528 
ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
incident as an example of what the flanking fire of artillery is capable 
of accomplishing. 
From this same battle Taubert gives as an illustration of the power 
of guns to defend themselves, the conduct of a Prussian Horse Artillery 
battery (Zinkem’s), in beating off the attack made on it by a battalion 
of infantry, and so throwing it into confusion by its canister fire that it 
was compelled to lay down its arms. 
At the battle of Gross Beeren, a few months later in the same year, 
the part played by the artillery on both sides was very considerable, 
and indeed this may almost be termed a purely artillery combat, 
because the pouring rain in which it was fought confined the infantry 
to the use of the bayonet alone. The battle was also remarkable from 
an artillery point of view, because it furnishes us with an example of 
artillery masses brought early into action after the manner which the 
Germans have made the fashion in the present day, and of a close co¬ 
operation of guns with the final assault, such as their mobility had 
hitherto scarcely rendered possible. Napoleon, whose eyes were ever 
fixed on Berlin while he fought the Allied armies round Dresden, had 
despatched three corps under Oudinot to operate against Bernadotte, 
who was in command of the Allied force which was covering the 
Prussian capital. 
On the 23rd of August, Oudinot directed Regnier to attack Gross 
Beeren with the 7th Corps, and the French coming on in superior 
numbers easily gained possession of the village, and established them¬ 
selves close to the very centre of the Allied line. The same day 
Oudinot was himself engaged with the enemy on the left, while 
Bertrand was also fighting on the right. The three corps were 
separated by difficult country, and united action between them was im¬ 
possible. The Allied reserve under Billow had moved to its left to 
support Tauentzein against Bertrand, but, the situation at the Allied 
centre becoming critical, he was recalled to oppose RegniePs dangerous 
