#1 [url]

Nov 12 09 9:42 AM

RtL,
I think you're right that the French cavalry could not really try aggressive reconaissance much of the time. Looking for example at the period when the Wellington's army was in winter quarters on the Spanish-Portugese frontier (ie the winters of 1811-12 and 1812-13) it was quite normal for Wellington to ride 30 or 40 miles in a day on his own in order to visit a division or pay a social call. Clearly this would have been reckless in the face of aggressive patrolling by the enemy.
Of course Gen Paget did get himself taken by French dragoons as the army retreated out of Spain in November 1812. So the British habit of riding around on their own or with small numbers of staff was not without risk...
EC