12 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



whole French left was thrown into confusion, 2,000 

 prisoners taken, five guns captured, and the broken rem- 

 nants of the French divisions, thoroughly routed, were 

 driven into a wood, and in a military point of view 

 annihilated.^ 



Serving in the English army at this time was a force 

 of Hanoverians and Germans, who were organised in 

 a separate corps under the title of the King's German 

 Legion. Attached to this Legion were two regiments of 

 heavy dragoons, and three regiments of hussars. These 

 horsemen acquired the highest reputation. The 1st 

 regiment of hussars, commanded by Colonel Von Arent- 

 schildt, was admitted to be the best light cavalry corps 

 in the army for outpost service, while the most brilliant 

 cavalry charge in the Peninsular War was made by the 

 heavy brigade of dragoons of the German Legion, under 

 General Bock at Garcia Hernandez, the day after the 

 battle of Salamanca. The particulars, which are con- 

 tained in Beamish's history of the King's German Legion, 

 are interesting and instructive. 



" The French infantry and artillery being at first con- 

 cealed by the inequalities of the ground, the brigades 

 were ordered by Lord Wellington to attack the cavalry, 

 and their pace was accordingly increased to a gallop. 

 The German regiments, confined by the narrowness of 

 the valley, had been unable during their progress through 

 it to move upon a larger front than sections of threes, 

 and now, being in echelon of squadrons, they attempted 

 to form line upon the first squadrons without halting. 

 Hurried forward, however, by the excitement of the 

 moment, the leading squadron of the first regiment 

 under Captain Von Hattorf, having also in front General 

 Bock, the field officers of the regiment, and Lieutenant- 

 Colonel May of the English artillery, who brought the 

 order from Lord Wellington, dashed on without waiting 

 for the remaining squadrons, and made straight for the 

 enemy's cavalry. 



" The left wing of the French horsemen retired from 

 the charge of Anson's brigade, and those in front went 

 ' Napier, Book 18, chap. ill. 



