Churchill wrote:Horse squadron's would never be carrying their carbine in their hand in the first place, and for some not even their pistols.
It seems they would have in some armies. Using Puységur's
Art de la guerre as his source, Brent Nosworthy describes German cavalry charge tactics in his
Anatomy of Victory : Battle Tactics 1690-1763.
The German squadrons would await the French charge with swords hanging from their wrists and carbines slung from their shoulder belts. Then at a distance of 50 feet, the men would grab their carbines using their right hands only and fire at will. Once the firearms had been discharged, they were dropped (still attached to the bandolier, of course) and the men would grasp the swords hanging from their wrists.
Not all armies used such methods of course, and the efficiency of this tactic largely depended on the discipline and steadiness of the troops using it, but the carbine was apparently more than just a useless weight in battle. Incidentally, it would also have come in handy for outpost and picket duties.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.
