French Cuirassiers Helping a Wounded Comrade at St. Quentin

The cuirassiers are heavy cavalry for charging, not scouting. The French and German armies have each twelve regiments, and the Russians four. They are a survival of the 17th century, wearing steel cuirasses and helmets with horsehair plumes. Napoleon III's bodyguard, "Les Cents-Gardes," wore aluminum. They carry a long double-edged stabbing sword. St. Quentin was on the French route of retreat to Paris in the first stage of the war.

FRENCH CUIRASSIERS HELPING WOUNDED COMRADE AT ST. QUENTIN