Boney's cavalry--a ruse de guerre or Bayes's troop in French pay

The French cavalry is assembled in rows at the left of the sheet. Instead of horses, they each ride hobby horses; complete with false boots and crimson skirts intended to conceal the feet of the "riders" visible underneath. A cavalry officer, also on a hobby horse, stands in the center of the image and addresses the ranks, encouraging them to play up the masquerade. The illusion they embark on is a necessary one because the French Cavalry was destroyed by the campaign. Napoleon stands behind the officer and turns with crossed arms to speak with the general behind him. Clearly pleased with the ruse, Napoleon claims that the Cossacks will take the cavalry and their horses for the real thing. The two officers behind him praise the cleverness of the ruse. One even comments that the hobby horses are ideal for the Russian Campaign since they don't mind the extreme hardships they must endure. By implication, the satire suggests that the cavalry riders are more expendable than the horses. The French cavalry is assembled in rows at the left of the sheet. Instead of horses, they each ride hobby horses; complete with false boots and crimson skirts intended to conceal the feet of the "riders" visible underneath. A cavalry officer, also on a hobby horse, stands in the center of the image and addresses the ranks, encouraging them to play up the masquerade. The illusion they embark on is a necessary one because the French Cavalry was destroyed by the campaign. Napoleon stands behind the officer and turns with crossed arms to speak with the general behind him. Clearly pleased with the ruse, Napoleon claims that the Cossacks will take the cavalry and their horses for the real thing. The two officers behind him praise the cleverness of the ruse. One even comments that the hobby horses are ideal for the Russian Campaign since they don't mind the extreme hardships they must endure. By implication, the satire suggests that the cavalry riders are more expendable than the horses. Published by Thomas Tegg. 1813-05-04 Caption: Pubd May 4th 1813 by Thos Tegg, 111 Cheapside. price 1 shillg color'd Dialogue: French Cavalry officer on horse: "Attention! Strut; look big; and make your Hobbies prance; we'll make the foe believe there's Cavalry in France." Napoleon: "Eh bien general vat you tink of dis Ruse de Guerre, dey vill make de Cossak run ma foi!" General: "Oui Sire! tis very good trick indeed!" Officer at far right: "Very good horse for de Russia Campaign they no mind the cold nor de hunger." Annotation: THI.53 Annotation: eo Collector's Mark: A Plate Mark: 192 Verse: As War is Boney's Hobby then, /Why not on Hobbies mount his men.