[Footnote: Among other experiments are noted
that of 7 officers and 14 men of the Orenburg Cossacks
who in November last in bad weather travelled 410
versts between Niji Novgorod and Moscow in 5 days—
about 53 miles a day; then covering 685 versts from
Moscow to St. Petersburg in 8 days—56 miles
a day; on arrival an inspector reported horses fresh
and ready for service; the party was mentioned in
orders, and presented to the Czar. A month before,
in snow and intense cold, 7 officers and 7 men of
the cavalry school covered 370 versts in 4 days—60
miles a day. It is asserted that the best Russian
cavalry can travel 70 miles a day, continuously, without
injury. General Gourko recently inspected two
sotnias of Don Cossacks who had cleared 340 versts
in 3 days, or 74 miles a day.]
Swimming was practised in the Warsaw, Odessa, and
Moscow districts, the horses being regularly taught
with the aid of inflated bags tied under them.
The Suprasl was crossed by the entire 4th Cavalry
Division swimming. In order to acquire a thorough
knowledge of pioneer duty, both the officers and non-commissioned
officers of cavalry are attached to the engineer camp
for a short course of instruction. In one division
a regular pioneer squadron has been formed for telegraphic
and heliographic duty. The mounted force, provided
for in the Russian establishment, comprises twenty-one
divisions of 3,503 sabres and 12 guns each, or an aggregate
of 73,563 men and 252 field guns.
A feature of the Russian cavalry equipment is the
pioneer outfit, consisting of tools for construction
or destruction, as they desire to repair a bridge
or destroy a railroad; this outfit for each squadron
is carried on a pack-mule; dynamite is carried in a
cart with the ammunition train.
The Cossack (except of the Caucasus) is armed with
a long lance (front rank only), a sabre without guard,
and a Berdan rifle. Those of the Caucasus have
in addition pistol and dagger, besides a nagaska
or native whip. The uniform is blue, high boots,
fur cap, cloak with cape. The snaffle-bit is
universally used, even by the officers, although the
average Russian troop-horse is noted for his hard
mouth.
In the mounted drill of the Cossacks there is a charge
as skirmishers (or “foragers”) called
the “lava,” which is executed at a great
pace and with wild yells of “Hourra!”
Lieut. Grierson, of the British army, writes
that: “A big fine man mounted on a pony,
with his body bent forward and looking very top-heavy,
always at a gallop, and waving his enormous whip, the
Cossack presents an almost ludicrous appearance to
one accustomed to our stately troopers. But this
feeling is dashed with regret that we possess no such
soldiers.”
Transport and Supply.—The Russian
system of transport is in a very experimental and
unsatisfactory state. It is the only army which
provides regimentally for the personnel and
materiel of this department. In each regiment
is a non-combatant company, in which all men required
for duty without arms are mustered.
