390 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



The sudden onset of fresh squadrons, before the Russians 

 could re-form after their glorious charge, at once over- 

 threw the victorious cuirassiers, captured their artillery, 

 and sent thtm back over the dead bodies of the square 

 they had destroyed. They soon rallied, however, and 

 returned to the attack, and then the two corps of 

 Imperial Guards meeting in full career, a fearful crash 

 of charging horsemen took place, followed by the most 

 desperate cavalry fighting that had occurred during 

 the war. They fought on both sides with the most 

 determined bravery, and with frightful carnage. At 

 length the Russians had to fall back on Austerlitz, and 

 this encounter had a great influence in deciding the fate 

 of the battle.' 



We have already referred to the gallant exploits of 

 the Russian cavalry on the field of Eylau, where the 

 Cossacks under Platoff charged successfully the victorious 

 horsemen of Murat, in the celebrated cavalry action that 

 took place on the Russian left in that battle. 



In June 1807, after Benningsen had moved out from 

 his position at Heilsberg to attack Ney, he found it 

 necessary on the concentration of the French army to fall 

 back again to his entrenched camp. The rear-guard under 

 Bagrathion, while covering this retreat, found it neces- 

 sary to make a stand to give time to the carriages and guns 

 in the rear to defile across the AUe, by the four bridges 

 which spanned it at that point. Bagrathion formed his 

 force, consisting of only 5,000 foot and 2,000 horse, at 

 Glottaw, and sent forward his cavalry to check the 

 pursuers. The infantry formed squares to withstand the 

 attack of Murat, who, at the head of 12,000 horsemen, 

 pressed vehemently upon them. On this day the 

 Russian cavalry displayed the most astonishing valour. 

 The odds against them were fearful, but such was the 

 steadiness and intrepidity of the Russian troops, that 

 not a square was broken, nor were the squadrons of horse 

 dispersed or routed. After a sanguinary fight for a long 

 time without any decisive result, the Russian commander 

 having gained time for the whole of the baggage and 



' Alison, ii. 371. 



