386 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



halted, but moved on through the city, out from the 

 further gates, and coolly took up the pursuit of the 

 Russians, calmly setting his face towards Asia and the 

 boundless plains of the East.' That one fact, betokening 

 such restless and untiring energy, is to the mind of ^he 

 writer a stronger testimony to Murat's character, Li a 

 commander of horse, than any one act in his long and 

 chequered career. 



Of the other cavalry officers, Kellerman gave evidence 

 of great ability in the charge effected by him at Marengo, 

 as abeady mentioned, and in many other battles he 

 showed that he possessed the qualifications of a good 

 cavalry chief. Marshal Marmoat considered that Keller- 

 man, Montbrun, and LasaUe were the only three good 

 leaders of horse that the French army produced in the 

 twenty years of Napoleon's wars. Bessi^res, who com- 

 manded the cavalry of the Imperial Guard, was also an 

 efficient officer. Steingel had the qualities requisite to 

 make a good cavalry leader, but he was unfortunately 

 killed at an early age, before the opportunity had been 

 given to enable him to acquire a great reputation. 

 Napoleon however has left a record of his qualifications 

 which we have already transcribed. 



* Segur, ii. 37. 



