This also was the opinion of Marshal Saxe. “The weakness of the above
formation,” says he, “is sufficient in itself to intimidate the
platoons of infantry, because they must be lost if the cavalry is
beaten.”
The cavalry, also, which depends on the infantry for succor, is
disconcerted the moment a brisk forward movement carries them out of
sight of their supports. Marshal Turenne, and the generals of his time,
sometimes employed this order of formation; but that does not, in my
opinion, justify a modern author for recommending it in an essay,
entitled “_Considerations sur l’Art de la Guerre_.” In fact, this
formation has long been abandoned; and, since the introduction of light
artillery, it appears to me almost ridiculous to propose it.