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



319 



The 

 }ters 

 ;ner- 

 the 

 his 



rally 

 the 



nent 

 The 

 the 



both 



used 



his cavalry in every kind of service, the cuirassiers being 

 often called upon to perform the duty of light horsemen, 

 and the hussars being often used in serried squadrons 

 on the battle field, as if they were heavy cavalry of the 

 line. 



The method adopted by Frederick of working his 

 cavalry, of employing them in large masses, and pro- 

 hibiting them from firing, exposed them more than ever 

 to the deadly effects of the fire of artillery and infantry ; 

 and he soon perceived that occasions would arise, in 

 which these two arms would have constant oppor- 

 tunities of opening a destructive fire upon his horsemen, 

 without much chance of retaliation on their part. To 

 remedy this defect the king saw that it was necessary to 

 discover some auxiliary force that would protect his 

 horsemen altogether, or in part, from this disadvantage. 

 This led to the invention and organisation of horse 

 artillery, which, by its rapidity, could follow all the 

 movements of the cavalry, and camping and fighting 

 with it, would be able to keep the enemy's batteries 

 and infantry at a distance, and by its fire pave the way 

 for the charge of the horsemen. By this in\rention, 

 which was one of the most striking results of Frederick's 

 genius, the cavalry, without losing in mobility, gained a 

 new and important means of attack and defence. 

 Frederick even attached these batteries of horse artillery 

 to his hussars and light troops.* 



One of Frederick's cavalry officers, Major-General 

 Warnery, has left some excellent works on military sub- 

 jects, his "Remarques sur la cavalerie" being the best 

 work of the age on the organisation and tactics of cavalry, 

 and being interesting as illustrating the ideas of the 

 principal Prussian cavalry officers on that subject : for it 

 is generally admitted that the views of Warnery are 

 based upon the opinions of Seidlitz, under whom he 

 served, and with whom he was on terms of close personal 

 friendship. His other works, though of less interest, are 

 valuable. His ** Remarques sur le militaire et la marine 

 dcs Turcs et des Russes " contains much useful informa- 



Rocquancourt, ii. 60. 



