"Franco-Prussian War: role of Dragoons?" Topic

How did the French and Germans use their Dragoons?

Were they armed with carbines or the same rifles as the infantry.

When mounted, did they function different from any other cavalry unit?

When dismounted, would they be classed as infantry, skirmishers, etc?

Much thanks in advance!

How did the French and Germans use their Dragoons?
As cavalry

Were they armed with carbines or the same rifles as the infantry.
Carbines

When mounted, did they function different from any other cavalry unit?
No
When dismounted, would they be classed as infantry, skirmishers, etc?
I would imagine so but no more than other dismounted cavalry
Much thanks in advance!
Welcome.

The German cavalry did a generally better job in the opening phases of the war scouting and reconnoitering French positions while the French cav, like most of the French army in the imperial phase, was more or less passive and reactive rather than pro-active.

German dragoon regiments were equipped with the M1857 Dreyse "needle carbine", as well as the M1852 cavalry saber.

I know some French dragoons carried prototype Chassepots in Italy in 1859, but I'm not certain what their equipment was in 1870.

Mounted employment seems to have been generally the same as other light/medium cav. The only dismounted action thaat comes to mind for me is that a couple squadrons of French dragoons fought dismounted at Spricheren near the village of Forbach where they checked a German flanking attack with rifle fire before mounting and charging with sabers.

An exception that perhaps proves the rule, my notes on the battle of Noisseville (Bazaine's half-hearted attempt to break out of Metz) say: "This battle saw a rare instance of French cavalry dismounting to fight as infantry, when Clérembault's dragoon division attacked first Colombey, then Coincy."

So there you go, a whole dragoon division carrying out successive attacks on foot. Something of a one-off and possibly not worth painting up a division's worth of dismounted dragoon figures for.

At the other end of the scale, I have a half-memory of reading about a few German hussars having armed themselves with captured chassepots and using them at the battle of Beaugency. But I could be misremembering.

Hope that helps.

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
link
bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com

The German cavalry was much better in the reconnaissance role than the French cavalry. In fact even the German cuirassier regiments would send out reconnaissance patrols. German cavalry was used extensively in the late 1870-1871 actions along the Loire, in the northwest, and the southeast.

Jim

so from this it seams that aside from the various names, all the cavalry was expected to act the same, mounted or dismounted, regardless of their previous more specific role in the Napoleonic era.

I always thought that the American Civil War was really the war of the dragoon style cavalry while the European contemporary cavalry were always trying to at least charge each other, if nothing else.

@Ferreo Cuore: That's how I've always read it, too. American Cavalry was dragoons or more mounted infantry, rarely expected to charge into battle but using their horses to move faster than infantry could.

TDFG does not allow any type of cavalry to dismount.

For division/Corps level FPW games I always tell my players they have the option to dismount and fight as skirmishers. But they never do.

In fact they usually go out of their way to try and prove charging cavalry have a role in the age of rifles.

@ Lion – always love your input, thanks!

I found it interesting reading the tremendous progress of U.S. Cavalry in the latter stages of the war, e.g. the Shenandoah under Sheridan, where they returned to shock tactics and swept away C.S. cavalry that were still using the pistol tactics from mid-war! Quite a cycle change there. Would make an interesting thesis.

Yes, the German different types of German cavalry could perform almost all battlefield functions.

However the French cavalry was, in my opinion, still stuck in the "real" Napoleonic wars. But the light cavalry was much less effect in the reconnaissance role than Napoleon's light cavalry.

Jim

You have to get on the flanks to have a chance.

As others have said above, the German cavalry was superior at reconnaissance. Supposedly in their Algerian campaigns the French had learned not to send out small parties of cavalry scouts as they tended to get killed by the locals. You'd think that would be less of a concern when playing at home, but evidently the habit remained.

Both sides persisted in treating cavalry as a shock arm. Major charges (regimental or brigade strength plus) happened at Froeschwiller, Mars-la-Tour, Gravelotte, and most gloriously futile, Sedan.

There was less of that in the Republican phase, the second half of the war. The Germans had learned better, and the French had mostly run out of cavalry.

In BBB FPW games, cavalry usually evaporates suitably rapidly, but occasionally spoils some gunners' day if someone has carelessly left a flank open. (As RallyNow wisely said.)

For them as hasn't seen it already, I commend to you Vincent Tsao's AARs of the complete FPW BBB campaign played through by the Corlears Hook Fencibles:
link

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
link