French Empire: But Napoleon IV

Chapter 96 The Cavalry Charge

DuPont stood atop the highest barricade. His purer faith, compared to Troch and the others, led this only man present who knew the power of cavalry to decide to rally the ignorant masses below to fight against the earth-shattering cavalry force.

"The Imperial cavalry is coming! These are Bonaparte's lackeys, here to suppress our revolution and steal our bread. We must hold this place and buy President Troche time. As long as we hold the Saint-Denis Gate, victory will surely be ours!"

"Defend the Saint-Denis Gate! Long live the Republic!"

Some of these soldiers had been moved by Eugène's speech and the bread he distributed, and shouted "Long live the Crown Prince!"

Now, spurred on and swept up in fanaticism, the soldiers, who had briefly forgotten Eugene's favors, turned directly to the republic that talked a good game but was all empty promises and had no real substance.

Overnight, the Self-Defense Forces expanded to nearly 5 men, the vast majority of whom were ordinary workers and citizens of Paris.

With a population of 200 million, Paris was simply too large a population. Given the expansion of the Paris Legion and the establishment of civil defense corps, these remaining civilians were mostly people who had never seen combat.

Therefore, without experiencing the battlefield, they had no idea how terrifying a cavalry charge could be. In their hearts, following their commander, they only felt that if Bonaparte were to return victorious, they would lose everything they had just gained.

As for what they actually got, don't worry about that, because they don't know what they got either.

Five minutes later, the vanguard of the Imperial Cavalry Division appeared at the end of the street.

Leading the group was a tall cavalry officer dressed in a black and white (the picture looks like black and white, or perhaps blue and white) dragoon uniform, wearing a helmet adorned with feathers, and brandishing a gleaming saber.

This is Colonel Henri de La Tour de Auvergne, commander of the 5th Cavalry Division.

Auvergne, formerly the commander of the 13th Army Cavalry Regiment, also reaped a great deal of benefits due to the expansion of the army.

Auvergne, who had risen directly from regimental commander to division commander, reined in his horse and turned to look at his somewhat inexperienced subordinates. Auvergne knew that this suppression campaign was the best opportunity to temper these new and veteran soldiers.

The French cavalry division has a rich history and is considered one of the most prestigious in Europe, alongside the Polish Winged Hussars and the Russian Cossacks.

After all, people's perception of French cavalry dates back to the Hundred Years' War between England and France, when they had the impression of French cavalry and English longbowmen.

With its rich historical heritage, the French cavalry commanders, like the Prussian Junker nobles, never feared death.

If he were afraid of death, Ney wouldn't have personally led cavalry charges during the First Empire, thus indirectly becoming Eugène's uncle and one of the reasons for Napoleon I's defeat.

Therefore, even though he skipped the brigade commander rank and was promoted directly to division commander, Auvergne truly led his troops well. As long as an officer is not afraid of death and is willing to lead his soldiers in charges, the minimum standard of that unit can still be guaranteed.

Now, Auvergne is also displaying his fearless nature. As a division commander, Auvergne directly raises his saber and shouts his pre-battle declaration to the thousands of cavalrymen behind him.

"His Highness is waiting for us at the Tuileries Palace. Those traitors are besieging our Crown Prince; they want to betray France and slaughter our compatriots! Brothers! For France, for the Emperor, charge!"

"Charge!"

The 2000 dragoons, who have already gained a certain sense of identity by being given the title of French honorary cavalry, are now known as dragoons.

Upon hearing Auvergne's shout, the crowd followed him, raising their sabers high, spurring their horses on with their legs, and charging towards the Saint-Denis Gate.

The sound of horses' hooves thundered as they trod on the asphalt road, and the entire earth began to tremble under their trampling.

In the eyes of the Self-Defense Forces, the cavalry units they saw, lined up in neat rows, looked like a moving city wall, charging straight towards them.

The sabers held high and waved continuously by the crowd reflected a dazzling silver light under the illumination of numerous torches.

In an era before tanks and heavy firepower like the Maxim gun, a large cavalry force, like a black torrent of steel, was destined to be unstoppable.

As the sound of cavalry thundering grew closer, even Duran, who had the worst military training, couldn't help but sweat as he looked at the moving "walls."

Ultimately, Duran, who was under immense internal pressure, began to repeatedly tell himself to wait a few more seconds until his opponent got closer before hitting him after his opponent entered within 500 meters.

Durant could tolerate it, but the self-defense forces below, who hadn't undergone much military training, couldn't tolerate it at all.

One soldier, seeing the towering cavalry walls approaching him, could no longer hold on. His spirits collapsed, and he began firing wildly at the cavalry.

With one person taking the lead, the remaining soldiers, who were also under immense psychological pressure, immediately felt a great sense of relief and began firing.

Such long-range shooting, coupled with indiscriminate and undisciplined firing, is bound to be ineffective.

Duran's order to get everyone to obey and fight back was drowned out by the chaotic gunfire.

Even with hundreds of men firing haphazardly, several unfortunate cavalrymen were inevitably hit and fell from their horses once the cavalry entered within 300 meters.

The warhorse, riddled with bullets, let out a mournful neigh and, propelled by immense inertia, crashed heavily to the ground.

Because of the charge, the cavalry behind could not stop. They could only close their eyes and not look, letting their warhorses trample directly on their fallen comrades and their horses, who were still breathing, as they charged forward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The charge was not without its challenges. Several earth-shattering explosions rang out, and a few cavalrymen at the forefront stepped on the buried explosives. The self-defense soldiers, not completely stunned, pulled the fuses, instantly turning men and horses into bloody messes.

The shockwave from the explosion knocked several cavalrymen to the ground. Scattered horseshoes and pieces of corpses were visible everywhere on the already dilapidated street.

However, this level of resistance was not enough to stop the cavalry's advance; like a pack of wolves pouncing on their prey, they continued their charge toward the barricades.

Even if some new recruits are already terrified, in the charging ranks, with the space still relatively spacious but crowded with their charging comrades on both sides, they will be swept along by the main force and continue to charge forward.

A charging cavalry force needs not only powerful firepower to intercept them, but also a great deal of terrain to hinder their advance.

Unfortunately, Durant lacks both of these qualities.