H 



316 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV, 



Germans with their slow movements, and over the French 

 horsemen with their loose and scattered formation ; for 

 the French at this time had two modes of attack — close 

 and at a trot, which they called en muraille, and at 

 speed and dispersed, which they termed en fourageurs. 

 The Prussian hussars and light cavalry soon learned to 

 charge boldly against the heaviest Austrian cuirassiers 

 and dragoons, whom they often overthrew and routed. 



In addition to his changes in the general principle of 

 using his cavalry, Frederick made many valuable im- 

 provements in their organisation and method of tactical 

 formation. The force consisted of cuirassiers, dragoons, 

 and hussars. A regiment of cuirassiers contained five 

 squadrons, each comprising two companies of seventy 

 men each. They were usually formed up in three ranks, 

 the third being retained to fill gaps that might appear 

 in the front ranks in the charge. The pace of the charge 

 being increased to the galop made this formation in three 

 ranks very difficult to preserve, the second rank between 

 the other two being much constrained. Thus the forma- 

 tion upon two ranks was soon ic necessary sequence of 

 the increased mobility of the cavalry service, and was 

 adopted both in France and Prussia, in the latter part 

 of the Seven Years' War.^ 



In operating on the field of battle, Frederick ordered 

 that in the charge the cavalry should form in two lines, 

 the first with very small intervals between the squadrons, 

 the second in a much more open order ; the intervals 

 being about equal to the front of each squadron. The 

 s'econd line formed a reserve through which the first line 

 could retire, and at the same time watched the wings, so 

 as to anticipate a flank movement, if such should be 

 attempted. The Prussian monarch was very strongly 

 in favour of flank attacks, and commanded his officers to 

 fall upon the enemy in that manner whenever practi- 



if! ' 



cable, assuring them that whether on the halt or on the 

 march, an onset upon the enemies' flank would always 

 overthrow them. 



In training his cavalry in peace, Frederick often prac- 



^ Duparcq, ii. 297. 



! 



