394 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



t. 





only added to the confusion, being at once overwhelmed 

 by the victorious cavalry. This compelled a retreat 

 which, being intercepted by a corps of Prussians under 

 Kliest, turned the French defeat into a disaster. 

 Vandamme and a ^eat portion of his army were made 

 prisoners of war. The French cavalry, under Corbineau, 

 however, set an example of what horsemen should do 

 under such circumstances. Seeing his retreat cut off, 

 his force surrounded by immensely superior numbers of 

 victorious enemies, Corbineau took the bold plan of 

 cutting his way out. At the head of his horsemen, he 

 dashed up the steep and almost impassable defile, filled 

 as it was with advancing Prussians, with such vehemence, 

 that he broke right through their column, cut down 

 their gunners, captured their pieces (which, however, he 

 could not carry off), and succeeded in effecting his 

 retreat. This is a good illustration of the maxim that 

 cavalry should never surrender in the field, and a proof 

 of its correctness. 



On the 16th October, 1813, at Leipzig, the greatest 

 battle of modern times commenced, and at the very 

 outset a most brilliant charge was made by two 

 regiments of Russian cuirassiers, led by Lewachow 

 against the French right. Soon afterwards Napoleon 

 ordered an attack in great force against the allied centre 

 and left. Kellerman, at the head of 6,000 horse, 

 advanced boldly, overthrew Lewachow, and was driving 

 all before him, when the Austrian cuirassiers of the 

 guard, six regiments in all, under Count Nostitz, having 

 rapidly crossed the Pleisse, arrived at the critical 

 moment, and instantly charged vehemently, with loud 

 shouts, upon the flank of Kellerman's squadrons, who 

 were pressing on with ranks disordered by success. The 

 fresh reserves and the flank attack at once settled the 

 fate of the combat. Kellerman was instantly routed 

 and driven back to the protection of the artillery and 

 infantrr of the French lines, where he soon re-formed. 

 This decisive charge of the Austrian cuirassiers saved 

 the allies from a serious defeat in the left centre of their 

 position. 



