Sword of Davout, Marshal of France

[Iliad]

Hi Jim, thanks for the informative reply. Since the Napoleonic wars covered the period 1895 (?) to about 1815, and cavalry wore armour, and since the American War of Independence was much earlier, one wonders if cavalry was used in the W of I and was armour used? Were lances used?
My knowledge of the W of I and the Civil War is largely based on films which may or may not be factual, but I can't recall ever seeing scenes of cavalry battles.
regards,
Brian

[Jim McDougall]

You're very welcome Brian, and it really is interesting to learn more about the wars and conflicts these weapons were used in to give us better context in which to view them. I cannot claim any particular expertise in the uniforms of cavalry in general, but the use of cuirasses seems more generally applied in Europe to heavy cavalry, or similar dragoon units. It seems that the application of some of these terms creates some confusion with semantics.

The American War of Independance, more commonly referred to as the "Revolutionary War" certainly became in many ways a paradox in the sense of defining the forces, weaponry, tactics and many other factors.
It is important to remember that prior to this 'war (1775-1783) the colonists were British subjects. Most British provincial troops were garrisoned in Boston, and there were no cavalry. Naturally there were no American forces militarily. Various irregular and militia type organizations developed as hostilities grew.

By the time of the recognized outbreak of the war, American units developed along British form and there were indeed some cavalry based primarily on light dragoon units, one of the most famous being "Light Horse Harry" Lee's, with him the ancestor of the South's most brilliant general in the later Civil War, Robert E. Lee.
Most of the equipment and uniforms were modified civilian attire at first, later various captured items after arrival of British light cavalry units, the 16th and 17th. The British cavalry officer of note, and indeed notorious, was Tarleton, and the distinct European style cavalry helmet he wore became adopted by American units as well in degree.
There were no lances for cavalry, though polearms were certainly present among dismounted British units. While American army forces were developed in accordance to European standards in degree after the arrival of the famed Prussian military leader Baron von Stueben, and of course in some imitation of familiar British drill, they became more famed for guerrilla tactics.

The cavalry, in its limited role, carried muskets and sabres.

The use of the lance in the Americas, as discussed here on other threads, is primarily confined to the arrival of the Spaniards, who used this weapon well into the 19th century in the northern frontiers of New Spain. The use of the lance was widely adopted by Comanches and other Plains tribes as well, and was probably present as a spear precontact, and its use as a lance in stabbing fashion from horseback developed from of course the introduction of the horse.
The lance would find use once again in the American Civil War, as the attempt to adopt European fashion and weaponry had become popular.
The Union cavalry sought to develop lancer units, with rather ineffective result, I believe the unit was Pennsylvania and 'Rush's Lancers'. The troopers who had already shown disdain for the use of the sabre, naturally must have seen the use of this anachronistic weapon as ridiculous. I am uncertain whether any actual use of the lance resulted in any confrontations other than the men trying to understand the use of them.

I will say that I know that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police still used the lance into recent years, and thier parade drill is breathtaking, as I recall seeing some years ago.

Hope this helps, all the best,
Jim

[celtan]

Hi Jim,

Remember the cavalry engagement between Dux Lauzun's French Legion and Tarleton at the Battle Of The Hook (Gloucester, VA), just prior to Yorktown

Best

M