CHAP. XXX.] FRANCO-GERMAN WAR, 1870-1871. 



497 



right wing. The charge was gallantly made, the men 

 rode boldly on, there was no hesitation, and yet the fire 

 oi the infantry, who, it will be remarke'\ relied solely 

 on their needle-guns, and did not e""^en form square, was 

 sufficient to defeat and destroy them. We shall find 

 other examples in this war of the little chance cavalry 

 have of successfully using the old system of cavalry 

 tactics. 



After the battles of Wcertii and Spicheren the French, 

 discouraged by their defeats, were obliged to retreat 

 rapidly in difierent directions, the debris of the right 

 wing, under MacMahon, moving by a wide detour to 

 the south around to Chalons, the remainder of their 

 army falling back upon Metz. 



It was in the advance of the German armies at this 

 time that the cavalrj'^ shone out so brilliantly, and 

 proved that, although great improvements had been 

 made in the weapons of the other arms, and the chances 

 of success for cavalry on the battle-field much dimi- 

 nished, there was still a wide field of usefulness open 

 to it, when skilfully handled. 



The cavalry at once pressed forward one or two days* 

 march ahead of the main body of the infantry, keeping the 

 enemy constantly in view, and, spreading far and wide 

 over a great extent of territory, formed an impenetrable 

 curtain or veil, which screened the movements of the main 

 army, and enabled it to march at ease and with perfect 

 confidence under the shelter so secured. These duties 

 were performed in the most admirable manner, with 

 boldness, energy, and skill, and proved conclusively the 

 enormous advantage to an army of a superior and well- 

 managed body of horsemen.' 



When most nations had been reducing their cavalry, ^ 

 in the ojiniou that its sphere of usefulness was gone, 

 the Prussians, and the other North Germans, had 

 strengthened rather than reduced the arm, and had 

 kept steadily in view the great value of a mounted force. 



These wide-spreading detachments of horse complf *;ely 

 hid from the French generals all knowledge of the 



> Borbstaedt, 352. 



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