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To: pierrem15

Cavalry has a storied role in Polish military history, the most prominent example being the winged hussars. Horses were fitted with saddles that had large upright wings made of turkey feathers. These not only made for a striking appearance, but when the Polish winged hussars charged into battle, the rattling and whistling sound of the wings was said to disturb opposing cavalry and often put them into disorder or flight. Only careful training made Polish horses tolerate carrying the wings.


15 posted on 09/12/2024 8:37:38 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: Rockingham
There's a Polish re-enactor who works with a hussar re-enactment group who did a close study of how Polish hussars operated in the 17th and early 18th centuries.

He claims that hussars attacked squares of infantry in a column that snaked its way towards the infantry. A column reduced the number of cavalrymen exposed to the first shot and the snaking confused the infantry, since they would have been under strict orders not to deviate their aim lest they wind up shooting each each other. Then at the last instant, the column would disperse and the infantry would be facing the tips of the those 20 foot lances. Once they got into the infantry with sabers and braces of pistols it would have been all over.

Polish hussars were renowned for being able to break musket infantry head on, unlike other cavalry units.

17 posted on 09/12/2024 8:56:56 AM PDT by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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