The French Cuirassiers.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 1, Issue 52, 9 November 1870, Page 1 (Supplement)

The French Cuirassiers.

It is reported that Marshal M'Mahon, on being asked after the battle of Worth, what had become of the Cuirassiers, who had charged the army of the Crown Prince so gallantly, replied, " There are none of them left." The following incidmt, related by a correspondent of the Garlsruhe Zeitung, explains in some measure l.ow these gallant horsemen were decimated : " In a hop plantation lay a company of the 95th Regiment and some pioneers of the 11th Battalion, the latter armed with the short-barrelled needle gun. The lieu-tenant-commander of these last was decribed to me as a man of dauntless bravery and coolness, and some of his men related to me with admiration how, shortly before, they had to cross an unsheltered tract under a hail of bullets, and as they involuntarily ran, crouching and ducking down, he walked along majestically, and bolt upright. To these troops, covered by the hop 3 and tree trunks, presently approached, in a gentle trot, a splendid and perfectly fresh regiment of Cuirassiers. Until within 50 paces, when the French word of command to push forward was called out, our men believed the French to be Bavarians. No further doubt was possible, and for a moment our position seemed a fearful one—it looked like madness to withstand these masses of cavalry, charging with uplifted sabres—fine, stately, and for the most part gigantic figures, for a few infantry to withstand ; so our fellows turned to the right-about, to retire as fast as possible. But our pioneer lieutenant Btood firm and cried out, " Children, are you going to leave me here alone ]" And his brave fellows instantly stood still, the infantry also, and at a lew steps distant fired rapid volleys. The regiment was hurled away as if by an earthquake, wiped out like a pencil stroke with india-rubber. The few who charged through were shot down by other troops. About £OO, ineluding the colonel and other officii*, Mg 1 made prisoners."