Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood V.C. G.C.B. - Achievements of Cavalry

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ACHIEVEMENTS OF

CAVALRY

BY

GENERAL SIR EVELYN WOOD

V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., ETC

Contents

No. V.DRESDEN, 27th August , 1813.

Some years ago, when commanding the Aldershot District, I came to the conclusion that our cavalry-officers were being discouraged at field-days by the system Of umpiring, which was faulty, in that it did not represent the probable results of war. This was so because it was assumed that the effect of rifle fire on Service nearly equalled that obtained on the ranges, and also because we over-estimated the value of Artillery practice when guns were laid on moving targets. Moreover, the application of the rules then in force was often to the prejudice of the Mounted branches. In conjunction with my friend and colleague, General Sir Drury Lowe, then commanding the Cavalry brigade, I endeavoured to correct such erroneous judgments, and to bring out truer solutions.

The consideration of the subject, and careful study of many military histories, has demonstrated to me how essential it is that cavalry officers should know when and how to charge, and when to refrain from the attack. The importance of that Arm of the Service is as great now as ever it was, but its satisfactory employment, in these days of weapons possessing great range and precision, requires not only assiduous reading, but also experiences in all field duties.

In 1892, after consulting, and being encouraged by all the cavalry commanding officers then in the kingdom, I wrote for the United Service Magazine , in an abbreviated form, six studies for the assistance of such of my young comrades as are not fond of close reading in military history. Having since enlarged these six chapters, I now again offer them, with six additional studies, to my younger comrades, and to, I hope, a wider circle of readers. The amplification I have made was desirable in order that I might show the necessity for discipline and sound administration in armies, to enable cavalry to be successful; and I think it may also assist civilians, who are not usually conversant with the sequence of events in a campaign.

It will be observed that England, Poland, and Russia each furnished the troops for only one of the feats I have selected, Austria two, and France two, while North Germany is credited with five out of the twelve Achievements. This is to be accounted for, so far as our cavalry is concerned, by the fact that though it had many opportunities of achieving success in the Peninsular War, yet the leading of its commanders, being more indicative of courageous hearts than of well-stored minds, was often barren of results.

Cavalry officers can become efficient leaders, after adequate study, by two means:

Firstly, by war service.

Secondly, by practice in cavalry, and combined manoeuvres.

The former experience, costly in lives and money, is not often available, and the latter means has only been afforded to our Service during the last few years, and even in that time but to a very limited degree. The Prussians, on the other hand, have had manoeuvres of some kind ever since the time of Frederick the Great, i.e. for a century and a half; and it is significant that during the twenty-two years, 1821-43, m which no large bodies of cavalry were assembled for manoeuvres in that country, there was a tendency to eliminate warlike exercises, and substitute parade movements for them. Until recently our regiments had not got beyond parade movements. I hope, however, that the British public is beginning to recognize the necessity for annual manoeuvres; and, satisfied, as I am, that there is an increasing desire for improvement amongst the officers, I believe in the future of our cavalry.

EVELYN WOOD.

1st January 1897.

THE NORTH-EAST FRONTIER OF FRANCE IN 1794

THE COUNTRY NEAR VILLERS-EN-CAUCHIES, TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACTION FOUGHT 24TH APRIL, 1794

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1800ITALY

MARENGO, 14TH JUNE, 1800

THE SOMO-SIERRA

THE DEFILE OF THE SOMO-SIERRA

THE COUNTRY NEAR SALAMANCA

THE COUNTRY NEAR GARCIA HERNANDEZ. CAVALRY

ACTION FOUGHT 23RD JULY, 1812

THE COUNTRY NEAR DRESDEN

THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE BATTLE-FIELD OF DRESDEN, 27TH AUGUST, 1813

THE COUNTRY NEAR LEIPSIC

WACHAU (NEAR LEIPSIC), 16TH OCTOBER, 1813 To face

THE HILLY COUNTRY NEAR CUSTOZA. ACTION FOUGHT 24TH JUNE, 1866

PLAINS NEAR CUSTOZA. ACTION FOUGHT 24TH JUNE, 1866

THE COUNTRY NEAR KNIGGRTZ

Great Campaigns in Europe, 17961870, by Major C. Adams; edited by Captain C. Cooper King.

Operations of War, by General Sir E. Hamley, K.C.B.

Historical Records of the British Army, published in General Orders, 1st January, 1836 (15th Hussars).

A letter from the Duke of York, dated Cateau, 25th April,

1794, to the Secretary of State for War.

An original report, by Lieut.-General Otto, dated Troisville, 25th April, 1794.

Report to Citizen Pille, Adjutant to the War Office, Paris, dated 25th April, 1794, by General Pichegru.

History of Europe, by Sir A. Alison.

History of the Peninsular War, by Napier.

History of the German Legion, by Beamish.

Wellingtons Despatches, by Colonel Gurwood.

Sieges of Spain, by Jones.

War in Russia and Germany, 1812-13, by Colonel Cathcart.

Colonel Cookes lecture on the Campaign, 1866.

Campaign of 1866, compiled by the Prussian Staff (translated).

Letters on Cavalry, by Prince Kraft zu Hohenlohe Ingelfingen (translated by Colonel Walford, R.A.).

Memorandum by an officer of the General Staff, Berlin.

The Italian Campaign, by J. V. Le Moyne.

The Austrian-Italian War, compiled from official papers, by Franz Crousse.

The German official account of the 1870-71 War (translated).

The Great Battles around Metz, by Franklyn.

Tactical Studies, by Colonel Lonsdale Hale, R.E.

The German Artillery, by Hofbauer (translated).

Sedan: the Downfall of the Second Empire, by George Hooper.

Custoza. A tactical study, by Verdy du Vemois (translated).

A memorandum, with detailed information, relative to the Blatta stream, furnished by the Mayor of Tobitschau, 1892.

Recollections of Caulaincourt.

A memorandum compiled in the War Office, Vienna, on the action of Austrian Cuirassiers under the command of General Count Nostitz, 16th October, 1813.