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352 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[PKRIOD IV. 



the road to Paris.* ^he whole French army was nearly 

 defeated by this single > harge of a small force of 

 cavalry — a clear illustration of the moral effect of a 

 charge of horsemen upon raw levies of infantry. 



The Austrians, in November 1793, defeated a column 

 10,000 strong, which attempted to raise the siege of 

 Quesnoy. In this action a French square of 3,000 men 

 was broken and totally destroyed by the Imperial 

 cavalry.* 



In all the wars of the latter part of the last century 

 the cavalry of the Austrians and Prussians was much 

 better than that of the French, and although no great 

 victories were won by the charge of large masses of 

 horsemen, as so often happened under Frederick the 

 Great, yet in all their operations the cavalry of the 

 allies proved themselves to be bold and efficient soldiers. 

 At Villers-en-Couch^e about eighty-six Auatrians and 

 two hundred English light dragoons attacked a force of 

 about 10,000 French infantry and cavalry. I'he charge 

 was so vigorous and successful that the French horsemen 

 were driven back upon the infantry, and the infantry 

 also routed, the whole body being driven in confusion to 

 Cambray, with the loss of 1,200 killed and wounded, 

 and three pieces of cannon. This was a most astounding 

 success to be gained by 300 horsemen.' The Emperor 

 of Austria gave the order of merit to all the officers, and 

 the English regiment of the 15th Hussars carries to-day 

 the name " Villers-en-CoucMe" as one of its badges. 



At Handschusheim, in 1795, the Austrian cavalry 

 mainly contributed to the defeat of the French, while 

 in the attack upon the lines of Mayence the Austrian 

 horjemen again covered themselves with glory. A few 

 squadrons of cavalry were attached to each of the three 

 columns of attack, and a large reserve of cavalry was 

 held in hand to follow up any success. The infantry 

 soon effected a lodgment, and the horsemen closely 

 following, rode in and achieved a complete victory with 

 but little loss.* 



' Alison, i. 188. ^ jbid, 278. s Beamish, 288. * Nolan, 

 45. 



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