Chapter I: Preface

In this book no attempt has been made to produce an exhaustive treatise on Cavalry; it has been written principally for junior officers of all arms.

M. F. R.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

Cavalry in past ages--Drawn from horse-lovers, success
followed on fixed principles, these are as applicable
to-day--Ballistics from horseback--Always a sign
and cause of weakening--The charge of good _moral_--
Gunpowder and other improvements notwithstanding--Good
scouts always available--Best lessons are learnt in
war--Expense of cavalry--Duty of cavalry leader Page 1

CHAPTER II

ARMAMENT

Constant changes--Cut _v._ thrust--Gerard’s experience--
Point more deadly--The case for the lance--The
revolver--Confidence in the arm selected is of highest
importance--The rifle--The insistence of continental
writers inapplicable to British cavalry Page 10

CHAPTER III

THE HORSE

Colossal bill for horse-flesh in South Africa largely due
to national ignorance of horses--The suitable horse,
two classes--Chest measurement test for stamina--Small
blood horse stands work best--Arabs bred for war--
English and Australian horses for size--Care of horse in
war--An exception to this Page 18

CHAPTER IV

TACTICS OF CAVALRY _V._ CAVALRY

The squadron attack--Cohesion--And its result in
_moral_--Tactics--Cunning--The rally--Cromwell--
Supports--Conclusions Page 29

CHAPTER V

CAVALRY _V._ CAVALRY

FORMING TO THE FLANK

I. The squadron--Forming to the front or flank--Defensive
or offensive flank. II. The regiment, advantage of
Echelon attack. III. The Brigade--Training of leaders--
Co-operation of R.H.A.--Two forms of attack, when both
forces get away from the guns--Formations for moving to
a flank--Relative effect of artillery fire on the two
formations--Column of masses preferred--Formation for
the attack--Time for horse artillery to unlimber--Form
of attack must be simple--Conclusions Page 37

CHAPTER VI

FIRE ACTION IN TACTICS OF CAVALRY _V._ CAVALRY

Not a question to be shirked--Danger of recourse to fire
action weakening our leaders’ desire for shock action--
An instance of fire _versus_ shock action--Rifle fire
against charging horsemen is ineffectual--Contradictory
memoranda on the subject--Henderson’s dictum--
Dismounted action of cavalry--German regulations--
Prince Kraft Page 50

CHAPTER VII

CAVALRY BRIGADE IN ACTION

First objects in the attack--Concentric shock of fire and
horse--Plan to get a good field of fire by alternate
advance of two squadrons--Desiderata in artillery
position--Broad principles--Utilization of ground--
Deception--Get away from our artillery--An example of
attack--The action of the artillery--_Moral_ necessary
to leader--Unreasoning hasty advance deprecated--If
anticipated by enemy, how we may have to act--Passage
of defiles--Dribbling squadrons into a fight--Cure for
dissemination Page 59

CHAPTER VIII

ACTION OF CAVALRY IN THE GENERAL ENGAGEMENT

Independent cavalry, danger of their detachment at
inopportune times--Cavalry and horse artillery at
LOIGNY-POUPRY--Unsatisfactory direction of cavalry in
1870-71 followed by peace belief in rifle--Fallacy of
tendency to dismounted action shown by South African and
Manchurian Wars--The line our training should take--
Cavalry instructional rides--Value of initiative--
Conclusions--Frederick the Great’s cavalry compared
with our South African cavalry--Pursuit--Neglect of,
a British failing--The parallel pursuit--Its value--
Blücher at Katzbach on cavalry pursuit Page 69