The Characteristics of a Cavalry Charge

The usual target of a cavalry charge is infantry. After all, they made up at least three quarters of any napoleonic army. The usual tactic employed by infantry units facing a cavalry charge was to form a square. Squares with poor morale or discipline sometimes broke themselves out of sheer terror. They all knew on an intellectual level that there was nothing more dangerous in the face of cavalry than to turn tail and run. It could make men ignore their good sense and condemn themselves to eat and likely death or serious injury.