup port: when using their weapons: trained to pass at once from the halt to the gallop and from the gallop to the halt, their horses second their dexterity. These ungroomed animals of irregular size, supplied by their riders, possess wonderful endurance, are guided entirely by the snaffle, and easily accomplish WO verst (116 miles) iu twenty tour hours." Their method of attack in Napo leon's time called 'the lava,' consisted of a charge in small, irregular groups—in open or close order as circumstances seemed to require—these 'groups' hovering around the enemy until launched at a vulnerable point. Since then the close association with the regular system of the 'Russian Army has caused the lava to degen erate into a simple 'charge as foragers.' In some respects the Cossack methods are not un like those of the North Anterienn Indian of the plains.
The Crimean War was remarkable for the cavalry errors committed. Neither the Russians nor the Allies employed the arm effectively either for reconnaissance, outpost, or in large bodies on the battlefield. The most unfortunate instance of this nature, the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava (1S54)—where gal lant men were saerifieed through the folly of their commander and the ambiguity of an order, gained undying fame by a poet's pen. On the
same field the heavy cavalrymen of both armies met—the one at a slow pace, the other at a halt—with negative results. From the experi ence of the Crimea and that of the Italian cam paign of 1S5t) doubts arose as to the value of cavalry in future operations, Austria making a decided reduction in that arm. aken ing from this transient period of theory came from a nation not trained to arms, and it is to the American Civil War that we owe the re vival that took place in the use of the cavalry arm." (Liddell.) The experience gained in the Civil War ill the United States ( IS61-05) laid the foundation for renewed confidence in the value of mounted troops and led to many changes in the armament, equipment, and instruction of European cavalry. At the outset the aged General Scott and the new commander of the United States forces Clellan) did not expect that a large mounted force would he needed. In the North and West people were not accustomed to the saddle; in the South the majority were good horsemen. So it happened that the Confederates, at the begin ning of the war, displayed greater mobility in their operations, screened them effectually, and were better informed as to the enemy's move ments than were the Union troops. The lesson of the first year taught the United States Gov ernment the importanee of a due proportion of cavalry in the composition of its armies, and by the spring of 18(13 the Union cavalry were able to cope with the Southern horse. 'Fhe mounted service of the United States in ISfil consisted of two regiments of dragoons, of mounted rifles, and two of cavalry. variously armed, but later in that year another regiment was created and all were armed alike, with earbine, pistol, and sabre, were taught to fight as 'dragoons,' and were denominated 'cavalry.' On this basis was organized it groat body of volunteer liOrsenten, eventually aggregating 20000. The Confeder created their mounted force principally from the many mounted militia regiments and the thousands of good horsemen with which their section of the country abounded: these were offi cered in many eases by ex-officers of the United States Army and by young planters. For want of earbine: and sabres many Southern organiza tion: were armed with rifles, but as a rule with sabre and pistol. It has boon said that these troops were not 'cavalry' in the European sense. On the other hand, it has been urged that they were cavalry of the most efficient and versatile description.