At the Battle of Leipzig on 16 to 19 October 1813, General Antoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain led the 2nd Heavy Cavalry Division, General Nicolas François Roussel d'Hurbal commanded the 2nd Light Cavalry Division, and General Rémi Joseph Isidore Exelmans directed the 4th Light Cavalry Division. Altogether, the corps numbered 5,680 troopers and 12 guns. On the 16th, the corps was attached to MacDonald's XI Corps in its attempt to turn the Allied right flank. Around noon, the assault began and MacDonald drove back General Johann von Klenau's Austrian forces. At this time, Sébastiani's advance was held up by a Russian cavalry corps led by General Peter von der Pahlen at the village of Klein Possna. Ultimately, Napoleon failed to smash the Allies that day and suffered the loss of Germany as a result of his defeat at Leipzig. The II Cavalry Corps played a key role at the Battle of Hanau on 30 October. Together with the Imperial Guard Cavalry, they smashed the Bavarian left flank.