Page:Decisive Battles Since Waterloo.djvu/397

Rh cut off. An order was sent for the Bavarians to advance; but in consequence of their terrible losses at Bazeilles they were not in condition for the offensive, and were unable to occupy Daigny. The order was then given to the Saxons, who executed it in fine style, and advanced later on to Fond de Givonne in the rear of the Guards. The position of the right wing of the French, which was personally commanded by General De Wimpffen, was now perfectly hopeless. As a last resort he sent a request to the emperor to come and lead the troops in person, as they would consider it an honor to cut a way for him through the German lines. The emperor was unwilling to sacrifice the lives of so many soldiers in order to save himself, and therefore he declined the invitation. General De Wimpffen then went over to Balan to find whatever troops there might be remaining from the 12th and 1st corps; but none could be found. He was alone, unaccompanied by a single staff officer, and then rode to the gate of Sedan in the hope of being able to rally some of the disordered troops. General Ducrot proposed to make a last effort to cut through the German lines, and for this purpose ordered a general charge of cavalry. Margueritte's reserve cavalry division (the 4th) was selected; it advanced by echelons east of Floing and was intended to overthrow everything before it, after which it would fall to the right and double up the enemy's line. The charge was as gallant as that of the French cavalry at Waterloo—and as unfortunate; it swept on like a tornado, but never reached the German lines. The artillery and infantry mowed great swaths in the advancing columns, and covered the ground with the fallen heroes. Three times was the charge made and three times repulsed. The dead and wounded actually lay in heaps in front of the German lines.

Ducrot's effort to save the day was a failure, and the cavalry had been sacrificed. Then he ordered the infantry