Before giving the several interesting contemporary records of 1815 in
possession of the Regiment, allusion must be made to the two touching
original records now belonging to the Regiment, relating to Colonel
Hamilton, the commanding officer killed at Waterloo. One is a letter
of May 15th, 1793, acquainting a Mr. Anderson that "the King had been
pleased to appoint Jamie a cornet in the Royal North British Dragoons."
The other letter is dated July 10th, 1815, and is from James Swan, 53,
York Place, Edinburgh, to Mr. McLachlane, Writer, Glasgow. The letter
records Colonel Hamilton's (son Jamie's) death.
A folio volume, lettered outside:--
"Royal Scots Greys, Waterloo, 18th June, 1815, letters, etc.,
connected with Lieutenant-Colonel Inglis Hamilton, who was killed
in action, in command of the regiment at Waterloo."
Inside is:--
"The letters in this book relating to the history of
Lieutenant-Colonel Inglis Hamilton were presented to the officers
of the Regiment, on the occasion of the celebration of the
Bicentenary of the raising of the Regiment, on the 18th of June,
1881, by the family of the late Peter Mackenzie, Esq., author of
the 'Reminiscences of Glasgow.' The papers were entrusted to the
charge of Mr. Mackenzie by the sisters of Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton.
"+John W. Hozier+, Lieut.-Colonel.
"Commanding Scots Greys."
"Royal Barracks, Dublin,
"18th June, 1881."
"This book in which the papers are now preserved, was presented by
Lieutenant-Colonel Hozier."
"Major-General Hamilton has to acquaint Mr. Anderson that he
received on Sunday night a card from Lord Amherst, acquainting him
that the King had been pleased to appoint Jamie a cornet in the
Royal North British Dragoons, at the same time his Lordship called
him James Hamilton. How this has happened he cannot say, as the
General has received no explanation, but can assure Mr. Anderson
that he gave in his name when in London to the Secretary at War
Jas. Anderson; he likewise gave in his name on Watson's return from
Glasgow, my godson James Anderson, since which he has heard little
until last night, but has wrote this day.
"If the nomination is given in and past recall, the General hopes
that Mr. Anderson will agree to it, as it must be of such advantage
to the young man. Besides, he has to acquaint Mr. Anderson that he
always intended to leave Jamie something handsome at his death, on
condition that he bore his name, and will condescend to say, if
agreed to, that the annual rent in money, bondes, or stock shall
exceed the rents of Murdiestone when the General's father changed
his name from Hamilton to Inglis, by virtue of the testator's will.
"The General wishes that Mr. Anderson will observe that this
is every day done both in North and South Britain, and was the
constant practice among the ancients. On these considerations, and
seeing it will save a thousand pounds and enable him to assist
Willie and John, which it is the General's purpose to do, he hopes
that Mr. Anderson will cheerfully acquiss."
"Murdiestone, 20th May, 1793."
The above letter bears the following most pathetic endorsement:--
"MEMOR.
"J. A.--15th May, 1793.
"A cornet 2 Dragoons.
"July 11th, '93. Parted with son James half past five o'clock
night, at Lark-hall. He was then aged 16 years and seven days. I
walked to Hamilton that night with a heart full of grief."
The following letter, addressed:--
"Mr. +H. McLachlane+, Writer, Glasgow.
"Edʳ., 53, York Place,
"10 July, 1815.
"+Sir+,--I recd. your letter of the 7th inst. and with reference
to a letter I wrote Mr. Une not knowing the address of my lamented
friend Col. Hamilton's sister, I beg leave to inform you that with
deep regret I have ascertained the intelligence of the Col.'s
death to be correct. His bravery was most gallant throughout the
18th, and he was killed giving a word of command. Several accounts
agree that latterly in the action he was seen by his men _still_
commanding with both arms shot off, holding the reins of his
charger in his teeth. This must have been momentary desperation.
I saw a letter from an officer in the Greys (Gen. Hamilton of
Dalziel's son) stating that it was ascertained that on examining
Col. Hamilton's body previous to his burial on the field of battle
he had received a shot through his heart, and Sir James Stewart
showed me a letter from Col. Clark of the Greys mentioning that the
Colonel's body had been found and had been buried."
* * * * *
The letter is signed James Swan. In the margin Major +J. W. Hozier+ has
noted:--
"Trotter, son of Mr. Trotter of Worton Hall, Edinburgh."
Inserted in this volume are the leaves from "Good Words" of September
1st, 1866, containing "Two Glasgow Stories," "By the Editor."
"1. +James Anderson.+
"About ninety years ago the 21st, or North British Fusiliers, were
engaged in the American war, and fighting at Ticonderoga.... The
Fusiliers were then commanded by Colonel Inglis Hamilton, formerly
of the Scots Greys, who inherited from a long line of ancestors the
property of Murdiestoun, in the vicinity of Glasgow.
"William Anderson, a Glasgow man of excellent character, was a
private in the 21st, and rose to the rank of Sergeant-Major. He had
born to him in America two sons, James and John, and two daughters.
Having been wounded he was discharged with a pension, and with his
family settled in the Gallowgate of Glasgow.... Colonel Hamilton,
having attained the rank of Major-General, left the service, and
with an old sister resided at his estate of Murdiestoun.
"... One day the General driving in his carriage, saw to his
surprise, Sergeant-Major Anderson playing with his children on
the opposite side of the road, and no less to the surprise and
delight of the old Sergeant, he saw his General, and felt the grasp
of his affectionate hand. The children remembered the General,
who delighted with the appearance of James, seized him in his
arms and tossed him in the air, which so charmed the boy that he
exclaimed,--Do it again, General; please give me another toss
over your head. From that day the General's heart was knit to
Jamie Anderson. He showed the greatest kindness to all the family,
educating the boys in the grammar school, and afterwards at the
University; while the girls received the best teaching which the
boarding schools of Glasgow could then afford.
"James moreover was taught riding, a pony was provided for his
daily use; and Murdiestoun became his home almost as much as
the more humble, but not less happy and contented abode in the
Gallowgate. This kindness had a purpose in it. In carrying out this
purpose, the General obtained a commission for 'Jamie' as a Cornet
in the Scots Greys. The Secretary at War assumed the boy's name to
be Inglis Hamilton....
"Years passed. The Cornet behaved like an officer and a gentleman,
and was the pride of the old General, who had the satisfaction of
seeing him become Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, respected and
beloved by officers and men. The General in the meantime made his
will, leaving his property to James and his heirs male....
"The General died, and according to a request written by him
and placed in his prayer book, Jamie acted as chief mourner,
accompanied by the nobility and gentry of the county."
From a small unbound volume belonging to the Regiment:--
Copies of letters written just previous to the battle of Waterloo, by
F. C. Kinchant, Cornet, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys); also one
describing his death by treachery during the battle, and the summary
revenge taken therefor by the sergeant of his troop.
The originals are addressed to John Rose Hall, Esq., Cockshut Lydiate,
Ludlow, Shropshire, England. They are now in the possession of Mrs.
McLaughlin, step-daughter of the above-mentioned John Rose Hall.
"+Bristol+, _March 28th, 1815_.
"+My Dear Hall+,
"I fear you have again an opportunity of calling me an idle
correspondent. I have certainly delayed writing to you much longer
than I intended. In truth my time is totally occupied in drills,
&c. three times a day, an hour and a half each. I rise every
morning at six and attend at the Riding School till nine.
"I have already made great progress in the equestrian art.
"I and a brother Cornet (junior to myself) perform together.
"The method of riding is altogether different to that of the
country squires. At present we ride without stirrups, in order
that we may obtain a firm seat. We must leap the bar, ditches and
go through all the different evolutions of the field exercise, &c.
without stirrups, indeed I find I can already ride better without
their support than with it. So much for horsemanship.
"The reason I have so much drilling is I much wish to go on service
and share the honours my comrades are likely to reap.
"We are in daily expectation of receiving orders to proceed to
Flanders.
"The Regiment is without doubt the best disciplined and the most
crack cavalry corps in the service. I don't think there is a
private in it under 5 feet 11 inches, and the officers are a fine
gentlemanly set of fellows. There are only three Scotchmen among
the officers, but the privates are in general Scotch.
"The horses are all grey and in excellent condition.
"Mine is two inches too low but the colonel has passed him for a
second charger. He has desired I will get one much stronger and
higher immediately as a first charger, but where I am to find a
horse of that description I am at a loss to know.
"It is the general opinion there will be more hard fighting and
more bloodshed than in any preceding war, as that arch fellow Bony
(who has been too deep for all our wise heads) will dispute every
inch of ground with the sword.
* * * * *
"Pray have you been to Easton lately? What does the old gent say of
the present appearance of things?
"If we go on service I shall be obliged to call on him for a
further advance of cash, as I shall have to purchase many essential
though expensive articles, such as tent and tent equipage, &c., and
many other things necessary for service.
"Our dress altogether is extremely rich and consequently costs lots
of money. The Court dress coat alone is 40 guineas. It is covered
with lace from head to foot. The jackets are handsome, but they
only cost £15 15_s._ each. Every other part of the equipment is
equally as expensive.
"In fact we make a most dashing appearance. I should like much to
meet the old Buck at Bath or Clifton. I do not think he would know
his hopeful son....
"Believe me my dear John your sincerely attached friend
"+F. C. Kinchant.+"
"In great haste. Pray write soon and don't follow my example. Burn
this scrawl when read!"
(Thus ends the first letter, and let us rejoice that it was not burnt.)
"+Bristol+, _April 6th, 1815_.
"+My Dear John+,
"I have only time to tell you that we received orders yesterday to
hold ourselves in perfect readiness for foreign service.
"To-day another order arrived for the regiment to proceed to North
Fleet (about 30 miles below London) and there embark for the
Continent. It will be about seven days' march from hence to North
Fleet. The order and march came so near together that most of us
are unprovided with tents, camp equipage, canteens, &c., all
which necessaries I must order from London to meet me by the time
I arrive at North Fleet. We have been long expecting this move.
Since I joined I have not had a spare half hour. Three drills a
day on horseback and on foot I assure you did not a little fatigue
my bones. However, I trust I am now a tolerable good match for a
Frenchman.
"The Regiment is in the finest condition and in the highest spirits
and most anxious for an opportunity to distinguish itself.
"Believe me, &c.,
"+F. C. Kinchant+.
"We shall have seven days' march--the first day from hence to
Chippenham,
the next Marlbro',
" Newbury,
" Reading,
" Staines,
" Camberwell,
" Gravesend.
"In greatest haste."
* * * * *
"+Ghent+, _April 23rd, 1815_.
"+My Dear John+,
"I have taken the earliest opportunity to inform you of my arrival
as far as this place. I should have written sooner, but my time
has been most fully engaged since we landed. We are quartered for
a day or two in a village contiguous to this town, are in hourly
expectation of receiving orders to proceed to the frontiers to join
the army under the Duke of Wellington. There are an immense number
of troops daily arriving, and the united forces of the Allies, will
it is stated, in a short time amount to 900,000 men.
"We are here quite ignorant of the politics of the country. Nothing
is said of Buonaparte, but he has doubtless many adherents in
Flanders. Deserters from his army are constantly coming into Ghent.
They state that they receive neither their rations nor pay. Some of
the inhabitants seem well inclined towards the English and are what
may be termed hospitable, but adieu to English comforts.
"We embarked at Gravesend on the 15th, sailed on the 16th, and
reached Ostend on the 19th. We had a rough passage the last day and
night--the wind blowing hard right in our teeth, with snow storms.
Many of the horses were a good deal bruised, but none sustained any
material injury. We expect some hard fighting before the business
will be settled. Never was a Regiment in better condition for
service than this, both in men and appointments.
"Louis the Eighteenth is here. He keeps himself closely shut up,
and is at present in an ill state of health.
"I am, my dear John, your ever attached friend,
"+F. C. Kinchant+."
* * * * *
"+Denderhanten, near Gramont+,
"_May 21st, --15._
"+My Dear John+,
"Week after week has passed without my having the gratification of
hailing your long expected, most welcome letter. I assure you I
am most anxious to hear from you, having as yet received only one
letter from old England....
"My father has not yet replied to the letters I sent him from
Bristol, but my sister says he intends advancing the money I
applied for. I shall therefore write to him very soon on the
subject as my last bills are unpaid in London for camp equipage,
&c., and the tradesmen are continually dunning for their accounts
to be settled. Exchange between this country and England is
extremely low, only 17⅓ francs for a Bank of England £1. I shall
therefore have as little money as possible sent here. We, however,
do not expect to receive any pay for four months. The Regiment has
been here about a fortnight. It is a miserable small village, not
large enough to contain one troop. The remainder, officers and
men, are quartered at cottages in the neighbourhood. A pig-sty in
England is a palace to my quarters. Hosts of lice, bugs, fleas, and
filth of every description, abound in a most extraordinary degree
in all the habitations of these dirty vagabonds. To counteract,
however, as much as possible, the unpleasant effects of sleeping
in such a dirty hut, I have pitched my tent and sleep quite
comfortably _su Dio_, in a green field totally independent of the
above-mentioned black backed gentry.
"The men and women are very plain, with mouths that reach from ear
to ear, and are extremely ignorant. It is with great difficulty I
can make them understand my wants as few can speak French, nothing
but the Flemish is spoken among the lower classes. The only answer
I can ever obtain is "yaw," in English, "yes."
"To-morrow we are again reviewed, for the fourth time since we
landed, by the Earl of Uxbridge, who commands the English cavalry,
and on Wednesday this regiment will be inspected by the Prince of
Orange and a Prussian General. I assure you we are considered the
finest cavalry corps on the continent. Every one wishes to see us,
and all the Generals that have reviewed us, speak in the highest
possible terms of the excellent appearance and condition of the men
and horses. A Prussian General expressed a wish to see an English
Dragoon Regiment, the Greys were immediately brought forward as a
specimen. In fact we have every compliment paid us.
"A few years ago the Regiment behaved most gallantly in this
country in several actions and I think it is probable they will
distinguish themselves in this campaign, for I never saw men more
anxious for an opportunity. You may perhaps think I speak with
partiality, but I assure you what I have expressed is the real
matter of fact. We are within about 35 miles of the French army--a
day's march.
"The English army will not advance till the Russians, Cossacks,
&c., come up. There are a great number of Prussian, Hanoverian and
Belgic troops in this neighbourhood.
"I am sorry to hear old Blucher has been insulted by some Saxon
troops. He is a gallant old cock.
"Whatever the newspapers say of the increasing popularity of the
Bourbons, you have no idea how much Bonaparte is adored by the
lower order. There is scarce a house here from which there is
not one or two young men now serving in the French army, and the
deserters are by no means so numerous as the papers would persuade
us.
"The French are collecting a very large force on the frontiers. At
Lisle they have near 40,000 men, at Valenciennes and other places
they are also very strong. It is the unanimous opinion of the army
that we shall have some very hard fighting before we reach Paris.
Much will depend on the first battle. It is generally supposed we
shall advance in the course of a week and that hostilities will
commence immediately.
"I trust the next time I write to you we shall be on the road to
the French Capital.
"I am sorry to say the horse I bought in London has turned out very
bad. I shall be obliged to send to England for another. The grey
I took from Easton is a very promising horse, but is rather too
slight for my weight.
"I must now bid you adieu.
"Give my kindest regards to all the family at Cockshut.
"+F. C. Kinchant.+"
* * * * *
"_July 2nd, 1817._
"+Dear Sir+,
"In the course of a short excursion which I was obliged to make
last week thro' the lower part of Lancashire, I met at the Rectory
house, Middleton, with Dr. Hardie, a young Scotch physician of
considerable eminence in his profession at Manchester, where he
practises. The battle of Waterloo being accidentally mentioned,
Dr. H. amused myself and the rest of the party after supper with
various anecdotes of the gallantry and success of Sergeant Ewart
of the Scots Greys, who performed prodigies of valour on that day
and whose good fortune it was to be the captor of one of the three
French Eagles that were taken during the battle.
"To a remark made by one of the party that he supposed Ewart
must be very proud of the honour of having taken a French Eagle,
Dr. H. observed that he always seemed to speak of it with much
indifference, and that when once asked the name of the regiment
to which the Eagle belonged, he answered, with much sangfroid,
'The Invincible or the like.' The only exploit, Dr. H. observed in
continuance, of which Ewart appears to be proud, is the summary
revenge which he had an opportunity of taking for the death of Mr.
Kinchant, who was the cornet of his own troop.... On the morning
of the 18th, a little before 12 o'clock, the Scots Greys were
ordered to charge a body of French infantry at some distance,
which order they instantly proceeded to execute in a column of two
deep, Sergeant Ewart in this charge being the front man of Cornet
Kinchant. Ewart, on reaching the enemy, immediately singled out
a French officer, whom, from being a very expert swordsman, he
soon disarmed and was on the point of cutting him down, when Mr.
Kinchant, on hearing the officer crying out, 'Ah, mercy, mercy,
Angleterre,' said, 'Sergeant, Sergeant, spare his life, and let
us take him prisoner.' Ewart considering that moment as a period
for slaughter and destruction, and not the proper time for taking
prisoners, replied, 'As it is your wish, sir, it shall be done.'
(I ought to have said that the French officer, prior to Mr. K.'s
address to the Sergeant, had cried that he had surrendered and
was their prisoner and had dropped his sabre.) Mr. K. to whom the
French officer had delivered up his sword, addressed him in French
and ordered him to move to the rear. Ewart was preparing to proceed
in the charge when he heard the report of a pistol behind him, and
turning round, from a suspicion of some treachery, the first object
which met his eye was Mr. K. falling backwards over his horse,
apparently in a lifeless state, and the French officer attempting
to hide his pistol under his coat. Indignant at such a dastardly
act, Ewart instantly wheeled round, and was again entreated by this
villain for mercy in the same supplicating terms as before. The
only answer which he returned was, 'Ask mercy of God, for the deil
a bit will ye get at my hands,' and with one stroke of his sabre,
severed his head from his body, leaving it a lifeless trunk on the
field of battle."
[Illustration:
+Charles Ewart+, Serjeant in the +SCOTS GREYS+.
_CARRYING OFF THE_ =EAGLE= _BELONGING TO_
+ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED DIVISIONS+
of the
+FRENCH INFANTRY+.
at the
BATTLE OF WATERLOO:
_Which he captured in a CHARGE made by his REGIMENT about the
middle of the Action._
_From a Contemporary Print._]
[Illustration: +The Grave of Ewart, who captured the Eagle at
Waterloo.+]
From a small volume lettered outside:--
"Extracts from a journal kept during the Waterloo campaign, by
Lieutenant Archibald James Hamilton, of the 2nd or Royal North
British Dragoons, presented to the Officers of the Royal Scots
Greys by Major John G. C. Hamilton, M.P., of Dalzell, Lanarkshire,
on the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, 1881."
* * * * *
"This is a portion of the Journal of my father, Archibald James
Hamilton, who was a Lieutenant in the Scots Greys during the
Waterloo campaign."
* * * * *
"We were quartered in small villages between Brussels and Ghent,
and chiefly in farm houses.
"I went to bed in my farm house about twelve o'clock on the night
of the 15th of June 1815, and was scarcely asleep when the trumpets
sounded the turn out: in an instant we were out of bed, the clothes
out of the washtub, and in a short time we were ready to march:
long indeed before orders came to tell us to what point our march
was to be directed. At length an order came which directed us to
proceed to Ninove, where we should receive further orders. We
were soon there: but the day was gone, and it was dark, and the
firing had entirely ceased before we reached the army, having been
repeatedly halted on the road during the day, from an apparent want
of knowing where to go, and at a time too when the French Cavalry
were charging our Infantry with considerable and unusual success.
"We encamped in a clover field for the night. A few of us went to
a village not far off, which had been completely plundered: we
there met with some soldiers of the Highland Brigade, who gave us
a most dismal account of the manner in which the French Cavalry
had attacked them on the previous day. Never having before seen
our army other than victorious, we felt rather dispirited at
these accounts, and had not Buonaparte, with his characteristic
selfishness, sent for the division which ought to have supported
Ney, and which division never fired a shot during the day, there
can be little doubt that the battle, instead of being a drawn one,
must have turned out positive, and with the aid of his cavalry,
of which we had none, Napoleon would have completely defeated the
allied troops.
"On this day Buonaparte kept his own opposed to our army,
notwithstanding he neutralized one of his whole divisions, and he
totally defeated the Russian army with a loss, according to their
own accounts, of twenty-five thousand men, as their total loss as
returned by themselves was upwards of thirty-three thousand: and
they could not at Wavre and Waterloo have lost five thousand men.
"The next morning we received orders to retire, and to cover the
retreat of the army into the lines at Mont St. Jean. The infantry
retired by the high road: the cavalry were formed in line: and the
different brigades fronted alternately to prevent the advance of
the enemy's cavalry and cannon.
"Notwithstanding the torrents of rain which fell, the French
continued to press us closely: their light cavalry charged ours
on the road and drove them back: when Lord Uxbridge, seeing them
do so, charged at the head of a regiment of the Life Guards and
completely upset them, they being unable to stand against the
superior weight of the men and horse of the household troops. At
this moment it rained in such a way as I never saw either before
or since: it rained as if the water were tumbled out of tubs:
there was also a good deal of thunder with it. Some of the hussars
that were driven in upon us were so covered with mud that it was
impossible to distinguish their features. The ground was so soft
that at every step our horses sank half way to the knees: and
in several places, in our passing over fallow land, it had the
appearance of a lake, the rain falling upon it faster than it
could either be absorbed or run off. It continued to rain and we
to retire till we halted for the night in the position of Mont St.
Jean: we were placed in bivouac at the distance of three hundred
yards from the front of a farm house which lay between us and the
village of Waterloo. The firing of cannon continued till it was
dark: but as it was on the other side of the hill we saw nothing
of what passed, hearing merely the cannonade. It continued to rain
and thunder during the whole of the night: being hungry and cold,
and wet through to the skin, we passed a most wretched night: the
ground upon which we lay was a fallow upon which it was impossible
to lie: we therefore obtained some straw at the farm house: we
found there also some wood with which we made a fire, although from
the rain it was difficult to keep it burning....
"In spite of the rain we slept pretty soundly, lying at our horses'
heads, they being formed in line, and linked together, but we were
repeatedly awoke during the night, by their taking fright at the
lightning and thunder, at the same time advancing over us! but no
one was hurt! and as the nights in the middle of summer are short,
we arose with the day break: a miserable looking set of creatures
we all were--covered with mud from head to foot--our white belts
dyed with the red from our jackets, as if we had already completed
the sanguinary work, which we were soon about to begin.
"(Sir W. Ponsonby) the General who commanded the brigade, had also
commanded our brigade in the Peninsula, and as I was the only
subaltern in it whom he knew, he asked me to be with him on the
17th and on this day also. This was just what I wished, for a man
sees more, and suffers less in action when on the Staff, than with
a regiment, being obliged in the latter case to stand still and be
shot at, while in the former he is constantly on the alert carrying
orders, and seeing and hearing everything that is going on.
"When the General appeared on the ground I joined him, his
Aide-de-Camp being at Brussels, whither the General had sent
him, not expecting the action to begin so early if at all that
day: his major of brigade and an officer who acted as _extra
Aide-de-Camp_, were however with him.
"We proceeded, after we had looked at the brigade, to the top of
the hill, leaving the brigade drawn up close at the bottom of
it. When we reached the summit we found the Duke of Richmond and
one of his sons, as amateurs in plain clothes, with a number of
officers, having their glasses on the look out for the Prussians:
but we could see nothing of them, although we were on the extreme
left of our army. Someone thought he saw a Prussian picquet at
the foot of some trees near a wood, and for a time we were all of
the same opinion--so fondly do people's hopes make things appear
in the desired light: but there was no Prussian picquet, and
the whole party seemed much dispirited. At this moment occurred
a circumstance not mentioned by any writer whose account of
the battle of Waterloo I have read: Buonaparte appeared in the
front of his troops, and the loudest cheering began on the left
of the French, and ran along their whole line. I confess that I
never before felt so disheartened: it had evidently a powerful
effect upon all present, but not one of our party said a word
about it: nor was any attempt at a reply to it made on our side,
by the troops near us: they were however chiefly Belgians, with
the Highland Brigade, and some of the other regiments, which had
suffered severely on the 16th.
"At this time we did not know whether we were to fight that day or
not: for having retired the whole of the day before, we thought as
the Prussians were not to be seen, that we should again retreat,
and seeing, or rather hearing by their shouts, that the French were
in such spirits, ours were not enlivened by the circumstance, but
the very reverse.
"However, immediately afterwards the cannonade began on the right
and increased every minute, till it was opposite to us, a gentle
breeze wafting the smoke of the French guns towards us, which
wholly prevented our seeing anything in front of us. Our brigade
continued drawn up at the bottom of the hill, and I was sent to
desire the commanding officers of the different regiments to draw
them up as close to the hill as possible, as they began to suffer
both from shells and shot, the effects of the cannonade....
"The cannonade now greatly increased, and under cover of the
smoke from both their cannon and our own, the French advanced the
division the Count D'Erbon,[2] who had by this time got close
to our infantry, who opened their fire upon them: but the enemy
much more powerful in numbers continued to push on. Our general
observing what was about to take place, immediately sent me down
to bring up the brigade with all speed. I did so: the general met
us just before we reached the summit of the hill: had we been five
minutes later, it would have been too late to have effected what
we did, as the French had charged our infantry with the bayonet,
who fled through the intervals of our squadrons, but immediately
rallying, advanced again with us to the hedge, a little way down
the hill, where they fired a volley at the French, when they were
close to each other. Our three regiments of dragoons were not quite
in line: the ---- Dragoons were on the right, and some yards in
advance, so that the general placing himself in front of them, they
charged a little before the other regiments did: the French gave
us only a partial volley, being in some disorder in consequence of
their previous exertions against our infantry, and from having no
idea of our brigade being so near at hand. We accordingly _went
right through them_: not a horse, as is usually the case, went
round from the fire, and the enemy threw down their arms.
[2] I make no attempt to alter the wording.--E. A.
"The other two regiments came up in succession, but were a little
delayed by the hedge: we again charged--the general riding along
the whole line to the left of the brigade--so that we saw the
whole three regiments charge: the result in each instance the
same--namely--the enemy throwing down their arms, and begging their
lives.
"In this conflict two eagles were taken, one by the ---- Dragoons,
and the other by ---- Dragoons.
"After passing through and killing, wounding, and making prisoners
the whole of the advanced column of the French, we ought to have
stopped and re-formed the brigade: but our men were not contented
with what they had done: they still went on. The General, his
aide-de-camp and I, got however about thirty of them collected
together, in the hope of reassembling all who remained of those
who had come on: for a great many, particularly of the officers,
had remained with the prisoners: when Colonel of the ---- Dragoons
came past us at full gallop, with about twenty men of his regiment
following him: in a second all the men which we had collected
set off in the same direction. In the hopes of stopping them we
followed and passed between the columns of the French infantry,
when their red lances closed behind us. One of the red lancers put
his lance to my horse's head, I made a cut at his arm as I passed
him; and as I did not look behind me to see whether I had struck
him or his lance, I should not have known that I had cut his arm,
had I not in recovering my sword thrown the blood on my white pouch
belt.
"On inspecting the sword, I saw that I had succeeded in wounding
the lancer and possibly thus saved my own life. My fears were, when
I saw him thrust at my horse's reins that he would shoot me with
his pistol, having heard of the red lancers sometimes doing so.
[Illustration: "+Muster Role of the Waterloo Men 2ⁿᵈ (or R.N.B.)
Regiment of Dragoons.+"
"Rouen 11th Sepʳ 1815."]
[Illustration: "+Muster Role of the Waterloo Men 2ⁿᵈ (or R.N.B.)
Regiment of Dragoons.+"
"Rouen 11th Sepʳ 1815."]
"Upon getting quite clear of the French, the first person I saw was
Captain ---- our General's extra aide-de-camp, who had lost sight
of the General some minutes before I had, and a little way before
us was Captain ---- of my regiment who had been with me in
the ---- Dragoons in Spain. He returned to his regiment to collect
his troops: and the aide-de-camp and I sought for assistance with
the view of recovering the General, and such other of our officers
and men who were in the hands of the French. I went to Lord E. R.
S. who commanded the Life Guard Brigade, and found him alone with
the exception of Lieutenant M. and Colonel Harvey of the 14th.
"Lord E. R. S. said to me, 'You see Mr. ---- I can do nothing for
you.' Upon this I went to a regiment that afterward ran off the
field altogether, and asked the Colonel in French, to advance,
and that I would show him where our General was prisoner; but he
declined moving, saying he had no orders; and he was right, as it
would have been in vain to make the attempt.
"A little further to the left, I found Sir J. Vandeleur's brigade
in column of divisions and an old brother officer of mine in the
---- Dragoons, was riding in front of the General giving him
advice. 'No orders' was again the reply to my request. I then
joined my regiment.
"After being once more in the form of a regiment, we retired
to a situation behind a wood where the enemy's shot and shells
passed over us: here the regiment, about three hundred strong, was
re-formed under the command of Colonel ----; we were then marched
up to the slaughter afresh, and placed nearly in the centre of the
enemy. On our right was the first brigade of cavalry, about the
same in number as ourselves. On each side of us were some regiments
of infantry formed in squares--some Hanoverian, some British.
"Repeatedly during the evening we retired, either by orders given,
or voluntarily after the charges were made. But whenever we were
out of the fire of the enemy we faced about and resumed our former
position.
"The infantry squares did the same, but were also brought back
to their positions; and I observed the officers in some of the
Hanoverian regiments exerting themselves to the utmost to keep
their men in order. We were twice led on by the Earl of Uxbridge,
and charged the squares of the French infantry opposed to us, but
were as often repulsed, losing about half our number every time.
"The first time we charged, the first brigade of cavalry on our
right charged at the same moment, and having received the fire of
their square of infantry before we did ours, they wheeled about and
charged as we advanced: so great was the confusion that the General
commanding them rode up against me, I being on the left of our
brigade, and he in the centre of his.
"I said 'Bad work this.' He shook his head, which I construed into
'It's all over with us.' Just as this occurred, the French square
opposite to us fired, and a great many of both brigades fell. This
reminded me of an old Scotch poacher who always waited till two
partridges 'clipt' before he fired, by clipt he meant, came so near
that their wings touched each other.
"At the conclusion of the last of these charges the Earl of
Uxbridge was shot in the leg; we saw him lifted off his horse
and carried off the field by six men, Captain H. Seymour walking
at their head. At this time the action was evidently all against
us, the enemy's infantry were steady in their squares; but their
heavy cavalry was as much reduced in number as our own: they
however sent out their skirmishers, who rode close up to us and
fired their pistols in our men's faces, who at last got in some
degree unmanageable, and fired their carbines in return over their
horses' heads at the French, and it was with some difficulty that
we prevailed upon them to put up their carbines. At this moment
one of our men was shot dead. We retired about twenty yards, the
dead man at the same time being left sitting on his tired horse,
quite upright, yet completely dead. Fearing that such a spectacle
might have a bad effect upon the men, he was taken off his horse
and carried to the rear; but I shall never forget his singular and
horrible appearance while he remained in the position in which he
was killed.
"During the evening we repeatedly retired to the bottom of the
hill, and as we supposed out of the reach of the fire of the enemy:
but even here, towards the close of the battle, we had men killed
and wounded: a pretty strong proof that the enemy had gained the
summit of the hill, and therefore crowned our position! Why they
did not advance further I cannot say; but it may be presumed that
they were without any further order, and that probably their
superior officers were killed or wounded, and the other officers
that they had fulfilled their orders having gained the top of our
position.
"As it got dusk we could plainly perceive the flashes of the
Prussian guns in the rear of the French army as we looked over it
towards the left. This may give a tolerably good idea of the time
at which the French retired: it was eight o'clock, and the victory
to all appearance was then quite undecided.
"During nine hours we had been exposed to a fire, which had, by
this time, reduced our brigade from about fifteen hundred strong in
the morning to a mere skeleton of _thirty-three officers and men_,
the number we mustered when we encamped for the night!
"It was after nine o'clock at night when the French gave way,
and our whole line advanced: we, as well as the first brigade of
cavalry, were now such mere handfuls, that, of course, we could
do nothing, but followed slowly in the rear of others. We heard
firing, but it was too dark to see anything clearly: we heard also
huzzas as the different charges were made by our light cavalry upon
the retreating enemy. We continued to advance along the right of
the road by which the French retired, and passed by many cannon and
waggons which they had abandoned, when I heard some English voices
calling out 'Are these the Dragoons?' Upon which I answered 'Yes.'
'Then' continued the voice 'here is Captain ---- of the Dragoons
badly wounded,' upon which I immediately sent one of the men of his
regiment, and one of the men of my own, with him to Brussels. I
heard nothing more of him for four years, further than that he had
got quite well, till going to visit some of my relations at * * *
in the east of Scotland, I found him quietly settled there, and in
the belief that his life had been saved by a French officer.
"When we halted for the night I was sent with a Cornet of the
regiment to the village of Waterloo to collect the stragglers, and
bring them up the next day. On my way to Brussels I overtook on the
road Captain P---- of the horse artillery, and rode with him into
the town. He was so kind as to inform a cousin of mine in the same
corps that I was safe; and thus my friends heard through him, that
I was neither killed nor wounded.
"Upon entering into a large house at Waterloo we found every room
in it filled with either the dead or the dying. I was glad to get
a chair, and sat down at a table in a large room, in every corner
of which were poor creatures groaning. The master of the house
having brought us a piece of bread and a bottle of wine, we began
to talk over the events of the day: and as he had been for years
a soldier of Buonaparte's himself, we found no lack of subjects
for conversation. After we had finished our bread and wine, which
we enjoyed very much notwithstanding the room was full of poor
wounded human beings, we retired to a hay loft for the night, which
we passed in profound repose. In the morning we saw the Belgians
completing the plunder of a number of baggage waggons, which stood
in the yard of the house. Here some of our men joined us, and my
private servant came up from the rear to look for my body, he
having been informed by two different officers of the brigade whom
he met on their way to Brussels the evening before, that I was
killed, assuring him that they had seen me lying on the field of
battle before they left it.
"I saw on my left, during one of the many times that we were in
some confusion, a soldier of the ---- Dragoons whose cheek, just
as I looked at it, opened, while I felt a ball pass close to my
lips,--the man immediately fell off his horse and I saw no more of
him.
"Several years afterwards I inquired of the Surgeon of his
regiment, and found that he had recovered with the loss of his
teeth on both sides, but that no injury was done either to the
upper or lower jaw, the ball having passed between them. The man's
name was Pye, the son of an English clergyman, who had left his
home and enlisted as a dragoon--he was probably a relation of
Southey's predecessor, the poet laureate of that name. After I had
got as many of our men ready to march as were in the village of
Waterloo, we were just setting off when we were joined by a party
from Brussels under the command of a senior officer to me, who
had gone there to dinner the day before we proceeded to join the
regiment, taking the field of battle on our way, where we found the
dead officers of the regiment and buried them, and then proceeded
on. But we did not come up with the regiment till the day after
when we found it encamped for the night, and my troop without an
officer."
Copy of a letter from A. J. Hamilton, Esq., of Dalziell House,
Lanarkshire, N.B., a Subaltern in the Scots Greys at the Battle of
Waterloo, giving an account of the battle. John W. Hozier, Major,
Royal Scots Greys, has recorded:--N.B.--The above has been copied from
a letter in the possession of John Hamilton, Esq. of Dalziell House,
Lanarkshire, N.B., whose Father was the writer of the original letter.
"+Camp, near Mons+,
"_June 24th, 1815_.
"+Dear Captain+,
"Till this day, I have had no time to write to you. You must have
received e'er this the accounts of what happened on the 18th,
the slaughter of both armies has been terrible; we have lost
three-fourths of our officers in killed and wounded, 200 men, and
nearly 800 horses, which was a pretty day's work. The Grays took
an Eagle, and the Royals another. I was Orderly Officer to General
Ponsonby, and was with him till he fell, the aide-de-camp and I
then cut our way through the enemy who had got into our rear.
"The first thing we did in the morning was to charge a column of
French infantry who had forced the left centre of our position,
supported by the Cuirassiers and some of the Imperial Guard; they
had just driven the Belgians from the heights and got possession
of six guns, when Ponsonby led on the Brigade in line; they
immediately halted, fired a volley which dropped a few of us, not a
man or horse went about, and in a minute we were in the middle of
them; those to the rear of the column still continued to fire at
us. After killing I can't tell what number, we made all the rest
prisoners, about 3,000, which were immediately sent to the rear.
Nothing could stop the men; they went on, took a great many of the
enemy's guns, and then, instead of halting, charged the Lancers and
Cuirassiers. At this moment I lost sight of the General, who was
killed, and cut my way to the rear, we being completely overpowered
by a fresh column of Infantry firing upon us and by the Cuirassiers
and Lancers having by this time rallied. We then retired and three
squadrons were formed, nine in the Brigade. We were then led to
the centre of the Army, where the battle became dreadful. We then
charged a square of Infantry on our left, and the Life Guards on
our right; between the two were formed the French Cuirassiers, and
each flank of our two Brigades rested on a square of Hanoverian
Infantry. At this moment everyone thought the battle lost, when we
charged and the Life Guards and one half of our men were destroyed.
We threw the French into some confusion. The two Brigades, the Life
Guards and ourselves, were then formed into one squadron of about
50 file, and we again charged the Cuirassiers in front of us; after
which we stood, and the French did the same, and fired at each
other with our carbines, not being more than forty yards from each
other, both afraid to advance for fear of the Infantry giving way.
The French then brought up their guns close to us, and our guns
came up also and fired grape shot, the French throwing something
like broken glass amongst us, at least it seemed so, which made
some dreadful wounds. The Prussians fired the right of the French
and they gave way; all our light cavalry then charged, and we
pursued them as long as we could see them.
[Illustration: "+Signatures of Officers Present of the 2nd (or R.N.B.)
Regiment of Dragoons entitled to share of Prize Money granted for the
Waterloo Campaign.+"
"Canterbury 29 May 1817."]
"At the end of the night I was sent to collect what men I could
that had gone off with the wounded, and all that were left with the
regiment was 16 officers and men.
"I buried 8 officers the next day. Trotter was the first, he was
shot through the heart; I have written to his brother-in-law, and
said I would pay his bills and remit home the money that arose
from his things being sold. I have bought Colonel Hamilton's
horse, which is a very fine one, 5 years old and fit to carry 15
stone, for £55; he refused £100 for him often. When the bills for
Trotter's things are given, I shall send them either to you or the
agent. I lost some of my things, many officers their whole baggage.
The Belgian cavalry ran off to Brussels, saying the Army was
defeated, and took our baggage from the men by force; such a scene
never was witnessed; the road at last got blocked with waggons,
and the Brunswick Hussars and the Belgians seized upon everything.
Let me hear from you as soon as possible. Write to my father when
you get this and say I am well. I shall write you next from Paris,
which is only 100 miles off, and with love to the children,
"Believe me,
"Yours truly,
"+A. J. Hamilton+.
"To Captain Lawson."
Letter from Cornet Clape (age 16), Scots Greys, to his Mother a week
after the Battle of Waterloo.
"+My dear Mother+,
"I am afraid my long silence may have occasioned you some
uneasiness, particularly as the list of killed and wounded was so
long making its appearance. I would have written the day after the
battle, but where could I find pen and ink, in the middle of a
cornfield that was occupied the night before by the enemy.
"I have certainly delayed writing to you this week, as I wanted to
date my letter from Paris, which we have been expecting to enter
every day. As you must now be certain that I have escaped without
a broken head, and, as to my health, I could not enjoy better, you
may perhaps wish for the history of our proceedings since we left
Dunderhauten.
"On the morning of the 15th we were roused from a most comfortable
sleep by the sound of Bugles, and noise of Sergeants crying 'Turn
out,' 'Turn out!' We understood that the enemy had in some
fear of our pickets, and that we were to march about 15 miles,
which we did, when we were ordered to move on with all possible
speed to the field of action. We could hear the firing distinctly.
We got to Ne----lles about nine at night. The firing had almost
ceased, they were bringing in the wounded by hundreds. We arrived
on the field of Battle at 12 o'clock, where we bivouacked, after
having marched upwards of 50 miles. I rolled my cloak round me,
and laid down in some rye, where I slept as sound as ever I did in
my life. On the morning of the 17th the firing commenced early,
chiefly skirmishing. We could not see much of it, as we were
covered by some rising ground. About 12 the Cavalry and Artillery
took up positions upon the heights, to cover the retreat of the
Infantry. We commenced our march in their rear about 4 o'clock,
going through Jenappes: the rain fell in torrents. We soon after
moved into the cornfields, where we what they called shewed a
front, retiring, then fronting again. It was here that I first
heard the whizzing of a Ball (there is really something very grand
about it). They were coming pretty fast and very near us: however
we had not a man killed, or wounded. At 7 we halted. The firing
had ceased. We had touched nothing since we left Dunderhau--but a
little bread and some . Luckily we were near a very large
farm house, that supplied us with wood and straw. Such a scene of
destruction I never before witnessed. Ploughs, Harrows, Chairs,
Tables, everything that would burn was brought out to make fires.
The straw was unthrashed. Old sows, little pigs, calves and cows,
all shared the same fate. I got a calves kidney, and although it
was not dressed in style (for one half of it was raw) I made a very
dainty meal of it.
"Oh: the night: what could be more uncomfortable. It began raining
again at 10, and we had nothing but our cloaks to cover us, which
were soaked in half an hour. On the morning of the 18th, the clouds
began to break, the sun made his appearance, and with good fires
we soon got dry. At 10 the firing commenced, we then moved to the
bottom of the Hill, where Colonel Hankins (?) Horse came down with
him crossing a ditch: he was severely hurt: we were just in the
range of the 12 Pounders. We were ordered up the Hill, and after 3
hours, charged the enemy in the finest style possible. The men were
only too impetuous, nothing could stop them, they all separated,
each man fought by himself. I received a bullet from a Frenchman
not 20 yards from me: it went through my cloak, and lodged in my
saddle, which it has completely spoiled. I was the last person with
Colonel Hamilton, who was just like a madman. He was crying 'Halt,
Halt, the Greys,' when there was none to be seen. He then galloped
completely into the French Lines, where I thought it time to leave
him; and make the best of my way back, which by the greatest good
fortune I effected. If we had been supported by the Light Dragoons,
we should have lost very few, and done three times the execution.
After we had collected all we could of the two Brigades, we retired
behind a wood, where we remained till 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
when we were ordered to the right. Talk of the charge, I say it
was a farce to this; this tried a soldier: we were formed upon a
hill facing the enemy, receiving his whole force of Artillery and
Musketry, without being able to return a shot. Really the Bullets
came as thick as Hail, the men were dropping on all sides, here we
were until half-past seven, diminishing every moment. We seemed
to be placed there only to be shot at, and the enemy threatening
to charge us every instant with 6 times our number. We thought
all was lost, yet all resolved to stand to the last. How can I
express, my dear Mother, what we felt at seeing the Light Dragoons
and Artillery come up, and in an instant saw the whole French Army
in a rout. I must leave it to your own imagination. Our Regiment
was only 36 strong when we marched to this Mount, when we left it
we could only muster 14. Colonel Clarke had two horses shot under
him, and was wounded himself. Major Vernon was wounded. Major
Cheney had five horses shot under him, and kept mounting the fresh
ones with the same coolness that he would had they been at his own
stable door. My old mare received three slight wounds. One was a
bullet through her ear. Poor Whindham was shot through the foot in
the charge, he is doing well. What a scene did the field of action
present to our view. The wounded groaning, the dead cut up in a
most hideous manner. Horses standing upon three legs, you could not
go a step without stumbling over something. We that night occupied
the very ground that the enemy had bivouacked upon the previous
night, and much obliged to them we were for the huts they had left
us. Since that time we have been taking forced marches, and are now
quartered at N----, six miles from Paris. Sergeant Ewart of the
Greys took the Eagle."
Letter from the Adjutant of the Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo,
Lieutenant Macmillan, to Major-General Balfour of Ballurnie, Fife,
late Colonel of the Scots Greys, and giving an account of the part the
Regiment took in the battle. Copied by Major Donnithorne from the
original in the possession of Mr. Balfour of Ballurnie, son of General
Balfour.
"+Nantevin.+ _July 13th, 1815._
"5 miles west of Paris.
"+Dear General+,
"After a long silence on my part I shall attempt to give you a
short extract of our late movements. No doubt ere this time you
will have seen the _Gazette_ containing a list of the killed and
wounded of the Greys on the 18th ultimo. I fancy it's much greater
than has ever occurred since it was a regiment. We took into the
field that day three squadrons above sixty files each. Now we
muster _one_ of little more than that number. I fear many of the
men and horses wounded, will never be again fit for service. Poor
Colonel Hamilton led the regiment in grand stile into action. You
know him, more than courage is required on such occasions.
"Major-General Ponsonby who commanded the Brigade fell early in the
action, as did Colonel H.; but which of them fell first, the former
being in the centre of the Brigade, and we being on the left, I do
not know which of them was first killed.
"No regiment could behave better than the Greys, Sergeant Ewart
took an Eagle, and the Royals another, which I believe were all
that were taken, but not one word in the Despatch by whom taken,
indeed the Despatch is extremely cold, and which is observed as
such by everyone here, that has seen it. The Heavy Brigade are
mentioned as having done their duty--the first consists of 2
Regiments, Life Guards, Blues, and first Dragoon Guards. The 2nd,
second and sixth Dragoons: the Hussars and Light Dragoons had
little or anything (_sic_) to do except look on. Sergeant Ewart cut
down the officer and two soldiers before he could get possession of
the Eagle.
"Hankin's horse fell with him at the commencement of the charge, we
saw nothing more of him for that day, had he remained a short time
in the field he must have been killed from his been (_sic_) so very
inactive that the French Lancers immediately got into our regt.
after each charge, he having no reserve he would certainly have
been destroyed, the Light Dragoons this time might have been made
extremely useful.
"Colonel Hankin's horse also fell with him twice on the 17th, when
we in our turn covered the retreat of the British Army, which was
done under a most tremendous fire of cannon from the enemy, the
First Dragoons only lost one man, that was all, Lord Uxbridge's
Hussars[3] (the 7th) were to have been the last and were so placed,
but from some cause or other, behaved not very well, indeed his
Lordship said in front of the first Life Guards, that he must call
upon them to advance _for that his own regiment had deserted him_.
The Life Guards charged a mass of Lancers on the _chasee_ (_sic_),
and which they tumbled over like rats and the road covered with
them and their horses.
[3] This Regiment no longer exists.--E. A.
"It is quite impossible to describe in a letter the battle of the
18th. The carnage is far beyond belief.
"The enemy fought most fureyously, indeed they fought with halters
round their necks as well as their Master. The heavy Cavalry was
the admiration of the whole army, they bore down everything that
came in their way.
"I am pretty certain that had it not been for their exertions on
that day, we should not now have had possession of the French
Capital, with the aid of part of the Prussians at the close of
the day, and which came very seasonably, not only to complete a
hard day's work, but to follow a routed enemy which they did to
perfection. I went over a part of the field of Battle next morning
where we had principly been engaged, with the view of getting
removed such of the wounded of the Greys as remained, and also to
bury the officers, the former had all been removed, and the latter
I saw put under ground as well as we could. Poor Carruthers died
next day of his wounds. The men wounded say that they received
their wounds after they were taken prisoners, this from their
horses being killed, from which it would appear that the French
expected no quarter was to be given on either side: the field is
far beyond my power to describe, it was literally covered with men
and horses, &c., &c.
"I beg you will excuse this horrid scrawl as I find that I am not
competent to give even a faint description of this bloody battle.
"Clark had a horse killed under him and himself wounded. Poole
had a horse killed and himself for some time a prisoner. Verner a
horse shot through the head and himself through the shoulder and
apparently by the same ball. Wemyss a horse shot. Cheney had five
horses (only one his own, and the rest troopers), his own died next
day. My horse shot through the shoulder and my cloak like a ridle
from musket balls. Indeed only two officers escaped without being
touched either themselves or horse.
"As Colonel Clark is now likely to succeed to the command of the
Regiment."
* * * * *
"+Interesting Anecdote.+
"Sergeant Weir, of the Scots Greys, was pay-sergeant of his troop,
and as such might have been excused serving in action, and perhaps
he should not have been forward, but on such a day as Waterloo he
requested to be allowed to charge with the Regiment. In one of
the charges he fell mortally wounded, and was left on the field.
Corporal Scot, of the same regiment (who lost a leg) asserts that
when the field was searched for the wounded and slain, the body of
Sergeant Weir was found with his name written on his forehead by
his own hand dipped in his own blood. This his comrade said he was
supposed to have done that his body might be found and known, and
that it might not be imagined he had disappeared with the money of
the Troop."