CHAP. XIV.] 



FRENCH CAVALRY. 



281 



him to command a cavalry force, and it was by the 

 wonderfully skilful as well as energetic use of his horse- 

 men, that the field of Rocroy was gained, and his 

 reputation as a general established for ever by one 

 spring morning's work. 



The Spanish army, under Don Francisco de Melo, had 

 invaded France in May 1643, and was besieging Rocroy. 

 Their army consisted of 26,000 picked soldiers, the 

 infantry being considered then the bravest and steadiest 

 in all Europe, while De Melo was an old and experienced 

 general of high reputation. Conde, then known as the 

 Duke d'Enghien, had in his army only 14,000 infantry 

 and 7,000 horse.^ 



Between the two armies, when Cond^ took the com- 

 mand, lay a very broken and marshy country, full of 

 defiles and woods, and very defensible, so that the 

 Spaniards might have disputed the advance of the 

 French with every prospect of success. This they failed 

 to do, and Condd sent on Gassion with a body of cavalry 

 to throw supplies into Rocroy, and to reconnoitre the 

 enemy. '^ This he did successfully, and Condd was enabled 

 to get through the broken district and form up his 

 troops for action close to the town. His army was 

 ranged in two lines, the infantry in the centre, the 

 cavalry upon the wings, with a reserve in rear, composed 

 of some companies of gendarmes and light horse. 

 Platoons of fifty musketeers were placed in the intervals 

 of the squadrons. 



The Spaniards were drawn up in a similar order, but 

 De Melo had placed 1,000 musketeers in a little wood in 

 advance of his left, to charge the French as they 

 advanced their right wing. Condd took command of 

 his right, Gassion being under him. The Mardchal de 

 rH6pital commanded the left, while De Melo himself 

 was opposed to the Mardchal and the Duke of Albu- 

 querque commanded the Spanish left in front of Conde. 

 The attack was commenced by the young French 

 prince, who at once fell upon the 1,000 musqueteers in 

 the copse, and cut them to pieces.' He then turned to 



' Rocquancourt, i. 440. « ibj^i^ 441, a Life of Cond6, 19. 



