ABSTRACT
Like the state and the army, the Prussian cavalry was stunned by the events of 1806. Its reconstruction was far more thoroughgoing than many other Prussian institutions during the Era of Reform. The problem of combining the skills of the historian and the futurologist to produce a viable military force are clearly illustrated by the experiences of the Prussian cavalry between 1806 and 1871. By the time of the Armistice of Plaswitz, it was apparent that the Prussian cavalry lacked the strength as well as the attitude to take advantage of its opportunities. During the armistice the Prussian cavalry was at least redistributed to take advantage of the lessons of the spring campaign. Thoughts of improving the scouting skills of the Prussian cavalry were also forced into the background by the apparent lessons of the Waterloo campaign. The arguments of Wrangel, Frederick Charles, and their like-minded contemporaries had a profound effect on the Prussian cavalry.
