Cavalry Its History and Tactics (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Cavalry Its History and Tactics

There is, perhaps, no branch of the whole science of war which has engaged so little of the attention of military writers as that which refers to the formation and employment of cavalry; while at the same time it, must he admitted that few branches of the service are really more important than this.

On looking, however, closely at the subject, it is easy to understand why this should be the case. The tactics of cavalry are not capable of being reduced to rule, like the mechanical operations of the engineer, or even the slower and more methodical movements of infantry.

With the cavalry officer almost everything depends on the clearness of his coup d'il, and the felicity with which he seizes the happy moment of action, and, when once action is determined upon, the rapidity with which his intentions are carried into effect. There is little time for thought, none for hesitation; and, once the movement is commenced, its successful accomplishment is the only thought allowed to pass through the mind of the commander.

Much, then, must partake more of the inspiration of genius than of the result of calculation and rule. Still there is a great deal in the profession of a cavalry officer which can be reduced to writing, and which it is most important he should know and carefully study; many things which his knowing beforehand will enable him to profit by, or, having carefully thought over, will suggest to him, in the hour of need, expedients that no amount of service or of thought would ever enable him to perceive without previous reading and long study of the subject.

Nothing, however, can well be more difficult than to attain to this in the present state of the literature on the subject.

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