496 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[PEBIOD V. 



The Fren ^ at this time did nothing with their 

 cavalry ; in fact, General Abel Douay, with the second 

 infantry division, had no cavalry, and, thrown forward 

 in an exposed position, was virtually surprised at 

 Weissenberg, and overrun by the well-covered advance 

 of the Third Army. This gav'3 the firot success to the 

 Prussians, and two days afterwards, at Woerth, the 

 French right wing, still unprepared and dispersed, was 

 badly beaten by the advancing Prussians. The French 

 fought bravely and well in both these actions, but were 

 surprised and greatly outnumbered. 



At the battle of Woerth, however, a charge of French 

 cavalry was made by Michel's cuirassier brigade, from 

 the right wing of MacMahon's position, against the 

 Prussian left, which was steadily advancing through 

 Morsbronn, and threatening seriously to turn the flank 

 of the French army. This body of cavalry, 1,000 strong, 

 in three lines, advanced over difiicult ground towards 

 Morsbronn. They braved the musketry fire which at 

 once opened on their left flank, and rushed on to strike 

 the Prussian infantry, while forming after their advauce. 

 These troops received the attack, however, just as they 

 stood, without forming either battalion or rallying 

 .squares, but in those formations which enabled them to 

 use their fire to the greatest advantage. In a few 

 moments the cuirassiers suffered fearful losses. The 

 remnants charging past, tried to gain the open ground, 

 and many were 'captured, very few cutting their way 

 through and esca^^ .^g by a wide detour. After run'^Mig 

 the gauntlet of the fire of the infantry and suffermg 

 terrible losses, the broken remains of the brigade had a 

 sharp hand-to-hand fight with a Prussian hussar regi- 

 ment which they met in their way. Michel's brigade 

 and the 6th French Lancers, which charged with them, 

 were almost d'^-stroyed ; very few of them again reached 

 the army. The Prussian hussars lost one man killed, 

 tweuty-three wounded, and thirty-five horses. The 

 losses of the infantry were very inconsiderable. 



This sacrifice of the cavalry brigade served no other 

 purpose than to gain ^'me ^'^r the retreat of the French 



confide 



