In 1806, the Prussian cavalry was divided into cavalry and light cavalry. (The light cavalry was represented by the hussars, which will be covered in our next issue.) Contrary to what many British historians lead us to believe [1] , nowhere in German sources can anyone find dragoons classified as medium cavalry. The dragoons in Prussian service at this time were an integral part of the "cavalry" (i.e. heavy cavalry). Horseman of Regiment von Beeren. Horseman of Regiment von Beeren: Large Illustration (slow: 136K) In fact, in 1806, other than having a different uniform and a different origin, there is little tactical difference between the cuirassiers and the dragoons. Both were using the same Regulation of 1796 [2] ; both were, on rare occasions, expected to perform dismounted fighting duties; both were expected to charge in the field; both-since Frederick's time-were mounted on horses of similar size [3]; both were armed with similar swords [4], both -- since October 23, 1787 -- were armed with the same carbine [5]. And, finally, both used the same shabraque and holster cover, etc. It is hard to cover the Prussian cavalry and its uniforms during the Campaign of 1806 without referring to that of Frederick. Under Seydlitz and other great Prussian cavalry leaders of the Seven Years' War, Frederick's horsemen had acquired a reputation which they still enjoyed at this time. In 1806, the Prussian cavalry was mounted-with the exception of the cuirassiers - on heavier horses than their French counterparts. In addition, some authors claim that in 1806, man for man, the Prussian and Saxon cavalry were more than a match for the French on the battlefield [6]. But, in our opinion, battlefield encounters failed to prove that point. [7] Napoleon knew that the Prussian cavalry doctrine still recommended the direct attack of cavalry on unbroken infantry. Although confident of the result of such attacks, the Emperor, at the beginning of the Campaign of 1806, showed his concern by recommending that his infantry practice forming squares quickly. During Frederick's days, the Prussian cavalry successes were due to the timely charge of massed cavalry breaking through enemy lines. In the previous wars it had usually been enough to gain the flank or the rear of the enemy's formations to decide the outcome of the battle. It was a deep disappointment to Frederick William III, who until then had considered his cavalry irresistible, to find out on October 14th that though his cavalry did just that several times, they still failed to achieve anything against such a determined foe as the French infantry and could not even succeed in breaking any of the French squares. [8] In 1806, the Prussian cavalry consisted of cavalry: 13 cuirassier regiments, 14 dragoon regiments; and of light cavalry: 10 regiments of hussars and 1 battalion of hussars, 1 regiment and 1 battalion of lancers (Towarczy), and 2 hussars commandos. Note that the Prussian cavalry was weak in light cavalry, which comprised only about a third of the total regiments of cavalry. Since not enough light cavalry was available to distribute to the newly created Divisions, the cuirassiers and dragoons (both heavy cavalry) were dispersed among these newly created Divisions. Consequently, not enough heavy cavalry was left to form a Reserve cavalry, and hence, the Prussian cavalry, in 1806, could not be used in mass -- with, perhaps, the exception of Auerstadt -- as had been done by Seydlitz and others. NOTES [1] Some of these sources are Christopher Duffy The Army of Frederick the Great, Hippocrene Books, New York, 1974; Philip Haythornthwaite Weapons and Equipments of the Napoleonic Wars, Blandford Press, 1979, although p.35, classifying Prussian dragoons as heavy cavalry, generalizes that dragoons were medium cavalry. [2] The Prussian cavalry Regulation for cuirassiers and dragoons was published on February 6, 1796 and incorporated in a single document all the changes that had been introduced in the Prussian cavalry since 1788. [3] According to Duffy in The Army of Frederick the Great, the cuirassiers and dragoons were respectively mounted on horses at least 5 ft. 3 inches (or 15.75 hands) and 5 ft. 2 inches (or 15.5 hands) (I hand = 4 inches). [4] The Prussian cuirassiers were equipped with the famous Pallasch, a straight heavy sword with a single sharp edge and a brass hilt; so was the Dragoon regiment No.7. The dragoons were also armed with a similar straight-bladed sword and brass hilt called the Degen. [5] As per an order dated October 23, 1787, both cuirassiers and dragoons were armed with a shortened carbine of the same length. The bayonet was withdrawn from both arms by the same order. [6] Petre, Napoleon's Conquest of Prussia, p. 24. [7] That opinion may hold true concerning the French light cavalry and dragoons, who were mounted on smaller horses than their Prussian and Saxon counterparts, but is questionable in relation to the French cuirassiers, carabiniers and the guard cavalry. At Austerlitz, the latter in large formations had shown themselves more than a match for the Austrians and Russian heavies, as well as for the Russian guard cavalry. But in 1806 no comparable large cavalry encounters took place. [8] At Auerstadt, the 85th of the line, deployed in front of Hassenhausen, was surprised by a sudden Prussian cavalry attack. Completely surprised, the 85th had no time to form squares and was sabred. Part of the men panicked and reformed in a square at the east end of the village. A second Prussian cavalry charge against that square was repulsed. More 1806 Prussian Uniforms Part II: The Cavalry Introduction The Cuirassiers The Dragoons Uniform Illustration: Horseman of the Regiment von Beeren (slow: 136K) Uniform Illustration: Dragoons and Cuirassiers (slow: 105K) Prussian Uniforms of the 1806 Campaign Part III Introduction to Light Cavalry Hussars Towarcys Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 2 No. 5 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by Emperor's Headquarters This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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