In May 8th, 1920, during the Mexican Revolutionary Wars, a train carrying Mexican President Vetustiano Carranza was attacked at Apizaco by the numerous Infantry forces yet scant cavalry, belonging to Generals Maximo Rojas and Reyes Marquez, from the rebel Obregon's camp.
The “
General Ignacio Allende” Dragoon Regiment happened to be at the Tepezpan train terminal, protecting the Govt. Convoys. They responded by making a quick cavalry charge just using their sabers, since there was no time to dismount, form lines and fight on foot.
The Dragoon Regiment immediately went on the attack, wielding blades and carrying their waving regimental flag. They didn’t use their guns, since they believed they wouldn’t hit anything at full gallop, and it would only slow them down. After breaking and pursuing the enemy’s lines with sabers “reddened with blood to their hilts”, some mounted troops of General Pilar Sanchez went to their assistance, this time packing their .45 side-arms, and causing the utter rout of all the Obregon’s Forces.
But that was not the last saber charge.
The Italian
Savoia Regiment successfully attacked three encircling Siberian Infantry Battalions on August 23rd, 1942 with three cavalry Squadrons. This was near the river Don. They caused 100 enemy dead, plus 300 captured, and the utter rout of the whole sector’s enemy lines. All the enemy’s provisions, heavy weapons
et al, were captured. The Italians lost about 40 dead and 80 wounded, and about 200 horses.
This last saber-wielding Cavalry charge also employed hand grenades, and guns (whenever possible), but it was a full-blown saber-waving cavalry charge from its origins.
In fact, some of the regiment's cavalry units even carried heavy machine guns, to be dismounted and rapidly deployed using ground cover, as dragoon's are meant to do. Yet
the main charge was done using sabers at full gallop, and there actually were _three_ charges. Once their momentum was expended and the russian lines broken, they dismounted and fought on foot,
mano a mano.
It’s interesting to read all that went before the actual charge. Their previous formal dinner with white linen and full service, the donning of their white gloves prior to grasping their sabers, the prior raising of the Regimental flag in the mounted line, then the order to “charge with sabers in hand” by Captain Leone. All these seem right out from the previous century..!
Best
M
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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
Hi Manolo,
I think the 1942 event was one of the 'number' of 'last' mounted cavalry charges....but sabres were of course not present.
I'm trying to discover more on the 1906 event where sabres where supposed to have used in Luzon.
Excellent detail from you and Kronkew on the 1942 charge, it really is interesting to see how late this gallant, but by this time anachronistic arm of the military was still seen.
Best regards,
Jim
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