In any argument, it is always-very interesting to ear very carefully the arguments presented by both sides. Sometimes both sides are so convincing that it is difficult to decide on the spot who is right and who is wrong. Sometimes also each side has a good and pertinent point. The ability of some cavalry units to fire from the saddle and then melee is such a subject .... The advocates of the "FIRE and MELEE concept" claim that it is possible. The advocates of the "FIRE OR MELEE ONLY concept" claim it is not. The latter say it is not possible -- for the simple reason that after firing there is not enough time available to discard the carabine and draw the sabre .... Of course we are speaking here of only the cavalry units equipped with muskets, carabines and the like. Without doing any research, I know of three examples in which cavalry fired from the saddle and meleed. The first one is from PARQUIN page 53, during the battle of Eylau: "At about two o'clock in the afternoon an enormous mass of cavalry started to come forward at us at walking pace. The snow and the marshy ground made this the only pace possible. As the enemy cheers rang in the air Colonel Castex asked if the carabines were loaded. When told that they were, he ordered; "take aim!" Then he ordered the officers to fall in with the men and he did so himself. The enormous mass of dragoons was still coming at us at walking pace, but the colonel remained unmoved. When it was six yards away he ordered sharply: "Fire!" The regiment carried out this order with drill-like precision. Consequently, the effect of the volley was terrible. Almost the whole front rank was struck down. The enemy hesitated a moment, but soon the dead and wounded were replaced by the second rank and a melee developed. Without the presence of mind of Captain Kirmann, the regiment would have been seriously threatened, for a group of Cossacks had come around to attack us from the left and so catch the regiment between two fires. Captain Kirmann's timely order for one of the squadrons to face to left thwarted the Russian plan." It is very clear. The chasseurs fired from the saddle and then meleed. The other pertinent point is the order given by Captain Kirmann to face left to face a flank attack by the Russians. It is once more the justification for our support charge rule. Apparently to receive a charge at a stand still, fire and melee was not an unusual procedure if we believe General Gourgaud in NAPOLEON AND THE GRAND ARMY IN RUSSIA page 85, relating a combat during the crossing of the river Duna on July 27, 1812: "After having passed the little bridge which separated us from the enemy, the 16th Chasseurs, preceded by two companies of light infantry of the 9th regiment of the line, were to form in front of the defile in order to facilitate the passage to the other corps which followed. The left of the 16th Chassours supported the light infantry, who had gained the bank of the Duna. The 16th did not advance to charge the enemy, but only to gain the ground., and prevent the bridge from being encumbered. It was at this moment that the cavalry of the Russian guard, protected by the fire of a battery of 12 pieces charged this regiment, which. was led by General Pire. The 16th Chasseurs endeavoured to employ a manoeuvre which had already succeeded several times; it received the charge without moving, and at thirty paces distance discharged their carabines. The velocity of the Russian cavalry was not checked by this fire, and the ranks of the 16th were necessarily thrown in confusion. This regiment was driven back upon our infantry infantry, but its loss was inconsiderable, and much less than that of the Russians. The latter lost a great many men, by attempting to carry the two companies of voltigeurs, who had been passed by, and who, by their fire, made a rampart of the enemy's horses and horsemen; such is the fact." The above is again very clear. It was not an unusual manoeuvre to receive a charge without moving and discharge the carabines before the enemy impact. How that could be done? Apparently after firing, the carabines were just dropped and the sword drawn. Carabines etc. were held by a buckle on a special strap in the fashion shown in our sketch. Such arrangement was used by the French chasseurs a cheval, hussars, lancers, carabiniers and cuirassiers after 1811, but not by the dragoons. Similar straps were also used by other Nations. The following quotation is from Rogers' NAPOLEON'S ARMY, page 187 and is also of interest. It deals with the description of a fire and charge action done by the French carabiniers in 1809. "The Austrian cavalry were coming forward at a trot. There was a clash when the leading light cavalry were driven back by the Wurtembergers, but these latter were in turn routed by the Austrian reserve cavalry. Meanwhile the cuirassiers and carabiniers on their heavy Norman and Flemish horses were coming forward at a walk. When only a hundred yards separated them from the Austrians, the carabiniers halted and fired a volley, and at the same time the cuirassiers were ordered to trot. The carabiniers slung their carabines, drew their sabres and also trotted. Whilst the French were still trotting the Austrian swept into them at a gallop; but before Saint-Sulpice's regiments could join in, the Austrian were beaten and flying. Well gentlemen, I rest my case. Apparently firing from the saddle was not an unusual performance. As a matter of fact firing from the saddle and drawing the sabre before impact was not unusual also. It should be fairly easy to incorporate the fire and charge sequence in a rule for a special cavalry charge involving Carabiniers type of cavalry. Any volunteer? Of course you are all aware that we have already a rule for cavalry receiving a charge at a stand still and firing before impact. NOTE. It could be of interest to some of you, to know that the French carabiniers after they were equipped with the cuirasse in May 1811, had only a pair of pistols, but no musket or carabine. Then again, in the beginning of 1812, they were again issued with the cavalry musketon Year IX already familiar to them. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 20 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1977 by Emperor's Headquarters This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com