CHAP. XX.] FREDERICK THE GREAT'S CAVALRY. 327 



valuable services, cheeking the advance of the attacking 

 force very materially, and thereby preventing a ser:' >u.s 

 disaster. Ziethen, with his usual vigilance and caution, 

 had his hussars all dressed, their horses saddled and 

 ready on the first alarm to ride into action, and was 

 soon charging in his vigorous style, dashing in upon the 

 Austrians so vehemently, that they could do nothing in 

 his part of the field, and Frederick was able when the 

 day broke to withdraw his army in good order into a 

 new position.' Had it not been for the bravery and 

 vigilance of Ziethen and his hussars, this retreat could 

 hardly have been accomplished without irreparable 

 losses. 



At the battle of Prague, 6th May, 1757, there was 

 some very heavy cavalry fighting on the left wing of the 

 Prussian army, which had turned the Austrian right by 

 a flank march in broad daylight. The Austrians, on 

 seeing the manoeuvre the enemy were carrying out, at 

 once hurried their cavalry to the right wing, which was 

 thrown back and formed at right angles to the original 

 line. The horsemen, to the number of 104 squadrons, 

 were arranged in three lines, with intervals equal to tlie 

 front of a squadron. 



The Prussian cavalry of tliat wing, under Prince 

 Schonaich, comprised only sixty-five squadrons, but in 

 their usual furious style they charged at once at full 

 speed. The Austrians stood still until the advancing 

 horsemen came within fifty paces, when they poured in 

 a volley with carbines, and then advanced at good pace 

 against them. Being outflanked by superior numbers, 

 the Prussians were checked, and twice repulsed. In the 

 third attack, however, General Ziethen, A^sHth his hussars 

 and a regiment of dragoons, charged with such vigour 

 that the Austrian cavalry were entirely defeated and 

 driven back upon their own infantry, throwing their 

 lines into great confusion. General Warnery gives the 

 particulars of a very interesting attack made by his 

 regiment upon the hussars of Haddick, in which he 

 skirted a pond, resting his right upon it, as he made the 



> Carlyle, v. 292, 



