II 



CHAP. XXIV.] CAVALRY UNDER NAPOLEON. 



871 



This combat, being the first in that campaign, gave 

 great confidence to Na})oleon*s cavalry, and paved the 

 way to many subsequent successes. In this campaign 

 of Ulm, we see a still further development of the use of 

 cavalry, for the purpose of pursuing a disheartened and 

 retreating enemy. After several actions, and most 

 brilliant strategical manoeuvres, Napoleon had cut off 

 the Austrian army from its line of communication and 

 inclosed it in Ulm. His investment w^as almost com- 

 pleted, wlien Mack, who commanded the Austrian 

 forces, decided to send the Archduke Ferdinand with 

 all the cavalry and light troops, to make an attempt to 

 cut through the fast-closing French lines, and so effect 

 his escape into Bohemia. 



The column set out on two roads on the 15th of 

 October, while the fight at Elchingen was being furiously 

 contested. The Archduke commanded one column, and 

 General Werneck the other. Murat received orders to 

 pursue vigorously.' He came up with their rear guard 

 at Nerenstetten the evening of the next day, and captured 

 2,000 prisoners. The following day he again struck them 

 at Neresheim, and captured many more prisoners.^ On 

 the day after the indefatigable Murat again caught up 

 with the exhausted Austrians and sujTounded them, 

 and 8,000 men, under General "Werneck, despairing of 

 safety, surrendered at discretion to the French cavalry. 



Murat then followed, by way of Gundhausen and 

 Nuremberg, the cavalry of the Archduke, which fled in 

 that direction. On the same night on which Werneck 

 surrendered, the great park of munitions and stores 

 was also seized with the artillery and treasure. The 

 19th October was also occupied in the pursuit, and on 

 the 20th Murat forced another combat. After several 

 charges on either side the Austrians were dispersed, and 

 many taken prisoners. The Archduke Ferdinand 

 escaped with some 3,000 horse, the only remnant of 

 the large division that a few days before had set out 

 from Ulm. 



Murat altogether had captured 12,000 men in four 

 ' Alison, ii. 350. » Humbert, 179, 180. 



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