straight long swords are stupid on a horse I would think
That isn’t what G.S Patton Jr. thought. He designed a straight pointed sword, and demanded that soldiers use the point, as that created wounds that were deeper, more serious, and would strike the enemy first, preventing the enemy from striking.
Of course Bedford Forrest emphasized the large caliber revolver, .36 or .44 caliber. Stuart was famous for his Lemat pistols, which had a 20 gauge shotgun in the center and 9 each .44 inch rounds wrapped around. Starting an engagement by launching the shotgun’s ‘blue whistlers’ at the enemy was likely to cause a moral check.
General Leonard Wood was the first commander of the Rough Riders in Cuba, and was promoted to command of the Cavalry brigade when Wheeler fell ill.
He eventually was promoted to Army Chief of Staff. When presented with a prototype of Patton’s sword for approval, and being told that it was designed to emphasize use of the point backed off a bit in his office. He took out his own sword and hacked at the back of a Shaker chair in his office, and then hacked at a similar chair with Patton’s sword. After comparing the two cuts, he stated that by inspection, Patton’s sword would be superior as a piercing tool, but because of its length and weight it was also a superior cutting tool.