Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 1.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[71] American dragoons, who for so many years had lived scattered among the Indians, were not indeed elegant horsemen, nor even good manoeuvrers on field parade, and did not understand war as our soldiers do, who, whether in line or as foragers, only depend upon the point of their sabres or the swiftness of their horses. But the necessities of a special war had taught them to vindicate their name, by performing the complicated duties for which, in the seventeenth century, the first regiments of mounted infantry were formed. In order to reach the Indians in their last retreats, and deal rapid chastisement to the minor tribes, they frequently undertook short campaigns without taking any supply-trains with them. Carrying their ammunition, biscuits, coffee, etc., on their animals, they were followed only by a few led horses laden with a reserve of provisions. The marches were long and the rations small. When the enemy was at last reached, he was almost invariably attacked with firearms, for he did not allow himself to come within reach of sidearms, any more than the wild bird allows himself to be taken by the sportsman with the hand. The use of the rifle, moreover, gave the Americans great advantage over their adversaries, who, for the most part, had nothing but bows and arrows or very poor muskets. They omitted no opportunity to use that weapon; and whether for the purpose of striking the enemy in his too precipitate flight, or to keep him at bay, they fired without leaving the saddle, for amid the immensity of the prairies man does not like to separate himself from his horse; if, however, it became necessary to attack an Indian camp or to defend a corral, if the enemy occupied a position too difficult of access, the dragoons, leaving their horses in charge of one-fourth of their number, formed and fought like infantry.

Therefore, despite their awkward appearance and their long legs dangling by the sides of their little horses, despite their large wooden stirrups which they had brought from Mexico, and the weapons of every kind attached to their saddles, those bronze-faced men, with their sky-blue cloaks with fur collars, had the easy and resolute air which betokens the well-trained soldier. From the manner in which they led their horses, it was easy to perceive that more than one day's journey performed on foot by