Sabre Exercises

This is one of a number of pamphlets on life in the French cavalry produced under the series title of "Illustrated Teaching Books" (1884-5) by the team of ex-army fencing master, Romuald Brunet, and illustrator, E. Chaperon. Other titles in the series examine the exercises used to train troopers to use lancers and carbines from horseback and cover aspects of campaign and barracks life.

Captain Romuald Brunet earned his title at the Joinville Academy and was a fencing instructor in the French army. On leaving the army, he wrote these pamphlets, an instructional text on pointe and contre-pointe fencing, and lectured widely on fencing as an activity which builds character. This well illustred pamphlet provides an overview of the methods for training cavalry troopers in the use of the sabre, both on foot and on horseback. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the use of the sabre on the battlefield rather than only in the training salle.