More on Bayonet Attacks
by Infantry Against Cavalry

by the EE&L Staff


In EE&L 11, George Nafziger authored an article called BAYONET ATTACKS BY INFANTRY AGAINST CAVALRY which began as it follows:

There is, in the popular literature, a misconception about the frequency of bayonet charges executed against cavalry. It is reputed that there were only three such charges in history:

  1. 1. Prussian Bernberg Infantry Regiment attacking Austrian cavalry at Liegnitz in 1760,
  2. 2. the Russian Lithuanian Guard Infantry Regiment attacking French cavalry at Borodino, and
  3. 3. the British 5th Foot Regiment attacking French cavalry at El Bodon in 1811.

In fact, there appear to have been more. Since I spend more time reading about the Napoleonic wars than I do other periods, I have encountered few non-Napoleonic instances of this, but during the Seven Years War British infantry appears to have charged French cavalry during the battle of Minden.

George was right and went on with several more examples of infantry charging cavalry. We also found another well documented instance in which infantry charged cavalry with the bayonet. That event took place at the Battle of Aspern-Essling and is related in Jim Arnold's newly published Napoleon Conquers Austria (see Book Review in this issue). The pertinent text, to be found on p.70, as follows:

    ... Saint-Hilaire sighted an Austrian cavalry regiment maneuvering to charge his exposed flank. He reacted with the speed and boldness that had characterized his style of leadership at Eckmuhl.

    The normal tactical response was to order the infantry into square, but Saint Hilaire was a gifted, unorthodox leaderwho wellknew the measure of his men. Instead of losing momentum by ordering a square, he commanded the trusty 105th Ligne to face to the flank, told the drummers to beat the pas de charge, and advanced against the enemy horsemen.

    Infantry charging cavalry was something rarely attempted. It demanded great resolution, for any wavering, any gap in the solid bayonet wall, would provide the cavalry with the opportunity to charge and annihilate the infantry in a flash. The 105th met the challenge and drove off the startled Austrian horse.

There is no need to add further comments to the above quotation which is taken from Lejeune's Memoirs of Baron Lejeune, (2 volumes, London 1897) I:283-284.

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© Copyright 1996 by Jean Lochet
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