Which is correct, 'While riding' or 'riding'?

Question

1. Riding across the battle field, he saw a large number of dead warriors.

2. While riding across the battle field, he saw a large number of dead warriors.

Which of the above sentences is correct?

Answer 1

Both sentences are correct and understandable.

A possible nuance is

While riding across the battle field

gives more emphasis on the primary intent of "riding across the battlefield" whereas

Riding across the battle field...

has more emphasis on "seeing/surveying a large number of dead warriors".