CHAP. XXV.] CAVALRY UNDER NAPOLEON. 



395 



Almost at the same time, or shortly after this combat, 

 another desperate efi'ort was made l)y the French cavalry, 

 under Latour Maubourg, and Murat, to break through 

 the allied lines in their right centre to the east of 

 Wachau. These gallant cavalry leaders, at the head of 

 a mass of 4,000 or 5,000 cuirassiers, without either a 

 second line or a reserve, moved on in admirable order, 

 and striking the infantry of Prince Eugene of Wirtem- 

 berg in flank, threw it into confusion, overwhelmed ten 

 squadrons of the Russian Guard which tried to check 

 them, and captured a large number of cannon. The 

 charge was successful, and so terrible in its results 

 that the whole centre seemed broken. The Emperor 

 Alexander and the King of Pnissia were obliged to fall 

 back to avoid capture, and a disaster to the allies 

 appeared inevitable. The Emperor of Russia, with 

 admirable coolness, ordered up the Red Cossacks of the 

 Guard under Orlofl" DenizoiF to charge one flank of the 

 victorious horsemen, while Barclay, with the reserve 

 cavalry, was at once commanded to advance to their 

 support. The dispositions of the Emperor saved the 

 battle. The Cossacks under Denizoff" struck the French, 

 when, their leader Latour Maubourg seriously wounded, 

 their horses blown by their charge, and their ranks 

 broken by the capture of the batteries, they were unfit 

 to oppose any efiective resistance. In an instant the 

 whole mass was pierced through and routed, twenty-four 

 guns recaptured, and the French cuirassiers driven back 

 with great loss to their own lines. In this one battle, 

 in the course of a few minutes, were two victorious 

 charges of cavalry turned to defeat by the neglect of not 

 holding reserves in hand. 



Many other cavalry actions took place in many 

 of the subsequent battles of the war, but it would 

 be mere useless repetition and a tedious swelling 

 out of this work beyond its necessar}^ dimensions 

 to insert any further illustrations. There is one 

 battle however which cannot be overlooked, as it was 

 fought between 22,000 cavalry and 128 guns, against 

 a French force of almost the same numbers, but 



