In late 1750s there was a proposal to convert two regiments of cuirassiers to dragoons but General Daun was against this idea.
He claimed that the "distinction between the two, such as it is, amounts just to wearing of the cuirass, but that makes a great impression on the Turks, against whom we will be fighting sooner or later.
"In the war against our present enemy the most useful force of cavalry is presented by the chavaulegers." - General Daun.
The 'chevaulegers' were a kind of cavalry which was new to the Austrians, being light dragoons who could serve alongside the cuirassiers and the conventional dragoons on the battlefield.
They were also capable of executing raids and other fast-moving enterprises, and doing outpost duty in difficult country at least as effectively as the hussars, and certainly better than the dragoons.
On 17 June the new squadrons surprised and defeated the finest of the Prussian dragoons, the super-large regiment of Bayreuth, and captured their silver drums.
"It would be difficult to imagine a more spectacular demonstration of the value of the light dragoons ... " - Christopher Duffy.
In 1805 at Austerlitz part of French 3rd Dragoon Division formed in column was outflanked and routed by a single chevaulegeres regiment (
The O'Reilly).
The second brigade of the French 3rd Dragoon Division was defeated in identical way.
But when the French 21st Dragoon Regiment charged, the chevaulegeres stampeded.
In that year the French 21st Dragoon Regiment was an excellent unit, it had 50 % veterans of several campaigns and 10-15 years' service.
The O'Reilly chevaulegeres rallied but were again routed by the same 21st Dragoon Regiment.
This time it was due to support of several guns of horse artillery of Imperial Guard.
The chevaulegeres had enough and withdrew from combat zone.
Napoleon watched the cavalry actions and was furious at the commander of 3rd Dragoon Division.
