"Formed regular light cavalry evading?" Topic

Can anyone point me to an instance of formed regular light cavalry in the Napoleonic period which were charged to their front attempting an evade, rather than counter charging?

its a commonplace amongst rules that light cavalry can evade, but it does strike me as more of the sort of thing you only do if charged to your rear or flank, or if you are unformed / skirmishing / scouting.

Hi,

The evasive maneuver is possible if the unit is deployed in open order and not from ther weight class. Cosack cav for instance did this most of the time due to they deployment mode.

Greetings

I rather thought so.

Yet so many rules allow light cavalry (Formed) to evade, or test to evade.

it seems wrong to me, I just wondered if any one actually knew of an example of this happening.

I have to agree with you Keraunos. It is a non historical left over from the most ancient of wargame rules that have stuck.

If you donīt wanīt to fight you send out a squadron forcing the enemy to deploy and charge while the rest retreats.

I cannot imagine formed cavalry of any type "evading" from a cavalry charge. They would be chopped to bit.Routing yes, evading no.

I would allow unformed/skirmishing light cavalry to evade. That makes more sense to me.

Various regulations permit taking the charge at the halt and using their firearms (carbines and pistols). Open order light cavalry would retire upon their supports. It is important that you deploy with part of the body in close order.

The Cossacks evading used this tactic to great effect at Mir against the Polish Ulans in early 1812. Feigning retreat was a common tactic in rearguard action to pull the oponent uopn consealed guns or infantry.

Also used to screen the deployment of guns. A number of examples, the best was the Imperial Guard Cavalry at Hanau that unmasked a grande batterie that blew away the Bavarian Cavalry.
Stephen

If you donīt wanīt to fight you send out a squadron forcing the enemy to deploy and charge while the rest retreats.

That sounds like an "evade" to me.

No, that is a charge with part of the regiment while the rest retires. An evade allows the entire regiment to move away without conflict.

RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!

Various regulations permit taking the charge at the halt and using their firearms (carbines and pistols). Open order light cavalry would retire upon their supports. It is important that you deploy with part of the body in close order.

Were there any instances of cavalry driving off an enemy cavalry charge by fire during the Napoleonic Wars?

Regards

No, that is a charge with part of the regiment while the rest retires. An evade allows the entire regiment to move away without conflict.

I guess it depends what you mean by "evade". The overall effect is that the regiment as a whole evades if you resolve the contact at the level of the rergiment.

thanks,

I recall that carbine fire was performed in 1807 at Eylau by the Imperial Guard Chasseur a Cheval. I do not have my books with me. This is a relic of the caracole that was abandomed in the early C18th.

I was talking in military rather than game mechanic terms.
Stephen

Stephen,

Yes, I just thought I'd ask as it was an interesting comment.

Regards

From memory the incident at Eylau in 1807 was a French Line Chasseur Regiment firing on Russian Dragoons. I think it was mentioned by Parquin in his memoirs. At Las Vegas Airport at the moment, looooong way from my books to check.