Cavalry Books

About Cavalry

Cavalry refers to troops mounted on horseback, historically valued for their speed, mobility, and shock impact on the battlefield. Cavalry units dominated warfare for millennia, from ancient Persian cataphracts and Mongol horse archers to medieval knights and Napoleonic dragoons. They were used for charging enemy lines, flanking maneuvers, reconnaissance, pursuit of retreating forces, and rapid communication. The psychological effect of a cavalry charge—speed, noise, and the imposing presence of horses—often had a decisive influence. However, the introduction of firearms, trenches, and machine guns in the modern era led to a decline in traditional horse cavalry. By World War I, mounted troops were increasingly ineffective against modern defenses, though they continued to serve in certain theaters. The concept of cavalry did not disappear but evolved—giving rise to armored and air cavalry. Today, 'cavalry' often refers to mobile units equipped with tanks, helicopters, or light vehicles that fulfill similar roles of speed, flexibility, and deep penetration. In the U.S. Army, for example, cavalry units continue to conduct reconnaissance and security missions. While the horse has largely vanished from modern warfare, cavalry traditions, tactics, and esprit de corps live on in modern mechanized and air-mobile forces.