Cavalry And Cold Steel

If you will allow a cavalry soldier to f orget the value of cold steel and rely on fire action, you destroy the dash and elan which niake him formidable and shonld be his characteristic. Therefore Frederick 130 years ago ordered his troopers always to attack, and while he discountenanced the use of carbines gave them the necessary support which fire londs by organizing a light artillery to attend their movementts. Napoleon has told us that "cavalry cannot reply to fire and eau only fight with the steel," and fully recognizing where lay the weakness of his horsenien he gave them au anxiliary iu the shape of horse artillery, which, so far from hampering their movements, added to their boldiiess and enterprise when acting iudepeudently ahead of his vast arrnies. The co-operation of the two anus was also then found to work in anothei1 directiou to the benefit of both, for while proyectiles loosen compact formations and render the attack of squadrons more dangerous the cavalry force the scattering units to draw together and present an easier target for the guns. Especially was this noticeable during the pursuit of a beaten foe. A battery, bold and well placed, may deny a whole road to the retreating columns, and long lengths of "train" may have to be abandoned on the inroad of a few accurately directed shells. -