The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-16
Milligan, Wilkin & Co.

received orders to attack the Austrian
cavalry, and swept down upon It With
extraordinary vigor. It was dispersed
and Kellermann threw himself on the
flank OF a column OF grenadlers, already
assalled In front by the French intanr
try, He split the column IN two, his
dragons sabering 10 right and left, till
at last to save themselves from utter
destruction the Austrians threw down
their arms and surrendered, but Keller
mann did not stop. He rushed on the
dragons Of Llchtenstein and broke
them.
At Waterloo the first charge Of the
English cavalry on the French position
was calamity made. The English troops
cut a column OF 5000 men literally to
pieces and swept 1t from their path
Napoleon. seeing the confusion, ordered
his cuirasslers 20 the attack. a desper-
ate fight followed when the two bodies
OF horsemen came together. At last the
English were driven back, but less than
oRe-ffth OF the squadron regalned the
British lines.
OF all cavalry charges, perhaps that
OF the immortal Six Hundred. during
the war OF the Crimea, is the most IA
lllUuhs IL hun khG AGPhAN N= - A~N@'Nsf-+
order, and 1t was as unnecessary as II
was heroic, for It entailed only use
less slaughter OF brave men.
When the order came Lord Cardigan
led his troops down the open valley,
where they were cruelty exposed to the
fire OF artillery and infantry In front
and on both tanks. Thus they were as
sailed for the whole distance OF thelr
tragic ride. The fire Of the cannon and
rifles almost destroyed the brigade.
Less than two hundred men survived
the charge.
A charge quite as heroic as that OF
the six hundred was made by General
Fremont's bodyguard near Springfield,
NO., In the first year OF the civil war.
Major ZagonVi, with one hundred and
afty OF his troops, found the town In
possession Of Confederate force OF
1000 men. The bodyRuard had made a
forced march Of fifty miles in seventeen
hours. 1t had never been under fire,
and men and horses we're almost eX-
hausted. But when ZagonV. explained
the situation to his little command and
asked them whether they wanted 70
fight or turn back, there was only one
answer-they asked to be led forward.
The ConfederateI formed In line OF
battle on the edge of a wood. To charge
them the guard was compelled to ride
down long, narrow lane. They went
through this ordeal. men falling az eV-
cry step. dIsmounted tore down high
rail fence, led their horses over in the
face OF the enemy's fire, remounted.
formed and charged. The engagement
lasted but lew minutes, but 1t was at
tended bV On appalling loss OF life.
What was the most important cavalry
action OF the entire civil war took place
in June, 1868. at Brandy Station, The
Confederate force was 1900 men, while
the federals numbered about 1900. The
fight was unique in that both sides
fought on foot and with theIr rifles for
the most part, though this was varied
at times by most gallant charges and
countercharges.
The line OF battle extended for fully
three miles along the Rappahannock.
The fate Of the day was finally decided
By the brilliant charge made by w. H.
Lees and Jones' brigade through the
woods on the federal right