Sword of Davout, Marshal of France

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Iliad

Hi Jim, the reason I used Davout as subject was that his was the only pic in the book that showed a sword in reasonable detail!
Here are some questions:
1.Did cavalry at that time wear any sort of armour? Helmets I suppose, maybe cuirasses?
2.Did cavalry at that time carry muskets/rifles/pistols as well as swords? Or were they armed with swords only? Lances? 3.Infantry were certainly armed with muskets/rifles and bayonets, but did they carry swords as well or did only infantry officers carry swords?
4.If cavalry wore armour, was this all cavalry or only some units?
5.If cavalry carried rifles/muskets, were these carried slung over the shoulders or perhaps in a scabbard attached to the saddle?
6.Were pistols carried as a matter of course by all combatants or only officers?
7.Please define "dragoon".....is this a branch of cavalry?

Best regards,
Brian

Hi Brian,
That makes sense, and you have really presented some well placed questions, which I am assuming would be directed to Napoleonic forces of France. Although I do not consider myself much of a military historian, I will try to express what I understand to be the answers to some of these.

The heavy cavalry were actually termed cuirassiers, and did wear armoured breast and backplates, as well as helmets.

Cavalry typically had short carbines, pistols in buckets on the saddles and swords. Only the units of light cavalry designated as lancers had the lance, with sometimes pistols but always the sabre for the melee.
Typically infantry had muskets with bayonets, but did not carry swords. I believe in the case of French, they did carry a short sword in many cases.

Only the cuirassiers wore armour, they were considered heavy cavalry, where light cavalry was clearly intended less for shock action and more for fast moving reconaissance, attack and pursuit.
I believe the short carbines may have had a bucket, but it seems many had a sling .

The dragoon was a 17th-18th century type of heavy cavalry that was essentially a sort of mounted infantry, who often fought in foot as well as horseback. The term remained with regiments who became heavy cavalry intended for shock action in attack, much like armored divisions in modern warfare.

Pistols were not as I understand standard issue to other ranks during this period, but officers of course typically were more likely to have them.
Units considered more elite, such as lancers and cuirassiers were more likely to have a wider complement of pistols among the ranks.

As I note, Im not a military historian, but these are the impressions I have from research and discussions past, and from recollection.

Hopefully those better versed in Napoleonic history and orders of battle will add and correct as required, fascinating and most colorful period of history!

All best regards,
Jim