ai ere VaR Gia? Fe Soot SE eerS extras lat | ? 24I a : SS! CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Dr. Mary M. Crawford iin WATERLOO LETTERS. MAP OF PART OF BELGIUM, INCLUDING THE VILLAGES OF WATERLOO AND QUATRE-BRAS. = = w (aq Ss oa hice tte vers ea At). sar g a oy. \ %, y Dale EIN /7 5 5f PATOLCE SU ft Vee g \ AEE Mie Ais S420) 1G 5g Ser x de toumo (Rumer X 4 SS): ee oa WoL 750s Miles 7 5 E TS ea ag Vards 850 600 400 200 oO S50 Yards This Map is taken from the latest publication of the Belgian Jnstitut Cartographique Militaire. It shows that owing to the increase of population, the aspect of the country has greatly changed since 1815. It will be observed that the wood in front of Hougoumont and the Bois de Bossu at Quatre Bras have both disappeared. WATERLOO LETTERS. A SELECTION FROM Original and hitherto Unpublished Detters BEARING ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE 16TH, 17TH, AND 18TH JUNE, 1815, By Officers who served in the Campaign. EDITED, WITH EXPLANATORY ,NOTES, BY Masorn-GenerRAL H. T. SIBORNE, Late CoLoneL R.E. ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS MAPS AND PLANS. CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED: LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE. 1891. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ] PREFACE. +e Wuen my father, the late Captain William Siborne, Unattached, was engaged in the construction of his Model of the Battle of Waterloo, he was authorised by the General Commanding-in-Chief—Lord Hill—to issue a Circular Letter to the several surviving Officers of the Battle who might be in a position to afford him the in- formation necessary for the completion of his undertaking. Copies of this letter, and of the plan which accompanied it (on one half the original scale), are annexed. A great number of letters were sent to him in reply, and subsequently, when writing his History of the Campaign, he received many additional letters and memoranda relating, not only to the precise period of the Battle represented on the Model, but also to the opera- tions and incidents of the Campaign generally. These letters were written to Captain Siborne with the knowledge that the information contained in them would be conveyed to the public. The greater number of the letters, amounting to several hundreds, are still in my possession, and as the 75th anniversary of the Battle occurred last year, and general attention has been redirected to that great event, I have thought that the publication of a selected portion of them might be of interest, not only to the Army, particularly to those Regiments or Corps which took part in the Campaign, but also to the public generally. Many families and individuals will here find re- corded the original accounts given by relatives who served in the Waterloo Campaign of what they experienced and of the parts which they played in it. vi WATERLOO LETTERS. In some few cases the letters were not sent direct to Captain Siborne, but were forwarded to him for his information by those to whom they were addressed. A great number of the letters or memoranda refer to more than one of the Actions or operations of the Campaign, but as the dividing them into detached portions for the purpose of strictly adhering to the sequence of events would lead to great confusion, I have found it preferable to leave the letters as they stand, and by marginal notes or other references assist the reader in recognising the situation described in the text. Where practicable also, portions of the plan on which the writers laid down the positions of their Regiments or Corps are reproduced, or else the latter are otherwise indicated. The publication of some information at the moment intended to be private cannot, so far as it relates to the incidents of the war, be looked upon, after the lapse of half a century, as a breach of confidence. As arule, however, statements of a purely private or irrelevant nature, repetitions in subsequent letters by the same writer, and information regarding the state of the crops on the Field of Waterloo (necessary for the construc- tion of the Model), are omitted. Where single or isolated statements may seem to be at variance with the descriptions of events given in Captain Siborne’s History of the War, it should be remembered that those descriptions were only finally decided on, either after further correspondence with the same writers, or from the careful comparison of a number of various and often conflicting accounts. The following may be considered as the order of the different operations of the Campaign, and principal phases of the Battle of Waterloo, to which the letters chiefly refer :— The receipt of intelligence from the Allied outposts (or rather want of it, previous to the 15th of June), and consequent hasty concentration of the troops towards the line of advance of the French Army. PREFACE, vii The Action at Quatre Bras on the 16th June. The Retreat from Quatre Bras on the 17th to the position of Waterloo, and Cavalry engagements at Genappe. At the Battle of Waterloo on the 18th. The defence of Hougoumont from the commencement of the Battle till near its close. The repulse of the first French attack on Picton’s Division in the left centre of the Allied Army. The Cavalry charges connected therewith. The repulse of subsequent French Cavalry attacks. The gradual co-operation of the Prussians. The capture of La Haye Sainte by the French, The repulse of the first attacking Column of the Imperial Guard. The repulse of the second Column of the Guard, and advance of Adam’s Infantry Brigade. The advance of the Light Cavalry. The General Advance of the Army and Rout of the French. The letters are placed in the following order :— 1.—Letters from the General Staff (and that of Divisions). 2.—Letters from the six Brigades of Cavalry. 3.—Letters from the eight Batteries of Horse and five of Field Artillery. 4,—-Letters from the eight Brigades of Infantry. A short sketch of the operations in which each Brigade was engaged precedes the letters from it, and the letters from the Staff of the Brigade precede those from the Regiments composing it. Owing to the principle I have adopted of endeavour- ing to make each Corps contribute its share of the corre- spondence, some of the letters may be thought to have little interest; but this will generally be found to be compensated for by the fuller accounts of other writers, which represent the operations, not only of their own viii WATERLOO LETTERS. particular Regiments, but of their Brigades, and even of the Army in general. The only three Corps engaged in the Battle from which there are no letters of any interest in the collection are the Ist Life Guards, the Royal Engineers, and the 14th Regiment. I may add that the collection consists of letters from British Officers only, and does not include any from our Allies in the Campaign. Unless otherwise expressed, the letters are to be considered as addressed to Captain Siborne, and where two ranks are assigned to a writer, the latter is that which he held at Waterloo. H. T. S1sorne, Major-General. CIRCULAR LETTER TO SURVIVING WATERLOO OFFICERS. —_+—__ Dublin. Sir,—Having for some time past been occupied in constructing a Model of the Field and Battle of Waterloo, upon a scale sufficiently large to admit of the most faith- ful representation of that memorable Action; and the General Commanding-in-Chief having, with the utmost kindness, and with a view to insure to the undertaking the greatest possible accuracy, granted me permission to apply for such information as I may conceive desirable and neces- sary, to the several Officers who, from the commands which they held, or from the circumstances in which they were placed on that occasion, may be considered likely to afford it ;—I have accordingly the honour to request you will have the goodness to reply to the following queries, as far as your recollection and the circumstances of your position at the time will admit. What was the particular formation of the at the moment (about 7 p.m.) when the French Imperial Guards, advancing to attack the right of the British Forces, reached the crest of our position ? * What was the formation of that part of the Enemy’s Forces immediately in front of the Would you have the goodness to trace these forma- tions, according to the best of your recollection, upon the accompanying Plan ? + * The period of the Battle selected for representation on the Model. + According to the scale of the Plan, t the following lines show the extent of front occupied respectively by a Battalion in line (790 strong), and by a Squadron (130 strong): ——$< —_—_ —s ce + The original Plan,—Ep, x WATERLOO LETTERS. Upon examining the Plan you will find that I have marked with a pencil, on the different fields in and near which the was generally posted through- out the 18th of June, the nature of the crops which, it is presumed, from the information afforded me by the Farmers residing on the spot, they respectively contained on that day. Have you any doubts as to the correctness of such information, and if so, in what particular? Con- sidering the extremely devastated and trodden-down ap- pearance of all kinds of vegetation at the period of the crisis of the battle, it is more with reference to the exist- ence of ploughed or fallow land that I ask this question. I shall feel very much obliged by your affording me, in addition to the information already solicited, any remarks which you may consider likely to conduce to the accuracy and fidelity of the Model, as regards the positions, movements, and formations of the contending armies, not only at the precise moment of action selected for representation, but also during the day. Hints con- cerning the tracks of the French columns which passed near the either in advancing or retreat- ing; details of the different attacks made or sustained by the , as also remarks upon the general appearance presented by that part of the Field of Battle nearest to the , with the addition of any little circumstances which, in your opinion, ought not to be overlooked in a work of this kind, will be most accept- able. It is only by such means as these that I shall be enabled to ensure the accuracy of the Model in every par- ticular, and, with the aid of an explanatory memoir, to lay before the public a complete and satisfactory exposition of this ever memorable Battle. In concluding, I take the liberty of earnestly entreating that you will not allow yourself to be deterred from giving the requested information by any fear of committing mis- takes; which, indeed, considering the period that has CIRCULAR LETTER TO SURVIVING OFFICERS. xi elapsed since the Battle took place, are not only most excusable, but almost unavoidable. If Officers will, how- ever, but favour me with their remarks and opinions, freely and without reserve, I trust that, by fairly weighing and comparing the data thus afforded me, I shall be enabled to deduce a most faithful and authentic record of the Battle, the surest means of imparting to the Model that extreme accuracy which, in a work of this nature, not dependent, like a pictorial representation, on effect for its excellence, must always constitute its real value. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, W. Siporne, Lieut.-Assist. Mil. See. To PLAN OF THE FIELD OF WATERLOO. SHOWING THE EXTENT OF GROUND COMPRISED IN LIEUTENANT SIBORNE’S MODEL OF THE BATTLE OF THE 18H JUNE, 1815. \ Na ee aie WH WIGS — — WRN NLR RI, oN TZ WIE TI VA Sa ry Pelt . 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RSS Nits SES ZA Wi; ZB FUN $< WS LEE Wu MF i \ in OT) ith: MUTT SS f ZB \ y “1 i! : eS TG Vea Ti Lattihy, cee mead 4 WES BeRT PA i SN SISSY 7 fyi, { ‘ WH i Ve A ~ Mt SS TRA S i) ‘ H Hai, Nf Z ‘ SS ww = sf iy A nf LAVERY i) Z =I Cy Uy MI)! es : I ragga ee SU) = St = = GAN ==Gi A i Op Wee) VOWNES! x ie = al N —~—S TWN 4 Vn foe a AIAN ASSIS SN EF WS x SSS = 7) 57 NSE ; ANAS S= Zi\= “oN : \ ie = - ‘\ IWS ~S Ns See v ‘ Nees WBE , Ld lt \ ‘ iy ae Fit a) Mes eR! SS ‘The dotted lines; —.......indicatedevels at 25 Feet above’ one-auvyner. and to each is affixed its altitude ubove the lowest point of the Grvund, \ a f t 3 Mie 9 So ao sho do odo ‘boo Joo “THO0YARDS. PLAN OF THE FIELD OF WATERLOO. G THE EXTENT OF GROUND COMPRISED IN LIEUTENANT SIBORNE’S MODEL OF THE BATTLE OF THE 18rx JUNE, v Mi, NS ALN SS) Sh LEE ATT TIKWWY SRR MW TN Swi! ANY MI if YW LSM Wie} Ke UL bee A NT J 0}! aly WK A AN dtr RN SS SANs z S WOKesss- SANee = STS SSeS . Wr 4 5 = : <7 f SN S ‘ fiat AAS , : Tr Nay PGE aN aN Lapse F ; SSS A MAH NH x SS SIN Th ee, : Se Woes SSeS 2 LLYN NWT NR iS a } 2 a / she aS wy OIL MOAN WAU HY SS be iy ROSS Wij tefl : Ne 5 ; MHA NSO MTV RS NS: if tf y ; 7 \ ;, IMSS, TEAR NA TIAN = HUINS LIT Wp | \ we BS \\\ WN SS SS \75\ Ut F/ LAL oh Re Ai Rca \ ANA ~ SVS S AS: SSN = SS 76 ; ISSN N Wii NV / Alp PE e Met 3 a =)! \ \ GE A LEAN LEZ) SS ) Wis DO MOVING WAIN): 2 ANIA ON? \\\ foes aaa f 1 = NGG \ \\ i Me 3 jt I Gis Be _ - it. ie WG Gil \ Sa MMT th ALLL pa AVP ET MEER AK SN \ 1 ' OH Di LK ANA Hy ( N iy a ) Sigs A ath RN inn aN i WAY WZ AK \’ AEN 7 iN S ~ SAAT AY AHI Veet Wee AN HANNS AN Gai «\ \} A\\" i vi My \ yeah NSA) Wt A i ish \ Ab i SARS Uy\ \ oe SN * Vili) Stim iy i. Np ee TTT WK 8 ‘WY yee . th ot WW WZ 1 “iff 7 Dp A it ji MW] OS Ze, Pa, Luise ey TW Sees Wa MAL } i ee PREFACE ‘ : 4 CrrcutaR Letrer to Surviving WATERLOO OFFICERS LETTERS FROM THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMY. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Masor-Generat Lorp Epwarp Somerset’s CAVALRY BRIGADE . : 4 2 THE 2nD Lire Gvarps . tHE Royat Horst Guarps BLveE THE Ist on Kine’s Dragoon GuaRDs Masorn-GENERAL Srrx Wittram Ponsonsy’s CAVALRY BRIGADE . % ‘ THE Ist on Royat Dracoons . THE 2ND or Scots GREYS ‘ i THE 6TH OR INNISKILLING DRAGOONS s - Masor-GeneraL Dornpere’s Cavatry BrivaDE THE 23RD Licut Dragoons . 2 r . Masor-GeneraL Sir JoHN VANDELEUR’s CAVALRY BrigaDE . f ; 7 THE llr Licut Dracoons . THE 12TH Licut Dragoons . THE 16TH LigHT Dragoons . : , 7 Masor-GeneraL Str Corquuoun Grant’s CAVALRY BRIGADE . , i : tHE 7TH Hussars . 4 é 7 THE 18rH LicHt Dragoons . THE 15TH Hussars . ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Masor-Generat Sir Hussey Vivian’s CavaLRy BrigaDE . é i ; js ; THE 10TH Hussars . ‘ ‘ THE 18TH Hussars . ‘ ‘ ‘ gue Royal ARTILLERY Starr . ! ‘ 5 ‘ tue Royat Horse ARTILLERY . , ; f ‘ tHE RoyaL ARTILLERY . i ; Masor-GeneraL Marriann’s Inrantry BriGAavE THE Ist Foor Guarps . . 3 é ; 37 42 56 57 65 78 83 90 91 - 102 . 107 . 112 117 128 . 128 - 136 . 141 146 164 . 178 184 188 . 226 - 241 « 245 xiv WATERLOO LETTERS. Lerrers From Mavsor-GeneraL Sir Joun Byneo’s Inrantry BricgapE . : $ t THE CoLpsTREAM GUARDS é 2 THE 38RD Foor Guarps . é ‘ A F Masor-GenreraL ApAM’s Inrantry BRIGADE THE 52ND REGIMENT . THE 71st REGIMENT . - j THE 95TH RIFLES, 2ND BarraLion . 3 a ‘a 38up BatTaLion ‘ GENERAL Witt1aAmM Hatxerr. Hanoverian SERVICE Coronet Mircuety’s Inrantry BRIGADE THE 23RD FUSILIERS é tHE 51st REGIMENT : Masor-GeneraL Sir Cozms Hapxert’s Inrantry BRIGADE . F THE 80TH REGIMENT . 3 i THE 83RD REGIMENT . d i x i $ THE 69TH REGIMENT . : 2 i THE 73RD REGIMENT . . 4 ‘ : ‘ " Masor-GeneraL Sir James Kempt’s INFANTRY BRIGADE . ‘ a : ; : THE 28TH REGIMENT. Z ‘ 3 THE 32ND REGIMENT. é ‘ ‘ THE 79TH HIGHLANDERS . THE 95TH RiFtEs, lst BatTation . Masor-GrEneraL Sir Denis Pack’s Inrantry BrigapE . ‘ . ‘ . 45 » THE 1st orn Royat Scors Recmment ‘ 2 es 1» THE 42ND HIGHLANDERS . x , ‘ ¥ ar » THE 447TH REGIMENT . ‘ ‘i ‘ é 3 ») THE 92ND HIGHLANDERS . é é $ $s » Masor-Genzrat Srr Joun Lampert’s INFANTRY BRIGADE . é 3 = : 5 . is » THE 47m REGIMENT . ‘ ‘ Z F 35 » THE 27TH REGIMENT, INNISKILLINGS Z 4 a ¥ », THE 40TH REGIMENT . fe = 2 : Tue Derence or La Haye Sarnte . ; : Q ; Letters rrom Masor G. D, Graeme. Hanovertan SERVICE : InDEX PAGE 258 261 266 271 280 296 299 308 308 310 312 313 318 325 332 337 339 343 348 352 355 362 369 372 376 378 382 389 393 395 398 402 406 411 LIST OF MAPS AND PLANS. WATERLOO PLANS. Mar or Part or BEtciumM, INCLUDING THE VILLAGES OF WATER- ae Loo AND QuaTRE Bras. F , . Frontispiece Captarn Srporne’s Survey Pian or THE Fretp or WatTERLOO . xii Repvutse or D’Erton’s First Atrack on Picron’s Division . 38 Puan sHowineG Positions AND Movements oF Granv’s CavaLry BriGaDE , Z ; 3 J : ‘ ‘ . 125 Puan syowine Posirions anp Movements or 15TH Hussars . 141 Pian sHowInG GENERAL Positions or Troops AND BATTERIES OF ARTILLERY « “ r ‘ a ‘ ri z . 186 Puan sHowine Positions anp Movements or Mercer’s Troop, R.HLA. 5 5 é . i 214 SketcH sHowinc ReELAtive Positrons or Mercer's Guns at THE CLOSE OF THE BatrLe . ‘i ‘ « 222 SKETCH sHOWING Position or Ross’ GuNs aT THE CoMMENCEMENT OF THE BatTLe . " ‘ 7 » 224 Puan oF HovcoumonT. ‘ i . 263 Puan sHowiInG Positions anp Movements or ApaAM’s INFANTRY BRIGADE . ‘ ‘ é , ‘ 4 . 288 Pian sHowrnc Positions or Mircueny’s Inraytry BricapDE . 310 Pian or La Have Satnte és ‘ . : . 403 GENERAL Pian or THE Barrie. No. 1, ar } Past 11 a.m. GENERAL Pian oF THE Battie, No. 2, at } To 8 P.M. GENERAL PLAN or THE BaTTLE. No. 3, 5 MIN. rast 8 P.M. Puan or Quatre Bras. No. 1, at 3 P.M. Puan or QvaTrE Bras. No. 2, ar 9 P.M. WATERLOO LETTERS. GENERAL STAFF. Amonestr the Letters from the General Staff (and that of Divisions) are two which refer to the tardy intelligence received by the Duke of Wellington from the Allied Outposts of the Advance of the French Army. One from General W. Napier (No. 1) communicating an interesting statement on this point by the Duke himself, the other from Lord Fitzroy Somerset (No. 2). The principal remaining Letters are from Lord Anglesey (Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6), giving an account of the general movements and operations of the Cavalry, and particularly as regards the Retreat from Quatre Bras on the 17th June, and the Battle of Waterloo on the 18th up to the period when he was wounded; from Sir William Gomm (Nos. 12, 13), relating to the marching of Picton’s Division and other troops on Quatre Bras, and of its share in the Battles oa the 16th and 18th; and from General Freemantle (No. 11), respecting the arrival of the Prussians at Waterloo. B No. 1. The Duke of Wellington finding the Prince of Orange at the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball. News of the advance of the French across the Sambre. Arrival of ' Genl. Miiff- ling from Blucher’s Army. Genl. Miiffling was PrussianCom- missioner to the British Army. 2 WATERLOO LETTERS. MAJOR-GENERAL W. NAPIER, CB. (NOT AT WATERLOO, } November 28th, 1842. I should not like to give my information to anybody but you, but your fairness about your Model makes me feel that I do not throw away what I am going to tell you, and it is from the Duke’s mouth. He found the Prince of Orange at the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball on the evening of the 15th. He was sur- prised to see him because he had placed him at Binche, an important outpost, for the purpose of observing and giving notice of the movements of the Enemy. He went up to him and asked if there was any news? “No! nothing but that the French have crossed the Sambre and had a brush with the Prussians. Have you heard of it?” This was news. So he told him quietly that he had better go back to his post, and then by degrees he got the principal Officers away from the ball and sent them to their troops. This was done, I think he said, about 11 o'clock. He then went to his quarters and found Miiffling there, coming from Blucher with the news; he ought to have arrived long before, but, said the Duke to me, “I cannot tell the world that Blucher picked the fattest man in his army to ride with an express to me, and that he took thirty hours to go thirty miles.” I am in a state of great debility from sickness and * pain, being carried about and held up to write this, or I would give more details, but the substance you have. There is, however, a very curious story about the Espionage, which I believe no man knows but myself now. My authority (Grant, the Chief of the Espionage) is dead. General Dornberg was the real cause of the Duke’s being surprised in his cantonments. Yours, &e., W. Napier. GENERAL STAFF. 3 Lorp ANGLESEY LIEUT.-GENERAL LORD FITZROY SOMERSET, K.C.B. Lrevt.-CoLonet lst Foot Guarps, anp Mitirary SEcrETaRY TO THE DvxkE or WELLINGTON, Horse Guards, November 26th, 1842. I am sorry to have to say, in reply to your letter of the 22nd inst., that I do not recollect the time at which in the course of the 15th June the Prince of Orange came into Brussels, nor the circumstances which induced His Royal Highness to leave the advanced posts and repair in person to the Headquarters of the Army. The Duke of Wellington did not stir out of Brussels on the 15th. On the 16th he left the city about 8 o'clock, and after having remained some time with the troops some distance in front of Quatre Bras, His Grace proceeded to visit Marshal Blucher, who was then preparing to receive the attack of the French Army, and after staying with him a little while, he returned to his own Army, which he reached very shortly before it was engaged with the Enemy. Yours, &e., Firzroy Somerset. GENERAL THE MARQUESS OF ANGLESEY, K.G., GOB, GOH. Lreut.-GeNERAL THE Eart or Uxsripes, G.C.B., ComManpDING THE CAVALRY. Malvern, October 18th, 1342. I have not the least objection to answer your question. I received no order from the Duke of Wellington to make the first charge or any other during the day. I will in a moment explain to you the footing upon which he placed me upon my arrival at Brussels. The Duke said, “I place the whole of the Cavalry and Light Artillery of the United Army under your command.” B 2 The Duke leaves Brus- sels on the morning of the 16th. Proceeds to Quatre Bras and on to visit Blucher at Ligny. Re- turns to Quatre Bras before the Battle com- menced. No. 3. His instruc- tions trom the Duke of Wellington. The whole of the Cavalry and its Horse Lorp ANGLESEY. Artillery placed under his orders. The Prince of Orange wished his own Cavalry to remain under his own orders. On the 17th the Duke orders Lord Uxbridge to cover the Re- treat with the Cavalry. On the morn- ing of the 18th, the Prince of Orange re- quested that his Cavalry should be under Lord Uxbridge. These al/ the orders re- . ceived from the Duke by Lord Ux- bridge. No. 4. See No. 56, p. 111. Quatre Bras and Genappe. 4 WATERLOO LETTERS. A few days after this the Duke said, “The Prince of Orange has begged that the Cavalry of H.R.H.’s nation should remain under his immediate command. , I hope you. have no objection to this.” I replied, ‘“‘ Not the slightest. Iam quite ready to act in any way you please.” On the 17th, the Duke having decided to retire to the position of Waterloo in consequence of the Battle which had taken place on the previous day between the French and the Prussians being made known to him, ordered me “to remain in the position of Quatre Bras as long as I conveniently could, in order to cover the movement of the Army.” The Army moved at 10 a.m. I remained until 1 o’clock p.m. On the morning of the 18th, just as the Battle commenced, the Duke said, “The Prince of Orange re- quests that you will take charge of all his Cavalry.” I replied, “I will do my best with them, but it is un- fortunate that I should not have had an opportunity of making myself acquainted with any of his Officers or their Regiments.” These are ad/ the orders I ever received from the Duke during this short campaign. I felt that he had given me carte blanche, and I never bothered him with a single question respecting the move- ments it might be necessary to make. I will only add that throughout he was invariably conciliatory and confiding. I remain, &c., ANGLESEY. MEMO. BY THE SAME, The report from an Officer of the 11th Light Dragoons induces me to go into some detail relative to the affairs at Quatre Bras on the 16th, and at Genappe on the 17th. The Cavalry being in cantonments at Ninove and environs, had to march between thirty and forty miles to reach the former place. I had galloped on and reached it between 2 and GENERAL STAFF. 5 Loup ANGLESEY. 3 pm. I found the Prince of Orange’s Corps heavily engaged, and being deficient in Cavalry, I went to hasten the march of the first Light Regiments that headed the Column. About eight o’clock p.m. the 11th arrived, and a part of the Regiment was thrown out in front of the position. At 10 a.m. on the 17th the Duke of Wellington decided upon withdrawing into the position of Waterloo, and ordered me to cover the retreat with all the Cavalry and Horse Artillery, and about two Battalions of Light Troops. There was a small river in the rear, with a bridge over it at Genappe, and my Staff had discovered two fords at half-a-mile distance on the right and left of it, The centre Column, which was to pass by the bridge along the chaussée, consisted of the Artillery and two Brigades of Heavy Cavalry, with the 7th Hussars and 23rd Light Dragoons as a Rear-guard. Two Brigades of Light Cavalry retired by the ford on the left, and (I think) three by that on the right. We had Ney’s Corps, which had fought the Battle of Quatre Bras, still in our front, but making no signs of moving. About 1 o’clock p.m., however, very large masses of Cavalry began to show upon our left, and upon the road from Namur. It was obvious they were coming on, and I therefore withdrew, and sent back the Infantry and the 11th Light Dragoons that had been in front; and, shortly after this, the Enemy’s Artillery and Cavalry advanced with rapidity and opened a smart fire. Every disposition having been previously made, the retreat was commenced, and although the attack was rapid and vigorous, the three Columns passed the river with very slight loss. The Enemy did not pass the fords after the flank Columns, but concentrated their efforts against the centre Column. Having passed the bridge, Lord E. Somerset’s Brigade and the Artillery kept the chaussée, and halted about 600 or 700 yards from the entrance of Genappe. Sir William Ponsonby’s Brigade was deployed upon the plain to the right (as fronting the Enemy) of the 16th June. Late arrival of the British Cavalry at Quatre Bras. 17th June. Retreat to the position of Waterloo covered by the Cavalry. Fords dis- covered on each side of Genappe. The Centre Cavalry Col- umn to move by theChaussée through Genappe. 2 Brigades of Light Cavalry retired by the Ford on the left, and 3 by that on the right. About 1 p.m. appearance of Cavalry on the Namur road. Advance of the French Cavalry. Their Artil- lery opens fire. The Retreat commenced, and the 3 Columns cross the river with slight loss. The Enemy only followed up the Centre Column. Somerset’s Brigade kept the Chaussée. 6 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lorp ANGLESEY. Ponsonby’s deployed on the right. Cavalry Action at Genappe. The 7th Hus- sars attack the French Lancers. Alternate suc- cesses of 7th Hussars and French Lancers. See No. 64, p. 136, lst Life Guards repel the French Lancers. chaussée. I placed the 7th Hussars, 200 or 300 yards from the town, and upon the chaussée, and the 23rd Light Dragoons in support. The chaussde is wide, but for some distance has ditches on either side; these filled with water, the rain having come down in torrents from the moment the retreat commenced. In this position I awaited the further movements of the Enemy. Presently their Lancers were pushed through the town, and as I saw they were preparing to advance, I immediately ordered the 7th to attack. This they did most gallantly, but they could not pene- trate the Lancers. In their turn these now advanced, and drove the 7th upon their reserve. Here the 7th rallied, and again drove the Lancers to the town. Again the Lancers being reinforced rallied, and drove the 7th, and again the 7th rallied, and thus a determined see-saw was kept up for a considerable time. At length, after the 7th had lost several excellent Officers and men, I withdrew them, and, riding up tothe 23rd Light Dragoons, ordered them to advance. It is possible that the part of the 11th which had been in advance during the previous night, and which I had withdrawn previously to the com- mencement of the retreat, may have been joined with the 23rd, to whom I addressed myself. It is possible, but I do not think it was so. Be that as it may, the sequel will show that the 1lth did xot charge at Genappe after the 7th had been withdrawn, or at all. My address to these Light Dragoons not having been received with all the enthusiasm that I expected, I ordered them to clear the chaussée, and said, “The Life Guards shall have this honour,’ and instantly sending for them, two squadrons of the Ist Regiment, gallantly led by Major Kelly, came on with right good will, and I sent them in to finish the Lancers. They at once overthrew them, and pursued into the town, where they punished them severely. Thus ended the affair immediately at the gates of Genappe, by which it will be ceen that the ondy regiments GENERAL STAFF. 7 Lorp ANGLESEY. that charged there were the 7th Hussars first, and then the Ist Life Guards. Having thus checked the ardour of the Enemy’s advanced guard, the retreat was continued at a slow pace, and with the most perfect regularity. Assuredly this coup de collier had the very best effect, for although there was much cannonading, and a constant appearance of a disposition to charge, they continued at a respectful distance. The Royals, Inniskillings, and Greys manceuvred beau- tifully, retiring by alternate squadrons, and skirmished in the very best style; but finding that all the efforts of the Enemy to get upon our right flank were vain, and that by maneuvring upon the plain, which was amazingly deep and heavy from the violent storm of rain, it only uselessly exhausted the horses, I drew these Regiments in upon the chaussée in one column, the Guns falling back from position to position, and from these Batteries, checking the advance of the Enemy. We were received by the Duke of Wellington upon entering the position of Waterloo, having effected the retreat with very trifling loss. Thus ended the prettiest Field Day of Cavalry and Horse Artillery that I ever witnessed. A. FROM THE SAME. TO GENERAL SIR FREDERIC STOVIN. B. D., November 8th, 1839. My pgar Srovin,—It is rather bard to have to fight the Battle o’er again, and at so great a distance of time ; however, I will try to give you a rough and hasty sketch. T had been visiting the extreme right of the Cavalry, and those placed in support of the attack on [? defence of] Hougoumont, when, on returning towards the centre of the position, I observed very large masses of the Enemy, both The Enemy being checked the Retreat is continued at a slow pace. Manceuvring of the Greys, Inniskillings, and Royals. Heavy storm of rain, Retreat effected with very trifling loss. No. 5. Waterloo. 8 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lorp ANGLESEY. D’Erlon’s Attack on the Allied Left Centre at about 1.30 p.m., and that of the French Cavalry. The Heavy Cavalry was formed on either side of the road. Lord E. Somerset’s Brigade (1st & 2nd Life Guards, Blues and King’s Dragoon Guards) on the right, Sir ‘Wm. Ponson- by’s (Royals, Greys, and Inniskillings) on the left of it. Ist Charge of these Bri- gades. See plan, p. 38. 8,000 French and 2 Eagles taken. 40 French Guns put hors de combat, Cavalry and Infantry (supported, too, by a tremendous discharge of Artillery from all parts of their line), moving upon our left, but principally on La Haye Sainte, the road from Genappe to Brussels appearing to be nearly the centre of their advance. I immediately galloped to the Heavy Cavalry, and ordered the Household Brigade to prepare to form line, passed on to Sir William Ponsonby’s, and having told him to wheel into line when the other Brigade did, I instantly returned to the Household Brigade, and put the whole in motion. I led the advance, and am inclined to think that the line I took was pretty much what is in the plan, stated to be that of the Officer leading the left squadron of the 2nd Life Guards (perhaps a little more to the right) ; but this I remember, that the ground was dreadfully broken, and upon a very active horse I was much put to it to descend it. Towards the bottom of the slope I found our Infantry mostly in line, but getting into squares to receive the Enemy’s Cavalry, and making intervals for us as our Squadrons presented themselves. Thus we passed through the Infantry as fast and as well as we could (but neces- sarily not with exact regularity), when, again forming, we instantly charged and fell upon large masses of Cavalry and of Infantry ; but these gave way in a moment, and of the latter arm 3,000 men were taken, and two Eagles sent to the rear. The pursuit was continued until a vast number of Guns were in our possession, or rather passed, and I have been assured by Lord Lauderdale that a French General Officer at Paris, whom he named, but whose name I have forgotten (I think, however, he was of the Artillery), told him that they had more than forty Guns put Aors de combat by that charge. Unfortunately they could not be brought off, for the pursuit had been continued without order and too far, and the second line (excepting only a small part of Sir J. Vandeleur’s Brigade—in fact, I believe, only two Squadrons of the 12th, under Sir F. Ponsonby) had not GENERAL STAFF. 9 Lorp ANGLESEY. followed the movements of the Heavy Cavalry, whose horses were now exhausted, and had to receive the shocks of fresh troops. After the overthrow of the Cuirassiers I had in vain attempted to stop my people by sounding the Rally, but neither voice nor trumpet availed ; so I went back to seek the support of the 2nd Line, which unhappily had not followed the movements of the Heavy Cavalry. Had I, when I sounded the Rally, found only four well-formed Squadrons coming steadily along at an easy trot, I feel certain that the loss the first line suffered when they were finally forced back would have been avoided, and most of these Guns might have been secured, for it was obvious the effect of that charge had been prodigious, and for the rest of the day, although the Cuirassiers fre- quently attempted to break into our Lines, they always did it mollement and as if they expected something more behind the curtain. My impression is that the French were completely surprised by the first Cavalry attack. It (our Cavalry) had been rather hidden by rising ground immediately before their position. I think the left wing of our In- fantry was partially retiring, when I determined upon the movement, and then these 19 Squadrons pouncing down bill upon them so astonished them that no very great resistance was made, and surely such havoc was rarely made in so few minutes. When I was returning to our position I met the Duke of Wellington, surrounded by all the Corps diplo- matique militaire, who had from the high ground wit- nessed the whole affair. The plain appeared to be swept clean, and I never saw so joyousa group as was this Z'roupe dorée. They thought the Battle was over. It is certain that our Squadrons went into and over several Squares of Infantry, and it is not possible to conceive greater con- fusion and panic than was exhibited at this moment. This forces from me the remark that I committed a great mistake in having myself led the attack. The See statement of Sir John Vandeleur, No. 51,p. 105. After the over- throw of the Cuirassiers, tried in vain to stop the pursuit. Effects of the 1st Charge. Thinks the French were surprised by the Ist Caval- ry Attack, On returning to the Posi- tion met the Duke of Wel- lington. Mistake in leading the Cavalry him- self. 10 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lorp ANGLESEY. No. 6. Cavalry at Waterloo. French Cavalry. After the 1st Attack the Cuirassiers did not charge with so much vigour. The Infantry only fired when the French Cavalry were close, and the latter dis- persed. A few passed through the Squares, and carriére once begun, the leader is no better than any other man ; whereas, if I had placed myselfat the head of the 2nd line, there is no saying what great advantages might not have acerued from it. I am the less pardonable in having deviated from a principle I had laid down for myself, that I had already suffered from a similar error in an affair at Irtragau [7], where my reserve, instead of steadily follow- ing as I had ordered, chose to join in the attack, and at the end of it I had no formed body to take advantage with. Truly yours, ANGLESEY. MEMO. BY THE SAME. They (the French) very frequently attacked our Squares, but never in overwhelming masses, and with that vigour and speed, which would have given them some chance of penetrating. No heavy mass having a well- formed front actually came collectively against our bayonets. Constantly a few devoted fellows did clash with them, and some pierced between the Squares, and when I had not Cavalry at hand I frequently entered the Squares for protection. . i ; é 3 In the afternoon a very heavy attack was made upon the whole of our line to the right of the road, and con- necting itself with the troops attacking Hougoumont. It was chiefly made and frequently repeated by masses of Cuirassiers, but never in one connected line, and after the first grand attack of the morning they never came on with the.degree of vigour which could give them a hope of penetrating into our immovable Squares of Infantry. The Infantry never fired till the Cavalry were very close, and then they (the Cavalry) dispersed, some coming through the intervals where they were either killed by the fire of the Squares, or repulsed by the Cavalry in 2nd line. For several minutes some few Cuirassiers were in possession of several of our Guns about the centre of our line, at the time the British Cavalry was in pursuit else- GENERAL STAFF. 11 Lorp ANGLESEY. where, and these desperate men remained there to be picked off. ‘ : 5 . : : Our right Flank being much annoyed by a Battery of (I think) 12 Guns supported by Lancers, which were over the Ravine and Stream beyond Hougoumont, and which enfiladed our Line, I caused Sir Colquhoun Grant and a part of General Dornberg’s Brigade to cross the bridge there, and to mancuvre upon their flanks and rear, and to attack them. In the meantime a heavy attack was made upon our centre, which I went to repel, with such of the Heavy Cavalry as remained. Sir C. Grant’s movement had the fullest effect. It removed the Guns, and the Lancers did not wait to be attacked, but Sir C. Grant perceiving the attack above related, instead of pursuing, returned to support the Heavy Cavalry with which I was, and it is, I apprehend, at that moment that the collision described by Major Mercer took place. I did not see it, or it may relate to what follows. Seeing a Corps formed for attack and advancing, I brought forward a Brigade of Dutch Heavy Cavalry, and they promised to follow me. I led them beyond the ridge of the hill, a little to the Jeft of Hougoumont. There they halted, and finding the impossibility of making them charge, I left them and retired. Here Major Mercer must, from the position described, have lost sight of them, and he may have supposed that a collision liad taken place. In covering the retreat of the 17th ] found the Lance had some advantage over the Sword. I think the Cuirass protects, but it also encumbers, and ina méléeI am sure the Cuirass causes the loss of many a life. ; They (the French) never sisted, (ince in ies They were always in column, and they never charged at speed. It is aaued: “Did the British Cavalry in every were repulsed by the Caval- ry in 2nd Line. Grant’s move against French Lancers. ‘See No, 62, p. 126. Repelsa heavy attack on the centre with the remains of the Heavy Cavalry. See No. 89, p. 216. Dutch Cavalry. See No. 9, p. 18. In the Retreat of the 17th found the Lance had some advan- tage over the Sword. The Cuirass encumbers more than it protects. The French always charged in Column. 12 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lorp GREENOCK. British Cavalry. The British always ad- vanced to resist the Enemy. The Light Cavalry not always successful. German Legion Cavalry en- tirely of the same worth as the British. No. ~ Waterloo. instance withstand de pied ferme the onset of the French ?” It did not stand de pied ferme. It invariably ad- vanced, but the Light Cavalry was not always successful. I have the strongest reason to be excessively dis- satisfied with the General commanding a Brigade of Dutch Heavy Cavalry, and with a Colonel commanding a young Regiment of Hanoverian Hussars. I class the German Legion entirely with the British Cavalry. Than we [are]! there cannot be better troops. LIEUT..GENERAL LORD GREENOCK, K.C.B. ASSISTANT QuUARTER-MastTER-GENERAL TO THE CAVALRY. 5, Carlton Place, Edinburgh, Jan. 21st, 1835. I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 29th ult. with its enclosures, which, however, did not reach me until the 16th inst.; and in reply I can only express the very great regret that I feel that after the lapse of nearly twenty years, and having no memoranda at present with me by which my recollection of the positions occupied by the different Corps during the Battle of Waterloo might be assisted, I find myself to be quite incompetent to undertake the task you have assigned me of marking upon the plan transmitted for that purpose even the situations of those troops with which I was the most immediately concerned on that occasion. I was at that period attached as Assistant Quarter- master-General to the Cavalry, and my post on the 18th of June was therefore with the Marquess of Anglesey, except when employed in conveying his orders. At the commencement of the Battle, the several Brigades of Cavalry were formed nearly upon the ground upon which they had respectively bivouacked on the pre- ceding night ; this had been taken up without any attention to order, it having been almost dark before they arrived in the position, owing to their having all been more or less GENERAL STAFF. 13 Lorp GREENOCK. sharply engaged with the Enemy in covering the retreat, of the Infantry from Quatre Bras on the 17th, and this movement having been executed by them by three different routes, the situations of their respective bivouacks had been determined more by this circumstance than by any regular disposition. To the left of the Great Road from Brussels to Charleroi, by Genappe, the positions of three Brigades of British Cavalry from left to right were as follows, viz. :— Sir Hussey Vivian’s—Major-General Vandeleur’s— Sir William Ponsonby’s. The former had communicated by patrols with the Prussians. Some Belgian Light Cavalry, to the best of my recollection, were also on that flank of the army. To the right of that road, and of the Haye Sainte, in the same order, were :— Lord KE. Somerset’s—Major-General Dornberg’s— Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant’s Brigades. The greater part of the Belgian and Hanoverian Cavalry were in positions intermediate to those of Lord Edward Somerset’s and Sir Colquhoun Grant’s Brigades. _Of the Cavalry thus posted at the commencement of the day, on the left during the progress of the Battle previous to the hour to which you more particularly refer, Sir W. Ponsonby’s Brigade had lost its General, and the greater part of its Officers and men, in consequence of having pursued the Enemy too far, after a most brilliant and successful charge; with the exception of the 12th Lancers (Light Dragoons), which had made a very gallant charge, General Vandeleur’s Brigade had sustained no loss, and Sir Hussey Vivian’s Brigade had not been at all engaged, On the right of the Haye Sainte, the Household Brigade had charged at the same time with the other heavy Brigade, when one of its Regiments, the King’s Dragoon Guards, having likewise been too eager in the pursuit, had been almost annihilated; the Life Guards and Blues, having been kept better in hand, had then suffered Distribution of Cavalry at Waterloo. See General Plan, No. 1. Vivian's, Vandeleur’s, and Ponson- by’s Brigades left of Brus- sels-Genappe Road,andsome Light Belgian Cavalry. Somerset’s, Dornberg’s, and Grant’s to the right of the road, with Hano- verian and Belgian Cavalry in intermediate positions. Repulse of D’Erlon’s: 1st Attack, and that of the French Cavalry. Ist Charge of Ponsonby’s Brigade. lst Charge of Somerset’s Brigade. 14 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lorp GREENOCK. All the Cavalry en- gaged throughout the day in repelling the French Cavalry when it penetrated between the Squares. Disadvantages of the Cavalry not being formed into Divisions, in consequence of the sudden order to ad- vance on 16th June. LordAnglesey moved the Cavalry on the left of the main road to the right of it after the arri- val of the Prussians. Lord Angle- sey, a short time before the Enemy’s last attack, charges the French Cavalry with Somerset’s Brigade, but ineffectually. (comparatively speaking) but little loss. All the Cavalry, however, both British and Foreign, on this side of the position were constantly engaged throughout the day in endeavouring to repel the masses of French Cavalry when they had penetrated between the Squares of Infantry, or had formed upon the crest of the position. In consequence of the suddenness of the order to advance to meet the Enemy, on the 16th of June, the measure of forming the Cavalry into Divisions, which I know to have been Lord Anglesey’s intention, had not taken effect. The different Brigades, therefore, having been scattered as before shown along the whole extent of the Line, without any view to such an arrangement, their operations were unfortunately never combined during any part of the day, whilst the French Cavalry acted in Corps or Divisions ; consequently in these desultory attacks small bodies of the former were constantly opposed to large masses of the latter, and although the first efforts of the British were generally successful, the superiority of the Enemy’s numbers in the end always turned the scale in their favour. Lord Anglesey, being sensible of this disadvantage, gave orders for the better concentration of his Corps by removing the Brigades from the left of the Haye Sainte towards the right of the position, as soon as their presence in that quarter became no longer necessary in consequence of the arrival of the Prussians on that flank. For the position and movements of the Cavalry subsequent to that period, you cannot have a better guide than Sir Hussey Vivian’s letter to Major Gawler, published in the United Service Journal. A short time before the Enemy’s last advance, Lord Anglesey had made a very gallant but ineffectual charge against the French Cavalry at the head of Lord Edward Somerset’s Brigade, which he had wished to renew with the Belgian Cavalry ; but abandoning this intention, after communicating personally with the Commanding Officer, in consequence of perceiving that the Belgians appeared to GENERAL STAFF. 15 Lorp GREENOCK, be too much dispirited by having just witnessed the failure of the Household Brigade, to afford any hope of a more favourable result, his Lordship proceeded to that part of the field on which, by that time, Sir Hussey Vivian’s Brigade had been formed, and as I accompanied Lord Anglesey on that occasion, I am able to vouch for the fidelity and accuracy with which all the circumstances relative to this visit of his Lordship’s are described by Sir Hussey in that letter. On quitting Sir Hussey Vivian, Lord Anglesey joined the Duke of Wellington, and it was about this time that the last attack by the Enemy took place. The Infantry had then formed into line four deep. We rode towards the left along the rear of the Infantry, crossing the Genappe Road in rear of the Haye Sainte, but imme- diately returned to the right of the line. It was then that Lord Anglesey sent me to bring up Vivian’s Brigade, which I did as he has stated, directing him to make a flank movement to his right in order to clear the flank of the Infantry, and afterwards bring up his right shoulders. His Lordship was struck by a ball in the knee just as I came up to him, according to his desire, to report the arrival of this Brigade, it having been his intention to have directed its further movements in person. Sir Hussey Vivian, however, continued to advance, and the affair was decided in the way he has so well described. General Vandeleur’s Brigade followed this movement. At that time the remains of the Heavy Brigade, and Ponsonby’s, and a Squadron of the 23rd Lancers (Light Dragoons), under the command of Major Lautour, which, having by some accident been separated from the remainder of that Regiment, had joined the Heavy Brigade, had also been moved to the right of the position, and were formed not far from the place where Lord Anglesey received his wound. The above facts having come more immediately under my own observation are fresh in my memory. With regard to the precise situations or movements of the rest Last attack of the French. Advance of the British LightCavalry. LordAnglesey wounded, Vivian's ad- vance. Followed by Vandeleur. See No, 49, p. 100. 16 WATERLOO LETTERS. J Cor, THORNHILL, No. 8. Waterloo. First A.D.C. to Lord An- glesey. He carries Lord Angle- sey’s instruc- tions to Com- manders of Cavalry Brig- ades, Lord Angle- sey’s gallant conduct. of the Cavalry at the Crisis of the Battle I cannot speak with so much certainty. I shall therefore conclude, with many apologies for sending you so imperfect a sketch, by subscribing myself, Your most, &c. &c., GREENOCK. COLONEL W, THORNHILL. Masor 7ru Hussars, anp A.D.C. to Lorp Uxsrrpce. TO GENERAL SIR FREDERIC STOVIN. New Park, July 16th, 1839. My prar Srovin,—To be cool and clear in the perilous adventures of a fight is a characteristic I might well be proud of when applied to me by so good a soldier as Sir Hussey, if I could but persuade myself to believe that I deserved it. I bave been in many a hard-fought day, as you well know, but of all the General Engagements (some sixteen or more) in which it has been my lot as a subordinate Officer to be engaged, Waterloo is that of which I retain the least vivid impression of the details. The important post I then filled as first A.D.C. to the Marquis of Anglesey, which necessitated the prompt and direct transmission of his orders, gave me but little time to contemplate passing events irrelevant thereto. Lord Anglesey had taken me with him at daybreak to visit the Cavalry outposts, and soon after our return the Enemy put himself in motion for an attack. It was now that Lord Anglesey directed me to go with verbal instruc- tions to General Officers commanding Cavalry Brigades, authorising them to act discretionally under certain limita- tions it were needless to mention here. When I got back I found him in the thick of the fight giving orders with his accustomed clearness, and ever after, as it seemed to me, seeking to place himself con amore in the torrent of attack wherever he felt that his encouraging example was GENERAL STAFF. 17 Con, THORNHILL. most needed. Thus at one time perceiving that a gallant Regiment of Infantry (which shall be nameless), pressed by the onset of superior numbers, was wavering, he galloped to the rally—reminded this regiment of its dis- tinguished name, and that of its no less gallant Colonel, told them who he was, and led them to the charge. They followed him to a man, drove back the Enemy, and main- tained their post. It was about this time (before or after, I forget which) that. I was sent with orders to the Blues to advance. Sir Robert Hill most kindly and courteously invited me to join them in the charge. In this charge I think it was Colonel that Major Pack was killed. My horse was shot, and I ae was so stunued by the fall that I have even now an indis- charge of the tinet recollection of the circumstances immediately pre- Ble ceding it. All that I remember was we went our best pace in the charge, and Hill told me a day or two after the fight “that the most amusing part of that scene was the uncommon «y/y fuce I made at a bold Cuirassier on close quarters with me.” Now this was no time to make pretty faces, but it strikes me that it might have been the charge Captain Siborne alludes to, when “a Division of Cuirassiers was cut off on one side of La Haye Sainte,” or rather driven back; but Sir Robert Hill could answer that question. I have never visited the field since the Battle. If I ever possessed the clearness so extolled by my kind and partial friend, Sir Hussey, I lost it very early in the day, and in the after part of it I got into mighty bad company on the crest of the hill, being close to the Duke of Wellington and Lord Anglesey, when I was knocked off He is ; : . wounded the perch by a cannon-shot which carried off a portion of when close to my neck, paralysed my right ear and right nostril, and you ghe De oy will say the right side of my memory also. sey. Truly yours, W. THORNHILL. 18 WATERLOO LETTERS. Sir Horace Seymour. No. 9. Waterloo. Conduct of the Dutch Cavalry, and of the Cumberland Hanoverian Hussars. COLONEL SIR HORACE SEYMOUR, K.C.H. Caprain 60TH Riritzs, anp A.D.C. To Lorp Uxsripce. Stoke Chichester, November 21st, 1842. I shall be glad to give you all the information my memory retains of the circumstances to which your note refers. In reply to the first question, as to the conduct of the Dutch Brigade of Heavy Cavalry, the impression still on my mind is that they did show a lamentable want of spirit, and that Lord Anglesey tried all in his power to lead them on, and while Ae was advancing, I believe I called his attention to the fact of his not being followed. The Household Brigade at this time were very much reduced. To your second query, I should prefer referring you to the minutes of the General Court-martial, which took place on Colonel ——, of the Cumberland Hussars, near Paris, about the month of August, 1515. My evidence went to the effect that Lord Anglesey, seeing that Regi- ment moving to the rear (about five o’clock), desired me immediately to halt it. On delivering the order to the Colonel, he told me that he had no confidence in his men, that they were Volunteers, and the horses their own property. AJl this time the Regiment continued moving to the rear, in spite of my repeating the order to halt, and asking the Second in command to save the character of the Regiment by taking the command and fronting them. I was unsuccessful, and in the exigence of the moment I laid hold of the bridle of the Colonel’s horse, and remarked what I thought of his conduct; but all to no purpose. I then returned to Lord Anglesey, and reported what had passed. I was again ordered to deliver the message to the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, that if they would not resume their position in the Line, that he was to form them across the high road owt of fire. They did not GENERAL STAFF. 19 Str Horace Seymour. even obey this order, but went, as was reported, altogether to the rear. I have endeavoured to simplify this statement as much as possible, and should you wish for any further explana- tion, I shall be happy to give it. I add two or three anecdotes connected with the three days which fell under my own observation which may assist the work on which you are engaged, and which, it appears to me, no one has ever undertaken the subject with such prospect of success. On the 16th, as A.D.C. to Lord Anglesey, with his Lordship I joined, and found the troops engaged. Very shortly afterwards we found the Duke of Wellington, with the Headquarter Staff, in front of the Farm House of Quatre Bras. The French were in force formed on the road, the service of their Artillery beautiful, supported by Cuirassiers, who frequently charged up the road, dis- comforting the Duke and the Staff on each occasion, until Lord Fitzroy Somerset lined a ditch parallel with the road with some Infantry, unseen to the Enemy, who the next time they moved forward were received with such a volley that scarcely a man of the Squadron escaped, after which there was no forward movement on their part on that part of the position. At the moment Sir Thomas Picton received the shot in his forehead which killed him, he was calling to me to rally the Highlanders, who were for the instant overpowered by the masses of French Infantry, who were moving up to their right of the high road. Late in the day of the 18th, I was called to by some Officers of the 3rd Guards defending Hougoumont, to use my best endeavours to send them musket ammunition. Soon afterwards I fell in with a private of the Waggon Train in charge of a tumbril on the crest of the position. I merely pointed out to him where he was wanted, when c2 Quatre Bras. The charges of the Cuiras- siers discom- posing the Duke and his Staff. The Cuiras- siers repelled by the fire of the 92nd Highlanders. Waterloo. Death of Picton. Gallant con- duct of a Private of the Vaggon Train. 20 WATERLOO LETTERS. Str Horace Seymour. a he gallantly started his horses, and drove straight down the hill to the Farm, to the gate of which I saw him arrive. He must have lost his horses, as there was a severe fire kept on him. I feel convinced to that man’s service the Guards owe their ammunition. Advance of Still later in the day, when delivering the order for Sir ee Hussey Vivian’s Brigade to move towards the centre, we saw the advance of the Prussians. Sir H. Vivian sent me with an Officer and a patrol to assure myself that it was ee the Prussians who were advancing on our left, which, on aa at the ~ proving, I made the best of my way to Lord Anglesey, Paeeans whom I found with the Duke of Wellington, to whom I reported what I had seen. Sir Alexander Gordon ques- tioned me as to my certainty of it being the Prussians with whom I had communicated, I assuring him that it Was so. a ait : I was desired by the Duke of Wellington to tell tell General. General Bulow that the Duke wished him immediately to Bulow that he send him Prussian Infantry to fill up the loss that had wished him to © : : ; : : sendsome taken place in his Lines. On starting to deliver this ee message my horse was killed, and I believe Colonel Free- supply his mantle delivered it to the Prussian General. losses. . ane In a work such as yours promises to be, trifling anec- On starting, : : : : his horse is. dotes may assist, and with that feeling I transmit them killed, and Colonel Free- to you. Yours, &e mantle takes a Sey the message. Horace B. Seymour. See No. 11, p. 21, ONE MORE ANECDOTE. Bacon ae I was desired by my General to recommend to Lord commende 7 e = by Lord Edward Somerset to withdraw his Brigade (who were ex- Anglesey to tended in singel mak : ' seihdraetica gle file to make a show) from the heavy fire Brigade from that was kept on them by the Enemy’s Artillery. Lord der heavy 5 ae el Edward’s remark was that should he move, the Dutch rosie fos Cavalry, who were in support, would move off immediately. continuing 4 “ id fycs . fuera. § The Household Brigade retained their position until the end of the Action. GENERAL STAFF. 21 GENERAL FREEMANTLE. FROM THE SAME. Stoke Chichester, November 30th, 1842. I still feel positive as to the details I gave you of Sir Thomas Picton’s death, and the immediate scene of it was, as you say, on the crest of the position, near the hedge, and immediately over an excavation of either gravel or stone. It may have been when our skirmishers were driven in, in which case it was they whom he called upon me to rally. A little circumstance strengthens me in the idea that it was Kempt’s Brigade we were in front of. When Sir Thomas fell, my horse also came down, and in extricating myself I found I was close to the General, from whose trousers’ pocket a Grenadier of the 28th was endeavouring to take his spectacles and purse, whieh I gave to his A.D.C., I dedieve, Colonel Tucker (the stoutest of the A.D.C.’s.). Sir Thomas fell from his horse the moment he was struck, and I called the A.D.C.’s attention to the fact. I give all this detail to show how positive I feel. Others may be equally so of their recollections. Yours, &c., Horace B. Srymour. MAJOR-GENERAL J. FREEMANTLE, CB. Lievut.-CoLtoneL 2np Foot Guarps, anp A.D.C. To rue DuKE oF WELLINGTON, November 20th, 1842. I am very glad to state to you the occurrence which took place with the Prussian Army on the 18th June. Many Officers were sent in the morning in search of the Army. ‘Towards six o’clock Sir Horace Seymour came and reported to the Duke of Wellington that he had seen the Prussian Column. The Duke called upon me to go to the head of their Column, and ask for the 3,000 men to supply our losses. No. 10. Waterloo. Death of Picton, No. ll. Waterloo. Arrival of the Prussians, See No. 9, p. 20. Ordered to go to the Prussians and Str W. Gomn. ask for 3,000 men. They said they would make no detachments, but that the whole Army was coming up. Found a Prussian Battery firing between our lines. Thelast attack in progress. Meeting of Wellington and Blucher. No. 12. 22 WATERLOO LETTERS. Blucher had not arrived, but Generals Ziethen and Bulow were at the head of the Column, who gave me for answer—that the whole Army was coming up, and that they could not make a detachment. I said I could [? would] return to the Duke with such a message. On my way back I found a Prussian Battery of eight Guns firing between our first and second lines, and desired the Officer to cease firing. T returned to the knoll so well described in your Model, and begged the Generals to send orders for the Battery to cease fire. The last attack was now in full force, and when the dense smoke cleared off, we saw that the French were in full retreat. Blucher, who had arrived, met in the village of Belle Alliance the Duke of Wellington, when it was agreed that he should follow them during the night; he did so. Believe me, &c., JOHN FREEMANTLE. LIEUT..GENERAL SIR WILLIAM GOMM, K.C.B. Lizvt.-CoLone, 2xp Foor Guarns, aNp ASSISTANT QUARTER-MaAsTER GENERAL TO THE 5TH Drviston, 6, Upper Grosvenor Street, 7th December, 1836. I now send you a copy of my journal, according to your wish, as far as it reeards Quatre Bras, more for the purpose of satisfying you that all which was to be gleaned from it I had already put you in possession of, than with the hopes of adding one item of importance to your already acquired stock of information. This journal, you will see, bears evident marks of having been scratched down at the moment; meagre, therefore, and not returned to for the purpose of correcting or enlarging upon, after more ample information had been acquired. It is, therefore, not to be looked upon as authority with respect to minute details affecting individual Corps, where GENERAL STAFF, 23 Sir W. Goma. you have the report direct from individuals in command of, or serving in, those Corps at the time. I put down what I thought I saw, as well as what I was sure [ took a part in. Believe, &c., Wituram Gomm. Copy of the Journal of the operations of the Army under the Duke of Wellington from the 15th of June. During the night of the 15th, the four Divisions of the Army covering the frontier from Mons to Ypres, and beyond these fortresses, receive orders to concentrate about their respective head-quarters at Oudenarde, Grammont, Enghien, Hal, and the Cavalry at Ninove; but the whole wait further orders for moving. Information of the French Army having forced the passage of the Sambre at Charleroi, on the 14th, reached the British Head Quarters at Brussels only on the evening of the 15th. The garrison of Brussels, consisting of two British Brigades of the 5th Division—the 81st Reeiment—Brigade of Hanoverian Militia of the 6th Division—Duke of Brunswick’s Corps—Nassau troops—assemble during the night, and march at five o’clock next morning on the Charleroi road, halting for two hours in the Bois de Soignies, at Waterloo. At one o’clock p.m. move on through Genappe to Quatre Bras, a post at which the roads from Brussels to Namur and Charleroi divide. The road from Namur to Nivelles also strikes off from the Brussels road at this point, which the Enemy had gained possession of the pre- eeding day, but which had been re-occupied by the troops of Orange-Nassau in the course of the morning, and by a Belgic Brigade under the Prince of Saxe-Weimar. The Enemy is in force about the village of Frasne, a quarter of a league in advance on the Charleroi road. In the meantime the Ist and 2nd Corps of the Army and Cavalry are marching upon Quatre Bras, it being Concentration of Troops. Passage of the Sambre by the French on the 14th, only known to the Duke on even- ing of 15th. 16th. March on Quatre Bras, See Plans of Quatre Bras. It is ascer- tained that the Enemy is making his principal at- tack along the Sir W. Gomm. Charleroi Road instead of by Mons, as was first apprehended. Three Brigades of Infantry posted at Hal to guard our right flank. Quatre Bras. Arrival of first Troops at. Distribution of the Troops. See Plan No. 1 of Quatre Bras. Attack by the French. The French gain posses- sion of the Farm House of Gemion- court, owing to the small force of British at hand. The 28th too late in getting to Gemion- court. Advantages of its posses- sion to the French. 24 WATERLOO LETTERS. sufficiently ascertained that the Enemy is making his principal attack in this direction, and not on the side of Mons, as was at first apprehended. Two Brigades of the 4th Division and one Brigade of Hanoverians are posted at Hal to counteract the move- ments of a body of Cavalry the Enemy had detached in that direction, threatening our right flank. The troops from Brussels arrive at Quatre Bras about half-past three pm. The Enemy immediately makes a disposition for attack with the Ist and 2nd Corps under Ney, and a numerous Cavalry under Kellerman. The British and Hanoverian Brigades drew up in two lines along the chaussée leading from Quatre Bras to Namur. The Brunswick Infantry to the right of Quatre Bras, a small portion of Light Troops occupying the head of the Bois de Bossu in their front. This wood was in some parts intricate, but passable everywhere for Light Infantry. The Enemy cannonades the Light Troops and Belgic Cavalry covering our front, and advances a body of Infantry to take possession of the Farm House of Gemion- court and enclosures, on the great road half-way between Les Quatre Bras and the village of Frasne. This post was defended by some of the troops of Orange-Nassau, ' which were soon driven from it by the Enemy. The Duke of Wellington had directed, when the Enemy was making his first disposition for attack, that this house and the enclosures about it should be immedi- ately occupied by a British Regiment, judging it of great importance to the position that it should be held. The Regiment destined for this service was otherwise disposed of, and the 28th Regiment (marched down too late to establish itself there) was withdrawn, and formed [on] the right of our position at Quatre Bras. The relinquish- ing of this house and enclosures forms a principal feature in the detail of this day’s operations, since, without the entire possession of it, and of the Bois de Bossu, of which the Enemy possessed himself at the same time, and GENERAL STAFF. 25 with equal facility, his Cavalry would have been held in check the whole of the day, and his Infantry have been prevented from assuming the offensive so securely as it did, but our force was, during several hours, very inferior to that of the Enemy—ill-composed and inadequate to the proper occupation of the whole position. The Enemy having established himself in the post of Gemioncourt, advances his Infantry under favour of the copse and enclosures to attack our position upon the Namur road, between Les Quatre Bras and a wood on our extreme left occupied by the 95th Regiment. His attacks are vigorous and repeated—carried on by Columns of Infantry, covered by a numerous body of Light Troops, but they are sustained with firmness by the two British Brigades under Generals Kempt and Pack. A heavy cannonade is kept up by both parties during those opera- tions, which continue for about an hour and a half, when the Enemy, who had hitherto made no impression on our post, availing himself of his great superiority in Cavalry (his Light Troops having possessed themselves of the Bois de Bossu), pushes a strong Column of Cuirassiers and Lancers with rapidity up the great road, disperses the Brunswick and Belgic Cavalry, gets possession of the post of Quatre Bras, and turns the right of the British position. But the Enemy’s Cavalry at this moment [are] assailed with so galling and destructive a fire from the 92nd and Hanoverian Regiments, posted behind a bank on the left of Quatre Bras, that they are driven back in great confusion, and with considerable loss. It was in the early part of this charge made by the Enemy that the Duke of Brunswick fell. About six o’clock the lst Corps, composed of the Ist and 2nd [8rd] Divisions, reinforce the line. The Ist Division occupied in regaining possession of the Bois de Bossu; the 8rd strengthening our left, and relieving in their post several of our Battalions which had suffered considerably, or exhausted their ammunition. This was the situation of many Regiments on the arrival of the Str W. Gomm. Attack on Kempt’s and Pack’s Brigades (Picton’s Division). French Light Troops take possession of the Bois de Bossu, and their Cavalry of the post of (Quatre Bras. The latter driven back by the 92nd and Hanover- ian Regi- ments. About 6 o’clock arrival of Maitland’s and Alten’s Divisions. Sir W. Gomm. Continued attacks of French Cav- alry on British Infantry. The attack on the 42nd (and 44th) Regi- ments. The advance of the Royals and 28th. See Kempt’s Brig- ade. See Halkett’s Brigade. Withdrawal of the French, and occupa- tion by the British of the advance posts. 26 WATERLOO LUTTERS. reinforcement, and the Enemy was observed preparing for a fresh attack, which was again repulsed, with the assistance of the troops newly arrived. The Enemy’s Cavalry, repulsed from Quatre Bras by the heavy fire of musketry directed against it, reforms his Columns, is supported by fresh reserves, and, finding no Cavalry on our side capable of holding him in check, renews his attack upon the great road, and threatens the Infantry formed in line to the left of it. The Infantry immediately forms squares by Battalions. The 42nd Regiment being much advanced, suffers greatly from the fire of the Enemy’s sharpshooters in the enclosures of Gemioncourt, but repulses the charge of the Cuirassiers.* The 28th Regiment, and a wing of the Royals, formed in square upon the causeway, and inaccessible (except by one front) to the approach of Cavalry, are ordered by Sir Thomas Picton to march down into the plain, and take the flank of the Enemy’s Cavalry, which was making an im- pression on the great road. This Square advances with shouts into the middle of the plain, halts within short musket range of the Cavalry, and opens a fire upon it— charged repeatedly by the Enemy’s Cuirassiers and Lancers, who are repulsed in every onset. The Lancers wound the men in the ranks, but are every time driven back with con- fusion and great loss. The 30th Regiment also moves down under the same form, flanks the Square above mentioned, and receives with equal firmness the charge of the French Cavalry. The attacks of Cavalry upon the Infantry are continued till dark, as well as the contest in the Bois de Bossu. At length the Enemy withdraws from all his points of attack, and resumes his position in front of Frasne. The Bois de Bossu and the post of Gemioncourt are strongly occupied * Note (in Journal).—The 42nd Regiment was charged by the Cuiras- siers while in the act of forming in square ; but such was the firmness of the troops that even in an irregular mass they repulsed the charge, and, by the time the second attack was made upon them, order was re-estab- lished. GENERAL STAFF. 27 by British troops. The cannonade continues till after dark. A heavy cannonade heard on our left the whole after- noon. The Prussians warmly engaged till long after dark. The British Cavalry arrives upon the ground at night- fall, having made a long and very rapid march. The two British Brigades of the 5th Division lose on this day 120 Officers and 1,400 men. The brunt of the Action fell upon them. The Enemy attacked with the lst and 2nd Corps under Ney and D’Erlon, and the Cavalry under Kellerman. Bonaparte directed the attack upon the Prussians, who held their ground with obstinacy, but are at length obliged to retire upon Wavre. The whole of the British force engaged for nearly two hours did not exceed 4,000 men. The two Armies remain in presence till two o’clock p-m., but the British commences retiring its stores, &c. &c., upon the Brussels road earlier. By two the whole Army is in movement, covered by the Cavalry; the Enemy shows no disposition to advance till the whole have moved off. In the course of the retreat the Enemy makes several charges upon our Cavalry with various success. Our Cavalry is pressed by that of the Enemy towards the close of the day. The Army takes up a position across the great road [? roads] leading from Charleroi and Nivelles to Brussels. Sm W. Gowns. Arrival of British Cav- alry at night- tall. The Battle of Ligny. 17th. Retreat upon the position of Waterloo. No baggage, stores, or wounded fall into the Enemy’s - hands during this retreat. A violent storm comes on while the Army is taking up its position, and heavy rain continues the whole of the night and following morning till near midday. FROM THE SAME. 6, Upper Grosvenor Street, 5th January, 1837. With regard to the 28th, I may not have been correct in my statement to you. I believe I have already told you that I was leading the 28th down the road to occupy No. 13. Quatre Bras. The 28th Regiment. Sm W. Gomm, The right of the 92nd upon the Charleroi Road. Waterloo, 28 WATERLOO LETTERS. Gemioncourt, but it was ascertained that the French had already driven out the Nassau or Dutch troops from it, and were in full possession. I was then ordered to with- draw the 28th, and on returning to Quatre Bras they certainly must have turned to the right, and rejoined their own Brigade. I had taken them at the moment of their reaching the point of Quatre Bras, having myself just returned from riding through the Bois de Bossu by direction of Sir Thomas Picton. The 95th ought to have been moved down in the first instance to Gemioncourt. They were, however, sent to occupy the strip of wood on the left of the Namur road, opposite Piermont. The position of the 28th upon your plan corresponds, also, with the statement in my journal respecting the Squares formed by the wing of the Royals and 28th. The 92nd were certainly upon the road, and so the French Cuirassiers found to their cost when they charged up it, even beyond Quatre Bras. When I say wun the road, I mean with their flank resting upon it—or nearly so. You are aware that late in the day we were reinforced by the 3rd Division, and our Regiments replaced in the advanced positions in great measure by it, Halkett’s Brigade I think chiefly, to which I believe the 30th belonged. Latterly, we were principally upon the chaussée lead- ing to Namur, the Hanoverian Brigade of Landwehr, I think, always behind it, and in column ; but of this I have no certain recollection. I cannot give you any detailed information respecting the disposal of the 3rd Division, otherwise than that it took up ground to our left, and partly to our front, on its arrival about six o’clock. And now respecting Waterloo. You are aware that at Quatre Bras our Sth Brigade was posted on the left (arriving first on the ground), and the 9th Brigade on the right. At Waterloo this was reversed, the Sth had its appui upon the road to the GENERAL STAFF. 29 right, and the 9th upon the wooded knoll to the left, or thereabouts. I think the order of the Regiments is correctly noted in your enclosed sketch, No. 1; there was no reason why they should not stand as in parade order. The 95th then (as Light Troops) would be on the right of the 8th Brigade (and so they were, in advance of it), and the 28th on its left. This agrees with my report of the Enemy’s right and centre Columns,* except- ing as regards the position of the 44th. From the very circumstantial account you have re- ceived from an Officer of this Battalion, as well as for the reason I have assigned above, it is clear that the 44th must have been on the extreme left, notwithstand- ing that I have noted it otherwise in my journal. My placing it so, hastily, in my journal was most probably an inference of the moment. To my eye, the 92nd with its left flank brought up, formed our extreme left when dealing with the Enemy’s right Column of attack; the 44th must have been beyond, but not so prominently engaged at the moment. I see the 92nd now, lining a gentle ascent, opposed to the Enemy’s right flank ; but I recollect nothing to its left. Have you it clearly substantiated that the Enemy sent three Columns of attack against our front to the left of the Great Road? My decided impression is that they did. The extract you give me from the report of the Officer of the 79th would seem to favour the opinion of there having been only ¢wo. And now with respect to Ponsonby’s Cavalry. I can no more pretend to stand against the body of Cavalry evidence you bring forward to prove the incorrectness of one of my statements, than the French did against their charge. Undoubtedly it must have been with the leading Officer on the right of the Greys that I had the short colloquy I have already reported to you.* * These statements refer to a previous letter which, unfortunately, I -cannot trace. —Ep. Sm W. Gomum. Posting of the 5th Division (Picton’s), See Plan, p. 88. Ponsonby’s Cavalry. See Letters from Ponson- by’s Brigade. Sm W. Gomm. Netherland Infantry in front of Picton’s Division. Their exposed position. 30 WATERLOO LETTERS. I have always thought it was the right of the Brigade, and by inference of the Royals; and I have no recollection” of either Regiment passing to the front over the ground I had myself just traversed, yet I am convinced this must have been the case from the statements you forward to me. My attention was so riveted upon the French Column, and its efforts for rendering itself more effective, that it is not surprising I should have been inattentive at the moment to what was passing behind; and the same with respect to the Cavalry at hand. I have since regretted that I did not endeavour to find out who the Officer was with whom I conversed—the opportunity did not offer readily—and so the matter went to rest. Perhaps, poor fellow! he never left the field. Pray, therefore, do not let what I have said with such apparent confidence about the Royals weigh with you for a moment. Now, with respect to your detached queries. The Horse Artillery driven in by the advance of the French left Column was certainly British. I cannot help thinking they had two Guns posted upon the knoll held by the 95th—at least two Guns, so I have noted it in my journal—and from this point they answered the French cannonade while taking up our ground on the evening of the 17th. I recollect, too, considerable bustle in getting the Guns away while the Column was approaching, against which they had done heavy execution. In all this I can hardly be mistaken. Sir Andrew Barnard, perhaps, could satisfy you on this point. I am surprised that your Artillery reports make no mention of it. The Brigade of Netherlanders were certainly in line before the French Columns advanced, and considerably down the slope, so that Rogers’ Guns fired over them, first in reply to the French cannonade, and afterwards at the advancing Columns as they broke from the wood [?], and till they reached the bottom, and began to ascend our own hill. These Netherlanders were undoubtedly much exposed— GENERAL STAFF. 31 eighty pieces of cannon opening upon them at horse-pistol range, or little more. I did not place them there, nor have I really any dis- tinct recollection of the order in which they stood. Yours, &e., Wa. Gomm. FROM THE SAME. 6, Upper Grosvenor Street, 9th April, 1838. With respect to the position of the 30th Regiment, and of the third Division generally, on this occasion, I am not surprised that you should find some difficulty in determining matters. The main object the 3rd Division had in view, on their arrival upon the ground of Quatre Bras, was to reinforce our left (of the 5th Division), but they also relieved (upon their own ground) several of our Regiments, whose ammunition was totally ex- hausted at the moment of this arrival, which Regiments in their turn fell back towards the Causeway (the Namur one). With respect to what I say about the 30th Regiment, such was my impression at the time; but I would not pertinaciously defend my statement against odds; nor would I wish you to abide by it, if you find it conflict- ing with others that hang well together in opposition to if, for this did not pass immediately under my own eye. Very truly yours, Wm. Goma. Sin W. Goum. No. 14. Quatre Bras. 80th Regiment. See pp. 26 & 28, 32 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lr.-Cor. CaTucart. No. 15. ’ Had witnessed eight General Actions in which Napo- leon had com- manded. Waterloo. See Plan, p.38. The hollow road leads into the main road on the same side as is La Haye Sainte, and about 270 yards in rear of it,—Ep. LIEUT.-COLONEL THE HON. GEORGE CATHCART, 8tH REGIMENT. LizvrTenant 6TH Dracoon Guarps, AND Extra A.D.C. To THE DukE : or WELLINGTON. Spanish Town, Jamaica, 13th April, 1835. With regard to any light I can throw on the subject I fear this letter will be of little use, for as I was a very young soldier at the time, and excepting one year’s service in a Cavalry Regiment, my knowledge and observation of details of regimental formation was very imperfect, and never having till those eventful days seen a British Army assembled in the field, I took little note of the names or numbers of particular Infantry Regiments or Brigades. I had, however, had the good fortune to have been an eye-witness of eight General Actions, in which Napoleon had commanded, and therefore my attention was directed to the movements “en grand,” and of these you are no doubt fully aware and have ample testimony. I will, however, name two or three points relating to the ground about which my recollection, refreshed by your accurate plan, is pretty clear. With regard to the retiring of the two Brigades you mention, I have no recollection of it. I remember on one occasion, earlier in the day, the Duke caused two or three Battalions about that part of the line to move a hundred yards or so further back, in order to be behind the crest of the hill till wanted, and in order to be less exposed, and there they remained in column, but sitting down and some even asleep as if nothing was going on, though sometimes a shot or shell found its way in amongst them. With regard to the hollow road near our right centre, that is the part nearest to the tree, I have a distinct re- collection of it. ‘ For about 100 yards, more or less, it was very hollow. At the end going down into the high road it might have been 10 or even 15 feet deep. I have reason to know it, GENERAL STAFF. 33 Lr. Cou. Carucant. for there was but one way of going down into it from the field. at.the back of La Haye Sainte, which was very slippery, would admit not more than two horses at a ie and might have been at an angle of 45. When the Duke had been looking on at the attack of La Haye Sainte at that moment of intense interest, when the ammunition began to fail the defenders, and no means of getting eitherreinforcements or ammunition to them for want of any postern was discovered, the Duke, who was much vexed, had remained till the Enemy’s tirailleurs had actually shown themselves round the side of the house, and then had to retire by that gap into the hollow road and up again on the other side. Finding that it would be some time before it would come to my turn to get through this gap, I turned my horse round, and was looking at the affair, when he was shot in the breast and fell with me unable to rise again; I consequently left him to die, and followed the ieesentea through the gap on foot. This hollow road must have been an obstacle of considerable extent, or some of us would have crossed it in another place, but at about three or four hundred yards, and perhaps less distance from the main road, it was little or no obstacle, and was frequently passed by Cavalry. The circumstance of my horse being killed by a shot at about 200 yards distance from the corner of the house, which took effect in his breast, also makes me positive there was no high sharp ridge there like a parapet parallel to the road in the line of that shot, though there ‘may have been further to the right; but certainly none to impede the advance of Cavalry. Whatis odd, I forget the far-famed tree altogether; it would be only a small one. I do not remember the orchard or garden at the back of the Haye Sainte, but as it had been a bivouaec the night before it may very likely have been so trodden down and covered with wet straw, &c., as to have lost all trace. The abatis had been laid open Tong before the period of the D The so-called “ Wellington tree’ was in the angle formed by the main road and hollow way and in front of the latter.-En, At La Haye Sainte ammu- nition failing. Vexation of the Duke at this, Lieutenant Cathcart’s horse shot while looking at the contest at La Haye Sainte. 34 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lr, Cou. CaTucart. The abatis was Battle you have seized for the purpose of allowing Cavalry placed across the main road, to pass, but the trees stilllay about the road. If I recollect abaut $00 right it was not much of a one at any time. yards in rear of La Haye Sainte.—Ep. Yours, &e., G. W. Catucart. FROM THE SAME. No. 16. 2, Lewes Crescent, Brighton, 24th December, 1835, Waterloo. I regret I cannot attempt to give any information on the points you mention in your letter of the 21st Novem- ber, as not sufficiently established to your satisfaction by the testimonies already in your possession, which might pretend to sufficient accuracy to be of any use. I certainly saw the black looking Columns assembled and advancing to the attack, and should say that their appearance was more considerable as they loomed through smoke and fog than that represented in the sketch you sent Again diss me. I was dismounted by acannon shot from some of TURN: the Batteries, which were, I suppose, meant to cover this attack, and therefore had not a good opportunity of minutely observing their formation or numbers. Strength of It is, of course, the interest of the defeated party to ees make their numbers appear to have been as small and in- — adequate as possible. Ishould think you could not be wrong in adopting Colonel Batty’s numbers; he makes two Columns, together consisting of 12 Battalions. Gour- gaud, who whether by dictation of Napoleon or not, is certain to have written the approved version of Longwood. on a subject very often discussed, also admits that there were two Columns, together amounting to 12 Battalions, and the story of eight being called off and kept in reserve and only four engaged is “ deau a dire’? and excusable enough for a beaten party—and strictly speaking in such considerable Columns, not more than four Battalions can “well Gome in contact, although when such a flank move- ment as that of General Adam’s Brigade is able to take GENERAL STAFF. 35 Loxp W. P, Lennox. effect, the whole concern, reserve and all, must be involved in one general rout and confusion, which was the result on the occasion in point. I think you should allow for a little opening out of files as well as ranks in a large advancing column, for of course, even with better drilled people than Napoleon’s troops ever had time to be, that is unavoidable, and 23 inches per man I should think in such wet and slippery ground for troops in motion not at all too much, but the troops formed four deep to receive them have no business with more than 21 inches. I long to see your work com- pleted. Believe, &c., GerorGE CaTHcart. LORD WILLIAM PITT LENNOX. Cornet Royat Horse Guarps, Extra A.D.C. to Masor-Generan MarrLanp. 1, Berkeley Square, London, February 22nd, 1843. No. 17. Memo. : . . . . ; Shortly before the battle of Waterloo, I (having arrived at Brussels from Vienna with the Duke of Wellington, was appointed Extra A.D.C. to General Maitland) met with a violent accident by a fall from my horse in the Park of Enghien, where the Guards were quartered. My right arm was severely fractured, the sight of my right eye completely destroyed, and my life despaired of. While on the sick list at Brussels, the battle of the 16th took place, and the death of poor Hay of the Guards, my brother A.D.C., made me anxious to join my Chief. Early on the morning of the 18th, my father, the late The Duke of Duke of Richmond, left Brussels on horseback, accom- aa a panied by myself, with, as you mention, “my arm in a sling.” Upon reaching the village of Waterloo, we saw Lord Anglesey, who was just mounting his horse. ‘‘ We D 2 36 WATERLOO LETTERS Lorp W. P. Lennox. shall have sharp work to-day,” said his Lordship, greeting us, or words to. that effect. At that moment we heard some firing, and lost no time in galloping on to the plain. Our first visit was to Maitland, who would not permit me to remain with him. A boy of fifteen, with a maimed arm and weak frame of body, would not have proved a very available A.D.C. We then rode up to the hero of the day, and remained some time with him. During this period the musketry was so sharp that one of the Duke’s Staff urged him to retire a little. My father and myself then proceeded to the left of our line, accompanied part of the way by the late Sir J. Elley.. We reached Picton’s Division, and after some little time, while my father was talking to that or some other distinguished Officer, the right of the French Line advanced. We were then urged to retire, but my father remained, and, turning to me, said, “I’m glad to see you stand fire so well.”’ This was more than my horse did, for I expected every moment to be run away with, probably into the French fire. . After a certain period, there were several charges of Heavy Dragoons, and I .have no, doubt whatever but that my father was the person alluded to by you as addressing the Inniskilling Dragoons, for no one else in plain clothes was near the spot. The whole of the morning he talked to his friends, and made his remarks as if he was on service, not an amateur. I perfectly remember a very heavy Officer of some Heavy Dragoon Regiment being dis- mounted, and being carried to the rear, which must have been after Ponsonby’ s charge. We then again proceeded to the right, but at itis time the firimg was so heavy, and the ground so strewed with the sisi, that we retired, and returned leisurely to Brussels. Two days after the battle, my father and myself rode over the field. I have now given you the details in, I fear, an egotistical manner; but they are correct. I can readily believe my father was the individual alluded to, not only SOMERSET’S. CAVALRY BRIGADE. 37 Lorp W. P. Lennox. from the interest he took in the Battle, but from the cir- cumstanee of no other person in plain clothes being with or near us. Wiiuam Pitt Lennox. SOMERSET’s CAVALRY BRIGADE. The Ist (Heavy) Cavalry, or Household Bri- gade, was composed of the Ist and 2nd Life Guards, the Royal Horse Guards Blue, and the 1st or King’s Dragoon Guards, and was commanded by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, K.C.B. The Brigade formed part of the centre Column of the Cavalry which covered the retreat of the Army from Quatre Bras on the 17th June. After passing through Genappe it was drawn up about 600 or 700 yards to the rear of the town, with its right on the main road. Lord Uxbridge, having withdrawn the 7th Hussars from the contest with the French Lancers, ordered the Ist Life Guards to advance, and charge the latter. This they performed so effectually as to drive back the Lancers right through the town of Genappe. At Waterloo, the Brigade was posted with its see General left near to the Brussels-Charleroi chaussée, about pane 250 yards in front of the farm of Mont-St.-Jean. — ‘The French first attack on the Allied left centre was simultaneous with the advance of a large body of Cuirassiers, which ascended the British position to the right of La Haye Sainte. The Household Brigade moved forward to the charge, and over- threw the Cuirassiers, driving them down the slope, 38 WATERLOO LETTERS. across, and along the chaussée towards La Belle Alliance, where the Ist Life Guards suffered severely from the fire of the French Infantry lining the high banks of a cutting through which the road passed. The 2nd Life Guards, on the left of the Brigade, drove a portion of the Cuirassiers across the chaussée to the rear of La Haye Sainte, and down the slope in front of the right of Kempt’s Infantry Brigade. Here they were joined by the King’s Dragoon Guards, who had crossed the road in front of the farm, and the two Regiments be- coming mingled with Ponsonby’s Cavalry, lost all regularity in the eagerness of the pursuit. The Blues had been originally in support, but had joined the front line during the charge. They were, however, kept well in hand, and being com- paratively in good order, facilitated the drawing off of the remainder of the Brigade from further pursuit. Later in the day, during one of the attacks on the Infantry Squares by the French Cavalry, a large body of the latter passed between the Squares to assail the Allied Cavalry in second line. It was charged by the Brigade, though with greatly diminished numbers, and by other Corps, and, after a sanguinary conflict, driven back through the Squares, and down the slope of the position. The Brigade was next employed by Lord Ux- bridge in repelling a strong Column of French Infantry, which was advancing against the centre of the Allied right wing. The Column was at- tacked, and its advance stopped, but the Brigade, REPULSE OF D'ERLON’S FIRST ATTACK ON PICTON’S DIVISION. fees Te HN) , Zattty HN | A 7 Aer a oy + “ fet \ dance of i RET NGOSNSEEN Oe oe [Soe NSE ee ‘ YS SS Roy & bs s=L 1: SS. A EN RSS SS == oot “(i NY ea ae Cg HeH, ny Hos, Z ae V7 //N a ii Py LL [eet WX GEN ASA AN 4 x \ N.B.—The pavrallelocram shows the extent of ground represented in Captain Siborne’s second and smaller Model of Waterloo. 5 5 or SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE 39 Loxp E. Somerset. in its reduced state, was unable to penetrate it, and suffered much from its fire. Towards evening the remains of Somerset’s and Ponsonby’s Brigades were united, and drawn up in single file to make a show of force; but although they suffered much from the French cannonade in this position, they were unable to quit it, as it was feared that a backward movement for the purpose of obtaining cover would be followed by the Dutch- Belgian Cavalry, who were in support, retiring from the field altogether. At the close of the Battle, the two Brigades were so reduced in numbers as to form only one Squadron, but they nevertheless joined in the General Advance. All the letters refer to Waterloo. LIEUT..GENERAL LORD EDWARD SOMERSET, G.C.B. Masor-Generat, K.C.B., anp Commanpine HovsrHotp Bricanbe. Office of Ordnance, Pall Mall, April 4th, 1835. Wo, 18. I now beg to send you the enclosed Report in reply to your several Queries, accompanied by as correct a statement of the general operations of the Ist Brigade of Cavalry throughout the day, as my recollection will enable me to give at this distance of time. I hope it will reach you in sufficient time to prevent any incon- venience, and that it will assist you in completing your Model of the Battle. I remain, &c., R. Ev. H. Somerset, Lieut-Genl. 40 WATERLOO LETTERS. Loxp E, Somerset. Waterloo. Formation of the Brigade when the Im- perial Guard advanced to attack the British right. See No. 49, p. 100. Formation of the French in front of the Brigade. Post of the Brigade at the Movements of the lst (Household) Brigade of Cavalry’ at the Battle of Waterloo. . Query 1.—What was the particular formation of the 1st Cavalry Brigade at the moment (about 7 p.m.) when the French Imperial Guards, advancing to attack the right of the British forces, reached the crest of the position ? Answer.—The lst Cavalry Brigade and the remains of the 2nd Brigade (which had been ordered to join the former about three or four in the afternoon, after the death of Sir William Ponsonby, and at that time com- manded by Colonel, now Major-General, Sir A. Clifton) were so much reduced from the severe losses they had sustained in men and horses, and from various casualties, that at the period mentioned they formed, together, only one squadron of about 50 ile. Their formation was in line about 300 yards under the crest of the hill, and nearly the same distance from the right of the high road leading from Mont-St.-Jean to La Haye Sainte. After the repulse of the Enemy’s attack, they advanced to the front, and continued in pursuit until dark. Previous to the above, a small detachment of the 23rd Light Dragoons, under Major Lautour, had joined the lst Brigade, and moved with it in the advance. Query 2.—What was the formation of that part of the Enemy’s forces immediately in front of the 1st Cavalry Brigade ? Answer.—The advance of the Enemy upon this part of the position was in heavy Columns of Infantry, with crowds of Tirailleurs in their front, and supported by Columns of Cavalry, covered by a tremendous fire of Artillery. é : ‘ . : In addition to the above information, and in compliance with the request of Lieutenant Siborne, the following remarks respecting the positions and movements of the lst Cavalry Brigade are submitted. At the commencement of the Battle, the position assigned to the Brigade was on the right of the high road, SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 41 Lorp E. Somerset. and in support of the Infantry posted on the height near La Haye Sainte, and extending further to the right. About 1 p.m., simultaneously with the attack on. the left of the high road, information having been received that a large body of the Enemy’s Cavalry (Cuirassiers and Carabineers) was moving towards the crest of the position near La Haye Sainte, the Ist Cavalry Brigade was im- mediately put in motion (the British Infantry forming squares or columns in order that it might pass through the intervals), and advanced in line (the Blues supporting) to the attack of the Enemy’s Cavalry, which was met on the ridge -of the hill, and was completely defeated and driven back with considerable loss. In the first instance, the 1st Life Guards had a severe conflict with the Enemy near La Haye Sainte, where they did great execution, and succeeded in forcing them back to the opposite height, pursuing them to the foot of the French position. The other Regiments of the Brigade were equally successful, and followed that part of the Enemy to which they were opposed to a still greater distance, especially the Qnd Life Guards and Ist Dragoon Guards, who, ascending the position occupied by the Enemy’s Infantry on the left of the high road, encountered a heavy ‘fire, and sustained a very severe loss in their retreat. Colonel Fuller, com- manding the lst Dragoon Guards, and several Officers and men of that Regiment fell in this attack. The 2nd Life Guards likewise suffered severely. By this attack, that part of the British position was completely cleared of the Enemy’s Cavalry. The Household Brigade having been rallied and formed nearly on their origi post, continued in support of the Infantry, until a fresh opportunity offered of their acting offensively against a considerable force of the Enemy’s Cavalry assarapled on the reverse of the hill, and threaten- ing our position, when after a severe and bloody conflict the Enemy was checked, and the Ist Brigade retired and re-formed under the cover of the hill. On this occasion the Enemy suffered severely. Colonel commence- ment of the Battle. Charge of the Brigade against the French Cav- alry at the | time of D’Er- lon’s first attack, See Plan, p. 38. The Brigade charges a body of Cavalry. 42 WATERLOO LETTERS. 2np Lirz Guarps, Ferrier, commanding lst Life Guards, and Major Packe, of the Blues, were killed, besides several other Officers and men. The next movement of the Household Brigade was to a part of the position towards the right, where it was Next charges summoned by Lord Anglesey to attack a formidable a Column of “Column of the Enemy’s Infantry, supported by Cavalry, Infantry. . which threatened the British troops in that quarter. The attack was made with great gallantry, and succeeded in checking the advance of the Enemy; but the Brigade being very much reduced in numbers, was unable to penetrate the Column, which received it with a heavy fire. Somerset’s After this attack the Brigade rallied and formed upon Brigade . o8 : oe joined by its original ground, where it was joimed by the 2nd Ponsonby’s. Brigade, also much diminished. About this time there was a considerable space on the right of the Haye Sainte void of British Infantry, and as it was threatened by a strong force of the Enemy assembled Istand 2nd_ under the brow of the hill, the Ist and 2nd Brigades ee continued to occupy the interval, exposed to a destructive duced toone fire both of musketry and artillery, from which they Squad t : the end of Sustained such severe loss that they were at length reduced the day. to one Squadron, as stated in the beginning of this Report. Re Upon the Enemy being finally defeated, the two Pe caer Brigades advanced with the rest of the troops till about Pp Advance. 9 o’clock, when they halted and bivouacked for the night. 2np Lire Guarps. MAJOR 8S. WAYMOUTH, UNATTACHED. Lizvrenant 2np Lirs Guarps. No. 19. 65, Marine Parade, Brighton, Nov. 18th, 1834. Waterloo, I have the honour of acknowledging the receipt of Wounded your letter of Oct. 29th, and regret extremely that I am and taken ble t fford fal ai : i prisonerinthe Uable to atford any useful aid towards the interesting 1st Charge. work you are engaged in, for as I had the misfortune to be SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 43 2np Lire Guarps. wounded and taken prisoner in the first charge made by the Household Brigade, I can say nothing from personal knowledge of what took place at 7 o’clock. Whether I am now going to occupy your attention with what is utterly useless, I do not know; but the last paragraph but one of your letter induces me to mark upon the plan (as nearly as I can at this distance of time) the spot where the Household Brigade was stationed at the beginning of the Action; and to this ground, as I am in- formed, it continually returned after every attack made by it throughout the day. The 2nd Life Guards was the left Regiment of the Brigade, and, for better understanding, allow me to say that my post was commanding its left half Squadron. In making the charge to which I have alluded, the right of the Brigade was thrown forward in order to sweep the high road, along which the Enemy’s Columns were advancing against La Haye Sainte, and by my dotted lines I wish to give some notion of the direction it took. As I was posted on the left, I can speak to that dotted line with more confidence than the other, both as to its direction and length. In our rear I saw posted for our support the Duke of Cumberland’s Hanoverian Hussars. According to the printed accounts, this Regiment ran away into Brussels .as we advanced to the charge. I saw Ponsonby’s Heavy Brigade also charging along with us, in a nearly parallel line on the other side of the road. Soon after our left had crossed the high road, it became mingled with Ponsonby’s right. In the course of their charge, every description of the Enemy’s Cavalry, both heavy and light, were overthrown, and even deep Columns of Infantry passed through. As I was taken prisoner in this charge, I am unable to add anything more of my own knowledge, except the position in which I saw some Cuirassiers and the Red Lancers ; but even in this I may not be precisely accurate. _ My friend, Major Edward Kelly, who distinguished Commanded left half Squadron, See Plan, p. 38, Line of direc- tion of first charge of 2nd Life Guards across the road in rear of La Haye Sainte, Wher they became mingled with Ponsonby’s Cavalry. Taken prisoner. 44, WATERLOO LETTERS. 2xp Lire Guarps. himself very much amongst the 1st Life Guards, and who afterwards died on Lord Combermere’s Staff in India, told me that as far as he could see down our line to his left, Conflict the Brigade, and the Cuirassiers too, came to the shock Dawes the ike two walls, in the most perfect lines he ever saw; and and the I believe this line was maintained throughout. A short Cuirassiers. struggle enabled us to break through them, notwith- The swords of standing the great disadvantage arising from our swords, pee ae which were full six inches shorter han those of the ‘shorter than Cuirassiers, besides its being the custom of our Service to those of the : a ‘ : Cuirassiers, | carry the swords in a very bad position whilst charging, and notso | the French carrying theirs in. a manner much less well carried. anes : ; fatiguing, and also much better for either attack or defence. Having once penetrated their line, we rode over The Ist everything opposed to us. Major Kelly also told me that cea the Ist Life Guards made great slaughter amongst the Cuirassiers. flying Cuirassiers who had choked the hollow way, marked ee +-—that its banks were then crowned by Chasseurs, who Chaussée, fired down upon the Life Guards in return, killing great Their great lows fren the Bumbers of them, and that this road was quite blocked up e fire of French by dead. Chasseuss. My ignorance of the tracks of French Columns, and the little I know of the formations of our own Army, are chiefly owing to the circumstance of our being posted in such low ground that the view of the namy. was inter- ue by the high ale of La ae Sainte. . I jee &e., S. Waymourtu. FROM THE SAME. TO MAJOR MARTEN, ROYAL DRAGOONS. No. 20. London, March 16th, 1837. Waterloo. My pear Marrsn,—I believe you are perfectly correct In the first — in saying that in the first charge one portion of our Brigade charge part 0 . the Brigado passed by the right and another by the left of La Haye passed to the Sainte. In as far as the evtreme left of the Brigade was SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 45, 2np Lire Guarps. concerned, I can speak without the slightest hesitation, for you may remember that I commanded the left half Squadron of our Regiment and of the Brigade, and my recollection is distinet that I crossed the road in rear, and to the left of La Haye Sainte. And I remember seeing there—?.e., on the left of the road and near its edge, a little cottage or hovel occupied by, I believe, a party of the 2nd Light Battalion, King’s German Legion, for it was unroofed, and on one of the remaining rafters I saw an Officer of that Battalion (named Graeme) sitting, whose name and person were familiar to me although not acquainted with him. I mention this to show how clear my recollection still is to that point. Immediately after this I found men of the Royals and Inniskilling Dragoons from Ponsonby’s Brigade mingled with ours. Now I cannot pretend to say how many of our Regiment, whether a Squadron, or less or more, passed by the left of the farm of La Haye Sainte; but if Captain Siborne’s Model has that hovel marked upon it (which it probably has not, for it was so small and so pulled to pieces, that it was not perhaps restored after the Action), the distance from it to the corner of La Haye Sainte may give a pretty good notion of how many rank and file passed through that interval. That the Brigade was divided by La Haye Sainte I have little doubt from my recollection of conversations I afterwards had with Kelly whilst he lay wounded in Brussels, in which he spoke of going down the slope of the position, and afterwards pressing the rear of the Cuirassiers whilst they choked a part of the road bounded by high banks, which spot I perfectly remember. about half-way down the hill. The lst Regiment suffered severely there, for whilst they were occupied with the’ Cuirassiers, the banks were lined by French Chasseurs, who killed a great many of them by firing down upon them. My belief is that the lst Regiment passed by the right of La Haye Sainte, and skirted round the fence of its orchard, which I think would bring them into the road a little before this right of La Haye Sainte and part to the left. 2nd Life Guards crossed the main road to the rear of La Haye Sainte, It could not have been Greeme, as he was at La Haye Sainte. See No, 179, p. 406.—Ep. 2nd Life Guards mingled with Ponsonby’s Brigade. The Ist Life Guards on the high road. 46 WATERLOO LETTERS. 2nv Lire Guarps. Some of the 1st Dragoon Guards may also have crossed the road to the rear of La Haye Sainte. No. 21. Waterloo. lst Charge. hollow way. Moreover, I always understood that it was down the slope of the position to the right of La Haye Sainte that Major Packe of the Blues was killed. As I said before, I cannot determine what portion of the Brigade, nor even of our Regiment, passed to the left of La Haye Sainte, but the circumstance of my more than once, during that advance, finding myself near Major Naylor, of the King’s Dragoon Guards, and to whom I spoke, leads me to suppose that some part of his Regiment may also have passed to the left. He must have com- manded a Squadron, probably the left Squadron of the King’s. Whilst writing the preceding, it occurs to me that in ©" crossing the road I had to get my horse down a bank of perhaps some three feet or so, and then to go along the road some yards before I could find a place to mount the opposite bank, and that I did so near the aforesaid hovel. Very truly yours, S. Waymoutu. FROM THE SAME. Grosvenor Street, May 9th, 1837. I very much regret that many circumstances have com- bined to prevent my meeting with Major Naylor at home until yesterday. I find him very oblivious of ail the circumstances con- nected with the Brigade on the 18th excepting one, which I think is satisfactory—viz., the advance of the Brigade to the first charge. He distinctly remembers that he com- manded the centre Squadron of the King’s, which, as the Blues were in second line for support, there being two Squadrons of each Regiment of Life Guards, and three of the King’s, was consequently the centre Squadron of the Brigade. He remembers that on advancing, Colonel Fuller placed himself by him, and that the first obstacle they ‘encountered was the road which runs along the top of the SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 47 2np Lire Guaxps. ridge, that it was too wide to leap, and the banks too deep to be easily passed, and that having crossed it, the next obstacle was the enclosure of the farm of La Haye Sainte. Now this seems to agree perfectly with the appearance of that road as laid down upon the plan you sent me. He then made towards his left “along with the current of our men, which was setting that way.” He cannot tell how or where he crossed the high road, but you will observe that this brings him to that part of the ground where I called to him, but he forgets that circumstance. He then went down the hill still bearing to his left, till he arrived at an enclosure,* a large field in which were Lancers. Turning from that he made his way home again round the left of our line. Meantime Colonel Fuller must, on arriving at the farm of La Haye Sainte, have turned ¢o his right, for I believe there is no doubt of his having been killed down the slope of our position, to the right of La Haye Sainte. From all this I think we may safely infer that the farm of La Haye Sainte broke the Brigade at its centre, and that about one-half passed on each side of it. Believe, &c., S. Waymoutu. FROM THE SAME. 19, Upper Grosvenor Street, April 8th, 1841. Again, I believe Capt. Kincaid’s recollection perfectly correct, of Cuirassiers pouring down that hollow way into the chaussée pursued by Life Guards, for remember I always described to you, and I learnt it from Capt. Kelly, Ist Life Guards, that the right and centre of the House- hold Brigade met the Cuirassiers in perfect line, and this * Note by writer.—By Major Naylor’s description of its distance and direction, this must be one of the inclosures in rear of the French line, in the direction of the village (I believe Planchenoit) lying to the rear and considerably to the left of La Belle Alliance. The King’s Dragoon Guards, or a portion of them, also cross the main road to the rear of La Haye Sainte. No. 22. Waterloo. 1st Charge. The right and centre of the Brigade met the Cuiras- siers in perfect line before the extreme lett could get into the line. 48 WATERLOO LETTERS. 2np Lire Guarps, Some of the Cuirassiers escaped by the hollow way in rear of La Haye Sainte, as seen by Captain Kin- caid, 95th Rifles, sta- tioned on the other side of the main road. appears to have been before the extreme left could get into line. I therefore think it very probable that, when the struggle immediately following the shock of the two lines began to turn in our favour, the Cuirassiers in front line, finding their escape to the rear obstructed by the dense crowd of their comrades, they should endeavour to get away by their right, which must have still been com- paratively open, our left Squadron being not yet in line; and this will account for their rushing down that hollow way as described by Capt. Kincaid. For you will observe that after returning from the movement to the left by Threes, which took a part of our Brigade across the chaussée, the right and centre Regiments formed line by wheeling up Threes to the left, and immediately ad- vanced to the attack. There being no time to be lost they were not allowed to wait till the whole was in line, conse- quently our extreme left being still moving by Threes to its right after the preceding portion of the Brigade had formed its line and commenced a forward movement, the left; was obliged to scramble into line ag it could, whilst that Line was every moment getting away from it towards the front, so that our right and centre may have met the Cuirassiers, and the latter begun to fly along the hollow way, whilst the left Squadron, 2nd Life Guards, was getting into the still advancing Line. You will under- stand by this what I mean by the Cuirassiers finding an escape open to them by their right, as well as the possibility of their having been just before that moment fired upon from the hollow way by the Germans, without the circumstance having been noted (in the hurry and bustle) by our Brigade or any one else. Very truly, &c., S. Waymourn. SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 49 2xp Lire Guarps. FROM THE SAME. 19, Upper Grosvenor Street, April 26th, 1841. Colonel Marten has at last flown through London, and I have talked to him of your Model. He says that having gained the plain on the left of the chaussée, he perceived that we were in front of the Rifles about 100 yards or more, and then he found himself in the midst of broken bodies of Cuirassiers, engaged in sharp conflict with our men, amongst whom our famed Corporal Shaw was very conspicuous, dealing deadly blows all round him,and Martenis of opinion that he waskilled, probably shot down, near that spot, by a Cuirassier who stood rather clear of our left, and occupied himself by shooting our people with his carbine, taking very deliberate aim. Very truly, &e., S. WayMourts. FROM THE SAME. 19, Upper Grosvenor Street, July 2nd, 1841. As your letter found me confined to my room, in the fear of General Hill leaving town without my seeing him, I wrote to him on the subject, and he has just called upon me to talkit over. His impression still is that the Blues were in first line, but his recollection is not sufficiently strong for you to rely upon it. He said, ‘© Why does not Siborne aioe to lewd Fidel that would be the best authority?” I merely replied, ‘€ Lord Edward is abroad.”” I would not say any more, as [ considered what you wrote me of his information to you was imparted to me “ confidentially.” General Hill sayshe was close to Major Packe when he was killed, leading on a Squadron of the Blues. He was run through the body by the Officer leading the French B No. 23. Waterloo. 1st Charge. Death of Cor- poral Shaw. No. 24. Waterloo. lst Charge. Major Packe, of the Blues, killed by a FrenchOfficer. 50 WATERLOO LETTERS. 2np Lire Guarps. The Blues in support at first, after- wards joining the front line. Lord Angle- sey blamed for not providing adequate sup- port to the Brigade in the charge. Punishment of Cumber- land Hussars. Squadron and fell dead immediately, but that was much later in the afternoon. Upon thinking the matter over I very much incline to : adopt your opinion of the Blues having been placed in support on the primary arrangement of the first charge, aud then finding themselves in front line before they almost knew where they were. The impetuosity with which the front line swept over the Enemy must have left behind quite a sufficient number for the Blues to deal with when they came up, and even to lead them to imagine them- selves quite in front. On the other hand, I do not think your argument of Lord Anglesey’s general tactics, nor what he wanted to do with the Greys in Ponsonby’s Brigade, a conclusive argu- ment. For I remember that, at the time, I often heard him blamed for having thrown away our Brigade, by making it charge without an adequate support. You may also remember that I told you in my jirst letter that before the first charge, when we were all lying on the ground, by order of Lord Edward, in order to avoid as much as possible the effect of the Enemy’s cannonade, I saw a certain Hanoverian Regiment, which we knew as “The Duke of Cumberland’s Hussars,” in line in our rear. They were in rear of the 2nd Life Guards, their left not far from the chauss’e, and immediately in front of the hedge or skirt of the forest that was between the field of battle and the village of Waterloo. My thoughts at the time were what could possess them to sit upon their horses to be knocked over by cannon balls when they saw our Brigade upon the ground. I always have understood that this Regiment was ordered to charge in our support, but that when we attacked they ran away. I remember seeing the Regiment afterwards doing duty in Paris as Waggon Train, assisting the Commissariat, and understood that to be their punishment, whilst their Colonel was cashiered. So here you see was a Regiment in support, although it failed, and would have proved inadequate even with its et vl SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 2np Lire Guarps. best efforts. The first time I can get hold of Sir Horace Seymour, who was said to have collared the Colonel, I will ask him. Believe me, &c., S. Waymoutn. FROM THE SAME. 19, Upper Grosvenor St., May 31st, 1842. T have at last succeeded in getting an interview with Lord Fitzroy Somerset, but I am sorry to say I have not been able to learn much from him. I was with him a long time, and he talked the whole thing over most freely, and seemed anxious to afford you all the assistance in his power, but he has only slight recollections of the points in ques- tion. I first asked him whether the charge of the two Heavy Brigades was a combined attack, having the same object, viz., to repulse the French onset upon both sides of the chaussée at the same time ? He answered he thought not, and then told me what you had previously, of his watching the attack upon Kempt, &e. &c.; but when I came to discuss the matter with him, he very soon entirely aban- doned it, and said he supposed he must be confounding it with a second attack upon Kempt, “‘7.¢., if there was a second and similur attack made upon him.” We did not at all main- tain the account you mention of the two Staff Officers, but seemed convinced that his memory had failed him. He has no recollection at all of the Ist Lt. Batt., K.G.L. ; indeed he says he does not remember to have seen it at all, throughout the day, and said he was surprised that he does not, for it was a Battalion that he was particularly well acquainted with. He spoke of the adatis on the chaussée near La Haye Sainte, and which I think you mentioned to me. He saw Lord Edward Somerset returning from that charge on the other side of the chaussée, i.e., in front of Picton; he had lost his hat, and was coming back bareheaded. He has 2 No. 25. Waterloo. Lord Fitzroy Somerset’s re- collections of first charge. Lord F, Som- erset saw Lord Edward re- turning from the charge bareheaded. He doubts the 52 WATERLOO LEITERS. 2np Lire GuARDS. Duke’s order- ing a German Battalion to cross the main road to join ‘Picton’s Division. Sir Andrew Barnard, 95th Rifles. SeeNo. 158, p. 363. Says there was a second attack on Kempt (who succeeded Picton) about an hour later. doubts of its being the Duke who ordered the Germans across the chaussée, because it is perfectly unlike him to wave his hat, and shout Aurrah! His great object always was not to do anything calculated to shake the steadiness of the men—he can scarcely believe it of the Duke. I hinted that the Duke himself could best set that question at rest. He replied, ‘Oh, certainly: but it would be im- possible to ask him, or that he should answer any such questions.” After all, he said he was very sorry not to be able to give you any more effectual aid, but that whenever he has to talk over that Battle, he finds himself so much deceived in his recollections, that he cannot rely with any confidence upon himself, and cannot conceive the possi- bility of your being able to attain to accuracy, considering how conflicting are the statements one continually hears from persons, all whose testimonies one considers un- deniable. If you succeed in giving a tolerably correct representation, it is all you can expect. When I had finished, I told him what I had written to you as my supposition that the contradictory statements respecting the Germans may be reconciled, and he said he thought it a very reasonable supposition. However, I have since seen Sir Andrew Barnard, who came to me yesterday, and was also very ready to give me all the information in his power. He says pretty much the same as Kincaid, and gives nearly the same account of the advance of the Enemy against that point, and the with- drawal of the 95th skirmishers. He says there was a second attack upon Kempt about an hour later; that it was not so formidable, but that their skirmishers (not a Column) in considerable bodies came up to Kempt’s Brigade ; that he, Sir A., was wounded at that time, and carried off the field ; and that he thinks it very probable the Germans might then have come across the chaussée as they describe, for he saw Baron Busche there, who commanded that Battalion. Now, if that second attack was preceded by a heavy cannonade, and accompanied. by a charge of their cuirassiers, it would seem likely to be the oceasion alluded SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 53 2nD to by Heisse and Leonhardt, if we could tell how to dispose of that Battalion during the first attack. Sir Andrew says the abatis on the chaussée was made by his people the night before. On another point he was very satisfactory to me. I asked if he saw and remem- bered my hovel? His answer was, “I think I ought to remember it, for I saved it from being entirely pulled down, when the men had already taken off the thatch from the roof to burn; but the frame of the roof still re- mained. I slept in that hovel, and Lord Anglesey came and drank some of my tea in it during the night of the 17th.” ‘ : Believe me, S. Wayouts. MAJOR MARTEN, ROYAL DRAGOONS. Sus.-Lreutenant 2np Lue Guanps. Brighton, December 5th, 1834. I have, however, great pleasure now in sending you what little information relating to the 2nd Life Guards at Waterloo, that my memory (after so long a period) will bear me out in; but when I tell you I was then one of the youngest Cornets, and only seventeen years of age, and the greater part of the day, too, a Serrefile, you will readily conclude my observations will be chiefly confined to the immediate movements and situations of my own Regiment. After the Brigade had taken up the ground, viz., 2 rear of the right centre of the Army, which it was destined throughout the day to support, we remained some time in close column, then deployed, and were suddenly ordered to advance to the charge, the 2nd Life Guards, as I have before observed, being on the left of the Brigade, with the King’s Dragoon Guards on our right. In descending into the plain from our Infantry position, we met a line of Cuirassiers which we charged through, but Lire Guarps His men (95th Rifles) made the abatis on the road the night before. No. 26. Waterloo. [st Charge. 2nd Life Guards met the Cuiras- siers after crossing the main road. 54 WATERLOO LETTERS. 2xnp Lire Guarps. They found themselves amongst the French In- fantry, routed by Kempt’s Infantry Brigade. The 2nd Life Guards suffered, particularly from the loss of horses, Ordered again to charge, but the French Cavalry fell back. Joined in the General Advance. I think not till we had crossed the great road near La Haye Sainte (of course, I am writing now of my own Regiment only). After passing through the Cuirassiers (the greater part of whom were killed and wounded in this charge), we found ourselves in the midst of a routed body of French Infantry, who, many of them, threw themselves on the ground till we had gone over, and then rose and fired. his circumstance I distinctly remember, and I am equally confident that all this took place with us on the left of the Genappe road, from our having to jump over trees on that road, which I afterwards learned had been placed there by the 95th Rifles. Whether the whole Brigade brought up their right shoulders I know not, but Iam sure we did; but to continue. After this charge (from which we suffered so much, particularly in the loss of horses) we were completely broken, and as many as remained mounted of the four Troops returned by the left centre of our position, and reformed in front of a small orchard (I think) just out of Mont-St.-Jean, and in rear of our original ground, where we continued a short time, and then were marched up to the support of the right centre again on the slope of the hill. After some little time had elapsed we were ordered to advance again to the charge, but the French Cavalry retreated on seeing us approach, and we fell back to our former ground, where we remained the whole of the rest of the day until the advance of the Line, when, after marching some distance over the fields in our front, halted to the right of a village which was set fire to by either the French or Prussians, and this, I think, could not have been far from La Belle Alliance. I remain, &e., Tuomas MAnteEn, Major Royal Dragoons. SOMERSET’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 55 FROM THE SAME (LIEUT.-COLONEL). Beverley, February 28rd, 1843. In reply to your note of this morning, I can only assure you that, although I did not certainly see Shaw killed, Tam perfectly satisfied that he met his death in the first charge alluded to. It was told me shortly after, and I firmly believe it. It was said he did not die at the moment, but received in that charge several wounds of which he lingered till night. He could not have been alive the next morning, because I was ordered, in company with the Assistant- Surgeon, to collect our wounded, and see them safely con- veyed to Brussels, which I did, and Shaw was certainly not one. As there was a mistake made in our Returns of the Battle, I wish you would correct it in your new Book. Neither the Hon. Captain Irby nor Waymouth were re- turned as Prisoners, which they both were, and the datter wounded, but, of course, not known at the time. Captain Irby I found myself in the town of Nivelles on my return from Brussels on the 20th, and he told me he had escaped from the French by hiding himself in a cellar in which the prisoners had been confined. Way- mouth did not join for some weeks. Yours, &e., Tuomas ManrtTEN. Royvat Horsz Guarps, Biur. GENERAL CLEMENT HILL. Cartais anp Lreut.-CoLoneL Royat Horsz Guarps, TO MAJOR WAYMOUTH, Hawkstone, July 14th, 1841. My pear WaywoutH,—I fear you will think me long in replying to your letter and enquiries about the first charge of the Household Brigade at Waterloo Buves. No. 27. Waterloo. Death of Corporal Shaw. Mistake in the Returns of the Regiment after the Battle. No. 28. Waterloo. Ist Charge. 56 WATERLOO LETTERS. Kine’s Dragoon Guarps. Blues in front line. No. 29. Waterloo, King’s Dragoon Guards more in contact with the and had only yesterday an opportunity of asking my brother Robert his opinion. You know he commanded the Regiment, and is gute sure we were in the /rozé line, and not placed in a second to support on that occasion. He says he distinctly saw the Commanding Officer of the Ist Life Guards fall (from a shot) on his right as the Brigade was advancing to the charge, which may corroborate our being in the same line, and also be an incident for Captain Siborne to represent in a figure on his Model. I do not recollect, nor does my brother, what may have been in a second line to support us, and regret I cannot send you or Captain Siborne any other information that might be of use in completing his new Model. Yours, &c., Ciem. Une. lst or Kina’s Dragoon Guanrps. LIEUT.-COLONEL ROBERT WALLACE, UNATTACHED. Captarn Krxo’s Dracoon Gvarps. York, Nov. 19th, 1824. We certainly passed through a great deal of standing corn a short time previous to the first charge made by the Household Brigade of Cavalry, to which the Ist Dragoon Guards belonged, which Corps at the hour of seven o’clock in the evening were so much cut up, both as to Officers and men, as to form but a small portion of a Regiment, but how formed at that particular moment I cannot with perfect accuracy state. With regard to general remarks, as far as my recollection goes, we were more in contact with the French Heavy Cavalry than, with other troops, and many, I am sure, French Heavy suffered severely from the men of the lst Dragoon Cavalry than Guards, as did ours also from them, many of our men PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 57 Kixe’s Dracoon Guanps. having severe sabre wounds, particularly about the face ; but there has been so much written upon the subject, and so many anecdotes related that you can be at no loss on this head, and I only regret that I had not the same re- flection at that period that after years bring to us all, so as to be enabled to give youa more detailed account of the occurrences of that eventful day, as far as we were concerned, with correctness and fidelity. I have, &e., Ropert Watwace, Lieut.-Col. Unattached. Ponsonsy’s Cavatry Bricabk. The 2nd (Heavy) Cavalry Brigade was com- posed of the 1st or Royal Dragoons, the 2nd or Royal North British Dragoons, Scots Greys, and the 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons, hence also known as the “Union Brigade,” and was commanded by Major- General Sir William Ponsonby, K.C.B., who was killed in the first charge at Waterloo. The Brigade, together with the Household Brigade, formed the main portion of the Centre Cavalry Column in the Retreat on the 17th June. After passing through the town of Genappe, it was deployed on the right of the Brussels-Charleroi Road, and engaged for some time in skirmishing with the Enemy’s Cavalry, and checking their advances, until gradually withdrawn by the road to the Position at Waterloo. On the morning of the 18th the Brigade was posted on the left of the Brussels road in support of Picton’s Division, and when D’Erlon attacked the with other troops; both sides suffered severely, The men having re- ceived many severe face wounds, See General Plan, Nv. 1. See Plan, p. 38. 58 WATERLOO LETTERS. latter, it was brought forward through the intervals of the Infantry to charge the French Columns. The Royals on the right charged and broke one of the Columns, Captain A. K. Clarke cap- turing the Eagle of the 105th French Regiment. The left wing of the 28th Regiment fired into the Column at the moment the Royals charged it, and afterwards assisted them in securing great numbers of Prisoners. The Inniskillings in the centre advanced further so as to charge two Columns which were moving up in support of the others, and similarly over- threw them, and captured an immense number of Prisoners. The Greys had been ordered to support the other two Regiments, but had previously been moved to the left rear of the Brigade, for the purpose of obtaining more cover from the French cannonade, so that, on advancing, they found in their direct front the head of a French Column establishing itself on the Wavre Road. The Greys therefore, after passing through the intervals of the Infantry, at once charged this Column, and dispersed it, Sergeant Ewart capturing the Eagle of the 45th French Regiment. The 92nd High- landers joined in the Charge, both Regiments mutually cheering each other, and shouting, “ Scot- land for ever!” They also secured great numbers of Prisoners. The Brigade, after overthrowing the French Infantry, lost nearly all regularity, and galloped madly up to the French Position, notwithstanding all the efforts of the Officers to prevent it, and began PONSONBY'’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 59 Sin De Lacy Evans. sabreing the Gunners and stabbing the horses of the Enemy’s Batteries. But they were now attacked by a body of French Lancers, and their horses being blown and exhausted, they suffered severely in their confused retreat to the British Position. In this Charge, 3,000 Prisoners were taken, 2 Eagles captured, and from 30 to 40 Guns put hors de combat for the greater part of the day. Subsequently, the Brigade was moved to the right of the road, where it was employed in giving support to the Infantry stationed there, and occa- sionally in making a forward movement to check the advancing French troops. Towards evening it was united with Somerset’s Brigade, and the two were employed as described in page 39. No. 34 refers to the March on Quatre Bras. Nos. 30 and 34 to the Retreat on the 17th June, and the remaining Letters to Waterloo. COLONEL SIR DE LACY EVANS, K.C.B. Masor 5tx W. 1. Reciment, anp Exrra A.D.C. to Sir Wi1iraM Ponsonny. Oct. 14th. On the 17th, after the Infantry, &c., had retired, or No. 30, were retiring, and when the time arrived for the Cavalry potreat from to commence their retrograde movement, I was ordered to Quatre Bras. accompany Sir John Elley, the Adjt. General of the Cav- alry, to Genappe to examine and report on that defile, but chiefly to select a position on the open high ground above it towards the Waterloo side, for the whole of the Heavy Cavalry and some Horse Artillery to form on immediately 60 WATERLOO LETTERS. Sm Dr Lacy Evans. Genappe. Formation of Household and Ponson- by’s Brigades Charges of 7th Hussars and lst Life Guards. No. 31. Waterloo. “ce Plan, p.38. as they should clear Genappe. This was under the orders of Lord Anglesey, and Sir J. Elley and myself remained between that high ground and Genappe directing the heads of the Regiments to the ground they were to form on, as they successively debouched from Genappe. The Household Brigade formed up with their right on the main road facing the Enemy—the Heavy Brigade with their left towards the road, but extending considerably towards their right. You are aware that the 7th Hussars attempted un- successfully to check the head of the French Column of Cavalry as it debouched from Genappe. Lord Anglesey then detached to their support a Squadron of the House- hold Brigade, which was more successful. But our retreat was continued at short intervals, in. good order—slight skirmishing—and without being pressed, except in the instance I have mentioned. Such is my im- pression. I remained with the Household Brigade till we got near the Waterloo position. I therefore do not know so well as others who were closer to them what Sir Wm. Ponsonby’s Brigade had to do. But I do not think they [had] much to do. In haste, &c., D. L. Evans. FROM THE SAME. Bryanstone Square, Sept. 1st, 1839. You have placed the Inniskillings in your plan 7 advance of the Royals and Greys. I incline to think the three Regiments charged nearly in line. I myself was with the right of the line, and I should think the Greys and Royals were rather more engaged than the other Regiment. These two last Regiments took an Eagle each, and you will see that their loss of men and Officers was much greater, especially the Greys. PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 61 Sir Ds Lacy Evans. The Brigade was in a hollow in order to screen them from cannon fire before the charge. As the Enemy advanced up to the crest of the position on their side, the Heavy Brigade was also moved up on ours. Our Brigade came up to one hundred yards in rear of the little sunken road and hedge. I communicated the order for this move- ment myself. We waited there for a few minutes till the head of the Enemy’s Column had just crossed the sunken road—as I understood—to allow our Infantry to pass round the flanks of Squadrons, and also that the Enemy should be a little deranged in passing the road, instead of our being so, had we charged across the road. The Enemy’s Column, near which I was, on arriving at the crest of the position seemed very helpless, had very little fire to give from its front or flanks, was incapable of deploying, must have already lost many of its Officers in coming up, was fired into, close, with impunity, by stragglers of our Infantry who remained behind. As we approached at a moderate pace the front and flanks began to turn their backs inwards; the rear of the Columns had already begun to run away. The Brigade [? Division] you speak of under Sir T. Picton (and afterwards Sir J. Kempt) were successful, as your letter states, but the Infantry in our front had, I think, been obliged to yield. At allevents it passed round our flanks. In going down the hill the Brigade secured about 2,000 Prisoners, which were successfully conducted to the rear by parties of the Inniskillings, as far as I recollect. The Enemy fled as a flock of sheep across the valley—quite at the mercy of the Dragoons. In fact, our men were oud of hand. The General of the Brigade, his Staff, and every Officer within hearing, exerted themselves to the utmost to re-form the men; but the helplessness of the Enemy offered too great a temptation to the Dragoons, and our efforts were abortive. It was evident that the Enemy’s reserves of Cavalry towards [? Planchenoit} would soon take advantage of our disorder. Anticipating this, I went back for a moment to 1st Charge. Disordered state of French attacking Column. 2,000 Prison- ers taken. Disordered state of the Brigade. Excrtions of the Officers to remedy it. 62 WATERLOO LETTERS. Sir De Lacy Evans. See p. 108. Brigade attacked by French Lancers. Retreat of the Brigade. Sir W. Pon- sonby and others tried to escape by going round the left of the Lancers, bat all fell into the hands of the Enemy. Where Sir W. Ponsonby’s body was found next morning. where Sir James Kempt was, to ask him to advance to cover our retreat, which appeared inevitable.. He told me he would advance a couple of hundred yards, but that he could not quit the position altogether without orders. Besides, it was evident Infantry could not do it. It was Vandeleur’s Light Cavalry Brigade on the left which perhaps could have been useful at the moment by a more forward movement. But I did not see it. I galloped back to Sir William Ponsonby. The Dragoons were still in the same disorder, cutting up the remnant of the dispersed Infantry. We ascended the first ridge occu- pied by the Enemy, and passed several French cannon, on our right hand towards the road, abandoned [on] our approach by their gunners, and there were some French Squares of Infantry in rear. The French Lancers continued to advance on our left in good order. If we could have formed a hundred men we could have made a respectable retreat, and saved many ; but we could effect no formation, and were as helpless against their attack as their Infantry had been against ours. Everyone saw what must happen. Those whose horses were best or least blown, got away. Some attempted to escape back to our position by going round the left of the French Lancers. Sir William Ponsonby was of that number. All these fell into the hands of the Enemy. Others went back straight—among whom myself —receiving a little fire from some French Infantry towards the road on our left as we retired. It was in this part of the transaction that almost the whole of the loss of the Brigade took place. But this last occurrence took place about three hundred yards at least in advance of the farthest line of the square or parallelogram marked on the map you have sent me, and accordingly the spot where Sir William Ponsonby fell, and his body was found by us next morning, was about five hundred yards in front of the centre of the Brigade as marked in the square of your plan, on the ridge to which I have before alluded, PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 63 Sir De Lacy Evans. and on which the Enemy had, I think, occasionally their advanced Batteries in the early part of the Battle. This is the notion or recollection that I have of the affair. I saw nothing of the Belgian Light Dragoons in the mélée. The Dutch Belgian Infantry yielded with slight or no resistance to the advancing Columns, and got quickly to the rear; and not in the stubborn, reluctant, deliberate way of our Infantry. I don’t recollect anything of the Dutch Artillery at that moment. Our Artillerymen, as well as Infantry, kept firing into the Columns as long as possible. I think at the moment of the collision between the Heavy Cavalry and the French Columns there was a pause of everything else, and I think our Artillery Officers and men were standing near and about, but not close to, or serving their Guns. The 32nd and 79th had regained their position as we charged past their left, but I am certain their position was some fifty or a hundred yards in front of the hedge, and not in rear of it. I remain, &c., D. L. Evans. FROM THE SAME. (No date.) As to the Inniskillings being in front, I dare say you are right. I only offered you my impressions, and I confess I think I saw as much of what was going on on that occa- sion as most other individuals. As to the person who took off his hat as a signal from the crest of the hill for the Brigade to advance, I venture to think I was myself the individual who did so. It occurred thus: I accompanied Sir William Ponsonby to the crest to ascertain the proper time for the Brigade to come up. At the moment when he appeared of opinion this should be done, he himself met with a trifling inter- ference. The Enemy just then redoubled their cannon fire The Guns as well as In- fantry kept firing into the Columns till the Jast mo- ment before the Charge. No. 32. Waterloo. lst Charge. Signal to ed- vance made by Major Evans, 64 WATERLOO LETTERS. Sm De Lacy Evans. Sir Wm. Pon- against the crest. The General was mounted on a sonby in- 2 : : differently | secondary untrained horse, and some round shot frightened monnited. the horse, and his cloak, being loose, flew off. He dismounted for a moment to get his cloak restored to its place. It was in that interval that he instructed me to make the signal alluded to. But I think it signifies nothing which Regiment is in front. Youspeak of the difficulties you have in reconciling different accounts of eye-witnesses. This is only what in- variably occurs. There is scarcely an instance, I think, of two persons, even though only fifty yards distant from each other, who give of such events a coneurring account. Strength of As to Colonel Gurwood’s account of 1,123 sabres, I Be dare say it is all very right as a Return, but the 1,123 sabres were not on the field according to my humble recollection and belief. Sir William You are rightly informed that Sir William Ponsonby ee did his best to prevent the further advance up the opposite discretion did ridge and towards the left of the French cannon, and so their best t : ‘ : ; ‘ : mirada did all the Officers of any discretion about him ; but finding ee = to that we were not successful in stopping the troops, we Lene. . . : . were forced to continue on with them in order to continue Lines. our exclamations to halt, as we all, except I suppose the Cornets, saw what would happen. Faithfully, &e., D. L. Evans. FROM THE SAME. No. 33. Harrogate, August 23rd, 1842. Watedos: I don’t think the Enemy advanced more than five or D’Erlon’s first ten yards on our side of the road. By the sudden appear- nig ance and closing of our Cavalry upon them (added to their e Columns : . became pua- Previous suffering from musketry and grape), they became lysed by the quite paralysed and incapable of resistance, except PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 65 Royat Dragoons. occasionally, individually a little. What followed I think I touched on before. Iam unable to inform you as to Picton’s horse. Poor Sir William Ponsonby might perhaps have been spared to his country had he been better mounted. He rode a small bay hack. He had a handsome chestnut charger, which he meant to mount when real business began, but the groom or Orderly who had charge of the chestnut was not forthcoming or within call at the moment the General wanted his horse. As to myself, I was well mounted on a powerful, nearly thoroughbred bay gelding. He received a considerable sabre wound from near the eye to the mouth, but his action was not impaired by it. I, however, changed him on getting back to the position for a brown mare, which, how- ever, was very soon after shot by a musket ball, and I lost her. The bay soon recovered; but for this gossiping I have only to plead the excuse of your inquiry. Very, &c., D. L. Evans. Tuer Ist Roya Dragoons. COLONEL A. K. CLARK KENNEDY, C.B., K.H., 7tH DRAGOON GUARDS. Caprain A. K. Crarx Kennepy, Royan Dragoons. Rough Memorandum of the Movements of the Royal Dragoons on June 16th and 17th, 1815. The Royal Dragoons, who had been quartered for about three weeks at Ninove and the immediate neighbourhood, were aroused on the morning of June 16th by the trumpets sounding to turn out about four o’clock. The Troops were got together as quickly as possible, and three days’ biscuits, &c., having been issued to the men, the Regiment F sudden ap- pearance of the Cavalry. Sir William Ponsonby’s death. No. 34, March on Quatre Bras, 16th. 66 WATERLOO LETTERS. Roya Dracoons, Arrival at dusk. Retreat on 17th. Conveyance of the wounded. Skirmishing with the Cuir- assicrs, was immediately put in motion (if I mistake not), in the first instance in the direction of Ath (by way of Gram- mont), near which the Brigade, Ist, 2nd, and 6th Dragoons, united under the command of Major-General Sir William Ponsonby. After the direction of our march had been three or four times changed, and there had been several halts in the course of the day, the Brigade moved towards evening upon Quatre Bras, where it arrived about dusk, having marched somewhere about fifty miles. All firing, except a little skirmishing (in the wood which had been retaken by the Guards), having ceased, the Royals bivouacked for the night in an open field a little in rear of the houses of Quatre Bras, the horses being linked in column, saddled and bridled, the Officers and men lying or standing by them. The night proved a fine one. It having been ascertained next morning that the Prussian Army had retired during the night from Ligny, &c., the British Army commenced a similar movement on the morning of the 17th, the Cavalry being drawn out and advanced a little to mask the retreat of the Infantry. My Squadron was ordered to the Inn of Quatre Bras to assist in conveying as many of the wounded men to the rear as were able to bear the motion of a horse, and a con- siderable number were removed in this manner to the rear of the position at Waterloo, though several that were severely wounded were necessarily left behind. The other two Squadrons, under the command of Lieut.- Colonel Dorville and Major (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel) Radelyffe, remaining and retiring shortly afterwards towards the position, where they arrived a little before dusk along with the other Cavalry, which had been cover- ing a slow and orderly retreat, during the greater portion of which, from Genappe to Waterloo, the left Squadron under Colonel Radclyffe was warmly engaged skirmishing with the Enemy’s advanced guard of Cuirassiers who pressed them hotly, frequently collecting with the apparent intention of charging, but never venturing to PONSONBY S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 67 Rovat Dragoons, do so during the regular and orderly retreat of about five miles. Having given up the wounded men, my Squadron rejoined the Regiment on its arrival on the crest of the position, and the firing having ceased, the Cavalry was withdrawn behind the Infantry, and we bivouacked for the night without any shelter whatever; and a miserable one enough we passed, the rain having descended in torrents from about two or three o’clock on the 17th. We remained quiet until about half past eleven or eleven o’clock, when the Brigade moved and formed line in the hollow about a quarter of a mile in rear of the crest of Sir Thomas Picton’s Division, where it remained until brought forward, about twelve or half-past twelve, shortly before the charge of the Count D’Erlon’s Corps took place, and that, I think, must have been somewhere about one o’clock or a little sooner, but I cannot be certain as to time. A. K. C. Kennepy, Lieut.-Colonel 7th Dragoon Guards. FROM THE SAME. Cahir, April 13th, 1835. I fear I have little to communicate on the subject of the lst Dragoons at Waterloo that will prove useful to your interesting work, as I cannot of my own knowledge speak to the position of the Royal Dragoons after a quarter past six p.m., or a little later, about which hour I was obliged to leave the field, having been a second time wounded, and had two horses killed under me. At this time, as nearly as I can judge, the Regiment, reduced to one Squadron, stood where I have drawn the line No. 1, with the remains of the Inniskillings and Greys in line on its left. The troops opposed to them (as far as the nature of the ground allowed me to see) was a very heavy Column of Infantry, the head of which only F 2 Arrival at Waterloo, Morning of the 18th. Waterloo. No. 35. Waterloo. Twice wounded and two horses killed under him. About a quarter past 6 p.m. Position of Regiment about 350 yards to the right of the main road, 68 WATERLOO LETTERS. Roya Dragoons. and seventy yards in front of the cross road or hollow way. In support of Infantry. See General Plan, No. 1. Position of Brigade until Ist Charge. See Plan, p. 38. was fully in sight, with a weak body of Cavalry. Both Columns were covered by skirmishers, and supported by Guns firing grape or canister shot, from which, as the range was short, we suffered very severely, being necessarily greatly exposed, the Brigade being drawn up in line in front of the crest of the rising ground for the purpose, as was generally thought, of giving confidence to a large body of Belgic* Infantry formed in square under the command of, and where, I believe, the Prince of Orange was wounded. The fire upon this Square, which stood about two hundred yards in advance, and about one hundred to the right of the Royals, was very severe, and it suffered greatly, chiefly from shells which now and then shook it a good deal, but they always re-formed on the Cavalry making an advance in their support, and, I believe, maintained its ground until the General Advance of the Allied Army took place about seven o’clock, by which time, I have been informed by Captain Phipps (now Lieut.- Colonel Unattached) that the Brigade which had remained on nearly the same position since about four p.m., was reduced to one Squadron only. As far as my memory will serve me—but at this dis- tance of time I may fall into error—I have marked the different operations of the Royals on the 18th of June. No. 2 is the position of the Regiment (Right of Major- General Ponsonby’s Brigade) from about eleven o’clock until twelve or half-past twelve, when it advanced by Threes from the flanks of half-Squadrons to No. 3, where it wheeled into line by command of the Marquis of Anglesey, and, together with the Inniskillings on its left, and Greys supporting in second line, charged and drove back the Count D’Erlon’s Corps, the head of whose Column had crossed the double hedge and road, and had passed several of the British Guns placed behind the hedge, and which for the moment had been abandoned by the gunners. * An error. No Belgians were on the spot indicated. They were Germans, probably Nassauers or Brunswickers.—Eb. PONSONBY S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 69 Roya Dracoons No. 4 is the extent of the successful charge made by about nine hundred swords, which cost the Enemy, independent of killed, nearly 2,000 prisoners and. two Eagles, the bearer of one of which, the 105th, was run through the body by me somewhere about the letter E. I commanded the centre Squadron. The other Eagle was taken by Sergeant Ewart, of the Greys. No. 5 is the small wood to which the Brigade retired to re-form, and where it continued until about half-past three p-m., where it was ordered to move to the left [? right] of the Brussels road to No. 6, from where it advanced to No. 1, within fifty or a hundred yards of which it remained until the General Advance at seven o’clock. T have, &e., A. K. Crark KeEnNneEpy, Lieutenant-Colonel 7th Dragoon Guards, Late Captain Royal Dragoons. FROM THE SAME. Leeds Barracks, June 18th, 1839. In reply to yours of the 9th, received a few days ago I have endeavoured to give as correct answers as I possibly can to your questions, though I am afraid any information I can give will be of little service to you. Do not consider it conceit on my part, but I cannot, as an individual concerned, think that justice has been done to that charge, and I ask you as an Officer of experience how long the British Army could have held its position if the Count D’Erlon’s Corps had been able to occupy the ridge that the head of their Columns had gained ? I may be in error, but I cannot help thinking it the most critical moment of the day. But we had lost our General, there was no one to speak for us, and the Duke Extent of charge. Eagleof 105th French Regt. taken about 300 yards left of garden of La Haye Sainte, and 270 yards in front of Wavre Road. No. 36, With Memorandum Waterloo. Importance of Ist Charge Thinks it the most critical moment of the day. 70 WATERLOO LETTERS. Royat Dragoons. Ist Charge. Lord Angle- sey orders the Royals and Inniskillings to charge. Royals and Inniskillings in front line, Greys in sup- port. The left wing of the 28th fired on the Column, the head of which had passed. both hedges of the Wavre road. did not see the charge himself, his hands being at that time quite full enough, I believe, on the right centre. Yours truly, A. K. Crarx KENwNepy, Lieutenant-Colonel 7th Dragoon Guards. Memorandum—Royal Dragoons at Waterloo. Until within about a quarter of an hour of the charge of General Ponsonby’s Brigade on the Count D’Erlon’s Corps, the Brigade had been standing in line in the hollow behind La Haye Sainte, with their right about 250 yards on the left of the Brussels road. The cannon shot that passed over the crest of the ridge beginning to fall pretty fast, the Brigade was advanced slowly towards the ridge by the Troops wheeling to the left, and taking ground to the right by the flank march of Threes. On arriving very near the top of the ridge the Column fronted, and halted for perhaps four or five minutes. The Marquis of Anglesey came up at speed (appar- ently from the Household Brigade on the right), wheeled the Royals and Inniskillings into line, and ordered them to charge, the Greys forming a second line in support. At this moment many of the Artillery (1 believe all) were ordered to leave, or did leave, their Guns, which were stationed behind the hedges, and they passed through the intervals of our Squadrons. The Infantry that, I pre- sume, had previously lined the hedges, were wheeled by Sections to their left, and were firing on the left flank of the French Column, the head of which had at this time passed both hedges unchecked, as far as I could perceive, and were advancing rapidly. From the nature of the ground we did not see each other until we were very close, perhaps eighty or ninety yards. The head of the Column appeared to be seized with a panic, gave us a fire which brought down about twenty men, went instantly about and en- deavoured to regain the opposite side of the hedges; but PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 71 Royat Dracoons, we were upon and amongst them before this could be effected, the whole Column getting into one dense mass, the men between the advancing and retiring parts getting so jammed together that the men could not bring down their arms, or use them effectively, and we had nothing to do but to continue to press them down the slope, the right Squadron of the Royals naturally outflanking them, as the centre one (which I commanded) also did toa certain degree. We continued to press on, and went a little further than we ought to have done, perhaps, getting under the fire of fresh troops stationed on the opposite height, and losing a good many men. About half-way between the two positions we en- deavoured to collect our Squadrons as well as we could; but we were so much scattered that few could be got to- gether, and with these few we retired slowly towards our own position, under a pretty severe fire, driving as many Prisoners before us as we could. No Cavalry was opposed to that part of the Brigade with which I was; but I was told that the left suffered greatly when retiring from an attack of Lancers. Our Infantry, which we had passed at the hedge, now proved of essential service to us. They had formed small bodies or squares following in the rear of the charge, and not only checked pursuit, but without their support and assistance I am satisfied we should not have got back so well as we did, and certainly we could not have secured one-half of the Prisoners taken in the charge. Many who had surrendered effected their escape, yet above 2,000 were secured and sent to the rear. The French on this occasion behaved very ill, many of our soldiers falling from the fire of men who had surrendered, and whose lives had been spared only a few minutes before. I had a narrow escape myself. One of these men put his musket close to my head and fired, a sudden turn of the head saving my life, the ball taking off The Royals charge, and the Column is thrown into confusion, Carried too far. No Cavalry opposed to the right of the Brigade. Support of the Infantry. Ill conduct of French soldiers. 72 WATERLOO LETTERS. Roya Dracoons. The heads of the Columns were on the Brussels side of the Wavre road. Critical result of the Charge. No prepara- tion made by the French to receive Cavalry, the tip of my nose instead of passing through the head, as was kindly intended. But to reply to your questions as well as, at this dis- tance of time, I can. The heads of the French Columns, which appeared to me to be nearly close together, had no appearance of having been repulsed or seriously checked. On the contrary, as I mentioned before, they had forced their way through our line—the heads of the Columns were on the Brusseds side of the double hedge. There was no British Infantry in the immediate front that I saw, and the line that had been, I presume, behind the hedges (for I did not see it until the moment of charging) was wheeled by sections or divisions to the left, and was firing on the left flank of the left Column as it advanced. In fact, the crest of the height had deen gained, and the charge of Cavalry at the critical moment recovered it. Had the charge been delayed two or three minutes, I feel satisfied it would probably have failed, and you, I daresay, are well aware there were no Infantry in reserve behind that part. of the position, though there were on the Brussels road. The pause after wheeling into line did not exceed a few seconds. The left of my Squadron (the centre one) being already in front of part of the Enemy’s left Column, I brought it more so, and clear of our own Infantry, by inclining a little to the left. How the others got on I cannot say. I came in contact with the head of the Column on the Brussels side of the hedges as it was going about, after having given us a destructive fire at a distance of perhaps fifty yards. No preparation appeared to be made to receive Cavalry, nor do I think there could have been, as there was not above a hundred yards to go over after we saw each other. The line was quickly lost where I was, the two Squadrons (I can only speak of the Ist and 2nd) endeavouring to keep collected to their own centres as much as possible, and getting round the Column as it PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 73 Royat Dracoons. retired gradually, inclining and gaining ground to the front and left. Ican give no account of the 3rd Squadron. I rather think it charged the front near the Enemy’s right, which must naturally have brought it and the Inniskilling Dragoons round the opposite flank to where I was. The charge took place on the crest, not on the slope of the ridge, though it was followed up to the hollow ground between the two positions. The Greys (2nd line) must have charged immediately after the Ist line, at least, they were up and mixed with the Royals long before we got half-way down the slope. No Cavalry checked the right. flank of the Brigade. It retired from exhaustion, and from getting under the fire of fresh troops on the opposite ridge. It was not attacked in retiring, only fired upon. The left of the Brigade, I understood, was followed and suffered severely from a body of Lancers, but I did not see it. Sir John Vandeleur’s Brigade of Light Cavalry, which had been stationed more to the left of the Line, and under the ridge, moved to the right, advanced, and took up a position about one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards en the Brussels side of the double hedge. We retired behind them, re-formed in two Squadrons (Lieut.-Colonel Dorville and myself), and remained dismounted near a small wood in rear of the position until about three o’clock or half-past, when we were ordered to the right of the Brussels road, and placed in line on the crest of the position in rear of and rather to the left of the large Square of Foreign Infantry in which the Prince of Orange was wounded. This was the most trying duty of the day. The Brigade, with the exception of two or three advances to check the Enemy’s movements, and to encourage the Belgic* Square to keep together, being the greater part of * See note, p. 68. Greys join front line. Retired behind Vandeleur’s Brigade. Brigade moved to the right of the Brussels road. 74 WATERLOO LETTERS. Royat Dracoons, Reduced to one Squadron at the end of the day. No. 37. Waterloo. lst Charge. The Greys should have been a sup- porting line. the next three hours perfectly stationary, and suffering severely from grape and musketry. At the time I left the field, a little before seven (having received a second wound), the Regiment was reduced to one Squadron, and we had sent out a few skirmishers to meet those of the Enemy, more for the purpose of occupying the men than from any good they could do. At this time the Household Brigade was in line a little to our right, and about one hundred and fifty yards more retired from the front than we were. Of the glorious Advance which took place almost immediately after I was obliged to leave the field, I, of course, know nothing. A. K. Crarx Kennepy, Lieut.-Colonel, &c. FROM THE SAME. Leeds, July 14th, 1839. I also met Lieut.-Colonel Phipps, then a Captain com- manding a half of the right Squadron of the Royals. He assures me that the right Squadron (commanded by Lieut.- Colonel Dorville) passed through the 32nd Regiment. He had some conversation with an Officer of that Corps (Major Haynes), and was some time with them, his horse having been killed at the hedge where the other Captain (Windsor) and several men and horses fell. If the Greys did not form a supporting line, which it now appears to be almost certain they did not, they ought to have done so. Colonel Phipps was close to the Marquis of Anglesey when he ordered the Brigade to wheel into line, and he heard him distinctly say, ‘‘ The Royals and Inniskillings will charge, the Greys support.” Sir William Ponsonby was in front of the Inniskillings. I also saw Lieut.-Colonel Wyndham (then a Cornet) [in - the Greys] in town. He tells me he does not think they PONSONBYS CAVALRY BRIGADE. 75 Royar Dracoonse ever formed a second line, but that they may have doubled a little behind the Inniskillings in the advance, on account of the nature of the ground. I confess that, until after reading your last notes, I never had a doubt on the subject. I did not see the Eagle and Colour (for there were Capture of two Colours, but only one with an Eagle) until we had ha ie. af been probably five or six minutes engaged. It must, I French Regi- should think, have been originally about the centre of = the Column, and got uncovered from the change of direction. When I first saw it, it was perhaps about forty yards to my left and a little in my front. The Officer who carried it and his companions were moving’ Towards site in the direction O, with their backs towards me, and ‘mdcated, endeavouring to force their way into the crowd. on I gave the order to my Squadron, “ Right shoulders forward, attack the Colour,” leading direct on the point myself. On reaching it, I ran my sword into the Officer’s right side a little above the hip joit. He was a little to my left side, and he fell to that side with the Hagle across my horse’s head. I tried to catch it with my left hand, but could only touch the fringe of the flag, and it is probable it would have fallen to the ground, had it not been prevented by the neck of Corporal Styles’ horse, who came up close on my /e/¢ at the instant, and against which it fell. Corporal Styles was Standard Coverer; his post was immediately behind me, and his duty to follow wherever I led. When I first saw the Eagle I gave the order, “ Right shoulders forward, attack the Colour,” and on running the Officer through the body I called out twice together, “Secure the Colour, secure the Colour, it belongs to me.” This order was addressed to some men close to me, of whom Corporal Styles was one. On taking up the Eagle, I endeavoured to break the Eagle from off the pole with the intention of putting it into the breast of my coat ; but I could not break it. Corporal Styles said, “ Pray, sir, do not break it,” on 76 WATERLOO LETTERS. Royar Dracoons, Saw a blue silk flag at Abbotsford purporting to have belonged to the 105th French Regi- ment. The Brigade took no stand. ards into the Field. No. 38. Waterloo. 1st Charge. French left Column previously repulsed by Kempt’s Infantry. which I replied, “ Very well, carry it to the rear as fast as you can, it belongs to me.” What became of the other Colour without the Eagle I know not, but it is rather singular that I last autumn saw a dark blue silk flag with the words 105me Régiment @Infanterie de Ligne in gold letters upon it in the hall at Abbotsford along with other military curiosities. How it got there I could not learn, the present Sir Walter Scott telling me he had no knowledge of how it got into his late father’s possession, or where it came from. Could this have been the very flag that was along with the Eagle, or was it only a camp colour? The flag of the Eagle was red, white and blue; this all blue. _ Please to recollect that none of the Brigade took their Standards into the Field, they were left at home by order. Yours, &e., A. K. Crarx KEnwepy, Lieut.-Colonel 7th Dragoon Guards. FROM THE SAME. Leeds, July 27th, 1839. Until your last, I had no idea that the attack of the left French Column had been met and repulsed by part of Sir James Kempt’s Brigade before we gained the crest of the ridge, or could see what was going on in front; and it is excusable, my mistaking in the momentary view I had of our Infantry crossing the hedges in apparently great confusion (in returning from their successful attack for the purpose of re-forming) for an involuntary movement before an advancing Enemy, the head of one of whose Columns had gained the height on my immediate left. That at the time we wheeled into line our Infantry were in the act -of crossing the hedges I am certain, but whether they formed in rear of them, or immediately PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 77 Ro¥AL Dragoons, advanced and re-formed in front, I cannot say, but there ‘was apparently great confusion at the moment. The Brigade was most gallantly supported by the Infantry, both in advancing and in retiring, by numerous small squares or parties of from ten, to twenty, or thirty men each, who came down the slope of the hill after us. Several of those parties were Highlanders, but whether 42nd, 79th, or 92nd, I cannot say, perhaps some of them all and other Regiments, for as I mentioned in a former letter, troops of various descriptions got mingled together. One instance I can speak to, viz.,a small party of the King’s Dragoon Guards that had joined in the charge on the other side of the Brussels road, retired on the proper left of my Squadron, and regained the position along with it. Mistaking them for some of my own Regiment I called out to them, “ Royalsformon me.” The reply was, « We are King’s Dragoon Guards, not Royals,’ and they passed on. : ‘ : Yours, &c., A. K. Crarx Kennopy. FROM THE SAME. Leeds, October 28th, 1839. I was speaking a short time ago to Mr. Hope, the Adjutant of the Leeds Recruiting District, who was a Subaltern in the 92nd Regiment at Waterloo, who told me he never saw anything to equal the enthusiasm of both Corps when the Greys passed through the 92nd to charge —that they mutually cheered each other on—that the 92nd seemed half mad, and that it was with the greatest diffi- culty the Officers could preserve anything like order in the ranks. With regard to the strength of the Brigade in the ‘field on the 18th of June, I have never calculated it at more than 950, or at the utmost 1,000 swords. The The Brigade supported by the Infantry. Some of the King’s Dra- goon Guards retiring by the left of the Royals, No. 39. Waterloo. Enthusiasm of Greys and Highlanders. Strength of the Brigade at Waterloo. Scors Greys. No. 40. Waterloo. Ist Charge. First wound after crossing the hedge. Second wound, 78 WATERLOO LETTERS. numbers mentioned in the Duke’s despatches, of course, include not only the Officers, but men, General Officers’ Orderlies, hospital or Surgeons’ Orderly, camp kettle men, Farriers, Trumpeters, &., and they may be safely set down as 120 or 130 at least in the three Corps, but they were probably a good many more. Yours, &c., A. K. Crark KENNEDY, Tue 2np orn Royat Nort British Dracoons— Scots GRreEys. LIEUT.-COLONEL C. WYNDHAM. Lreutenant Scots Greys, Ballincollig, 13th, [? April or May 1839.] There is no doubt that before we wheeled into line we were ina hollow and had suffered from the Guns in ques- tion before we charged, and it was at this period (not in the charge, as your military correspondent tells you) that Sir T. Hankin fell off his horse. I saw him on this side of the hedge taken to the rear, and three or four others besides of the men. Icannot have a doubt but what it was a Column on the other side the hedge in irregular order trying to arrive at the hedge to command us, after the Highlanders had fallen back a little; there must have been a strong body of French opposed to this Brigade, or why did they fall back? Ican recollect the circumstance by having got my first wound a few yards on the other side of the hedge. We sabred a good many going down the hill; it is possible that I may not be correct with regard to the distance from one Column to the other of the French, but I know it was not many minutes afterwards going into the second Square or Column IJ got shot through the foot and disabled. PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 79 Crawford tells me after this they [the Greys] went up the high ground and took the Guns, somewhere about 20, and sabred the gunners and drivers, but could not bring away the Guns. The Lancers of the French, in open column, came close by me, and were evidently going in pursuit of our wounded and dismounted men, but did not attack the small main body of our Regiment. If we had been supported here, many of our poor fellows would have been saved; these Lancers did much havoc, and at Brussels, some weeks afterwards, I found many of our men with 10 and 12 lance wounds in them, and one man, Lock, had 17 or 18 about his person, and lived afterwards to tell the story. The prisoners I have mentioned which were taken came from both Columns from the hedge on- wards. I will now try, if possible, to help you in respect to the enigma, for such it appears at present. I cannot allow we supported the other two Regiments, but here I think the mistake lies, and there was plenty of work, whichever way it was, cut out for everybody. We came from the hollow you speak of, the fire from the Enemy’s Guns becoming too warm. We moved up, and I think took ground to the left to get more under cover of the hill. This may account ‘for our being in some degree detached from the other two Regiments. We afterwards wheeled into line and went, in not the most regular order, over and through the hedge in the best way we could, encountering at the same [time] the French fellows who had formed themselves at the hedge, and gave us their fire as we came up the hill, We had several killed and wounded at this moment from small shot, and our remark ever since that memorable day was the extra- ordinary manner in which the bullets struck our swords as we ascended. Colonel Hankin never crossed this ground, but was left in the hollow and taken to a farm house nearly in front of which we bivouacked. In respect to the brushwood which you allude to, I am almost sure I saw it on our left, The circumstance, Scots Greys. Paymaster Crawford, Cornet, Scots Greys. Greys take about twenty guns; unable to bring them away. French Lancersattack our wounded. and dismount- ed men. Greys not in support. 80 WATERLOO LETTERS. Scors Greys. since you have mentioned it, brings to my recollection an unfortunate Officer, I think of the Highlanders, who was brought down the hill to this very ground, and was being carried in a blanket by five or six of his Regiment, when a shell came and fell near them and destroyed nearly the whole [party]. I had before imagined it had been a garden instead of brushwood, but no doubt you are right. Some gun horses I saw in a difficulty near this spot at the same moment. Scene on the I have often thought of the scene I witnessed in soe going to Brussels. What a droll model it would have made. The road was one varied scene from the time I left the village of Waterloo until I arrived at Brussels; men, women, and children were ridden over by the runaway Belgians, and a few of our own people—baggage waggons, Guns, &e., lying in the middle of the road. I must say I was delighted with your Model in London, and I was always sorry my time was so short for viewing it; it requires some hours to look it well through, but I was amused with an old Sergeant of the 12th Lancers telling his story to some one of having gone down with his Regiment in the charge with the Greys. “And we took an Eagle?’’ There is an old saying to “ lie like a trooper,” but this is all fair game and helps to vary the “ oft told tale.” Yours, &c., C. WynpHam. FROM THE SAME. No. 41. Newbridge Barracks, March 14th [? 1839]. Waterloo, The Greys, and I believe the Brigade, were not Greysnot engaged with the Cavalry beyond the Lancers cutting up ene with our wounded stragglers, &c., and some who were rallying ; except the but depend upon it there was no order of “parade,” or Lancers. : - 3 4 any dressing of “lines.” Péle-méle we went to work, PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 81 and from the circumstance of our first, second, third, and fourth in command being ors de combat, rely upon it there was not the time for meditating who was to halt the Corps or Brigade. It was an affair of, you may almost say, a moment, but had its desired effect, though not according to Cocker or Hovle. In the evening, as you know, we crossed the road to the right, and although very much exposed to fire, had to show front to the Enemy, and awe them by advancing and retiring; and although there was a large body of French Cavalry in front, still they did not, fortunately for us, attack. Brevet-Major Cheney at night brought out of action four or five Officers, and under thirty men. It is a curious circumstance that we lost as many killed (nearly) as wounded, both in Officers and men. Zhe Lancers did us as much mischief almost as the round shot and shell, as they got in our rear. We found men with ten and fifteen wounds, and one man had eighteen and alive at the time. Yours, &e.. C. Wynpuam. Extracts from accompanying Memorandum. No particular Regiment supported. The charge was a charge of the Regiments in line. The 92nd Highlanders appeared to be giving way when the Greys came to the top of the hill where the hedge was situated. The 92nd Highlanders passed through the intervals of the Greys, and several went down the hill from the hedge with the Regiment, and it was at this moment when the 92nd cheered the Greys, and cried, ‘‘ Scotland for ever!” I cannot say, but presume the 42nd Highlanders were in the same Brigade with the 92nd and 79th Regiments. In ‘nats the hill, about three or four hundred yards from the hedge, the Greys came in contact with a 2nd French Column or Square, regularly formed, the fire G Scots Greys. Four com- manding Officers put hors de combat. At the end of the day reduced to four or five Officers and under thirty men. No Regiment in support. In reply to a question whether any of the Greys passed through the 42nd. The Greys come upon a Scots Greys. second Column, which is also nearly destroyed. No. 42. Waterloo. Ist Charge. See plan, p. 38. 92nd joining in charge. 82 WATERLOO LETTERS. from which they received [and which] did great execution. The loss at this moment in men and horses was most severe. This Column was nearly destroyed, and the re- mainder of it were taken prisoners. The Eagle was taken from the leading French Column by the Greys, and sent to Brussels.* C. WynpHan, Lieutenant-Colonel commanding 2nd Dragoons. PAYMASTER W. CRAWFORD, SCOTS GREYS. Cornet Scots Greys. Ballincollig, June 12th, 1839. I have no recollection of the Greys having been in support during any part of the charge made on the Columns of French Infantry alluded to in your note. I remember Lieutenant-Colonel Hankin’s going to the rear in consequence of his horse having fallen with him; but this took place some time before we charged. In your plan which you have enclosed (and which I now return), in my opinion the Greys are placed correctly. I perfectly recollect the hollow from our having had two or three men and horses severely wounded by cannon shot, and in consequence of this, of our having been ordered to advance a short distance so as to place us more under cover, where we were for a short time, and then ordered to charge (the French Columns which were causing our Infantry to retire), upon which we advanced direct, and not as a supporting body. As we advanced we were met by a number of the 92nd Regiment, who turned and ran into the charge with us, and during which I don’t remember seeing either Royals or Inniskillings in our front. * The Eagle of the 45th French Regiment was taken in the charge by Sergeant Ewart of the Greys. Unfortunately, I cannot find the letter giving the details. Early in the following year, Sergeant Ewart was appointed to an Ensigney in the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion. —Ep. PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 83 INNISKILLINGS, I do not recollect the patch of brushwood, nor do I remember the Guns which are said to have fired on us from the hedge; but amost destructive fire was kept up, and from which we suffered most severely, both in Officers and men, and also horses. Yours, &c., W. Crawrorp. THE 6rH InnisxKiLtinc Dragoons. LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR JOSEPH STRATON, C.B., K.C.H. Kyowy at Warterztoo as Ligzut.-CoLonet anp Cotonet J, Murter, InNsKILLING Dracoons, United Service Club, London, June 6th, 1839. No. 43. Not aaah to bai to my own memory at this Waterloo. distance of time, and Colonel Madox being here, I sent for 1st Charge. him. His recollections are that the 2nd Brigade Heavy ‘¢ plan, p. 38. Cavalry, composed of Royals, Greys, and Inniskillings, were in column, and wheeled into line; that Sir William Ponsonby, about mid-day (we were on the slope of a hill), rode to’ the crest (La Haye Sainte), called to me to come to him; that I returned to the Brigade, that Sir W. Ponsonby shortly afterwards touched or moved his hat; Signal for the and that I advanced the Brigade in Zine. Sir W. P. did 1’ ; See No. 82, call me to the front, pointed to the French Columns, and p. 63. told me when he saw the fit moment he would make the signal for advancing; and I confess to you that my impression was that Madox’s recollections of advancing in Zine were substantially correct. He commanded the right Squadron. I afterwards saw Lt.-Col. Linton, who says that we stood in column and wheeled into line; that shortly the French Artillery annoyed our left, and that the Greys were moved to a second line, and that in the charge on the Columns of French Infantry the Greys were in G 2 INNISKILLINGS. Conducted the advance. The Adjutant, M. M’Clusky killed. A squadron takes the Prisoners to Brussels. ? As to the Inniskillings taking an Hagle. 84 WATERLOO LETTERS. support. He recalled several incidents, such as Lt.-Col. Hankin of the Greys having fallen from his horse, the circumstance having been reported to me; my looking round, &e., a Trumpeter being killed, and I am almost in- clined to think the Greys were formed in a second line for a time; but whether afterwards brought up into line with the other two Regiments, or whether the Greys continued in support, I can hardly take upon me to say. Certain it is that the Royals and Inniskillings were in line, and in the first, if there was a second. With deference, I should say that the military maxim of a support was more applicable to partial Cavalry charges than to the operations of a general Action, and therefore I should not be much swayed by the maxim in deciding whether the Greys were in support or in the first line. I have since seen Col. Madox, but he, being on the right, can fix nothing as to the Greys, who were on the left. He recollects the Artillery bearing on us before we advanced. I was in front of the centre Squadron of the Inniskillings, and had the conducting of the movement in advance by signal from Sir Wm. Ponsonby, so that the Royals and Inniskillings advanced simultaneously there can be no doubt. As to passing through the Infantry—part wheeled back to make room for the Cavalry—part passed through the intervals of Squadrons, and some, I fancy, got through rather irregularly. I recollect most distinctly the attack on a Column of Infantry by the Inniskillings. One circumstance I cannot forget—an Infantry French soldier on his knees, deliberately taking aim at the Adjutant of the Inniskillings, who was close to me, in the midst of one of the French Columns, and sending his bullet through his head. A Squadron of the Inniskillings was sent to the rear (Brussels, I believe) with the Prisoners; but whether they took more prisoners than the other Regiments I cannot say. As to taking Eagles, much might be said. A Private (Penfold, I forget his Christian name), now living at Brighton, can give some strong proof on that head. PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 85 It may be proper to mention that Colonel Hamilton of the Greys stood above me, but somehow, neither Sir W. Ponsonby or myself adverted to it. I have, &c., JoserH StTraton, Lieutenant-General. Sir William Ponsonby was killed after the charge through the Columns of French Infantry (I was close to him). Colonel Hamilton was seen in advance, and never afterwards heard of. I succeeded to the command of the Brigade, and continued in command of it till wounded, very near the termination of the Action; about four or so in the afternoon we had moved to the right of the road. About six I was wounded, and Sir Arthur Clifton had command of the Brigade, then Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royals. FROM THE SAME. U. 8. Club, London, June 17th, 1839. I give you my own recollections, and those of Lieutenant-Colonels Madox and Linton, in reply to the Queries contained in your letter of the 10th. The Inniskillings came in contact with the French Columns of Infantry almost immediately after clearing the hedge and (I should call it) chemin creux. We all agree in thinking that the French Columns had nearly gained the crest—perhaps twenty to thirty yards down the slope. We think there were three French Columns. The French Column did xo¢ attempt to form square, nor was it, so far as we could judge, well prepared to repel an attack of Cavalry. Our impression is that, from the formation of the ground, the Cavalry was not aware what they were to attack, nor the Infantry aware of what was coming upon them. Sir William Ponsonby knew, and I knew, he having called me to the front ; other individuals InnIskI.uines. Death of Pon- sonby, and of Col. Hamilton of the Greys. Col. Muter succeeds to the command of the Brigade until wounded, about six p.m. Lt.-Col. Sir A, Clifton, of the Royals, succeeds in the command. No. 44. Waterloo. 1st Charge. The Cavalry came unex- pectedly on the French Infantry. INNISKILLINGS. The French Infantry had no time to throw them- selves into square. The French Guns were on the opposite height, not with the attacking Columns. 86 WATERLOO LETTERS. may also have known, but not the mass. I have always considered it a splendid illustration of the maxim that the attacks of Cavalry against Columns of Infantry should be unforeseen and unexpected.* I could give an example, in the Peninsular War, of a similar result from the formation of the ground, as also of opposite results where the Infantry saw, and prepared accordingly. Our recollections are that the French skirmishers must have rejoined their Columns before, or at the moment of our clearing the hedge. We do not recollect seeing them. The right and centre Squadrons of the Jnniskillings certainly came in contact with a French Column. The left Squadron may have had to bring up its left shoulders to come on the flank of the Column, but I rather think the French Column extended as far as our left. Our left Squadron eut off (if I recollect) about 2,000 Prisoners. I shall send your query to Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, and let you know. I am inclined to think that the Artillery by which our left was annoyed must have been placed on the opposite heights. We do not recollect coming on any Guns accom- panying the French Columns, nor do I think that the French Artillery got to the hedge. If there were any, they must have made off. We cannot say that the Inniskillings were checked by any body of Cavalry in line, but rather think that, flushed by extraordinary success, they went on with so * The Cavalry, on reaching the crest, or a moment before that, saw, from being a little raised on horseback, the solid Columns, and increasing their speed, attacked with great impetuosity, cheering by the three countries, England, Scotland, and Ireland. The French Infantry made good use of their musquets and fire, but had no time to throw themselves into square; any attempt to do so would, I think, have been frustrated by the momentum which the Cavalry had [gained] by plunging over the hedges, and their increased ardour by this time acquired. PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. $7 5 INNISKILLINGS. much impetuosity, and suffered severely, both in pursuit and return, from Pelotons, Clouds, or small bodies of French Lancers. After charging through the Infantry, there was no line preserved—imperfect, at any rate. IT have, &e., JOSEPH STRATON. LIEUT.-COLONEL F. 8. MILLER. Mayor anv Lievr.-Cotoner Ixvskmircs. TO SIR JOSEPH STRATON. Radway, June 11th, 1839. My pear Sir JoserH,— : pe : : : _ No. 45. As I perceive the Royals and Greys have an Eagle on their Standards, &c., I think application should be made for the Inniskillings to be granted the same distinction, as I have Thinks the always considered them as much entitled to it as either of Inniskillings = 3 entitled to the the other Regiments. distinction of , i" : . pe 7 7 an Eagle on iors their Stand- When we took [up] our position on the 18th, the ards, as well Royals were formed on the right, the Inniskillings on the al i eel left, the Greys ta reserve, and so formed we charged. I : commanded the /eff Squadron, Madox the right, and Browne the centre. My Squadron was composed of Holbeck’s and Douglas’ Troops. In charging the French Column I was bayoneted in two places slightly, and lost my horse. In returning to the rear I met Sergeant Small, who had lost his own horse, and was leading one which had belonged to a French Officer of Lancers, and on that I rode, with the Lancer’s appointments, for the rest of the day. I then found out Rickatts, got some sticking-plaster put on my bayonet wounds, and rejoined the Brigade— then reduced to three Squadrons, some having been INNISKILLINGS. Assist.-Sur- geon W. H. Rickatts, Inniskillings. Wounded a third time. Story of Private Pen- fold taking an Eagle. Penn appears to have been a private or non-commis- sioned officer of the Innis- killings.—Ed. Licut. A. Hassard, Inniskillings, wounded. 88 WATERLOO LETTERS. sent to Brussels with prisoners — behind the little wood. From thence, after some time, we were ordered to the right of the Genappe road, moved up to the front, and there I was again wounded, and left them under the com- mand of Madox, you commanding the Brigade. As to time I cannot pretend to any accuracy whatever. I should guess we charged about twelve—Ponsonby was killed at that time—that we moved towards the right about four, and that I left the field about five. I was wounded shortly before you, and, I believe, also before Lord Anglesey—but of that I am not certain. As to Penfold taking an Eagle, I only know what I heard at the time, that he took an Eagle which was by some means dropped or lost, and brought off by a man of the Greys or Royals. But Penn says that Penfold todd him that after we charged he saw an Eagle, which he rode up and seized hold of; that the person who held it would not give it up, and that he dragged him by it for a con- siderable distance ; that the pole broke about the middle and Penfold carried it off; that immediately afterwards he saw Hassard engaged by himself, and went to his assist- ance, giving the Eagle to a young soldier of the Innis- killings, whose name Penn now forgets; and that a Corporal of the Royals persuaded that young soldier to let him have it, and he carried it off, and Penn says he saw an Eagle broken as described going to Brussels with the prisoners. Believe, &c., F. S. Mitier. PONSONBY’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. Radway, June 18th, 1839. My pear Sir Josrra,— You may remember that when we advanced, and the men began to fall from the fire of the Artillery, we dismounted and marched up the hill on foot, and on reaching the top we mounted, and I then perceived the enemy’s close Columns advancing near the hedge. On seeing us they hesitated, and were inclined fo turn. A person in plain clothes, standing near the hedge close to the left of my Squadron, cried out, “Now’s your time,” so over the hedge I went, and waited a moment or two for the men to collect, and then we were into the -Column in a second. There it was I received my bayonet wounds, and lost my horse. From our scattered state in getting over the hedge, I do not conceive we should have made any impression on ow opposing Column had they not been inclined to retere, and had they reached the hedge we could have done nothing with them. So you will perceive it was at the top of the hill that my Squadron came in contact [with them]. They were in square when I first saw them. The Square fired at us very irregularly, after we got over the hedge. But they seemed altogether taken by surprise, and did not offer the resistance they ought to have done. And we did not stand en to be shot at. I saw no skirmishers. My eee eaiais somes iis one Cas and I always understood, took a number of prisoners, and the Eagle which afterwards got into the possession of one of the other Regiments ; therefore it is, (I think it will be,) very hard upon the Regiment if they are to remain the only one of the Brigade without the distinction. As I was on the left of our front line I heard no word of command, and only did what I saw done on ny right until I got in sight of the Enemy. So I was rather 89 INNISKILLINGS. No. 46. Waterloo. 1st Charge. Moved up the hill on foot. See No. 17, p. 36. The Duke of Richmond’s exclamation. His Squadron ‘broke one French Column, took a number of prisoners and an Eagle (?). INNISKILLINGS. See General Plan, No. 1. 99 WATERLOO LETTERS. behind the rest of the line, when we advanced after mounting, and therefore might come more unexpectedly on the Enemy, and after the skirmishers had been called in. Believe, &c., F. S. Mizirr. Penn is not now with me, but keeps a public-house of mine, and has put up the Iunishelling Dragoon for his sign, which was before the Red Horse. JI conceive there were ¢iree or more Columns or Squares charged by the Brigade, one by my Squadron, supported by the Greys. Dornsere’s Cavanry Bricape. The 3rd (Light) Cavalry Brigade was composed of the lst and 2nd Light Dragoons of the King’s German Legion, and of the 23rd Light Dragoons. It was commanded by Major-General William Dérnberg. On the 17th, the lst and 2nd Light Dragoons formed part of the right Column of Cavalry in the retreat, whilst the 23rd was with the centre Column, which passed by the road through the town of Genappe. After acting as a support to the Ist Life Guards during their charge at Genappe, it became the last Regiment in the rear guard, and continued so during the remainder of the retreat. At Waterloo the Brigade was first posted in rear of Sir Colin Halkett’s Infantry in the Allied right centre, and was engaged during the day in several successful combats with the French Cavalry attacking that part of the line. DORNBERG'S CATALRY BRIGADE. 91 23rnp Licut Dracoons. At the time of the advance of the second Column of the Imperial Guard, a Squadron of the 23rd Light Dragoons, under Lieut. J. Banner (Captain P. Z. Cox having just been disabled) charged and overcame the Cuirassiers, which were annoying the British Batteries, pursuing them round the rear of the Column, until checked by the sz General fire of French Infantry. The 2nd Light Dragoons renee of the German Legion also greatly distinguished itself. The letters are solely from the 23rd Light Dragoons. No. 47 refers to the march on Quatre Bras, and to the retreat on 17th June, the remaining letters to Waterloo. 23rp Licur Dracoons. BREVET-MAJOR J. BANNER, 93RD HIGHLANDERS, LizvTENANT 23rp Licut Dracoons. Lakefield House, Hawkeshead, Lancashire, No. 47. April 15th, 1837. Severe domestic affliction, which I have experienced since I had the pleasure of seeing you, must plead my excuse for not having sooner forwarded to you the enclosed Memorandum of my remembrances of the 16th and 17th of June, 1815. a Iam sorry I cannot lay my hands upon some papers, containing a few particulars of the Campaign, and an old map of the Netherlands, wherein I had marked all the marches performed by the 23rd Dragoons in that country, with the cantonments which they occupied there, conse- quently I cannot positively name the places in the enclosed 92 WATERLOO LETTERS. 23rxp Licut Dragoons. 16th June. British troops directed to concentrate on Quatre Bras. March to Quatre Bras. The 23rd passed through Nivelles. Enthusiasm of the inhabit- ants. statement. But Gonicke or some such name was the village at which my Troop was stationed when ordered to march upon Quatre Bras ; it was about seven miles from Brussels. I am, &c., Joun Bayner. MEMORANDUM. On the morning of the 16th of June, 1815, at two o'clock, the different detachments of the 23rd Light Dragoons, that were in cantonments about seven miles from Brussels, received orders to assemble at the Head Quarters of the Regiment with all possible haste, for the purpose of proceeding to Quatre Bras, where the British troops were directed to concentrate, intelligence having been received that the outposts of the Allied Army had been attacked, and were forced to fall back, and that Napoleon with the French Army was advancing upon that point. The 23rd Light Dragoons being collected moved off from its headquarters shortly after daybreak, and on its march came up with several Dragoon Corps; the 13th Light Dragoons was the Regiment immediately in its front. When we arrived within a few miles of Nivelles a brisk cannonading was plainly heard, which indicated that a general engagement was going on; the Cavalry had to proceed through bad roads, which retarded their progress exceedingly, but they trotted whenever the road admitted of their moving at that pace, and pressed forward with the greatest alacrity to participate in the glories of the Field of Action. On reaching Nivelles it was in the greatest possible state of excitation and confusion, the inhabitants from distant parts of the neighbourhood having come there for security ; every house was filled with ladies and well- dressed females, who crowded to the windows, waved their handkerchiefs, and cheered the troops as they passed along the streets, in the most enthusiastic manner; the spectacle was encouraging beyond description. Never was a sight more touching than that on ap- DORNBERGS CAVALRY BRIGADE. 93 23rp Licur Dracoons. proaching nearer to the Field of Battle. The road sides close to Quatre Bras were covered with the slain, anda vast number of gallant fellows in their last moments of agony. The British Cavalry having a long march from their cantonments did not reach Quatre Bras until near six o’clock in the afternoon of the 16th June, about the close of the Action. The 23rd Light Dragoons was one of the first Regiments that arrived ; it took up its position on the rismg ground to the right of the Namur road at the entrance to the Field of Action from Nivelles. Almost im- mediately on the 23rd entering the field, a reconnoitring party, under the charge of an Officer, was despatched across a large plain of high standing corn close to the edge of an extensive wood to watch and ascertain the movements of the main body of the Enemy, which was lying behind it. From six o’clock (the hour about which the Cavalry joined or came up) the firing gradually diminished until nine o’clock, when it altogether ceased at Quatre Bras, but towards Ligny, where the Prussians were engaged, the cannonading continued until 10 o’clock. The 23rd Light Dragoons furnished a strong picquet that night, under the command of Lieut. Banner, which was posted on the slop- ing ground tothe right of the Namur road, opposite to and not far distant, from the wood near the entrance of the Field of Battle. Colonel the Earl of Portarlington was the Field Officer on duty, and Captain Dance was the Captain of the day. The night passed off quietly, nothing material taking place in the immediate vicinity of Quatre Bras until 10 o’clock, when a most tremendous cheering, which con- tinued for several minutes, was heard towards the right of the French position, and which was supposed to be the Enemy’s demonstration of joy for the fancied victory they had obtained in the hard fought Battle of Quatre Bras, but in the morning it was ascertained that the acclamations and shouts of joy were proclaiming the decisive advantage they had gained over the Prussians at Ligny, in forcing them to abandon their position. The Enemy did not renew the attack at Quatre Bras Cavalry reach Quatre Bras about six p.m. See plan No. 2 of Quatre Bras. At ten p.m. French Troops cheering for the Battle gained at Ligny. The Retreat on 17th June. gd WATERLOO LETTERS. 23xp Licut Dracoons, The Infantry commence their retreat early. The Cavalry about two p.m. Defile of Genappe the next morning, nor was any attempt made to disturb the troops while they remained in that position. When the Duke of Wellington received on ‘the morning of June 17th intelligence of Marshal Blucher’s defeat, and that the Prussian Army was retiring, the British and Belgian troops were immediately put in motion and ordered to fall back upon Waterloo. The Infantry com- menced moving from Quatre Bras early in the morning, and the Cavalry, ordered to protect the retreat, remained in that position until the rest of the Army had proceeded some distance to the rear. The Cavalry began its march about two o’clock in the afternoon, when the Enemy immediately afterwards emerged from the woods and pursued the Allied rear guard with the greatest enthu- siasm. The rear guard had not marched half a mile from Quatre Bras when it was overtaken by a storm of thunder and rain, the latter falling in such abundance that it rendered the roads and ground over which the troops retreated scarcely passable. There being only one street by which the Army could pass through Genappe, the progress of the troops was consequently retarded at that village, and during this stoppage some of the Cavalry Regiments moved a short distance to the right of the entrance to Genappe to be ready to form and meet any attack that the French advance guard, which was rapidly approaching, might make upon our Columns while they were delayed at this defile, but all our troops entered Genappe before the French came up. The Artillery which accompanied the French advance guard to Genappe was immediately planted at the left side of the town on the bank of the river which passes through it, from which station the Enemy opened a heavy and incessant fire upon our Cavalry when ascending from Genappe, by which they were exceedingly galled and sustained some loss; our Artillery being all at the period considerably in front, we were without a cannon to return a shot. The Enemy’s Cavalry, having entered Genappe, DORNBERGS CAVALRY BRIGADE. 95 23rp Licut Dracoons. began to press upon our rear guard, the last division of which had scarcely quitted the town when the Earl of Uxbridge came to the rear to reconnoitre, and placing himself upon the elevated ground on the right of the road leading from Genappe, perceiving the boldness of the French, directed the 7th Hussars to charge in order to check their advance; the 7th Hussars, being animated by the presence of their Colonel, rushed on the Enemy with the greatest spirit and intrepidity, and drove the French advanced divisions back into the street of Genappe upon the main body of their Cavalry which occupied the town, where a most obstinate conflict commenced, each party fighting with the utmost desperation. The French, being backed by a long dense Column of Cavalry flanked by the houses on each side of the street, were enabled to make a most formidable resistance; notwithstanding this numerical superiority, it was only when menaced by such a heavy force pressing forward that the 7th Hussars were obliged to retire, but although they fell back the fault did not lie with them, nor was it in consequence of the lightness of their horses, as has been insinuated. The conduct of this Corps on this occasion was heroic in the extreme; their spirit and ardour was universally admired and acknow- ledged by all who witnessed the gallant affair. The French became exceedingly elated in thus having repulsed the 7th Hussars in this, the first attack made by the British Cavalry. Immediately on the 7th Hussars falling back the whole French Column raised the war cry and rent the air with shouts of Hn avant! En avant / and evinced the greatest impatience to follow up this momentary advantage, and attack us in return at this favourable moment when a great many of our Columns in the rear were experiencing considerable annoyance from the well-directed and effective fire from the Enemy’s Guns on the bank of the river. The French Cavalry being thus emboldened, several divisions pressed on rapidly with a view to fall upon our rear guard. The 23rd Light Dragoons being then the Regiment next 7th Hussars ordered to charge the advancing French Cavalry. 7th obliged to retire. Enthusiasm of the French. 96 WATERLOO LETTERS. 23rp Licut Dracoons, The 28rd Light Dra- goons in the rear, nearest Regiment to the Enemy. Open out to permit 1st Life Guards to pass. Gallant charge of Ist Life Guards. After the charge the 28rd again the rearmost Regiment, and for the rest of the Retreat. to the Enemy, were halted and ready to receive them, but the Earl of Uxbridge, desirous to afford the Ist Regiment of Life Guards, which was immediately in front of the 23rd Dragoons, an opportunity of charging, directed that Corps to be brought back; the 23rd Dragoons opened out to permit them to pass. During the interval of time which had elapsed between the attack made by the 7th Hussars and the Life Guards coming from the front and forming in the rear, the French had debouched from Genappe, and when their leading divisions had ascended a little more than half way up the hill, the Life Guards were ordered to charge, and this charge was perhaps one of the most effective ever made by any troops. Although the French sustained the attack with firmness, they were quite unable to stand their ground in such a situation, advancing up the hill against the flower of the British Cavalry. The French were overthrown with great slaughter, and were literally rode down in such a manner that the road was covered with men and horses scattered and sprawling in all directions down to the main body of the Enemy’s advance guard. The 23rd Dragoons supported the Life Guards on this occasion, and after this successful and most brilliant charge, the 23rd Dragoons became again the last Regiment in the rear guard, and continued so during the rest of the retreat, and while it was proceeding leisurely along the road near the summit of the hill, not far from a house that was on the left-hand side of the pavé, this part of the road being much exposed to the Enemy’s fire, a Staff Officer who was passing called out to Colonel the Farl of Portarlington, who commanded the 23rd Dragoons, to trot and push forward, but his Lordship, with his usual sang- froud, gave the word of command in the most emphatic manner for his Regiment to walk, and replied that “the 23rd Dragoons should never trot before an enemy,” the French advance guard being at the time only a very short distance off. DORNBERG'S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 97 23np Licnt Dragoons. From this period until the 23rd Dragoons entered on the position at Waterloo it was not much harassed ; the Enemy merely pressed on twice or three [times], and made preparations to attack, but never carried their intentions into effect. The last time when their advance guard showed any serious disposition of doing so was in the hollow before reaching La Haye Sainte, when the 23rd Dragoons formed in line on the ground on the left- hand side of the road to d/d them an affectionate good- night, but they would not come on to receive the proffered salutations. During this last ceremony the Guns from the position at Waterloo, and those which accompanied the French advance guard, were playing over the heads of the Cavalry. Thus closed the proceedings of June 17th, 1815. Joun Banner, Major and Captain, 93rd Highlanders. FROM THE SAME. TO COL. D’ AGUILAR, DEPUTY ADJ.-GEN., DUBLIN. Dear Coroner D’ Acuitar,— Rochdale, Sept. 3rd, 1835. No, 48, The 23rd Dragoons, to which I had the honour of Waterloo. belonging, were posted towards the right of the British Line at the Battle of Waterloo, when Major Cutcliffe, having left the field wounded, between four and five o’clock in the afternoon of that day, the command of the - Regiment devolved upon Major Lautour, who received an order between five and six o’clock to send part of it towards the centre to the relief of a Brigade of Guns, which was considerably annoyed by the repeated charges of the French Cavalry, and in obedience with that order a Squadron to which I belonged was despatched, under the command of Capt. Cox, who was soon after obliged to leave the field in consequence of having been previously il 98 WATERLOO LETTERS. 23xp Licgut Dracoons. See General Plan of Waterloo, No. 2. severely stunned in a charge by his horse falling on him. The French Cavalry that made the last effort to silence the Guns above-mentioned were repulsed and driven back by this Squadron of the 23rd. Dragoons to a Square of French Infantry, which was formed considerably to the front, and behind which the French Cavalry took refuge. This Square opened a heavy fire on the 23rd Dragoons on their retiring, and in consequence of their experiencing a similar annoyance on approaching the British line, they were induced to move to its flanks, which movement brought the greater part of this Squadron of the 23rd Dragoons along the front of Sir Hussey Vivian’s Brigade. After clearing the Brigade I re-formed the men belonging to the 23rd Dragoons, and proceeded in the direction of Sir Hussey’s Brigade, which had just before advanced, and on my coming up with the 18th Hussars on the summit of the French position, I went to the Honble. Col. Murray, who commanded that Corps, and informed him of my having brought up a division of the 23rd Dragoons which had been separated from its Squadron in a previous charge, and requested to be allowed to advance with his Regiment, upon which he replied that he had no contro] over me. I therefore continued to march with. the 18th Hussars until we halted to bivouae for the night, when Captain McNeill and Lieut. Dodwell, with a few men, reunited with my division. The other Officers of the Squadron were Cornet Blathwayte and, I believe, Cornet Hemmings. Cornet Blathwayte was with my division. Lam, &e., JoHN Banner, Captain 93rd Highlanders. DORNBER@S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 99 23np Licgut Dragoons LIEUT..COLONEL P. A. LAUTOUR, H. P. 23np LANCERS. Masor 23xp Licut Dragoons. Boulogne, February 28th, 1835. On the evening of the 17th of June the 23rd Light Dragoons having formed part of the rear-guard, entered into position and bivouacked in a barley field just in rear of the Nassau Brigade of Infantry, the lst and 2nd German Light Dragoons having joined us that evening, which composed our Brigade under the command of Major-General Baron Dérnberg. Major-General Sir Culquhoun Grant’s Brigade being to our right. On the morning of the 18th the Brigade moved up in column of Squadrons to the ridge of the position occupied by part of the Royal Horse Artillery, as a support tv the Guns, one of the German Light Dragoon Regiments forming on our immediate left, and the other a little to our left rear; and in rear of our Brigade was formed a Regiment of Belgian Heavy Cavalry, where the Brigade remained dismounted tintil the French Lancers and Cuirassiers advanced to attack our Guns and the position we occupied, when the Brigade mounted, and led by our gallant General Doérnberg (who was severely wounded in that charge), repulsed the Enemy with great loss, and when the 23rd Light Dragoons, animated and borne away by this success, pursued its advantage a little too far, crossed a very wide and deep ravine into which several of the rear rank horses fell, driving back the Cuirassiers and Lancers on their own Guns, and throwing the French gunners into the greatest confusion. After re-forming the Regiment (Lieut.-Colonel Cutcliffe having been severely wounded), I moved it up in advance of its first position, and to the support of the 33rd Regiment, commanded by Colonel William Elphinstone, H 2 No. 49. Waterloo Repulse attack French Cavalry on our Guns. an 100 WATERLOO LETTERS. 23np Licut Dragoons. Tied by Lord Anglesey, advanced and drove back the Enemy’s Cavalry. In the even- ing the 23rd is formed on the left of Somerset’s Brigade. Lord Angle- sey obtains a troop horse from the Regiment. And is wounded immediately afterwards. which Regiment was formed in square prepared to receive the French Cavalry. Immediately after that movement the 23rd Light Dragoons (the Marquis of Anglesey at their head) advanced again and drove back the Enemy’s Cavalry from their immediate front, and during which advance I found it necessary to move the Regiment to the right’ to give an opportunity to the Belgian Heavy Regiment of Dragoons in our rear to deploy (which I had reason to believe afterwards they did not do), and to prevent our being outflanked, as the Enemy were deploying at that moment a reserve to take us in flank, which by this movement was frustrated. The 28rd Light Dragoons in this charge forced the Enemy’s Cavalry to abandon the eminence they had obtained a2 momentary possession of, and which they appeared very jealous of maintaining. From that period the Regiment remained on the eminence supporting the Infantry until about five or six o’clock in the evening, when, it being much weakened, I formed it on the left of the Household Brigade, commanded by Lord Edward Somerset, and where we remained until the evening [when the Enemy] on our right, led on by the Imperial Guards, advanced agairt to force the position occupied by the British, and in which they were successfully repulsed ; and it struck me, as well as I could judge from the immense smoke and confusion at that moment, that a part of the Imperial Guards were overthrown and driven back by the 52nd Light Infantry. It was almost immediately after that attack that the Marquis of Anglesey rode up to the Regiment, and requested me to let him have a troop-horse, his own being tired out or wounded, which request I imme- diately complied with by dismounting Sergeant-Major Stride, giving his Lordship the Sergeant-Major’s mare, which his Lordship instantly mounted and galloped some yards to our front on, when he met with his wound. Perceiving his Lordship to have fallen, and on galloping up finding it proceeded from a severe and dangerous DORNBERGS CAVALRY BRIGADR. 101 23xp Licut Dragoons racture, I ordered a small party to assist in removing his Lordship from the ground, and reported the cir- cumstance to Major-General Lord Edward Somerset. About, or just previous to this time, Major-Generals Vandeleur’s and Sir Hussey Vivian’s Brigades advanced, when the 23rd Light Dragoons forming a support to the former, advanced with it the remainder of the evening and bivouacked next to the 11th Light Dragoons on that night. In this statement I have. not troubled you with the details of the several affairs in which the 23rd Light Dragoons were specially engaged during this memorable day, but it is a duty which I owe to the Officers and men whom I had the honour on that occasion to command, to state thatthe charge which they made down into the ravine; to which I have alluded, and in several other charges which in the course of the day they made, especially in one in which ‘they rode over a body of French Cuirassiers and Lancers, they displayed in a high degree the cool steadiness and determined bravery of British soldiers. I cannot conclude without naming a circumstance rela- tive to the Karl of Portarlington, at that period the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment, which I feel it a justice due to his Lordship (as a more gallant Officer never existed) to state, and to account for his absence from the 23rd Light Dragoons during that day, that in consequence of his Lordship having been taken dangerously ill with spasms and a violent bowel attack during the night of the 17th (when the Regiment slept on mud from the torrents of rain that fell), which obliged him to be removed from the ground very early on the morning of the 18th, and when he was conveyed to Brussels in a dangerous state ; but having during the day recovered a little, and hearing of the Action, he came up in the evening, and at the moment the 18th Hussars were charging, and advanced with them, and had his horse severely wounded under him in that charge, and which illness will account for his The 23rd form a sup- port to Vandeleur’s Brigade. Tlness of its Colonel, the Earl of Port- arlington. He comes up in the even- ing, and charges with the 18th Hussars. His horse severely wounded under him. 102 WATERLOO LETTERS. 3xv Light Dragoons. Lordship not having been with the 23rd Light Dragoons during that day. I have, &c., P. A. Lautour, Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. 23rd Lancers. LIEUT.-COLONEL H. GROVE. Captain AND Brevet-Masor 28rp Licut Dracoons. No. 50. Tonbridge Wells, January 8th, 1845. Waterloo I saw Vivian’s Brigade trot gently up in a Column of oo Divisions in the most perfect order, with Vivian, Thornhill, Death of Keane, and others at the head. Poor Howard was in the Le som 78”? and we nodded to each other as they passed, within a Hassara few minutes of which he was killed—and a very fine, See No.75, handsome fellow he was; but he evidently looked as if his Bere time was come. Yours, &c., H. Grove. | VANDELEUR’S CavaALRY BRIGADE. The 4th (Light) Cavalry Brigade consisted of the 11th Light Dragoons, the 12th, or Prince of Wales’, Light Dragoons, and the 16th Light Dragoons. It was commanded by Major-General Sir John Vandeleur, K.C.B., up to the period of Lord Uxbridge being wounded in the evening at Waterloo, when the latter was succeeded in the command of the Cavalry by Sir J. Vandeleur, and the command of the 4th Brigade devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Sleigh, of the llth Light Dragoons. On the 17th June, Vandeleur’s Brigade (with VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 103 the exception of a detached Squadron of the 11th Light Dragoons) and Vivian’s formed the left Column of Cavalry in the retreat. It was drawn up in rear of Vivian’s Brigade, and, on the latter being pressed by the Enemy, it crossed the Genappe river at the bridge of Thuy, so as to leave the passage open for Vivian. Nos. 52 and 55 formed part of a correspondence in which exception was taken by some Officers of the Brigade to the description given in the first edition of Captain Siborne’s History (Vol. I. p. 261 and following), to the effect that Vivian expected that Vandeleur was to support him until pressed by the Enemy, and then let him retire through his (Vandeleur’s) Brigade, the latter taking the rear guard in its turn. The pursuit of the Enemy being checked at the river, the two Brigades retired without further molestation to the position at Waterloo. On the 18th, Vandeleur’s Brigade was posted in the morning on the left of the position behind the Wavre road, and in rear of the farms of Pape- lotte and Ter la Haye. At the time of the first attack on Picton’s Division, and of the charge of Ponsonby’s Brigade, Vandeleur’s was moved to the right to support the latter, but was delayed by the nature of the ground it had to pass over in coming up. The 12th Light Dragoons, the leading Regiment, charged down into the valley, and broke the only French Column remaining intact after Ponsonby’s charge. It then took in flank the French Lancers who were pursuing the remains of the Heavy Brigade. See General Plan, No. 1. See Plan, p. 38. See General Plan, No, 2. See General Plan, No. 3. 104 WATERLOO LETTERS. The 16th, led by Vandeleur, also charged the Lancers, but more in their front, the two Regi- ments driving them back to the foot of the valley. The 12th sustained heavy losses, and the Command- ing Officers of both Regiments were very severely wounded. ‘The 11th had been kept in reserve on the brow of the hill. Later in the day, on the advance of the Prus- sians being ascertained, the Light Cavalry was moved from the left to the other side of the main road. Vandeleur’s Brigade was drawn up in rear of the Infantry Brigade of General Chassé’s Dutch- Belgian Division, and by its attitude prevented the latter from quitting the field at the time of the final attack of the Imperial Guard. In the General Advance the Brigade moved forward to the left of Hougoumont, and encoun- tered further on a large Column of Infantry forming square to receive them, which they charged and broke. The 11th Light Dragoons captured the last Battery which kept up its fire in the French left wing. The 12th came upon the Regiment of Grenadiers & Cheval, which was in perfect order, not having been engaged all day, but were too weak, after their previous losses, to make an impression on it. Nos. 52, 55, 56, and 60 refer to the retreat on the 17th, No. 55 and all the remaining letters to Waterloo. VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 105 GENERAL SIR JOHN VANDELEUR, G.C.B. Masor-Generat ann K.C.B., Comaanpine 4H Cavatry Bricape. MEMORANDUM. No date [? October, 1836}. On the morning of June 18th, Vandeleur’s Brigade, consisting of the llth, 12th, and 16th Light Dragoons, was formed on the extreme left of the Infantry (Picton’s Division), being separated from the Infantry by a ravine, and having the village or hamlet of La Haye Sainte [La Haye] two hundred or three hundred yards in its front, oceupied by Germans. Vivian’s Brigade was formed on the left of Vandeleur’s Brigade. Observing that the Enemy’s shot reached us, Vandeleur’s and (I believe) Vivian’s Brigades were ordered to retire behind the brow of the hill and dismount. About the time of commencing the Action, an order arrived from Lord Anglesey to Generals Vandeleur and Vivian to engage the Enemy whenever they could do so with advantage without waiting for orders, and sub- sequently an order came from the Duke or Lord Anglesey to close to the Infantry, which had left a vacancy by closing to its right. These two orders were the only orders received previous to the first charge made by Vandeleur’s Brigade. This Brigade, upon receiving the order to close to the Infantry, passed the ravine in column with a small front. It was then seen that Sir William Ponsonby’s Brigade, after their most gallant charge, had been repulsed, and was retiring precipitately and in disorder upon the left of Picton’s Division, of which it masked the fire. Vandeleur’s Brigade was brought forward as quickly as was consistent with order. The llth Light Dragoons were ordered to be the reserve and remain on the hill, the 12th and 16th being in line, the 12th on the left. Sir William Ponsonby’s Brigade, followed closely by the Enemy’s Lancers in column, were so near to the left of Picton’s Division, and to the right of Vandeleur’s Brigade, No. 51. Waterloo. Position of the Brigade at the com- mencement of the Battle, See General Plan, No. 1. The Brigade moves to the right, and Ponsonby’s Brigade was seen retiring. 1st Charge, The Brigade brought forward. 106 WATERLOO LETTERS. Sin J. VANDELEUR. And drives back the French Lancers. The Brigade ordered to the rear of the Infantry behind Hougoumont. It supports Vivian’s Brigade when charging the retiring Enemy. It relieves Vivian’s Brigade, and charged and broke the last French In- fantry which preserved order. After this it was so dark that a col- lision with the 1st German Hussars nearly took place. No. 52. The Retreat on the 17th. that it was impossible to form a line perpendicular to the Enemy’s flank in order to charge him in flank perpen- dicularly without exposing the left of the Brigade to a flank attack by a part of the Enemy’s Column. The two Regiments were therefore ordered, “ Squadrons Right half wheel, charge.” The Enemy was driven back, and the two Regiments were ordered, previous to the charge, not to pass the hollow ground in front. Sir Hussey Vivian’s Brigade followed Vandeleur’s over the ravine, but could not arrive in time to cover the retreat of Sir William Ponsonby’s Brigade. It formed on the left of the ground from which Vandeleur’s had charged. The pass across the ravine was narrow and required some time to pass, which was the reason that Sir J. Vandeleur left the 11th in reserve. After this the Infantry left a considerable space of ground vacant on the left by closing to the right, and forming four deep, squares, &c., and Vandeleur’s Brigade was ordered to the rear of the Infantry on the great road behind Hougoumont, where it remained till the Enemy made his last great effort, and was repulsed. It then sup- ported Vivian’s Brigade, which made several charges on the left of the retirmg Enemy. Vandeleur’s Brigade then relieved Vivian’s Brigade, pursued, charged, and broke the last Infantry which preserved its order near La Belle Alliance. It was then quite dark and the troops remained on the ground. It was so dark at the end of the last charge that the lst German Hussars, coming up in rear of Vandeleur’s Brigade, were mistaken for the Enemy till reconnoitred, which prevented any collision. FROM THE SAME. Dublin, Nov. 1st, 1845. Ihad the pleasure to receive your letter of the 28rd ult., and am perfectly satisfied with your proposal con- tained therein, viz., that the last declared opinion of the VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 107 llrtu Licut Dracoons, late Lord Vivian was that Sir J. Vandeleur had received no instructions to support his, Sir Hussey Vivian’s, Brigade on the 17th of May [June], and with the altera- tions you propose to insert, and which Colonel Childers approves of, namely, adding the following sentence :— “Vivian not being aware that Vandeleur had previously received orders to retire and leave the road clear for the retreat of the Cavalry in his front.” I remain, &c., J. VANDELEUR. THe lity Ligur Dragoons. LIEUT.-GEN. J. W. SLEIGH, C.B. Lirvt.-Cotoye, Commanpinc lltx Lieut Dracoons. Shirley House, near Southampton, Nov. 11th, 1841. In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 5th inst., received this morning, I shal] be happy in replying to your queries, so far as my recollection will allow; the first as regards Sir John Vandeleur’s Brigade covering the retreat of General Ponsonby’s after his attack on D’Erlon’s Columns. The Brigade was formed that day, the 16th Dragoons on the right, 11th in the centre, the 12th on the left. When Sir John Vandeleur ordered it to advance I was directed to remain on the brow of the position as a support, the 12th being the left Regiment of the whole line advanced by itself under Sir Frederick Ponsonby; the 16th with Sir John Vandeleur at their head proceeded rather to the right, but in going down closed on the 12th, and I am pretty sure some of the 16th charged with the 12th. The 16th, however, broke off to the right, leaving a considerable distance between the Corps, through which interval and the 11th Dragoons the chief part of the Greys retired, excepting one Squadron under Colonel Cheney, which fell back im very perfect order to the right of the 16th Dragoons. With reference to the Belgian Cavalry, who joined in covering the retreat, there were some in the rear of our No. 53. Waterloo. lst Charge. When the Brigade advanced to cover the retreat of Ponsonby’s Brigade, the 11th were left in support on the brow of the hill. The Belgian Cavalry. 108 WATERLOO LETTERS. llrH Licut Dracoons. Inthe evening the Brigade was support- ing and encouraging Belgian” : Squares in rear of the Guards. The Duke came up and said, “Tell them the French are retiring.” In the General Advance Van- deleur’s Bri- gade was on the right. Took the last French Battery and received the last fire. The 11th and 16th all but in collision with the Ist German Hussars. Brigade to the left, a few of them went down following the 12th Dragoons; but I cannot say I observed them to take any part in the attack, nor would the ground admit of their doing so on the left, as the ]2th advanced close to the hedge from which they suffered the severe loss the Regiment sustained. With regard to the second query, the Brigade moved ‘towards the close of the day to the right upon the crest of the position, giving cover [? support] to some Belgian Brigades who were in rear of (I think the Guards), and which timely support restored order to these troops, who were from the press made at that period upon this part of the position in some confusion and unsteady. The Duke came up and said, “Tell them the French are retiring,’ and I imagine from this [? time] gave the order for the General Advance. This is (as near as the distant period will allow of my stating) my observation on this part of the day. Vandeleur’s Brigade in the Advance was the right of the whole, Sir Hussey Vivian’s being on our left. We took the last Battery, and received their last fire, which was given when the Brigade, then under my command, was so close that I saw the Artillerymen fire their Guns ; fortunately the ground was undulating, and we only lost by the fire Lieutenant Phillips [? Phelips] of the 11th Dragoons, and Hay of the 16th Dragoons. It was after this, when continuing our advance, that the Ist Hussars came up in the rear of the Brigade, and from its being nearly dark were all but in collision with the 11th and 16th, which Regiments, knowing there was a Brigade of French Cavalry on our right, went Threes about, and were in the act of charging, when they recognised the 1st Hussars by knowing their cheer; it was very dark, and the men knew of the French Brigade being behind them. Tam, &c., J. W. SLEIGH. VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 109 llr Lieut Dracoons, FROM THE SAME. Shirley House, November 20th, 1841. The statement given you by an officer of the 12th, I have no doubt is correct, as I afterwards ascertained we were close on Buonaparte when he was getting away. The Brigade of French Cavalry is the same as you mention. It was poor Colonel Harvey who rode up and told me where they were, but they never came down, and I imagine must have gone to the rear on the road to Charleroi, or the Regiment mentioned by the 12th officer may have formed one of this Brigade. Iam, &ce., J. W. SieEicH. COLONEL M. CHILDERS. Caprain AND Brevet-Masor llte Licut Dracoons. FORWARDING AN EXTRACT FROM A LETTER BY LIEUT.-GEN, SLEIGH. Floors Castle, Kelso, September 23th, 1845. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (with its enclosures) of the 25th inst. I do not know Major-General James Hay’s address, but I wrote to Lieutenant-General Sleigh. An extract from his letter I herewith send you :— “Your letter of the 4th reached me this morning (September 10) ; in reply I will state, as well as my recol- lection permits, the circumstances attending the paragraph in Captain Siborne’s History. “ Previous to the two Brigades retiring, the 4th was formed in rear of the 6th some short distance. We re- ceived instructions to send an Officer to ascertain where we _could cross the Genappe River, and to commence our retreat ‘as soon as this had been found. Before the Officers re- turned who had been sent from the two Brigades and No. 54. Waterloo. Colonel Sir Felton Harvey, 14th Light Dragoons, Dep.-Assist. Qrtr.-Master General, No. 55. The Retreat on 17th. Previous to retiring, Vandeleur’s Brigade was in rear of Vivian's. 110 WATERLOO LETTERS. llrn Licut Dracoons, Moved off to the bridge over the river, but took up no new posi- tion till the Brigade had crossed. Ordered to leave room for the Guns and rear Brigade to pass. Vandeleur’s the last Bri- gade that arrived at the Waterloo position, Waterloo. Dyneley’s Guns (I think), that tremendous rain commenced. We moved off, and gradually proceeded to the Bridge, Vivian’s Brigade and the Guns following. We took up no new or commanding position until the Brigade had crossed. The 11th Dragoons was the leading Regiment when they broke into column to pass, and I fully remember Sir J. Vandeleur desiring me to form as soon as I could find an open space, leaving the road clear for the Guns and rear Brigade. This was done, and the 4th Brigade remained till Lord Vivian’s and the Guns had passed; and this is shown, I believe (if I recollect right), in Siborne’s state- ment, as it will be found we were the last Brigade that got to the final position; then, if Sir J. Vandeleur had re- ceived instructions to allow the rear Brigade to pass and relieve them, he did so the moment he could, and at the most material point.” This is the extract from Lieutenant-General Sleigh’s letter, and only shows how hopeless it is to expect (after such a lapse of time) an account from those who were actors in what then took place, in which all should agree. For my own part I do not recollect even the Bridge to which the Lieutenant-General alludes. Colonel Tomlinson is kind enough to say, respecting Sleigh and myself (he, S., was then Lieutenant-Colonel com- manding the 11th Dragoons), that we assisted in restoring order in a Belgian Square of Infantry which had commenced crumbling to pieces. I perfectly recollect the circumstance, for Colonel Sleigh was hit by a spent ball in the stomach at the moment, and I thought was killed. You may either mention it or not as you may think fit. Itis not for me to publish or make mention of these matters. I have, &e., M. Cuixpers. P.S.—I do not recollect any particular Regiment of French Cavalry more steady than the others, nor do I re- member the Grenadiers & Cheval. VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 111 llru Licut Dragoons, LIEUT.-COLONEL J. A. SCHREIBER. Captain lltu Licut Dracoons. Melton, near Woodbridge, Oct. 21st, 1839, On the evening of the 16th June I was ordered on Picket to Quatre Bras in command of a Squadron of the llth Dragoons, and remained there till about one o’clock p-m. on the 17th, when I received an order to retire, forming the rear-guard. This I did at a foot’s pace without the least molestation fromthe Enemy’s Cavalry. On arriving within about two miles (as near as I can recollect) of the town of Genappe, I was directed to leave the high road to make room for the 7th Hussars, I think by Lord Anglesey himself. On proceeding a short distance I discovered the 7th Hussars formed in close column of Divisions on the Chaussée. Having passed them I resumed my position on the high road, and retired quietly through the town of Genappe. At about a quarter of a mile on the Brussels side of it the 7th Hussars passed us at speed, right and left of the road in all directions, having been evidently much harassed. I immediately halted and fronted, and when they were clear, charged and drove the French Cavalry back into the town of Genappe. We were then obliged to retire, which was perfected in good order, and I rejoined my Regiment the same evening about nine o’clock. I have, &c., J. A. SCHREIBER. No. 56 Sent on picket evening of 16th at Quatre Bras. Retreat on 17th June, 17th retires through Genappe. The account of this charge iscontradicted by Lord Anglesey. Ep See No. 4, p. 6. 112 WATERLOO LETTERS. 121n Licut Dracoons. No. 57. Waterloo. See General Plan, No. 1. Position of Vandeleur’s Brigade. Brigade moved to the right towards Picton’s Division. 1st Charge. Danger in which were Ponsonby’s Dragoons near the crest of French position, 12th and part of 16th charge the French Infantry, Lieut. W. Osten, 16th Light Dragoons. Tue 12rH, orn Prince or Wates’, LicHt Dragoons. - MAJOR-GENERAL THE HON. SIR FREDERICK C, PONSONBY, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., K.C.H. Lrevt.-CotoneL AND CoLtonen Commanpinc 12TH Licut Dracoons., Curzon Street, July 29th, 1836. The statement which you have sent me respecting the charges made by Sir William Ponsonby’s and a part of Sir J. Vandeleur’s Brigades at the Battle of Waterloo appear to me to be very correct. I will, however, give you my own impression of these charges. General Vandeleur’s Brigade was bivouacked on a cross road in rear of General Picton’s Division on the night of the 17th. On the morning of the 18th it was directed to move about nine o’clock to the extreme left of the position about three-quarters of a mile from the left of our Infantry (General Pack’s Brigade, I believe). Here it remained, in company with General Vivian’s Brigade and a Battalion of Nassau Infantry till the Battle commenced, when it was ordered to close in and form near our Infantry. During this short movement the heavy rattling of musketry showed that a serious attack was in progress, and when my Regiment, the 12th, was formed on its new ground, I had a view of the plain between the two Armies, and of the whole of the French position. I saw considerable bodies of French Infantry and Cavalry in some confusion in the plain, and a good many scattered Dragoons in red nearly on the crest of the French position. I felt that these were in the utmost peril unless some support was immediately afforded, and the 12th, accompanied by some of the 16th Dragoons, charged and penetrated a mass of unsteady Infantry on the plain below. Isay some of the 16th, for I saw Baron Austen and Sergeant-Major Blood of that Regiment in the mélée which took place. The confusion was very great in VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 113 127TH Licut Dragoons, the mélée, as a body of French Lancers and Chasseurs had entered into the conflict. I endeavoured to draw off my Regiment, but being wounded and completely disabled, I soon fell to the ground upon the crest of the French position, and in the near vicinity of some Guns which probably had been abandoned during the charge of General Ponsonby’s Brigade, as several men, I think of the Royals, were found in the same spot where I was picked up in the following morning. The French soon resumed the ground they had lost. I believe the ground on which I fell was the extreme right of the French position, and it was occupied the remainder of the day by French Light Infantry. Some Squadrons of Prussian Cavalry passed over it late in the day. I cannot take upon myself to say who gave the order for the charge. There can be no question that it was well timed, and it must have been, if not by the order, at all events with the sanction of Sir J. Vandeleur. What part of the 16th charged I cannot say, but some certainly did. If I may venture an opinion it would be that the 12th and a Squadron of the 16th charged, and that the remainder of the Brigade acted as a support to the charge. My personal adventures have nothing to do with the narrative, except as establishing the fact that some of the Royals, some of the 12th, and some of the 16th were cut down close to some Guns on the French position. The time of my charge was immediately after the charge of General Ponsonby, which I suppose took place between 11 and 12, and the French troops in the plain must have been a part of those returning from the un- successful attack on General Picton’s position. I have said that a good many men fell on the crest of the French position. I know we ought not to have been there, and that we fell into the same error which we went down to correct, but I believe that this is an error almost inevitable after a successful charge, and it must always depend upon the steadiness of a good support to prevent serious consequences. Ina great battle the support 1s at I French Lancers and Chasseurs enter into the conflict. Wounded and disabled on the crest of French position. Fell about the extreme right of French position, The time of the charge of the 12th immediately after that of General Ponsonby. 114 WATERLOO LETTERS. 12TH Licur Dracoons. No. 58. Waterloo. To the rear of Papelotte. See General Plan, No. 1. Vandeleur’s Brigade. Ist Charge. 12th attack the French Infantry. hand, and I am therefore firmly of opinion that although we sustained a greater loss than we should have done if our , Squadrons had remained compact, the Enemy suffered a greater loss, was thrown into more confusion, and required more time to re-establish order, than if greater regularity had been preserved. You are at perfect liberty to make what use you please of this letter. The opinions may be erroneous, but I pledge my honour that the facts are correct. T have, &e., F, Ponsonsy, M.-General. MAJOR A, BARTON, 121 ROYAL LANCERS. Captain 12¢H Licur Dracoons. Birmingham, November 3rd, 1834. Major Barton, 12th Royal Lancers, presents his com- pliments to Mr. Siborne, and agreeable to his request, returns his plan of the Field of Waterloo, on which he has, to the best of his recollection, marked the two prin- cipal positions of the Regiment on the 18th of June. He has also enclosed a few recollections of that eventful day. This was the first position taken up on the morning of the 18th of June. The Regiment was formed in close column of three Squadrons, left in front, in a field of peas or vetches in the left rear of the British line of Infantry, having in its immediate front the troops of Nassau. The left of our line being attacked by a strong Column of Infantry, commanded by General Durutte, the Regiment was ordered to advance by its Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Fredk. Ponsonby, who, I believe, had orders to act discretionally. We advanced unperceived by the Enemy, and on passing the hedge-row, occupied by the Highlanders, immediately made a flank attack on the French Column. This attack was successful, and threw VANDELEU RS CAVALRY BRIGADE. 115 12rn Licut Dracoons. the Enemy into disorder, who retreated in the greatest confusion followed by the Regiment till we were stopped by their standing Columns of reserve on the opposite side of a ravine. During the whole of this time an indiscriminate fire was kept up by the French Artillery on the Regiment as well as on their own retreating Battalions. We were in considerable confusion, being mixed up with the Enemy’s broken Infantry, suffering at the same time from a heavy cannonade, and before we could regain the position for formation, we were charged by the 3rd and 4th French Lancers, who advanced from behind their own Columns of reserve. From this charge and the heavy fire to which we had been before exposed we suffered great loss, having nearly one hundred killed and wounded; amongst the latter was our gallant Lieut.-Colonel, who at the time was reported “ killed.” This was our position at about 7 p.m. We were at this time formed into two Squadrons, owing to the great loss the Regiment had sustained in its attack on Durutte’s Column. We were standing in a field of trampled corn, in the right rear of the rising ground held by the Guards, to which point Sir John Vandeleur’s Brigade had been moved from the left of the line,as nearly as I can recollect, about five o’clock. On the Brigade taking up its position, the Regiment stood on the left, and in its immediate rear was a deep quarry or sandpit. I can call this circumstance more particularly to my recollection from Lieutenant-Colonel Stawell (then Captain) remarking the awkward position in which the Regiment stood in the event of a retrograde movement becoming necessary, and suggested we should take up a more advanced alignment, which was accordingly done; this consequently placed us some distance in front of the Brigade. We had elevated ground in our front, from which the shot directed on the Guards ricocheted, passed over our heads, and took effect on the other Regiments of our Brigade; we were at this time so 12 wv Stopped by French Columns of reserve on opposite side ot the valley. 12th attacked by the French Lancers, this and the heavy fire causing great loss. The site indicated is exactly in rear of the House of Hougou- mont, and close behind the Nivelles Road, after the Brigade had been moved to- wards the right of the position, 116 WATERLOO LETTERS. 127TH Licur Dracoons. The Brigade advanced over the scene of the struggle between the French and British Guards. Advanced,by the left of Hougoumont.| See General Plan. Meeting the Grenadiers & Cheval who retire in per- fect order. close to the Enemy that some of our men were wounded by grape. On the failure of the Enemy’s last attack the Brigade advanced, passing over the ground on which the struggle had taken place between the French and English Guards. The scene here was terrific from the great number of killed and wounded. Bodies were lying so close to each other that our horses could scarcely advance without trampling on them, and a great many were wounded in the fetlocks from the bayonets and other weapons that were scattered about on the field. Ii is impossible for me at this moment to state posi- tively on which side of Hougoumont the Regiment passed during its advance, indeed, I do not think any individual of the Regiment could at this day, or even the day after the Battle, decide the fact; such a scene of devastation and rout had never before been witnessed by any of us, but I am disposed to think, from our inclining towards our left during the Advance, that we must have left Hougoumont to our right. The Enemy was in full retreat, and our Brigade followed them, skirting the wood at the Observa- tory close to our right. The only attempt to make anything like a stand against us or interrupt our pursuit, was made by a weak Regiment of Infantry which halted and fired a few shots at us, after which some of the men threw themselves down on their faces in the standing corn, and others effected their escape into the wood on our right. At this time we saw to our left front, at no great distance, a strong Regiment of Cavalry, which we soon ascertained to be the Grenadiers & Cheval of the Imperial Guard; they were formed in a dense close column, and appeared to take but little notice of our advance, when opposite their flank they fired a few pistol or carbine shots. We were some distance in front of our Brigade, and being too weak to make an impression [on them], they literally walked from the field in a most majestic manner. T had subsequently an opportunity of learning from a VANDELEUR’S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 117 16TH Licgut Dracoons. French Officer that this Regiment, as well as the Red Lancers of the Guard, was not in action during the day. Ican only account for their steadiness in such a perilous situation, by ascribing it to a wish to cover their Infantry and Cavalry that were retreating in such great disorder, and by their perceiving that we had outmarched our Guns. The Brigade continued its pursuit of the Enemy still further, and when we were ordered to retire a short distance for the purpose of taking up our bivouac, rather an extra- ordinary circumstance occurred. While retiring we met the lst Hussars, King’s German Legion, advancing. We mutually mistook each other for the Enemy, and were on the point of attacking when the error (by which an Officer of our Brigade was slightly wounded) was discovered. Tue 16TH Licur Dracoons. MAJOR W. TOMKINSON. Captain 16TH Licut Dracoons. Willington, Nathwich, April 2nd, 1835. The Brigade went out at the left of the position, sup- ported the charge, and covered the retreat of the Heavy Brigade, viz., Royals, Greys, and Inniskillmgs. The appearance of the Enemy at this time in our front, being about one o’clock, was having their Light Troops in advance of the hills they occupied in our front, with parties of Cavalry and Infantry in different places without forming any line. The arms of the French Infantry charged by the Heavy Brigade lay in two lines, nearly as regularly as if laid on parade. They had advanced diagonally to our position, their right (I think) considerably advanced. I did not ascertain this on the 18th, but find the following in my Journal :— “On going over the ground the following morning I Averted col- lision between the Brigade and the 1st Hussars, K.G.L. No. 59. Waterloo. Ist Charge. Arms of French Infantry, charged by Ponsonby’s Brigade, lying in two regular lines on the ground. 118 WATERLOO LETTERS. 16TH Licht Dracoons. Brigade remained on the left until arrival of, and attack by, the Prussians. Formed in rear of some Belgian In- fantry, and prevented their going to the rear. Joined in the pursuit of the French. No. 60. Retreat on 17th, saw where two lines of Infantry had Jaid down their arms, whose position was accurately marked from the regularity the muskets were placed in.” The Brigade remained on the left until half-past five or thereabouts, and having seen the advance and commence- ment of the Prussians’ attack, moved in rear of our Line, crossed the Brussels and Genappe road (our Line being at this time greatly reduced, and having large intervals), forming with our left on the road the instant we passed it. There was a Regiment of Belgian Infantry a little in advance of the left of the Brigade in square, which during the last attack on our Line, which was immediately in our front, commenced firing their muskets in the air, meaning to move off in the confusion. Colonel Childers of the 11th and myself went and urged them to be steady, the Duke riding up and doing the same. In pursuit when the Line advanced, we moved in line to the crest of the position, when we broke into a Column of half-Squadrons to pass the Infantry. When on the crest of the position the whole French Army was in full retreat, their Infantry in confusion running at the bottom of the hill. Yours, &e., W. Tomxinson. FROM THE SAME. Willington Hall, Chester, February 10th, 1845. I beg to forward you a reply from my Journal relative to the retreat on the 17th, which, I believe, is a correct representation of what occurred. I have no doubt Sir Hussey Vivian expected us to cover him, and so we were ordered to do; but the events I mention changed that purpose, and rendered it impossible. J remain, &e., W. Tomxryson. VANDELEURS CAVALRY BRIGADE. 119 16tu Licnt Dracoons, June 17th, 1815. The Duke rode up at daylight to Quatre Bras, and we soon heard that, in consequence of the attack made on the Prussians last night, they had retired on Wavre, and that we were also to retire to a position in our rear to cover Brussels. The Infantry withdrew quietly, leaving the Cavalry to cover their retreat. We remained on the ground [on which] we had passed the night until one o’elock, when, in consequence of the Enemy showing some Cavalry, we turned out, forming in three lines to the left and rear of Quatre Bras. : The two Brigades of Hussars were in the first line, General Vandeleur’s Brigade in. the. second line, and the Heavy Cavalry in support some distance to the rear. The intention of Lord Uxbridge was to keep the Hussars [? in hand] to take advantage of any favourable chance, and on the Enemy advancing in such force as to oblige us to retire, they were to pass through the second line (our Brigade), and it to cover the retreat. I saw the French Cavalry when turning out of their bivouac, and I thought, from their numbers, we must either bring all our force to oppose them and keep our ground, or that, if a retreat were determined on, the sooner we marched the more prudent. They came out Column after Column, and in greater force than I ever recollect seeing together at one point. They advanced in very large bodies, and Lord Uxbridge soon saw that, so far from having any chance of charging, he had nothing left but to get his troops away with the least possible delay. We, the second line, were ordered away immediately, and retired, leaving Genappe on our left (in retiring). The first line got away without much loss, retiring with the Heavy Brigade Cavalry on Genappe, but had not time allowed it to retire through the second line as at first intended. There was not time for the Hussars to pass through our Brigade, the Enemy was so close upon them, and had Retreat begun, Two Brigades of Hussars in first line or rear line, Van- deleur’s in second. Heavy Cavalry in support. Lord Uxbridge intended the Hussars to pass through the second line when pressed, The great numbers of the French Cavalry. No time for Hussars to pass through second line. 120 WATERLOO LETTERS. 16rH Licut Dracoons. No. 61. Waterloo. 1st Position of Brigade on left of the line. See General Plan, No. 1. Moved to the right to we not got off with the least possible delay, the Hussars and our Brigade would have been in one confused heap. We had learnt the necessity of making way for those in front when we and they were retiring. The Infantry being all clear, and the Enemy showing so large a force of Cavalry, we ought not to have waited so long. Retreat being our object, the more easily it was effected the more prudent it would have been. MAJOR J. LUARD. LizvuTenant anpd ApsuTANT 16TH Licut Dragoons. TO COLONEL JAMES HAY, 2ND DRAGOON GUARDS. No date. Extract of a letter from Major Luard (late of the 16th Light Dragoons) to Colonel James Hay, Commanding ond ee Guards (late of 16th Light ory On the morning of the 18th, I ro bite we =e ‘our horses much before 9 a.m. You may recollect my coming to you for orders; you were in a small house. Lieut. Richardson was in the same room with you, and was very sick. When the Regiment was formed we moved and were placed under the brow of a hill nearly on the © left of the British Line. The Hussar Brigade was on our left, a little to the front. We then dismounted, and while in this situation, at about eleven o’clock, the cannonade became spirited, and the Battle appeared (from what we could hear, for under the hill we could see nothing) to be becoming general. A group of Officers were talking together with their horses in hand, when a shell dropped in’ the middle of them and killed Captain Swetenham’s horse. The fire of all arms was now increasing and drawing near, and shot and shell passed thickly over us. We were ordered to mount. The 12th Light Dragoons were detached from our Brigade to the left, while we moved more to the right, to support a charge made by Sir William Ponsonby’s VANDELEUR'S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 121 16TH Licut Dracoons. Brigade. On our moving over the hill, the Greys made a most gallant and desperate charge, overthrowing every- thing opposed to them, and pursuing their success to the height of the French position. Upon returning to reform, of course broken and divided, they were pursued by the Enemy’s Lancers, which the 16th charged in front and drove them back upon their own Infantry, while the 12th Light Dragoons charged in flank. At this moment Colonel Hay, who commanded the 16th Light Dragoons, fell desperately and dangerously wounded, and Lieutenants Osten and Crichton were also wounded. The Regiment was on the point of making another charge, when orders were received to move more to the right. We moved some distance, passing the remains of Sir William Ponsonby’s and Lord Edward Somerset’s Brigades, and formed under the brow of a hill in échelon of Regiments, left forward. The Hussar Brigade was formed on our left. A Corps of Foreign Infantry (I believe Dutch) formed in our front, partly covered, like ourselves, by the hill; in front of them, on the top of the hill, was formed our line of Infantry. Thefire now became tremendous, particularly of musketry. I had at this moment my horse shot in the head by a musket- ball, and Lieutenant Phillips [? Phelips] of the 11th, while condoling with me on seeing me mounted on a troop horse, had his head shot off by a cannon-shot. The fire became every moment hotter, and from the rapid way in which it approached us, appeared as if the Enemy was carrying the hill by which we were partially covered, and I confess I thought at that moment the day was going hard with us, that the Infantry were beaten, and that we (the Cavalry), by desperate charges, were to recover what they had lost. The Foreign troops in our front appeared to think so also, but certainly had not resolved to recover the day, for they began to give way rapidly. We closed our squadron intervals, and would not let them pass through, and by the persuasion of Sir John Vandeleur, other Officers, and support Ponsonby’s Brigade. Ist Charge. 16th charge the French Lancers, Colonel Hay dangerously wounded. Brigade moved to the right. Posted in rear of Dutch- Belgians. Period of the attack of the 2nd column of the Im- perial Guard. The Dutch- Belgians pre- vented from giving way. 122 WATERLOO LETTERS. 16tx Licut Dracoons. Brigade moved to the front. Charges and disperses a square of French Infantry. 10th and 18th charging on the left at the same moment. Averted col- lision with Ist German Hussars. Commenced the march on Paris at 10 next morning. myself, they again formed to the front. The fire now rapidly slackened, the Duke of Wellington appeared in our front in great spirits, and we moved to the front at a smart trot, in a Column—open Squadrons left in front. We passed the scene of carnage where our Line had been formed, moved down the hill with great rapidity, passed our own Infantry as well as broken Columns of the French, and pursued Cavalry of all arms mixed, the ground strewed with cuirasses thrown away to lighten the Cuirassiers in their flight. About a mile and a half from our position, a road runs through the valley, on the opposite side of which a Column of French Infantry formed square to oppose us.. We instantly wheeled into line, received their fire, and charged, taking or destroying the whole. In this charge Captain Buchanan and Lieutenant Hay were killed, and Captain Weyland wounded. The 10th and 18th Hussars charged a Column of the Enemy at the same moment to our left. We now saw houses on our left on fire. We continued to pursue the Enemy until we came upon some huts, which had been the Enemy’s bivouac the preceding night. The day now closed, and as we were returning nearly in the dark, the 1st German Hussars, taking us for the Enemy, were preparing to charge us, when other Officers and myself rode forward and prevented them, by stating what we were. Having taken some waggons laden with provisions and brandy, I, as Adjutant, collected a number of canteens of each Troop, and-filled them, to be divided equally amongst all the men. We then bivouacked near a wood, but exactly where that wood is I don’t know. . We moved at ten o’clock the next day, and continued marching until we reached Paris. GRANT'S CAVALRY BRIGADE. 123 Grant’s Cavatry Bricape. The 5th (Light) Cavalry Brigade consisted of the 7th Hussars, the 15th, or King’s, Hussars, and the 2nd Hussars of the King’s German Legion, but as the latter Regiment was still on the frontier, it was replaced by the 13th Light Dragoons taken from the 7th Brigade (in which remained only the 8rd Hus- sars, King’s German Legion). It was commanded by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B. In the retreat on the 17th the Brigade, with the exception of the 7th Hussars, formed part of the right Cavalry Column. The 7th furnished at first the rear guard to the centre Column, which held the Enemy in check until the other troops of the Column had passed the bridge and town of Genappe, when it also retired through the same. On the Enemy’s advanced guard of Lancers appearing at the other entrance of the town, the 7th charged it, and an obstinate conflict ensued, with great loss on both sides. At length the 7th were withdrawn, and the Enemy’s Column, the rear of which was already beginning to retire from the town, was driven through it by a charge of the Ist Life Guards. A brilliant charge was made in the evening by a Troop of the 7th Hussars, as the two Armies were taking up their respective positions at Waterloo. On the morning of the 18th, Grant’s Brigade was posted to the right of all the other Cavalry, and in front of the Nivelles Road, near the junction of the latter with the Wavre Road. One and a half Squadrons of the 15th Hussars were detached to een the right of the position with Vedettes thrown out. Plan, No. 1. 124 WATERLOO LETTERS. Lr.-Cot, THAcCKWELL For Sir C. Grant. No. 62. Waterloo. Between three and four p.m., the 13th Light Dragoons and 15th Hussars were ordered to the right to attack a body of Lancers, who were menacing that quarter, and in the meantime the 7th Hussars (with other Regiments) charged and repelled the French Cavalry attacking the Infantry Squares in front. Grant, observing that these attacks were being repeated in great strength, and that the movements of the Lancers were a diversion to draw him away from them, returned to his original ground, leaving a Squadron of the 15th in observation as before. The Brigade was then employed in charging and repelling the French troops attacking the Allied Line, and, with alternate success, according as the French were driven back, or, bringing up strong supports, forced it to retire. In the General Advance the Brigade attacked bodies of Cavalry and Infantry, and contributed to the rout of the French. Nos. 65 and 67 refer to the retreat on the 17th, all the remaining letters to Waterloo. LIEUT.-COLONEL J. THACKWELL, FOR LIEUT.- GENERAL SIR COLQUHOUN GRANT, K.C.B., G.C.H. Masorn-GenzeraL Sir C. Grant, K.C.B., Commanpine 5rn Cavary BriGavE. Gloucester, July 9th, 1835. Having been requested by Lieut.-General Sir Colqu- houn Grant (owing to his inability in consequence of a severe family affliction) to reply to your printed letter of 28th October, 1834, soliciting information with respect to the proceedings of the 5th Brigade of Cavalry in the Una AGS 1 NB Hi =