Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

[HangarFlying]

Hello everyone,

I was having a discussion with a friend about dismounted cavalry and since I'm an infantry guy, I figure I would direct the question your way. What would be a realistic frontage of a dismounted cavalry unit for battle. Let's assume there are 200 troopers "on line", not including those in reserve or holding horses.

Just curious, thanks guys.

James Boyle

[Tom Craig]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

James,

I'm a little unclear on your question. Do you mean what amount of space they would occupy, or what formation they would take, or something else?

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Mark Choate]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

James,

Like Tom, I am not certain that I know exactly the nature of your question, but just to give a stab at answering it, there is no "standard" amount of frontage to be taken up. There are many variables to consider. What type of tactics are being followed (ie. Cookes, Poinsetts, etc.) would have a large impact as it would determine whether you are working in single or double ranks, etc. With standard single rank deployment, the men typically deploy in double space increments, but if the space is tight, the line commander can close the ranks to the point the men are shoulder to shoulder. So, if you are needing a point of reference, 200 armed, dismounted cavalrymen, could fit in the same space that 200 infantrymen would.

As far as the horses being held, they are highly mobile and are kept in the rear out of range of fire and can be held in groups, side by side or stacked, so they, too could be compressed easily.

Again, I am not sure if I am helping you at all, but hopefully so.

thanks,
Mark

[HangarFlying]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

Sorry guys, not knowing the manuals, I guess I don't know the right question to ask.

As was stated, on one hand they could be shoulder to shoulder, but how much space would they occupy on the other extreme? I guess I don't really need a hard number but maybe more of an average or approximation. Can it even be guestimated or are there too many variables?

Thanks again and thanks for your patience.

James Boyle

[Silas]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

I'm not a cavalry guy, but the first place I'd look would be Mr. Poinsett's 1855 manual for dismounted troopers : http://books.google.com/books?id=uyK...page&q&f=false

Then I'd look at a few others if I wasn't satisfied with the answer : http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/links.htm#N_5_C

[RCR001]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

I'd say terrain would have alot to do with it. Enemy too, but not as much. Finally, action, are they defending or attacking?

[Tom Craig]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

James,
Silas is very right to start you off with Poinsett's. The catch is that you need volume 2, not volume 1. Volume 2 deals with the platoon and squadron mounted, and that is where they lay out how to skirmish, on horseback.

It is a question among us cavalry types if dismounted cavalry (in the east) always fought in skirmish order while dismounted, or if they formed in close order like infantry at any point. I volume 1 of the manual, Pointsett spells out the formation for dismounted men to march and manuver in two ranks, close order, similar to what the infantry does, including instructions on the placing of feet for firing etc. No where however does it every describe anything about actually using that sort of formation in combat the way it talks about skirmish formation.

Likewise, period accounts of dismounted fighting are very vague about formations. They talk about making charges, the "line" going forward etc, but precious little detail about what that actually looked like. All of this is probably more info than you wanted to know, but knowledge is power!

To the specific original question: A cavalry formation of dismounted men in close formation would occupy the same space as an infantry formation, except that 1/4 of the men would remain mounted with the held horses. In dismounted skirmish order there should be 5-10 paces between each man, so you can do the math (I'm REALLY bad at math) to get the figure on roughly how much distance they would cover on avergage.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[RCR001]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

I think an study of Forrest's Command at Brice's Crossroads would be very worthwhile towards this issue. "Get there first, with the most!" Don't Let Go and Keep Pouring it On!

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

John --

Don't forget "Git the bulge on 'em!"

[Silas]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

James,
Silas is very right to start you off with Poinsett's. The catch is that you need volume 2, not volume 1. Volume 2 deals with the platoon and squadron mounted, and that is where they lay out how to skirmish, on horseback.

Here's a direct link to volume two of Poinsett : http://books.google.com/books?id=jN4...ummary_r&cad=0 This volume is included in the cavalry section of my library of links.

[CYoungJSU]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

I remember reading about Wheeler's command around Glass' Mill where Union soldiers believed the attacking body of men were actually infantry instead of dismounted cavalry. You will want to check Pete Cozzens' This Terrible Sound in order to get the primary source documentation he used.

[IowaYank]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

Christopher, that could be due to formation, or it also could be due to how they are armed. Many western theater cavalry, Wheeler's men included were merely mounted infantrymen, carrying nothing more than a three band Enfield in many cases.
Dan

[RCR001]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

During Price's Raid in 64, most of Shelby's men were armed with 2-band enfields. I've read several reports where the Union forces mistook them for infantry and skedaddled. Probably a wise decision on their part.

P.S. Thank you, Mike. "No man kills me and lives!"

[GAR]

Re: Frontage of dismounted cavalry during combat

I should think that much of it was determined by the number of troopers engaged, the type and width of the terrain to cover and the purpose of the line. Were they deployed to cover both flanks or to cover a road? Or to possibly create a break in the enemies line? Were they converging on a stationary target such as a sniper, farm house, or bridge or were they sweeping an entire field looking for men hiding? Were they facing artillery, in which case they didn't want to be bunched up, or looking for the best place to ford a stream? Obviously, a scouting party of four to six men are going to deploy differently from a regiment of two hundred.
With carbines and pistols, they had the luxury of more concentrated firepower, plus the ability to reload faster and easier than the infantry could, especially while in a prone position. But due to a lack of range, they were more likely to fire from a kneeling or prone position, or from behind an object that could provide some protection. The manuals show the proper position to fire a carbine from a standing position but those who did were presenting a much larger target over a greater range. This is likely also the thought behind skirmishing dismounted as many a soldier and officer presented easy targets and were shot out of their saddles.