CHAP. XXVI.] CAVALRY FROM 1815 TO 1854. 



419 





where the Persians had a very large force of cavalry. 

 The Persians drew up their army with the infantry in 

 the centre, and great masses of cavalry on the flanks, 

 and attempted to outflank and envelop the Russian 

 wings. The Russian artillery fire checked their advance 

 and compelled them to swerve from the direct attack. 

 The stubborn resistance of the Russian amay repelled 

 the attacks of the cavalry on both wings, while a 

 gallant attack from the centre upon the line of Persian 

 infantry pierced their ranks, and the victory was 

 complete, the Russiar cavalry pursuing vigorously and 

 capturing many prisoners. 



On the 29th of August, 1829, in the operations around 

 Schumla, General Madatoff" was sent with the 2nd 

 brigade of the 3rd hussar division, the 1st Uhlan 

 regiment, and six light guns, to reconnoitre in rear of 

 the Turkish army, and to prevent them from bringing 

 provisions to Schumla. He made a successful raid and 

 captured ninety-seven men, fifty horses, a quantity of 

 cattle, and 106 waggons with provisions. 



During the Polish war the separate detachments of 

 Creutz and Rudiger were composed very largely of 

 cavalr)', the value of that ser\dce for moving rapidly 

 from point to. point, rendering it specially suitable for 

 defeating detached parties of the enemy, and for pre- 

 venting risings among a disaflfected po^ elation. General 

 Creutz's command in 1831 consisted of 9,043 infantry, 

 5,137 cavalry, including Cossacks, and 71 cannon, while 

 in the command of General Rudiger at the same time, 

 the proportion of cavalry was even greater, the numbers 

 being, infantry 6,686 ; cavalry (including Cossacks), 

 6,762 ; and 24 guns. The large number of cavalry in 

 these commands caused them to be of great service.' 



The Polish cavalry in this war were also very eff'ective, 

 and some very efticient cavalry leaders appeared in the 

 ranks of the insurgents. At the battle of Dembe Velky, 

 3l8t March, 1831, General Skarzinski, with a brigade of 

 cavalry, made a vigorous charge upon the centre of the 

 Russian lines, which virtually decided the victory, nine 



' Okounef, Campaign of 1831. Appendix. 



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