Napoleonic Weapons And Warfare: Napoleonic Cavalry

Napoleonic expert Philip Haythornthwaite takes a close look at cavalry weapons and their deployment in the Napoleonic Wars, to explain what actually happened in battle, and why. In this history of the Napoleonic Wars much emphasis has been placed upon the skill with which the commanders employed their cavalry forces; but to understand how they were used, it is necessary to know the capabilities of their weapons and their effectiveness. This book examines these matters in the light of contemporary sources: less in regard of what should have occurred according to the drill manual and manoeuvre regulations, but more towards what actually happened.

Contemporary accounts of battle are featured, as well as the technical debates which occurred among informed observers both during the Napoleonic Wars and in the immediate aftermath. Here is all the fascinating detail of cavalry weapons: the sabre, the lance, armour, carbines and pistols, and the way in which they were used in the skirmish line and the charge.