Cavalry

[JKM]

If someone can enlighten me...
I recall reading that having cavalry present can aid in the subsequent pursuit and destruction of a defeated enemy. is there any rule of thumb that people use to work out a ratio of cav.? does the cav need to be in a seperate cavalry div or will the integral cavalry components of brigades do the job just fine?
and..leading from that, does having a strong cav. prescence help in breaking off battle and getting away without being battered when the boot is on the other foot ?
Just geting my head around the screener capacity, and intell gathering aspect of cavalry and cavalry leaders, and knowing about how they function in battle would another aspect to factor in.

[Jim-NC]

There has been a lot of discussion of the appropriate composition of a division.

For me, I don't set up to pursue and destroy units. I prefer to have most of my calvary scouting for my forces, tearing up rails, hunting down enemy calvary. So I can't help you on your quest. I do usually form 2 calvary divisions to hunt down enemy forces on deep raids (1 east, and 1 west). Their fast movement can make the difference when chasing down raiders.

[JKM]

There has been a lot of discussion of the appropriate composition of a division.

For me, I don't set up to pursue and destroy units. I prefer to have most of my calvary scouting for my forces, tearing up rails, hunting down enemy calvary. So I can't help you on your quest. I do usually form 2 calvary divisions to hunt down enemy forces on deep raids (1 east, and 1 west). Their fast movement can make the difference when chasing down raiders.

Taa for response..like you I form cav forces to chase down raiders and screen, plus gather intell. very good at it they are too. I spose it's more of an unanticipated bonus if you inflict all sorts of carnage on the enemy as they're fleeing. The post was prompted after a couple of battles where , in one instance , I had five units destroyed while being pursued..where as in another with sort of similar total numbers, there was nothing like that result.
I realise there may well be other factors involved, but i was curious how much impact people thought cavalry might have had.
seems there are many threads on artillery composition etc etc but not so many on cav.

[SleeStak]

I don't know how the divisional cavalry affects pursuit, but a good use for a cavalry division is to change military control of territories to impede supplies. When the other side concentrates, use your cavalry to gain military control of the territories around that force and that force will have to move.

[Bernadotte]

The post was prompted after a couple of battles where , in one instance , I had five units destroyed while being pursued..where as in another with sort of similar total numbers, there was nothing like that result.

Pleae enlight me how much cav. was involved in those battles ?
And were they part of brigades, divisions or corps ?

Thanks,
Bernadotte

[Cromagnonman]

The casualties resulting from a retreat supposedly are determined in part by 2 values: the patrol value of the victor and the evasion value of the vanquished. Cavalry helps you pursue; light infantry helps you retreat.

[Fingolfin]

If someone can enlighten me...
I recall reading that having cavalry present can aid in the subsequent pursuit and destruction of a defeated enemy. is there any rule of thumb that people use to work out a ratio of cav.? does the cav need to be in a seperate cavalry div or will the integral cavalry components of brigades do the job just fine?
and..leading from that, does having a strong cav. prescence help in breaking off battle and getting away without being battered when the boot is on the other foot ?
Just geting my head around the screener capacity, and intell gathering aspect of cavalry and cavalry leaders, and knowing about how they function in battle would another aspect to factor in.

The more cavalry the better

There are typically 2 phases for the use of cavalry In my opinion : before you can form cavalry corps and after.

Before, the bulk of my cavalry is in independant divisions, raiding line of supplies and chasing raiders, but occasionally join my main forces by joining my army stacks (not corps, except when badly outnumbered !).

After, cavalry play quite the same role, but stay one region behind my main forces, when not giving headaches to the ennemy.

The idea beneath this is to use cavalry in a "napoleonic" way, avoiding at all costs for it to be targeted by artillery, or worse, supporting the bulk of a battle, courtesy of being the first to engage , but rather arrive late in battle, just in time to (hopefully :mdr complete ennemy rout, and pursue the routers

In one word, ensuring that they are there right at the moment i need them, beccause cavalry contractually ought to behave in a good ol' western movie way

[SleeStak]

Fingolfin,

Using cav as responsive corps is an excellent idea that I have never considered. As the cav starts to convert to late war cav, they become more effective in combat (especially union) and they generally take less frontage than inf. The late war cav can also capture towns, so split them up and cause mayhem.

[Fingolfin]

It's an habit i took from my NCP experience, where cavarly corps are basically useless before contact, and more often than not badly mauled right before Hour 1 when initiating battle.

But they fare far better and deliver deadly charges when MTSG into a battle initiated by infantry corps, and can deliver that support several times a turn into different regions thanks to their swiftness, and good strategical ratings of their leaders.

[JKM]

Pleae enlight me how much cav. was involved in those battles ?
And were they part of brigades, divisions or corps ?

Thanks,
Bernadotte

This post was based on recollection from a 'testing the water ' scenario , getting to know the game ect etc. I only played a couple of turns , so i'm afraid the game has long been deleted . As I recall it was in the west, with sterling price..as it forms by event this force has no cavalry at all, not a one.
I'm betting the USA had at least a few cav units , and that led to my 'pursued til destroyed' message.
I'm back in a nother game at the moment, actually the grand campaign...and I'm keeping alert for a similar situtaion if it arises. everyones thoughts have been much appreciated tho..and i'm wondering, based on some of those posts, if i should create a cavalry corps ( only have cav. divisions at present)
...

[Ol' Choctaw]

Don’t forget that horse artillery moves at as medium cavalry. It can make a difference to have them supported by guns.