In presenting these snippets I am going to concentrate on those combats which involved cavalry attacking infantry. In particular, first covering attacks versus squares, and then in future articles going on to more general fights. In the 1960's when war games as a hobby were first taking off thanks to the efforts of Don Featherstone, Charles Grant Senior, John Tunstill and the London War Games Section, it was thought that the infantry square was almost impregnable against a cavalry charge. Indeed in this article I shall give balance by giving examples of squares breaking and of squares repulsing cavalry attacks. Example Charles Grant in particular was a proponent of this. In his book "Napoleonic Wargaming" MAP 1974 he stated on page 42 that " there seems to be only one instance of a completely formed infantry square being broken by a cavalry charge pressed home". He pressed this point home in his magazine articles. The instance he wrote about was the charge of the 1 st and 2nd (Heavy) Dragoons of the Kings German Legion on two squares of the French 6e Legere at Garcia Hernandez in the Peninsula on the 23rd July 1813. It should also be noted that the 69e Ligne in square, although seeing the other two squares broken, successfully repulsed a charge upon it. General Foy being in this square may well have helped it to stand firm. The first square was broken when a dead horse fell among the ranks of the square and created a gap. The KGL dragoons were quick to take advantage. The circumstances during which gave rise to this feat were not those of open battle, but during the pursuit after Wellington's victory of Salamanca. Foy's division was the French rearguard and it's morale on this occasion would not have been high. A great deal of correspondence giving other examples helped fill the pages of war game magazines around that time, and in addition I have collected other similar events over the years which I detail below. As will be seen, breaking a square is not all that rare. Revolutionary Wars Example To begin the series of examples I start with one from the Revolutionary Wars. Allan Mallinson in his history entitled "The Light Dragoons" relates on page 19 "Only two weeks later, on 10 May, 1794, at Willems the regiment (15th Light Dragoons) was again in the thick of things, breaking several French infantry squares ( a novel formation for the French sic) and capturing several guns". Fortescue in his "History of the British Army " Volume IV part 1 on page 248 confirms this but in a slightly different version "Thereupon the Duke (of York), perceiving a gap in the enemy's line... ordered sixteen squadrons of British dragoons and two of Austrian hussars to advance into the plain..., and from thence to attack. The cavalry obeyed with alacrity; but the ground on the plain, though perfectly level and unenclosed, was much broken by patches of cole seed, grown in trenches after the manner of celery, which checked the progress of the heavy dragoons. Moreover the French infantry, for the first time since the revolution, threw themselves into squares and faced the galloping horsemen with admirable firmness. Nine regiments of cavalry in succession charged up to the bayonets, but with insufficient speed, and fell back baffled.... At last, however, a little to the south of Willems, the battalion guns of the British infantry came up and opened fire, when the French, after receiving a few shots, began to waver. The squadrons again charged, and an officer of the Greys, galloping straight at the largest of the squares, knocked down three men as he rode into it, wheeled his horse round and overthrew six more, and thus made a gap for the entry of his men. The sight of one square broken and dispersed demoralised the remainder of the French. Two more squares were ridden down." Dr Hourtoulle in "Lasalle" published by Copernic in 1979 tells how two regiments of Prussian Curassiers and the Russian Guard Cossacks at Heilsberg on 10 June 1807 broke squares of the 26e Legere and the 55e Ligne. The latter lost its eagle. In the following year on 14 July at Medina de Rio Seco Lasalle's cavalry brigade ( 1 Oe & 22e Chasseurs a Cheval ) broke | a square of the Spanish Volunteers of Navarre. Oman does not necessarily back this claim and remarks how well the Navarrese in square covered the retreat of the rest of Blake's Army. | At Wagram On 6 July 1809 at Wagram, Lasalle commanding a corps size | cavalry formation, took personal command of two curassier regimeets and led them against the Austrian Infantry Regiment 39 Duka which lost half it's effectives and broke. This was part of the 6th Corps commanded by Klenau. Tragically Lasalle was shot in the head and died. He was described as "Le premier entre les braves". Also at Wagram Lachouque and Brown in "The Anatomy of Glory" tell how Guyot commanding the Chasseurs a Cheval had them overrun three Austrian squares at their second attempt, capturing an Austrian gun in the process. Guyot also commanded the Grenadiers a Cheval but no mention is made of their taking part in this attack. "Armies at Waterloo" by Ugo Pericoli, Seeley, Service 1973 describes how at Dresden in 1813 French Lancers, able to overreach muskets, broke an Austrian square. It was raining at the time and the infantry were unable to fire. A Prussian square was also broken in 1813 by the 6e Chevau legers fanciers on the Katzbach. In "Ligny" by Andrew Uffindell he writes how Prussian cavalry charged and broke a square of the 70e Ligne. At the same time a square of the 22e Ligne stood firm in the face of a similar charge. Polish Lancers At Borodino on 7 September 1812 five Russian Battalions were broken by the charge of the Polish Lancers according to General R.H.Willems in his "Odyssee d'un Carabinier". My long time wargame colleague Wacek Fiedler, now in his retirement a voluntary researcher at the Sikorski Institute, has provided a slightly different version of this from Marian Kukiel's "Wojna 1812 Roku". This describes the action round Shevardino village and the Semenovska stream. Fight for Semenovskaya: Large Map (65K) "Friant's division was attacking the village frontally, suffering heavy losses. In the meantime the stream on his left flank was crossed by the Latour Maubourg cavalry, which included the Saxon-Polish heavy cavalry brigade under Thielman, in the lead. On reaching the hill dominating the village, this brigade attacked from the flank the squares of the 2nd Russian Grenadier Division, in the course of formation, breaking them up. The Thielmann brigade was supported in this action by the Westphalian Curassiers and the Rozniecki Lancers, who repelled the attack of the Russian Dragoons from Sievers Corps". Note Rozniecki commanded the 4th Polish Light Cavalry Division. Christopher Duffy in his "Borodino" Sphere Books 1972 p.112 gives a different account of the same combat. "After an agonising wait under the canister fire Murat's cavalry moved forward at about ten o'clock to cross the Semenovska stream and climb the bank on the far side( see Map 1), Latour Maubourg's came on in columns of half squadrons". "The onslaught of the cavalry caught the 2nd Combined Grenadier Division just as it was trying to form itself into three squares. Latour Maubourg's Germans rode over one of the blocks of swaying grenadiers, the charged between the other two squares without bothering to reform. Volleys of musketry lashed them from every direction, and many horses and men came to grief when they fell into the underground grain silos which were hidden by the smouldering embers of the village". p.114. "South of Semonovskaya The curassiers and light cavalry of Nansouty fared rather worse. Their opponents were the superbly disciplined Ismail, Litovsk and Finland Jaeger Lifeguards, who lost no time in forming themselves into impenetrable squares. When ever the cavalry came surging u the Lifeguardsmen delivered crashing battalion volleys, and the French were so near that practically every bullet toppled over a horseman". " After one of the volleys Colonel Udom and his Litovsk Lifeguards actually charged the cavalry with their bayonets". Another Account Yet another account of this action is to be found on p.240 of Nafziger's "Napoleon's Invasion of Russia". "Napoleon chose to direct elements of the I and lll Corps, the I and IV Reserve Cavalry Corps, and a large force of French artillery to strike the Russian centre. This force was directed against the Russian line around the village of Semenovskaya, which was defended by eight battalions of the 2nd Converged Grenadier Division. The French attack was led by Friant's 2nd Division. He was flanked by the heavy cavalry of the I and IV Reserve Cavalry Corps.This force advanced directly on the rubble that had been Semenovskaya. The assault was heralded by a tremendous artillery barrage that furthered the destruction of the already ravaged village". "About 10:00 a.m. the assault began, and the cavalry quickly began theiradvance. Latour Maubourg's forces advanced in half squadrons, his forces divided into two columns. As he crossed the Semenovskaya stream, his right hand column was the 7th Curassier Division, commanded by Lorge. The right column contained the Saxon curassier regiments Garde du Corps and Zastrow (eight squadrons); the Polish 14th Curassier Regiment (two squadrons); and the 1 st and 2nd Westphalian Curassier Regiments (eight squadrons). The left column was formed by the 4th Light Cavalry Division; 3rd, 11th and 16th Polish Uhlan Regiments (twelve squadrons). As the leading two and a half squadrons of the Saxon Garde du Corps crossed the stream, they encountered a Russian Battery supported by the 2nd Grenadier Division formed in squares. General Thieleman formed the remaining squadrons in echelon to the left and charged the Russians. One square was broken and the others forced back. In their pursuit of the withdrawing Russian infantry, they encountered the dragoons of General Sievers' 4th Cavalry Corps. The dragoons were supported by the fire of the 2nd Guard Light Artillery Battery. This was insufficient to halt the Saxons, and they pressed beyond the village and found themselves facing the Ismailov and Lithuanian Guard Infantry Regiments formed in six battalion squares. The French cavalry assault was furious, but the Ismailov Guard withstood them. In one of three historically recorded instances, the Ismailov Guard actually executed a bayonet charge against the attacking cavalry. They did so with the support of the 1st Guard Light Battery and the two Guard Position Batteries". "The Polish Uhlans of the 28th Light Brigade, who had advanced to the left of the Saxons, had become involved in battles around the Raevsky Redoubt and had captured eight guns. The toll was heavy and the 11th Uhlan Regiment lost nearly all of its officers and most of its men hors de combat". (Authors note. The situation described in the three accounts above is confusing. l will leave it to my readers to ponder on which unit(s) broke how many squares!) Battle of Krasnoe Nafziger in the same book on p.311 describes the Battle of Krasnoe on 17 November 1812 "The last escape route for the French to the Dnieper was suddenly closed as the Russians set up a horse battery on it and began to shell the guard. Delaborde's guns were manhandled into position, but their response was feeble.The Duke of Treviso was ordered to hold out until nightfall. The 1st Tirailleur Regiment fell back on Krasnoe at the express orders of the Marshal. The 1st Voltigeur Regiment continued to fight in their original positions. The Novgorod and Little Russia Curassier Regiments took possession of the field. As the 1 st Voltigeur and the 3rd Dutch Grenadier Regiment abandoned their position, the Russians instantly positioned their artillery there, shelling the retreating French. The new position of the Guard was quickly becoming untenable. A regiment was sent forward to drive off the Russian artillery. It recoiled from the heavy fire, and a second regiment advanced in its place. As this regiment reached the foot of the battery, it was driven back by the Novgorod and Little Russia Curassiers. It formed square and greeted the attacking cavalry with heavy musketry, driving them back. The Russian cavalry struck a third time, supported by two guns that poured cannister into the Guard Infantry. The square was broken and the soldiers massacred as the Mourmansk and Revel Infantry Regiments finished them off with bayonets". Thus we see that Guard infantry units were not immune from cavalry charges even when in square. In "Lutzen and Bautzen" Nafziger describes on p.167 how Ney, protecting Souham's infantry, first of all pushed back Prussian cavalry. Then the Baden Dragoons charged the Prussian Guard Fusilier Battalion square and broke it. The Guards fled behind a small wood. The Dragoons then overran Allied guns killing a number of gunners before retiring to reform. French Old Guard Waterloo Some accounts claim that a French Old Guard square was broken later in the day at Waterloo. Siborne in his "History of the Waterloo Campaign" page 366 describes the incident. General Vivian ordered Major the Honourable Frederick Howard commanding the right squadron of the 10th Hussars to charge the left square of the Grenadiers of the Guard. This he did, losing his life in the process, but the remainder of the squadron continued in hand to hand fighting with the Guard. "Although the square, a very strong one, cannot be said to have been broken by the shock, for the veteran soldiers of whom it was composed knew too well their powers of resistance against such a handful of horsemen, still the manner in which the latter, notwithstanding the rapid diminution of their number, continued cutting at the ranks, parrying bayonet thrusts, and pertinaciously pressing on, reflects the highest credit on the 10th British Hussars. The square yielding to the pressure, continued to fall back until it reached the hollow way formed by the narrow road that leads from the chaussee of La Belle Alliance...lnto this the Guard hastily descended in confusion." Here it escaped and mixed in with a host of refugees. Still at Waterloo Uffindell in his "On the Fields of Glory", Greenhill Books 1996, page 170, tells of the 85th French Line Regiment formed in single square only two ranks deep (a most unusual formation) which saw off the charge of a portion of the British Union Brigade at the Eastern end of the Grand Battery "bringing down scores of red coated dragoons". Retreat From Waterloo On page 310 he quotes Captain Charles Francois in the retreat from Wavre. "We of the 30th were marching in two squares. We arrived on the heights and the road which descends to Namur and sited our batteries; the cannonades resumed on both sides heavier than before. General Rome four Brigade Commander) ordered one square to remain on the road, and placed the other on the slope of the hill. The numerically superior enemy artillery knocked out three of our guns. The 96th Line continued its march on Namur and we of the 30th remained in our position, formed in two squares. Enemy cavalry charged us three times; three times they were repulsed with loss . . . Rebuffed, the foe moved back. Still formed in two squares, we therefore descended on Namur. The square I commanded was the last. I marched slowly, .... often halting and facing to the front to wait for the enemy cavalry to come to ten or fifteen paces distance. commanded a fire from two ranks and those Prussian braggarts fled. Finally, with little loss, we arrived under the walls of Namur". Nafziger's " A Guide to Napoleonic Warfare 1 st Edition" p.150. also refers to Luetzen. "Marmont's corps was attacked by Prussian cavalry, which surprised his forces. The 37th Legere Regiment formed square, but broke and fled in terror. The 1 st Marine Artillery Regiment, outfitted as an infantry regiment, formed in squares to the east of Starsiedel, when it was charge by the Brandenburg Curassier Regiment. Though the Brandenburgers had caused the 37th Legere Regiment to break, the Marines repelled them easily. No doubt the surprise of the attack had worn off and the 1 st Marines had the time to set thei square. (author's note. The Brandenburgers were probably also disordered by their previous success). Marmont withdrew Compan's 20th Division to the edge of Starsiedel and formed his forces into several squares, so that any new attack would not throw them into the same disorder that had struck the 37th Legere Regiment. These squares were placed so close that they could not fire unless the enemy cavalry actually passed between them. Marching in Difficult Terrain Also at Luetzen we have an instance of how difficult terrain was handled by units marching in square. Around 3:p.m., the IV Corps was advancing slowly towards Pobles and the crossing of the Gruenbach. Facing it was Winzingerode, who occupied the east bank of the Gruenbach stream.Though faced with enemy artillery the French were advancing in square because of the cavalry threat. Under the cover of French guns, Morand's 12th Division broke into columns, crossed the stream and reformed itself into squares to resume its advance. There is also an instance of a Confederation of the Rhine formation using squares with the IV Corps which is also enlightening and should be considered when reviewing the use of squares. Two Hessian regiments were moving against Klein Goerschen. The Hessian Leib Garde Regiment formed into square and moved against Klein Goerschen. The Regiment du Corps moved in the second line to the left and the Fusiliers moved on the extreme left, formed in column and covering the whole advance. The force was covered by a screen of Hessian skirmishers and a redoubled artillery fire in support. The attack advanced at the "sturmschritte (storming pace)" to seize the bridge to Klein Goerschen. Here we have infantry both attacking and advancing at the "sturmschritte", which was the Hessian equivalent of the "pas de charge!". The square was obviously not slower than any other formation, despite modern thought on that point". (Authors note: the account does not say whether the Hessians were still in good order at the end of this charge). According to Lachouque in his book "1814" Doumeac (sic) with the 1st Curassier Division at Champaubert on 10th February broke a square of the Russian commander Olsuffiev. Houssaye in his "1814" does not specifically mention Squares but does say (page 55) " Olsufjew's division of Langeron's corps was driven from position to position past Champaubert and almost annihilated: the French captured more than 2000 prisoners, including Osufjew and two other generals, besides 15 guns, some colours and baggage, and hardly 1,500 men escaped:" (Authors note: I cannot find the reference, but I am sure I have read an account of Olsufiev's command being in squares). Four days later Napoleon took Blucher by surprise at Vauchamps and on p56 Houssaye describes the battle. The French had much the superior numbers and Blucher decided to retreat "for two hours his troops, formed in squares placed chequerwise, steadily endured the fire of Drouot's artillery and the furious charges of the cavalry of the Guard. However, by a magnificent turning movement Grouchy with the cavalry of the line got behind the enemy to the far side of Fromentiere; he ordered the charge, and his 3,000 horsemen burst their way into the middle of the mass of 20,000 Prussians, throwing them into disorder and panic: they met with practically no resistance, and carved bloody furrows through the German squares....The pursuit lasted far into the night. Blucher lost 6000 men, and, as often happens in battles which quickly degenerate into routs, the action was costly only to the vanquished. and the loss to the French army amounted to barely 700 men". Prussian Squares During this same campaign (page 273) at St. Dizier "Towards 5 p.m on the 22nd (March) the advance guard, composed of 400 cavalry under General Pire, reached this town in time to attack two Prussian battalions . . . They formed up in two squares, of which one was broken at the first charge and forthwith surrendered, but the other made a stubborn resistance and succeeded in escaping after having burnt the pontoons". Finally from Houssaye on page 301 (Map 2) commences a tale of heroism and endurance which I shall relate at length. "The guns which had aroused the enthusiasm of Marmont's soldiers were unfortunately not those of Napoleon. The cannonade marked the close of the heroic resistance made by the divisions of the National Guard under Generals Pacthod and Amey. These two divisions formed part of the 11th Corps... they had gone to Sezanne and billeted there on March 23. A large convoy of 100 artillery ammunition wagons and 80 wagons laden with baggage and with 200,000 rations of bread and brandy had also arrived at that town. During the night of the 23rd 24th the two generals learnt that there was a French corps between Montmirail and Etoges...and they determined to get in touch with this column and to march in company with it. The supplies and the ammunition which had been sent from Paris seemed to be urgently required by the army, and Pacthod offered to escort them. He had 16 guns, and the two divisions together amounted to 4,300 men, all of whom consisted, with the exception of one weak line battalion, of National Guards and conscripts who hardly knew their drill. On the morning of the 24th the column set off for ttoges, where they learnt that Mortier had left at daybreak for Vassy: the troops turned to their right and continued there march as far as Begeres." Pacthod sent an officer to ask for orders from Mortier and was told to stay where he was.This order did not reach him until the morning of the 25th when his men were already on the march. They made a midday halt. "Arms had been piled for a quarter of an hour and the men were beginning to have their dinners, when General Delort perceived a large body of cavalry moving across the Bergeres road. This was the advance guard of the Army of Silesia marching from Chalons on Begeres. Gneisenau had made a personal reconnaissance towards the left and had seen a large convoy moving towards Vatry; Korff with 4000 cavalry, 1,500 Cossacks and a light battery, had in consequence left the road at Thibie and moved towards Germinon." Blucher's main body moved on towards Bergeres. "Pacthod imagined they were only a strong party of foragers and made ready to receive them;he drew up his division with its right on Villeseneux, the infantry in battalion column and the three batteries in front; Amey's division drawn up in one large square formed the left of the line, and the wagons were massed in rear. On the approach of the enemy's squadrons the National Guards and conscripts stood firm and repulsed several charges. Pacthod maintained his position till midday, but seeing the enemy's forces increase, and fearing that he might be enveloped, he decided to retire on Fere Champenoise. Fight for Fere Champenoise: Large Map (68K) The column set off, the infantry in six squares surrounding the wagons. The march was very slow; the convoy was constantly falling into disorder and the infantry were continually halting to repulse the charges of Korff's cavalry. the Russian horse artillery battery would come into action at 300 yards from the French and open fire, and under cover of the grape the cavalry dashed forward against the squares. In this way the column succeeded with great difficulty in covering four miles; the enormous number of wagons increased the danger and the difficulties of the retreat, and General Pacthod made up his mind to abandon the convoy in the hope of saving his troops. He halted and ordered the teams to be unharnessed from the wagons, and the column then resumed its march under the fire of Korff's guns and amid the unceasing charges of the cavalry. Towards 4 o'clock, as they were approaching Ecury le Repos, a section of artillery, supported by two regiments of dragoons, took post at the head of the column and brought it to a halt. At the same time 2,500 cavalry and two batteries under Wassilitschikoff arrived from the main army and appeared on the right flank of the French. The two divisions were surrounded and enclosed by a ring of sabres and guns. It was no longer a question of merely repulsing the enemy's charges, and the French had now to cut their way through the opposing masses. Advanced with the bayonet General Delort formed his square into column of attack and advanced with the bayonet against the troops who were blocking the road to Fere Champenoise. The enemy retired and the French column moved forward, but a mile further on they found their way blocked again by the same troops. Further reinforcements reached the enemy; Kretow's 1,600 curassiers..joined the troops attacking Pacthod. The six squares, however, resisted all attacks and continued their retreat through the middle of the dense swarms of the enemy's cavalry. For more than four hours they had been exposed to the fire of the enemy's guns and the charges of his cavalry, yet not a square had broken and not a man had given way. The French generals were even more surprised than the Russians at the gallant behaviour of their young soldiers, fresh from the plough and still dressed in their sabots and blouses, and they hoped that they may yet reach Fere Champenoise. When they came within view of the heights that overlook that town, they saw them to be occupied by a strong body of troops. "We thought at first," says General Delort, "that they were Mortier and Marmont's corps, and we rejoiced that we had effected a junction in a way that might reflect some glory upon us. But the illusion was short lived. Our ranks were swept by the fire of a formidable artillery, and we knew that we were confronted by a fresh enemy." These were the Prussian and Russian Guards commanded by the sovereigns in person.... Officers were sent in all directions (by them) to collect all the cavalry and artillery that were in the neighbourhood. The 23rd Horse Artillery battery arrived first on the scene, and opened fire on the French.... It was impossible to retreat on Fere Champenoise. Pacthod determined to break his way out.. towards some marshy ground where he would be able to defy all the cavalry attacks. The French had lost more than a third of their number, and were now formed in four squares only; they set off stoically in the new direction, and once more cut their way through the mass of horsemen....there now arrived the three light cavalry regiments of the Russian Guard, Pahlen's hussar division, Depreradowitsch's curassier division of the Russian Guard, the cavalry brigade of the Prussian Guard, Nostitz's eight regiments of Austrian curassiers, and, finally the Russian Lifeguards... There were now 20,000 horsemen surrounding the French who were reduced to a strength of 3,000 ". Under these conditions four miles were traversed. The enemy's charges were ceaseless, except when a pause was made to allow their batteries to open fire on these gallant battalions . . . One square was shot to pieces...The other three squares were on the point of reaching the marshes whenDepreradovitsch placed some reserve batteries across their front, and the fire of 48 guns brought the French to a standstill". The Czar and King of Prussia summoned them to surrender....The soldiers did not want to surrender but General Pacthod thought it was his duty to save the lives of the survivors....The Russian artillery ceased fire and Pacthod gave up his sword. "Shortly afterwards General Delort's square, swept with grape on all four faces, and having expended all their cartridges and repulsed several charges with the bayonet alone, laid down their arms. The last square still held out. A fresh salvo opened a breach in it's living walls; the cavalry burst through and fell upon the soldiers, who defended themselves in groups,... Five hundred succeeded in escaping". . . Of the 4,300 men who had carried on a running fight for sixteen miles against overwhelming odds, 500 had gained the marshes, 1,500 had surrendered, many of them wounded ... and more than 2,000 had fallen on the battlefield... General Delort said "The words 'bravest and 'heroic' are inadequate to give an idea of their conduct". The Allied sovereigns concurred. Cavalry vs. Infantry Squares, Part 2 Back to Age of Napoleon No. 23 Table of Contents Back to Age of Napoleon List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master List of Magazines © Copyright 1997 by Partizan Press. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com