Transcriber’s Note: Boldface text is enclosed in =equals signs=; italics text is enclosed in _underscores_. MILITARY TEXT-BOOKS 8vo. _Ready._ =MODERN ARTILLERY IN THE FIELD.= A Description of the Artillery of the Field Army, and the Principles and Methods of its Employment. By Colonel H. A. BETHELL, R.F.A. With 14 Plates and 126 Illustrations in the Text. 7s. 6d. net. =AN OUTLINE OF THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR=, 1904, 1905. By Colonel CHARLES ROSS, D.S.O. Volume I. Up to and including the Battle of Liao-Yang. With 14 Maps. 10s. 6d. net. =OUR CAVALRY.= By Major-General M. F. RIMINGTON, C.V.O., C.B. With 8 Diagrams. _In the Press._ =FROM THE BLACK MOUNTAIN TO WAZIRISTAN.= Being an Account of the Countries and the Tribes controlled by the N.W. Frontier Province, and of our Military Relations with them in the Past. By Colonel HAROLD WYLLY, C.B. MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON. Military Text-Books OUR CAVALRY [Illustration] MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO DALLAS · SAN FRANCISCO THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO BY MAJOR-GENERAL M. F. RIMINGTON C.V.O., C.B. MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1912 COPYRIGHT 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