Napoleonic Heavy Cavalry & Dragoon Tactics

by Philip Haythornthwaite, Adam Hook (Illustrator)

Overview

During the Napoleonic Wars the supreme battlefield shock weapon was the heavy cavalry – the French cuirassiers, and their British, Austrian, Prussian and Russian counterparts. Big men mounted on big horses, the heavy cavalry were armed with swords nearly a metre long, used for slashing or thrusting at their opponents; many wore steel armour, a practice revived by Napoleon. They were tasked with smashing a hole in the enemy's line of battle, with exploiting a weakness, or with turning a flank. Their classic manoeuvre was the charge; arrayed in close-order lines or columns, the heavy cavalry would begin their attack at the walk, building up to a gallop for the final 50 metres before impact. Illustrated with diagrams, relevant paintings and prints and specially prepared colour plates, this is the first volume of a two-part study of the cavalry tactics of the armies of Napoleon and those of his allies and opponents. Written by a leading authority on the period, it draws upon drill manuals and later writings to offer a vivid assessment of how heavy cavalry actually fought on the Napoleonic battlefield.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782009405
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	07/20/2013
Series:	Elite , #188
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Philip Haythornthwaite is an internationally respected author and historical consultant specializing in the military history, uniforms and equipment of the 18th and 19th centuries. His main area of research covers the Napoleonic Wars. He has written 40 books, including more than 20 Osprey titles, and numerous articles and papers on military history – but still finds time to indulge in his other great passion, cricket.

Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on the Aztecs, the Greeks, several 19th-century American subjects, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.
Philip Haythornthwaite is an internationally respected author and historical consultant specializing in the military history, uniforms and equipment of the 18th and 19th centuries. His main area of research covers the Napoleonic Wars. He has written some 40 books, including more than 20 Osprey titles, and numerous articles and papers on military history – but still finds time to indulge in his other great passion, cricket.
Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and the history of fortification. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Classes of Cavalry 4

Heavy cavalry

Light cavalry

'Regiments of horse'

Dragoons The 'lightening' of cavalry from the mid-18th century Mounts: heavy and light - theory, and practice Equipment: sabres - firearms - armour - boots

Organization 19

Training

Formations

Pace and endurance

Skirmishing, and Dragoons 27

Heavy cavalry in outpost work

French Dragoons

Higher Formations 36

The Charge 39

The purpose of a charge

Balancing impetus with control

Techniques: the charge in line, echelon and column - Timing

Morale

Duration

Rallying and re-forming - Wellington's summary, 1815 - Cavalry versus infantry: the conventional wisdom

An exception: Garcia Hernandez, July 1812

Select Bibliography 62

Source notes

Index 64

Editorial Reviews

Diagrams, paintings, prints and vivid color plates specially prepared by Adam Hook appear throughout this informative paperback.” —Toy Soldier & Model Figure

From the Publisher