Breaking two squares

On July 23, 1812, two Anglo-German cavalry brigades, total 1800 men, attacked 4000 French infantry at Garcia Hernandez in Spain. The French formed battalion squares, which usually was sufficient to defend against enemy horsemen. In this battle, however, the King's German Legion dragoons pressed their attack so closely that when the French fired, a mortally wounded horse caromed into the square, knocking men over and opening a gap. A German captain rode into the opening, his troopers followed, and the square broke. A second battalion saw this disaster, faltered under the KGL's attack, and also broke. Anglo-German losses were about 55 killed and 65 wounded; French losses were 200 killed and wounded, 1400 captured.