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414 



A HISTORY OP CAVAJRY. 



[period IV. 



firm formation was destroyed and the -hole battalion 

 were either cut down or taken prisoneis. 



" Captain Von Keitzenstein, who commanded the 

 second squadron, seeing the success which had attended 

 the daring onset of his comrades on the left, and being 

 also impeded in his forward movement by the difficulties 

 of the ground, decided upon following up the discomfi- 

 ture of the infantry and attempting the second square 

 which stood on the edge of the heights. He was received 

 with a steady and destructive fire by which Lieutenant 

 Huegel was killed and Lieutenant Tappe severely 

 wounded ; but the moral force of the French infantry had 

 been shaken by the fearful overthrow which they had just 

 witnessed, and some timid individuals leaving their ranks, 

 Reitzenstein rushed in with his heavy followers, the 

 square broke, and the greater part of the battalion was 

 cut down or captured. 



" A third square was instantly formed by those few who 

 had escaped from destruction, and some cavalry came to 

 their support. Against these Captain Baron Marschalck 

 led the third squadron of the second regiment, and being 

 jc.aed by the left troop of the second squadron, under 

 Lieutenant Fumetty, charged and dispersed the enemy's 

 cavalry, then riding boldly at the infantry, broke and 

 completely overthrew them." ' 



Tliif: charge has received the highest praise from all 

 quarters. General Foy, in his History of the Peninsular 

 War, says expressly that it was the boldest and most 

 gallant cavalry charge of the whole war in Spain. The 

 Duke of Wellington in his reports said that he had never 

 witnessed a more gallant attack. 



Waterloo, the decisive and final battle of the wars 

 arising out of the French Revolution, was the culminating 

 triumph of the British army. In this action the English 

 cavalry behaved witli the most distinguished gallantry, 

 as did also their brave opponents, the dragoons and 

 cuirassiers of the French Emperor. ' 



The action at Waterloo was commenced by a tremen- 

 dous attack on the British centra and left, on both sides 

 * Boamish, History of King'^ German Legion, ii. 81 — 84. 



