Conspicious on his white charger, Napoleon had ridden through
Austrian fire to be present when Macdonald's one massive column
of 23 battalions * moved out towards Sussenbrunn, flags flying,
drums beating the charge, and the men wildly cheering.
(- Battle of Wagram 1809)
.
The French and German heavy "cavalry spread out as a sea
while our [Russian infantry] squares floated like islands
that were washed by the copper and steel waves of
enemy cuirassiers ..."
- Fedor Glinka, Borodino 1812
