The Germans checked their horses when they came upon this almost impassable obstacle.

The 23rd, however, kept on.

Men and horses rolled over each other, but many crossed the chasm and, forming again, dashed in between the squares into which the French infantry had thrown themselves, and charged a brigade of light infantry in their rear.

Victor hurled two regiments of cavalry upon them and the 23rd, hopelessly over matched, were driven back with a loss of 207 men and officers, being fully half the number that had ridden forward.

The rest galloped back to the shelter of Bassecour's division.
Yet their effort had not been in vain.