Taking Mounted Casualties

[RJSamp]

Agree with the rest of you that the
a) slumped over in the saddle
b) grabbing an arm and leaning to the side
c) drop off the saddle and holding on to the reins (and giving your friend a snack)
d) falling off and letting a loose horse run amok for awhile

either aren't safe or acceptable......

How about simply riding off of the field? Get out of LOS/LOF. Disappear for an hour.

Our interaction with other weapons systems (artillery, infantry, cavalry at long range, skirmishers) is not very good. We don't die when infantry volleys on us.....even if we are broadside, stationary, and less than 200 yards away. And they don't die when we fire at them when THEY are stationary, bunched up/in formation, and less than 200 yards away....and WE are stationary, firing from a stable platform (no one handed shots please), having a number of us firing (remember it took almost a man's weight in fired lead to produce a kill)...within zeroed in range of our weapons (200 yards for a rifle, 100 yards for a carbine, 15 feet for a pistol)

I know we expect them to start falling when we take single shots, one handed, from a trotting or galloping horse......it probably didn't happen too often back then and it definitely doesn't happen today....so why even waste your powder?

If you are mounted stationary and infantry fires at you from less than 200 yards.......start taking casualties and leave the field of battle. And for those foolhardy (not brave) souls that ride into covered terrain (brush or dense woods, a town, a privet hedge or thicket.......a) don't ....and b) start taking casualties immediately when you run into infantry at close range.

At the recent Outpost III there wasn't enough dismounted carbine fire, and entirely too much one handed while moving carbine shots. And too many horses stationary near enemy infantry without taking casualties and expecting the infantry to surrender, or hand over their guns.....
Bottom line, YOU or your mount are out of action.

A quick study of the Brinkerhoff Ridge battle, July 2nd, 1863 is well worth emulating. Squadrons of the 10th NY Cavalry were fed into a skirmish line East of Gettysburg as needed.....a dismounted squadron put about 30 carbines on the ground. When the Stonewall Brigade marched up in a two rank formation they simply brushed the dismounts away. Horses weren't needlessly exposed to gunfire, and were rested/grazed out of LOS/LOF. Troopers moved forward some 800-1000 yards to contest the fence / tree lines....carbine firing was from a stable firing position, often prone or tight against a ground, fence, stones, or a tree.

that's how I envision cavalry fighting against infantry. Not pistol carousels using pistols or its cousin, the one handed carbine firing at a gallop drive by......

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Taking Mounted Casualties

Hey ,
I had this ole man from home teach me how to lay my horse down. It takes a moment for me to do it. The horse will go down with me on him and will lay there for a little while. The only problem is making sure you get out from under him. I got caught at Mill Springs when I did it the last time. The cool thing is to get on him when he starts to get up.

[Andrew German]

Re: Taking Mounted Casualties

Hello RJ,

I'd agree that often we do not observe the distances required by the accuracy of Civil War firearms, and that few us us take mounted "hits." I'd also suggest that the horses were more likely than the men to be hit, so by 1863 or so cavaliers readily (unlike us) dismounted to fight on foot, becoming dragoons in practice if not in name.

For those who need reminding, here's a good description of the process from an officer who experienced it many times. And remember to keep the reserve with sabres drawn.

"Numbers 1, 2 and 3 of each set of fours, both front and rear rank, dismounting, linked their horses, . . . No. 3 handing his reins to No. 4, who remained mounted, and three-fourths of the command became available for the work in hand. The men then formed quickly into line, and were deployed in extended order upon the center skirmisher or the right or left skirmisher, by each man obliquing at once to gain the interval. . . . In less than half a minute a troop could dismount and deploy as skirmishers. Sometimes the line would be reinforced to about one man to the yard, but never heavier, and this answered all purposes. It is surprising when we consider how much was accomplished by this long, thin, apparently weak line of carbineers. How steadily it could advance under heavy fire, or deliberately retire, flexible, bending, but rarely breaking, keeping up its continuity, and showing a wonderful power of resistance. . . . The soldier becoming accustomed to losing the touch of his comrade, became more self-reliant and dependent on his own resources, taking advantage of all the cover and shelter possible, and more difficult to be persuaded that he was whipped. . . . Reserves and supports were provided for, and kept in hand to render timely aid and to be sent in when necessary.

"When the cavalry was dismounted, the horses were sent to the rear to take advantage of the nearest shelter from the enemy's fire, No. 4 having no difficulty in managing the three horses intrusted to him, or in moving them from place to place at any gait. In case a retreat became necessary, portions of the dismounted men would fall back alternately, taking new positions in rear, assisted by artillery, until it was possible to mount and retire without interference; or, in other cases, some of the line would be withdrawn and mounted, and then deployed as skirmishers to cover the retreat of the remainder, with mounted charges made occasionally on the flanks or front.." Louis H. Carpenter, "Sheridan's Expedition Around Richmond, May 9-25, 1864," Journal of the U.S. Cavalry Association 1:3 (November 1888): 302-03.

Andrew German

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: Taking Mounted Casualties

At the recent Outpost III there wasn't enough dismounted carbine fire, and entirely too much one handed while moving carbine shots.

RJ, you need to look around more as you are blowing on your horn! If "prepare to dismount and fight" came out of Coley's mouth one more time, I was going to explode:cry_smile Just kidding, but I was about wornout on dismounting and mounting that pony by Sunday morning. Over the weekend I shot about 95 rounds, of which maybe 10 were from the saddle.

Mike Nickerson

[csabugler]

Re: Taking Mounted Casualties

hey Mike, you would be a great candidate to do an accuracy test of a man experienced in firing from the saddle on the move. I imagine you have fired a few thousand rounds for accuracy on the run. Load that .45 long Colt and give us some data

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Taking Mounted Casualties

Does not really fit here RJ, But I wonder what the cavalry did use as bugle calls while deployed as skirmishers. Were it the same calls as used for infantry? I mean advance in retreat commence fire etc.