八里桥蒙古骑兵为什么打不赢锡克骑兵？ 第1页

本来想长篇大论，说什么“虽然参与第二次鸦片战争的锡克骑兵，如第 1锡克非正规骑兵（Probyn'sHorse）按照英语国家的划分给算成是非正规骑兵Irregular Cavalry，但那也只是因为执行侦察等任务原因而所谓的“非正规”而已，军队本身是职业化的；而僧格林沁的蒙古马队如何如何……”

但转念想想自己关于二者的资料都不足，以上说辞纯属脑补。还是再找找资料后才有发言权。正巧，有一份报道，提到了这茬。

On the 12th inst., the entire force (with the exception of her Majesty's 99th Regiment, and a corresponding force of French, who remained to garrison Pehtang) marched out from that town to attack the enemy's camp at Sing-ho, the whole of our first division, with the French, advancing by the causeway which extends from Pehtang to Sing-ho, to attack the enemy in front, while our second division struck across the plain, or rather swamp, to turn their left. After about four hours' toiling, splashing. floundering, and panting through mud and water, from ankle to knee deep, the two divisions halted on some comparatively dry ground, about two miles from the enemy's camp, and also from each other—advancing again, after an hour's rest, to the attack.
The first division and French were received with a very hot fire, I believe; but, advancing at the charge, and under cover of their artillery, sustained little damage, and speedily drove the enemy from all their entrenchments. Meanwhile, the Tartar cavalry, to the number of about 3,000 or 4,000, galloped out into the plain, and threatened our second division on every side, but our Armstrong batteries made such havoc among them at ranges which must have appeared to them miraculous, that only in two instances did they venture at all closeonce making a bold dash at one of our batteries, when they were repulsed with heavy loss by a charge of, I believe, Fane's Horse, in which Lieutenat M'Gregor of that corps was severely wounded ; and again, when some seven or eight hundred of them bore down upon our 4th Brigade (consisting of the 67th Regiment and Royal Marines), doubtless with the mild intention of exterminating it, when they got such a peppering, however, from our Enfield rifles that they were sent scampering off in great dismay, and feeling horribly sold, I have no doubt, as it has somehow or other been discovered that they imagined our men were suing for quarter, when they saw them form into “squares” (or what doubtless seemed to them small crowds of frightened and bewildered men) with the front ranks all kneeling, and that therefore they had only to ride boldly and put them all to the sword.
The King's Dragoon Guards and Probyn's Horse also managed to get them within reach somewhere or other in the field (though where or how I have not been able to ascertain exactly), and cut them down " like taps o' thistles,” to the number of about a hundred, I believe.

Apropos of the King's Dragoon Guards, the style in which they turn out here is perfectly marvellous. While the infantry and artil. lery have always a more or less travel-stained appearance (as they well may, considering the sort of work they have had to go through), they turn out as if they were on parade in Hyde Park, and did we not know that they have done as much hard work, and have had to rough it as much as any of the other troops, we might imagine that their whole kit consisted of brushes, pipe-clay, and patent polish, and that their sole duty was to keep up a smart appearance by these means. Fane's and Probyn's Horse also turn out in wonderful style, and present a most dashing and picturesque appearance, compared to which that of the French Spahis (as I think they are called) is simply ridiculous.
Most unworthy foes, too, are the Tartar cavalry, although physically fine enough men, and by no means wanting in pluck-as, indeed, the mere fact of their daring to come out against such troops as ours at all is sufficient to prove. But they are wretchedly mounted, poor fellows, on meagre looking ponies, and still worse armed, their only weapons being either clumsy and not very sharp lances, still more clumsy and blunter swords, matchlocks, or old-fashioned pistols, nearly harmless to all but their owners, and tows and arrows. The uniform of most of those who were killed consisted of a black or purple silk hat, shaped not unlike the now fashionable “Jim Crow," but of stiffer construction, and decorated with a brass ball and a pair of squirrels' tails, and yellow cotton jacket, with black facings, and dark blue cotton trousers, tucked into black silk boots, reaching nearly to the knee. They must have lost at least three or four hundred killed and wounded during the day; whereas our casualties amounted to only twenty-five, not including, however, an unfortuuate party of eighteen coolies, two English orderlies, and a Madras sapper, who were cut off and taken prisoners by the enemy, while bringing commissariat rum from Pehtang.
The enemy dispersed, our army took up a position for the night in and around the captured camp. Probyn's Horse, however, first making a grand foray into the country, and bringing in some 700 or 800 sheep, which enabled most of the exhausted soldiers to make a toler. ably comfortable supper, before “turning in” for the night between the damp ground and the canopy of heaven. During the whole of the following day the troops rested in the same position, while stores were being brought up from Pehtang and a reconnaissance was made in the direction of Tong-ku, the next place to be attacked.