324 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



reconnaissances, in fact, to do everything they might he 

 called upon to perform before an enemy.' 



It can readily be imagined what power a force of 

 cavalry so drilled would have in action when h^d by 

 energetic commanders, and when relying upon the 

 sword and close hand-to-hand fighting. These horse- 

 men soon learned to despise the use of firearms, and to 

 disregard them in the hands of their opponents. When 

 we learn the particulars of Frederick's preparations for 

 war, and the extraordinary care bestowed. by him upon 

 his troops, we no longer wonder at his remarkable 

 successes, and feel that he had fairly earned them. 



Having recounted the changes made by Frederick in 

 the art of war, particularly in the organisation, arma- 

 ment, and tactics of his cavalry, it will be instructive to 

 follow them into the field, and, in tracing the result of 

 his reforms, refer to a few of the more brilliant successes 

 of his horsemen, which all convey lessons of value to 

 the cavalry officer. 



; t! 



i 



SECTION II. — ACTIONS OF PRUSSIAN CAVALRY — BATTLES 

 OP HOHENFRIEDBERG, SOHR, HOCHKIRCH, PRAGUE, 

 LEUTHEN, AND ZORNDORF. 



The battle of Hohenfriedberg, fought on the 4th June, 

 1745, was won by Frederick, and to a great extent 

 through the services rendered by the cavalry. Ziethen, 

 with the cavalry of the left wing, crossing Strigau water 

 by a ford, at once charged fiercely upon the Austrian 

 right over difficult ground. The Austrians, unaccustomed 

 to such vigorous treatment, were soon thrown into con- 

 fusion and routed. They excused themselves by saying, 

 " Vie could not charge the Prussians, partly because of 

 the morasses that lay between us, and partly because 

 they rushed across and charged us." They were evidently 

 discouraged, in fact dismayed, by the confident way in 

 which the Prussians came on, as if sure of success.* In 

 some parts of the field the Austrian regiments would not 



^ Wameiy, 73. 



Carlyle, iv. 118. 



