' 



296 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period hi. 



attaining success, and the imposing effect of a Imld 

 advance at full speed would have had quite as serious an 

 influence upon the motionless lines of horsemen as all 

 the bullets that could be sent about their ears. 



We see in this battle the idea of using cavalry in 

 heavy masses, of pouring them, so to speak, over a whole 

 section of a field of battle, in order to produce important 

 results by the swee]) of enormous lines of charging horse- 

 men. The battles of Marlborough laid the foundation of 

 the system of Frederick the Great, who, of all generals 

 of modern times, most clearly appreciated the effect of 

 the shock of a whole wing of cavalry at full gallop in 

 close order and with a regular alignment. Frederick 

 simply added the speed to Marlborough's system.' 



The battle of Ramilies, fought on the 23rd May, 1706, 

 was very similar to Blenheim in its main features, but 

 the number of cavalry engaged on both sides was much 

 greater. The allied forces consisted of 35,000 infantry 

 and 29,000 cavalry, to which the French opposed 40,000 

 infantry and 35,000 cavalry. Marshal Villeroy, who 

 commanded the French army, had imitated somewhat 

 Marshal Tallard's dispositions at Hochstadt, his right 

 wing resting on the Mehaigne in the village of Tavieres, 

 and the cavalry being ranged along the plain between 

 that point and Ramilies. After a feigned attack on 

 Villeroy's right, Marlborough made his real attack against 

 the enemy's lines of cavalry, and his own horsemen being 

 drawm up in three lines gave him the advantage of 

 having fresh reserves to bring into action. A body of 

 fourteen squadrons of dismounted dragoons, together 

 with two infantry battalions which Villeroy had sent to 

 reinforce his position at Tavieres, were intercepted by a 

 charge of some cavalry from the allied third line, and 

 either cut to pieces or driven into the river. The main 

 body of cavalry then charged, as w^as done at Hochstadt, 

 and drove the French back upon their second line, which 

 at once in turn attacked the victorious allied horse, and 

 drove them back in confusion upon their supports. 

 At this critical moment, Marlborough came up with 



^ Gi'ahame, 170. 



