(1) Cavalry forces evolved into four categories throughout the ages: the cuirassier or heavy cavalryman, the lancer, the dragoon or mounted infantryman, and the light cavalry.(2) By 1700, armor was largely out of use, but a specialist class of heavy cavalry, the cuirassier , continued to wear torso armor and a helmet.(3) By 1804, twelve French heavy cavalry regiments had become cuirassiers , with cuirasses and steel helmets.(4) From up on the grassy ridge he barked out his orders and his other squadron of cuirassiers charged down the hill, beating their horses and driving them on into the fight.(5) He quotes French cuirassiers (heavy cavalrymen) as saying that their sabers were u2018virtually useless in hand-to-hand cavalry fightingu2019.
