more 

 the 

 and 



This 

 and 



great 



CHAP. XX.] FREDERICK THE GREAT'S CAVALRY. 315 



Seidlitz and the other Prussian leaders during the Seven 

 Years' War. 



At no time in ancient or modern history, not even in 

 the wars of Hannibal and Alexander, have more brilliant 

 deeds been performed by the cavalry than were achieved 

 by the horsemen of Frederick the Great in his later 

 wars ; and the secret of their success lay in the careful 

 training of the individual soldier, in the constant ma- 

 noeuvring in masses, in the reliance upon the sword, and 

 in the fiery energy as well as the prudent judgment 

 of the great generals who commanded it. 



In Frederick's first battle, MoUwitz, where his cavalry 

 were still in the unwieldy state in which he had found 

 them on his accession to the throne, the Imperial cavalry, • 

 who had gained some experience in fighting against the 

 Turks, charged the Prussian horsemen with the sword, 

 and defeated them. This probably had a great impres- 

 sion upon Frederick, and most likely led to his making 

 so many changes in his tactics. 



Frederick not only ordered his cavalry to charge, 

 sword in hand, but he recommended his officers always 

 to be the first to charge ; ^ he being of the opinion that 

 the offensive was the proper, and only principle, on 

 which cavalry should act. He encouraged his horsemen 

 to the utmost, as may be gathered from the following 

 passages in his regulations for his cavaby. " They will 

 move off" at a fast trot, and charge at the galop, being 

 careful to be always well closed together. His Majesty 

 will guarantee that the enemy will he beaten every time 

 they are charged in this way" In a note to this is the 

 following inspiriting addition : " N.B. — If it is found that 

 any soldier is not doing his duty, or is wishing to fiy, 

 the first officer or sub-officer who perceives it will pass 

 his sword through his body." It will be seen by these 

 extracts,^ that Frederick used every available means to 

 encourage his cavalry to perform great deeds. 



Under this system it can readily be conceived how 

 soon the Prussian cavalry, compact and charging im- 

 petuously, would acquire a great superiority over the 



* Duparcq, ii. 295. 



