Auteur Sujet: Trot or gallop ?  (Lu 3493 fois)

Hors ligne Davout

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Trot or gallop ?
« le: 25 juin 2003, 16:17:36 pm »
With an aim of not forgetting our friends english-speaking, I put also the question in English.
As opposed to what the imagery of Epinal seems to show us, a charge of cuirassiers was not made by galloping, but on fast trot. Information or intox? with you to answer ô sagacious historians.
"Né citoyen d'un Etat libre, et membre du souverain, quelque faible influence que puisse avoir ma voix dans les affaires publiques, le droit d'y voter suffit pour m'imposer le devoir de m'en instruire." J.J. Rousseau, Du contrat social

Hors ligne Duc_dEarl

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Chargez!!
« Réponse #1 le: 28 juin 2003, 22:56:00 pm »
Bonjour Davout,

A very good question.. how fast did heavy cavalry charge?

My best reference would be "Imperial Bayonets" by George Nafziger...

pp. 201-202, Table 41[/i] shows that French Cavalry would Walk or Trot to within 230 paces of the target.. I suppose at the discretion of the Colonel... then Canter or Slow Gallop to within 80 paces... then Charge at Fast Gallop to contact... with the Charge speed being the fastest gallop possible without completely disordering the formation and losing frontal cohesion...

Cordialement, Duc d'Earl
Artillerie..... l'Argument Final des Rois!