A curious assertion.
"That year saw the culmination of the trials of Major Le Marchant of the 16th Light Dragoons, who developed a system of sword drill and fighting technique in response to the poor performance of British cavalry in the campaignsin Flanders in 1793-4. During the engagements, not only were they invariably beaten by their opponents, but many of the wounds they sustained, were found to be self inflicted,
due to poor swordsmanship." (pp 182-83)
{Footote: 123 Le Marchant, 'Le Marchant'}
Consider the actions of Villers-en-Cauchies, Beaumont and Willems in April-May 1794 (see Fortescue pp 295-320 link
Fortescue did observe, however, that:
"The Light Dragoons likewise continued to belie their name, being trained in reality simply as cavalry of the line of battle…
Thus Light Dragoons were untaught because there were no [experienced] officers to teach them; patrols and advanced detachments lacked the daring and adventurous leading of youth; and one of the highest schools for the training of subalterns was wholly neglected." ( p.279)
Nonetheless, they held their own against the French, as this contemporary report asserts:
"The British Light Cavalry, are reckoned much superior to any other, whether Austrian, Dutch, or French ; the French Hussars in particular, who are mounted upon (what in England would be called)ponies; the general size of them, not being more than twelve hands high ; which gives our Light Horse-Men that advantage over them, which was fully evinced in every engagement, or skirmish, which happened on the continent; as they variably terminated in favour of the British, and procured them the name in the French Army of the 'English Butchers', which name they might justly be said to deserve; not in the 'cutting up', but 'cutting down' the Enemy so repeatedly, though frequently three or four to one, against them… This should not however by any means, be construed into a depreciation of natural courage of the French regular troops, who in general were Men of very great bravery."
('A Journal Kept in the British Army from the Landing of the Troops under the Command of Earl Moira, at Ostend, in June 1794, to their Return to England the Following Year,' London, 1796. p.23)
An assessment echoed, at least part, by Fortescue:
"The cavalry were of better material than the infantry, and was very well mounted; but both officers and men were so ignorant of their work that, at first, they could not even throw out vedettes and outposts without instructions from foreigners."
gets started with Flintloque.
