The Duke at Hougoumont, makes a slight change, returns to the
ridge.—Battle commences at Hougoumont: Jérôme’s columns put in
motion, drew the fire of our battery upon them, to which theirs
replied.—Close fighting at Hougoumont.—Our left menaced by the
enemy’s cavalry.—Howitzers open upon the enemy in the wood of
Hougoumont.—The enemy press on and approach the masked wall,
from whence the crashing fusillade astounds them.—Our troops
under lord Saltoun charge and rout the enemy; a portion of whom
pass Hougoumont on their right, and enter the gate: a desperate
struggle ensues.—Gallantry of colonel Macdonell, sergeant Graham,
and the Coldstream.—The enemy’s light troops drive off our
right battery.—Colonel Woodford, with a body of the Coldstream,
reinforces Hougoumont.—Sergeant Graham rescues his brother from the
flames.—Prussian cavalry observed.—Hougoumont a stumbling-block to
the enemy, who now prepare to attack our left.—Napoleon observes
a part of Bulow’s Prussian corps, and detaches cavalry to keep
them in check.—A Prussian hussar taken prisoner; his disclosures
to the enemy.—Soult writes a dispatch to Grouchy.—Oversight of
Napoleon, who orders Ney to attack our left.—D’Erlon’s columns
advance; terrific fire of artillery.—La Haye-Sainte and Papelotte
attacked.—Picton’s division, aided by Ponsonby’s cavalry, defeat
the enemy.—Shaw the life-guardsman killed.—Struggle for a colour.—A
female hussar killed.—Picton killed.—Scots Greys and Highlanders
charge together.—Two eagles captured, with a host of prisoners.—Our
heavy cavalry get out of hand.—Ponsonby killed.—12th dragoons
charge.—Our front troops drawn back.—Charge of Kellermann’s
cuirassiers, repulsed by Somerset’s household brigade, who
following up the enemy mix with Ponsonby’s dragoons on the French
position.—Captain Siborne’s narrative of the attack upon our left
and centre.—Heroism of lord Uxbridge.
Just before the commencement of the battle, and after taking a
minute survey of his troops on the position, the Duke rode down to
Hougoumont, and following the footpath that traversed the wood,
halted at the eastern boundary, from whence he surveyed the enemy’s
masses in that vicinity. He afterwards returned to the buildings,
and, casting a hasty glance around, made a few observations to
colonel Macdonell, ordered a slight change to be made in the troops
holding the wood and out-grounds, and then rode away.
At about half-past eleven o’clock, his Grace was near the bit of
hedge-row on the road side, midway between the Lion and Hougoumont,
in conversation with one of his staff, when a strong force of light
troops of prince Jérôme’s division commenced an attack in the wood
of Hougoumont upon our light troops, who, being under cover of the
hedge and trees, kept them at bay for some time: the French however
pressed on briskly into the wood, and drove our troops back towards
the buildings. The rattle of the musketry was kept up in the wood for
some time; and thus opened the memorable day of Waterloo.
Upon Jérôme’s supporting columns being put in motion, (about ten
minutes to twelve, according to lord Edward Somerset and general Shaw
Kennedy’s watches[29],) captain Cleeve’s German battery first opened
upon them, and produced a most terrific effect, making a complete
road through the mass[30]: the leading column was broken, and fell
back behind the ridge; upon which our artillery more to the right
opened upon the French rear columns which had slightly changed their
position. Reille’s guns now opened, and a heavy cannonade was carried
on. Napoleon ordered Kellermann to push forward his horse batteries:
thus the fire augmented like thickening peals of thunder, and the
whole kept up a continual roar;
“And from their deep throats
The shot and shells did pour.”
Our Nassau and Hanoverian light troops being forced out of the wood
by the French, the light companies of the British guards advanced
on the right of the buildings, and also from the orchard into the
fields, driving the enemy before them.
During the time the French occupied the wood, the Duke, after
explaining the danger attending the howitzers’ range, as, from the
proximity of the hostile forces, friends might be destroyed as well
as foes, ordered Bull’s howitzer battery to throw shells into it. A
shower of shells was soon sent flying into the wood, which forced
Jérôme’s light troops and their supports to retire. Up to this time,
except a little skirmishing, the battle was confined to Hougoumont.
The roar of artillery was increasing. At this period a body of the
enemy’s cavalry approached our left at a good pace; upon which,
Best’s Hanoverians formed square; but the French cavalry went about.
It was a reconnoitering party, to see whether we had thrown up any
field-works, as our position, when seen from the French right, had
all the appearance of being intrenched. Fresh columns of Jérôme’s
division, supported by Foy’s, were sent upon our post at Hougoumont;
they united, extended their front, and pressed through the wood and
open fields.
The horse battery upon the French left opened upon our right, and
a sharp cannonade was kept up between the batteries. Our light
troops in the wood and orchard made a desperate resistance, but were
ultimately obliged to fall back upon the flanks of the buildings. As
the French approached the banked-up hedge that masked the loop-holed
wall, they pressed up to it, thinking our troops were behind it;
but they were suddenly brought to a stand, by an efficacious fire
through the loop-holes and from the scaffold over the top of the
wall: most of their advance were brought down, and those who followed
were staggered, without being able to make out whence the fire came
that caused such havock in their ranks; little thinking that a
masked battery of muskets was within forty yards of them. They at
length perceived whence this well-directed fire came; still they
returned with redoubled fury to the attack, in hopes of carrying
this important post. Not thinking it prudent to attempt an escalade,
they covered themselves, as best they could, by the banked-up hedge
and trees, and continued a dropping fire upon the wall, which was so
peppered as to lead one to suppose they had an idea of battering it
down with musketry, or mistook the red bricks for our red coats. At
length some of the more daring, and there were many in their ranks,
rushed over the hedge up to the wall, and seized the muskets which
protruded through the loop-holes.
The enemy were making their way through a gap, out of the wood, into
the large orchard, when lord Saltoun charged them with his light
troops and drove them back. Our howitzers upon the right of the main
ridge began again plying with shells the enemy in the wood: they
falling back, and our men moving on slowly, the shells were thrown
in another direction, upon some supports. The enemy were again
reinforced, and pressed on in a most daring manner.
Our guards on the right, under colonel Macdonell, fell back upon the
haystack (afterwards burnt) that stood between the buildings and the
wood, and upon the hedges and the right enclosures; while those on
the left or orchard side, under colonel lord Saltoun, fell back to
the south banked-up hedge of the orchard. Those on the right were
assisted by their comrades from the windows of the house, as well
as from the loop-holes of the south stables. They managed upon that
point to keep the enemy at bay for some time, but perceiving some
of Jérôme’s troops out-flanking them on the allied right of the
buildings, and thus exposing our men to the danger of being turned
on their right and cut off from retreat, they hastily fell back and
entered the buildings by the north gate, which they attempted to
block up: but the French were too close upon them, and forced an
entrance. Our men quickly taking the best cover they could find,
opened a rattling fire upon the intruders, then darted forward, and a
struggle ensued, distinguished by the most undaunted courage on both
sides. At length colonel Macdonell and his small force, amongst whom
was sergeant Graham, succeeded in overpowering the enemy and closing
the gate. All of the enemy who had entered were either killed or
severely wounded. Shortly after a French soldier climbed to the top
of the gateway, and sergeant Graham immediately shot him, by order of
captain Windham, who at the time was holding Graham’s musket, whilst
the latter was further securing the gate.
At this moment the position was nearer falling into the hands of
the enemy, than at any other period during the day. A party of
French drove back our light companies, and passed the avenue hedge
which leads to the Nivelles road, turning the post on the allied
right. Being favoured by the brushwood and high crops, they got
close up under the ridge on the right of our main front line, and
destroyed some of our artillery-men and horses, causing Webber
Smith’s battery to be drawn back into the hollow road, where his guns
were refitted. Colonel Woodford, with the rest of the Coldstreams,
went down and drove the French before him; but, before his arrival,
such a numerous body of the enemy had congregated at the north gate
and wall of Hougoumont, that our artillery opened fire upon them.
Colonel Woodford’s advance caused it to cease, from the fear of
destroying our own men. Woodford cleared all before him, and leaving
a detachment to guard the avenue, he entered the building from the
lane by a small door of the barn (now bricked up).
Sergeant Graham, some time after this, asked permission to fall out
for a few minutes: a request which surprised colonel Macdonell, and
induced him to inquire the motive. Graham replied, that his brother
was lying in the buildings wounded, and, as the flames were then fast
extending, he wished to remove him to a place of safety. The request
was granted, and Graham, having rescued his brother from the fate
which menaced him, speedily returned to his post. Graham died an
inmate of the Royal hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, in 1845.
The French on our left of Hougoumont, pressed on, and turned lord
Saltoun’s troops on their left, driving them across the orchard to
the friendly hollow-way; but upon the enemy following through the
south hedge, all within musket range received, from the Coldstreams
stationed inside the east garden wall, such a severe fire upon
their left flank, as staggered and brought them up. Upon which lord
Saltoun, who had been reinforced upon his left by some of the 3d
guards from the main line, advanced, drove the enemy before him,
and again occupied the front hedge; than which there was not a more
secure position on the field, as long as the enemy did not outflank
it: but this the French frequently attempted to do by attacking, from
the open field beyond the east hedge of the enclosure, Saltoun’s
left, posted at the south-east angle of the orchard.
The enemy now occupied the wood and open fields on both flanks.
Outside the left enclosures there was cavalry-skirmishing. About this
time small bodies of cavalry, supposed to be Prussians, were observed
on the heights on our left, near St.-Lambert.
[Illustration: (Marshall Ney)]
In consequence of the determined resistance the enemy met with at our
advanced post of Hougoumont, which proved a regular stumbling-block
to Napoleon, he resolved upon attacking the left of our main
line[31]. Marshal Ney had been making preparations for so doing,
by pushing forward part of his artillery to the intermediate ridge
of their right wing, placing his guns so that their range was not
beyond half a mile; they were to cover, as is usual, the advance of
their columns of attack, formed of the whole of d’Erlon’s corps,
supported by part of Reille’s.
Napoleon’s aim was to turn our left, force the left centre, get
possession of the farms of La Haye-Sainte and Mont-St.-Jean, and
establish a force there, in order to cut off our communication
with Brussels, and to prevent our cooperation with the Prussians.
The French columns had been moved to the hollow, between the main
and inner ridges. All was ready for the grand attack, of which
Ney apprized Napoleon; who, before he gave the order to begin,
took a general survey upon his right, when, perceiving in the
direction of St.-Lambert what he thought to be troops, he asked his
adjutant-general (Soult[32],) what the cloud of troops were that
he saw in the distance? Soult replied, “I think I see five or six
thousand men: possibly part of Grouchy’s corps.” The telescopes were
all put in requisition; but the day being hazy, the opinions were
various and conflicting. Upon this, general Domont was sent for, and
ordered to proceed with two light cavalry divisions in the direction
of St.-Lambert, and ascertain what the supposed troops were. Domont
and Subervie, it is said, immediately moved to the right, and drew
up _en potence_ on the right of the French army, and facing the wood
of Paris. This must have occurred about one o’clock. Soon after,
an officer of the light cavalry brought in a Prussian hussar taken
prisoner, who had been charged with a letter for orders from Bulow
to Wellington. The Prussian was very communicative, and answered
all questions in a loud tone; he said, “his corps had been that
morning at Wavre, near which the other three Prussian corps had
encamped; that his regiment had sent out patrols for six miles in all
directions, but had not fallen in with any part of the French army,
consequently they had concluded that Grouchy had joined the Emperor
at Plancenoit; and that the column seen near St.-Lambert was the
advance-guard of Bulow’s (4th) corps, about 30,000 strong, that had
not been present at the battle of Ligny.” This intelligence obliged
Napoleon to hold a considerable force in hand, in order to defend his
right flank. It is therefore evident, that more caution and vigilance
should have been used by him, at an earlier period, in that direction.
Soult, who was at this time writing a dispatch to Grouchy, informed
him that the Emperor wished him to manœuvre in the direction of the
main army; to find out the point where it was, to keep up a close
communication, and to be at hand to fall upon and destroy any enemy
that might attempt to disturb their right flank.
“At this moment,” he continued, “we are engaged in battle on
the line of Waterloo. The centre of the English army is at
Mont-St.-Jean; so manœuvre to join our right without loss of time.
“DUKE OF DALMATIA.
“One o’clock, 18th June.”
It was sent off with the intercepted letter, but did not reach
Grouchy till after seven P.M. Domont soon after made the
communication, that he had fallen in with the enemy in the direction
of St.-Lambert; the Emperor might be assured that the troops he had
seen were enemies, and that he had sent out patrols to find out
Grouchy and to open a communication with him.
Napoleon remarked to Soult, “This morning we had ninety chances
for us; the arrival of Bulow loses us thirty, but we have still
sixty against forty. If Grouchy repair the horrible fault which he
committed yesterday in amusing himself at Gembloux, and send his
detachment with rapidity, the victory will be more decisive, because
Bulow’s corps will be quite destroyed.” The Emperor still felt
sanguine as to the successful result of the battle, notwithstanding
he had received no intelligence from Grouchy, nor any information
which he considered satisfactory respecting the Prussians. It was
only by a gross oversight on the part of Napoleon, or some of his
officers, that Bulow was allowed to approach his right. Had he
detached six or eight thousand men of all arms on the 17th, or at an
early hour on the 18th, to command the entrance to the defiles of
the Lasne and St.-Lambert, through which Bulow had to pass, and not
above ten minutes’ gallop from the French right (consequently the
force could have been recalled at any moment,) Napoleon could have
kept Bulow’s corps, out of action until the arrival of Zieten’s (1st)
corps, at about eight o’clock, and before that hour he might with his
whole force have assailed Wellington’s position.
The appearance of the Prussians at St.-Lambert was ominous for
Napoleon: it compelled him to alter his plan of battle, and tended to
paralyze part of his reserves. The Prussians were now in great force
between Grouchy’s corps and the French right. Grouchy might indeed
fall upon the Prussian rear; but he might also be retarded at the
passage of the Dyle, or by some other difficulty or misfortune. The
prospect was sufficiently gloomy to make Napoleon detach some cavalry
for the purpose of observing Bulow’s corps, and to keep a strong
force in hand ready to check the Prussians, should they attempt to
disturb his right.
The Emperor now sent word to Ney to commence the attack. D’Erlon’s
four massive columns advanced, accompanied by Ney, who halted on
the high-road where it cuts through the bank, before reaching La
Haye-Sainte orchard. As soon as the columns reached the inner ridge,
and were passing between their batteries, our guns opened upon them;
they were scarcely down the slope so as to be under cover from their
own guns, when their batteries of between seventy and eighty pieces,
posted on their main and inner ridges, opened with a tremendous
roar upon our lines, causing dreadful havock in Picton’s division
and Byland’s brigade. The balls that went over fell with terrific
effect amongst our cavalry in the rear. The flank columns which were
detached to attack La Haye-Sainte, and Papelotte, La Haye and Smohain
on our left, soon became engaged. The German rifles from the orchard
of La Haye-Sainte opened first: then the Nassau on the left, with the
light troops in advance of the columns, and soon the skirmish became
general along the whole front of attack. Papelotte, la Haye and the
orchard of La Haye-Sainte were carried.
As the columns approached the rise of our position, they appeared
_en échelons_ from their left. Byland’s brigade of the Netherlands
was overpowered and gave way before the overwhelming force which
advanced against it, but was rallied again in rear of the ridge,
where it remained for the rest of the day. Some of this brigade,
particularly the 5th militia, had behaved with great gallantry on
the 16th, at Quatre-Bras. The flanking fires from La Haye-Sainte
and the enclosures of Smohain induced the enemy’s flank columns
to swerve away towards the centre, before they dropped off their
supports: so much so, that their central columns had not sufficient
space to deploy. The left column got a strong fire from the walls of
La Haye-Sainte, which it had scarcely cleared, when our sand-hole
rifles began; this at first staggered the column, but still it
pressed on with deafening shouts of _Vive l’Empereur!_ and turned
our sand-larks, who fell back behind the knoll, and from thence upon
their battalion.
The enemy had dislodged the green Germans from the orchard of La
Haye-Sainte, and were desperately disputing the buildings, a most
serious impediment to the French, whose attacking columns were
advancing towards the hedge. The French artillery now suspended their
fire, for fear of destroying friends as well as foes: whilst our
few but well-served batteries were carrying destruction through the
enemy’s columns, who, regardless of the iron hail, gallantly pressed
on until within forty yards of the hedge, when the undaunted Picton
ordered Kempt’s brigade to deploy into line. This brigade moved up
to the hedge, fired a volley into the enemy while deploying, which
dreadfully shattered their ranks and stemmed their further progress;
then with a loud Hurrah! rushed through the hedge and received a
murderous volley in return. This caused some disorder and delay,
particularly among the 79th regiment: but the delay was momentary;
our soldiers quickly rallied, and levelling their bayonets, presented
a line of British infantry at the charge. Picton’s gallant example at
Quatre-Bras had so inspired his troops, that nothing could now resist
the impetuosity of their attack.
By the terrific fire of our infantry, a timely check was given to
the burning ardour of the assailing columns, which were soon turned
into a shapeless mass of men, destitute of order, although still
endeavouring to hold their ground; pouring out a straggling fire,
yet unable to withstand the storm about to burst upon their devoted
heads. During this time a portion of the first light battalion of
the German legion crossed the high-road to support our advancing
brigade. The French left attacking column became panic-stricken,
and, in utter confusion, fled precipitately down the slope. As
the British pressed forward, their front was crossed by a body of
cuirassiers hotly pursued by the 2d life-guards. The cuirassiers
dashed in amongst their own broken infantry, who flung themselves on
the ground to allow both cavalries to ride over them, they then rose
up and fired after the life-guards. The cuirassiers coming nearer to
their own position pulled up their steeds, and boldly faced their
pursuers, but in vain; after many an isolated and individual combat,
they were obliged again to turn and fly. It was here that Shaw, the
famous life-guardsman, fell in the _mêlée_, mortally wounded by a
carbine-ball, after having, it is said, killed nine of his steel-clad
opponents.
During this same attack, a French officer, whose horse had been
shot under him, seized the regimental colour of the 32d, which was
carried at the moment by lieutenant Belcher: a struggle ensued; the
Frenchman was in the act of drawing his sword, when he received a
thrust in the breast from a sergeant’s halbert, and instantly after,
notwithstanding the major (Toole) called out, (alas! too late,) “Save
the brave fellow!” he was shot by a man named Lacey, and fell dead at
lieutenant Belcher’s feet. This officer and lieutenant-colonel Brown,
both of the 32d and actors in this scene, revisited the spot in 1845.
They related all that took place on this part of our line during
the day, and further told me, that in collecting their wounded on
the morning after the battle, they found, near where the Hanoverian
monument now stands, a most beautiful young lady who had been shot
dead in the costume of an officer of the French hussars[33].
[Illustration: (Sir Thomas Picton)]
It was during this gallant and eminently successful repulse of the
enemy, that the brave Picton fell[34]: he was struck by a musket-ball
in the right temple, and died immediately. His last words were,
“Charge! charge! Hurrah!” His life had been spent in fighting the
battles of his country: his end was suited to his stormy career; and
although he had attained the meridian of military glory, no one of
the many that fell that day was so lamented, as no one had been so
admired and loved by the British army. His renown had attracted the
notice of Napoleon, who on the morning of the battle inquired, “Where
is Picton’s division?” His desire to know this might be attributed to
his thinking, that, as they had been so roughly handled and had lost
so many men at Quatre-Bras, their _morale_ was shaken and they might
be easily overpowered.
It appears that Picton had been wounded on the 16th, at Quatre-Bras;
but it was not discovered till his body was laid out on the 19th, at
Brussels.
He was succeeded in the command of the division by sir James Kempt;
colonel Belson, of the 28th, taking command of the brigade.
The 95th rifles were soon in the midst of the broken French infantry,
over which the two cavalries had ridden; they took a vast number of
prisoners and sent them to the rear. The rifles then reoccupied the
knoll and sand-pit, and Baring’s gallant Germans the little garden
and orchard of La Haye-Sainte, from whence the enemy had been driven.
Ponsonby’s brigade had advanced close up to the ridge, and was
waiting the proper moment to charge; for the French columns on
Kempt’s left, having had nothing in their front to check them after
Byland retreated, were making through the hedges that lined the
road. Part of the Royal dragoons dashed into the head of the enemy’s
column in their front, and at the same moment a portion of the 28th
regiment brought their right shoulders forward and fired a volley
into its left flank. At this time, part of Pack’s brigade, formed of
the redoubtable remains of the 92d Highlanders, was in rear of the
ridge, their left brought forward, resting in front of the brushwood
upon the knoll on our left. Part of another French column had passed
the straggling hedge, and were pressing on towards the position of
this brigade, bearing directly on its left. This handful of tried
soldiers, partially aided by the Royal Scots and 42d Highlanders,
immediately advanced in order to come to close quarters with the
enemy, whose fire they received without returning, until within
thirty yards; they then threw in a concentrated and destructive
volley, which completely staggered the French, who however soon
sufficiently recovered themselves to return the fire. At this moment,
the Scots Greys came up, and the Highlanders opened out to let them
pass. The wild shrill squeaking bagpipes, mixed with the shouting of
“Scotland for ever!” heightened the national enthusiasm, and many of
them, breaking from their ranks, caught hold of the Grey’s stirrups
to be able to keep up with them, and to take their part in completing
the destruction of the enemy.
“Where stream’d fair Scotia’s banners high,
Or nodded where her bonnets blue,
Where peal’d the bagpipe’s deafening cry,
Or where the varied tartans flew:
There did the rush of battle burst,
Blazing the deadly fight begun;
There did the shouts of triumph first
Proclaim the Gallic host undone.”
While we see in this fact ample proof of the ardour which fired the
breasts of our brave Scottish troops, yet we must allow that the
mingling of broken infantry with cavalry advancing to an attack,
must have materially impeded the impetus and efficiency of both. The
cavalry having the advantage of the descent, bore down all before
them. Unfortunately this splendid result was not enough for the
gallant spirits that achieved it. Wild with their success and carried
away by the ardour of the fight, they hurried in utter confusion up
the opposite slopes, sabring every living thing that came in their
way. This was not the only instance of our cavalry getting disordered
and out of hand by their own headlong rashness, and in consequence
causing most serious loss of life.
The eagle and colour of the 45th regiment in the French column,
attracted the particular attention of sergeant Ewart of the Greys; he
gallantly rushed forward to secure the trophy. The following is his
account of the affair: “It was in the charge I took the eagle from
the enemy: he and I had a hard contest for it; he made a thrust at
my groin, I parried it off and cut him down through the head. After
this a lancer came at me; I threw the lance off by my right side,
and cut him through the chin and upwards through the teeth. Next,
a foot-soldier fired at me, and then charged me with his bayonet,
which I also had the good luck to parry, and then I cut him down
through the head; thus ended the contest. As I was about to follow my
regiment, the general said, ‘My brave fellow, take that to the rear;
you have done enough till you get quit of it.’ I took the eagle to
the ridge, and afterwards to Brussels[35].”
The Greys, with the Highlanders, took and destroyed nearly the whole
of the front attacking column. Upon the right of the Greys were the
Inniskilling dragoons, who dashed through the straggling hedge[36]
down upon the supporting columns, and made fearful havock amongst
them; and although they had not the good fortune to capture an eagle,
their attack was as brilliant as that of the other regiments of
the brigade. On the right of the brigade were the Royal dragoons,
as before mentioned, who, like the Greys[37], met the head of the
enemy’s column on our side of the Wavre road and hedge; the column
threw out a straggling fire, and attempted to repass the hedge;
but the Royals were soon among them, cutting and slashing away,
and causing a panic, which, from the enemy’s situation, was not to
be wondered at. In the centre of this column was the eagle of the
105th regiment; this caught the eye of captain Clarke, of the Royal
dragoons. The following extract is from the records of the regiment,
page 105: “I was,” he said, “in command of the centre squadron of
the Royal dragoons in this charge; while following up the attack, I
perceived a little to my left, in the midst of a body of infantry, an
eagle and colour, which the bearer was making off with towards the
rear. I immediately gave the order to my squadron, ‘Right shoulders
forward!’ at the same time leading direct upon the eagle and calling
out to the men with me to secure the colour; the instant I got within
reach of the officer who carried the eagle, I ran my sword into
his right side, and he staggered and fell, but did not reach the
ground on account of the pressure of his companions: as the officer
was in the act of falling, I called out a second time to some men
close behind me, ‘Secure the colour, it belongs to me.’ The standard
coverer, corporal Styles[38], and several other men rushed up, and
the eagle fell across my horse’s head against that of corporal
Styles’s: as it was falling, I caught the fringe of the flag with my
left hand, but could not at first pull up the eagle: at the second
attempt however I succeeded. Being in the midst of French troops, I
attempted to separate the eagle from the staff, to put it into the
breast of my coatee, but it was too firmly fixed. Corporal Styles
said, ‘Sir, don’t break it;’ to which I replied, ‘Very well; carry
it off to the rear as fast as you can:’ he did so. Though wounded,
I preferred remaining on the field in command of my squadron, which
I did till near seven o’clock in the evening, when I was obliged to
withdraw; having had two horses killed under me, and having received
two wounds, which confined me to my quarters at Brussels for nearly
two months.”
During this conflict, the valley and slopes of both positions
presented a sight indeed! they were covered with broken troops of
both armies: ours, both infantry and cavalry, bringing up prisoners
singly and in groups. Some few of our fellows, until driven back
by their officers, were helping themselves to any little valuable
article they could lay hand on.
Many French officers were brought up prisoners; they delivered up
their swords to our officers. The enemy upon the opposite heights
were similarly employed in taking prisoners, and destroying such of
our cavalry as had ventured too far, particularly the Scots Greys,
who, by their ill-timed impetuosity, lost many men and horses. In
fact most of Ponsonby’s brigade, with a portion of the household
brigade, animated by their first success, pursued their advantage
too far; they crossed the valley in disorder, and galloped up to the
French position in two’s and three’s and groups, brandishing their
swords in defiance, riding along the ridge, sabring the gunners,
and rendering about thirty guns useless: the bugles, or trumpets,
sounding to rally, were unheeded.
General Ponsonby rode forward to stop their wild career, but he
was intercepted in a ploughed field by the lancers, and killed.
The command of the brigade devolved on colonel Muter, of the
Inniskillings. The enemy’s cuirassiers, lancers and chasseurs,
perceiving the isolated and unsupported position of our broken
dragoons, rushed forward and made serious havock, pursuing them
down the slope into the valley. Those of our men whose horses where
blown and exhausted by their recent exertions, became an easy prey
to the enemy; but at length the 12th and 16th light dragoons, part
of Vandeleur’s brigade, came forward. The 12th, under colonel F.
Ponsonby, charged some unsteady infantry in the valley, and then
attacked the lancers, whom they overpowered, thus relieving our
broken cavalry. In advancing, the 12th suffered most severely from
the fire of some of Durutte’s division, who were concealed by a high
bank in the valley, in front of our left.
The 16th light dragoons charged some of the enemy’s cavalry; part of
Merle’s Dutch-Belgian cavalry came up as a support; a portion went
down the slope. Vivian’s brigade moved from our extreme left towards
the scene of action, but like Merle’s it was not required. Both sides
were now employed in reforming upon their original positions, except
our two light cavalry brigades, which took position somewhat more to
their right. The skeleton remains of Ponsonby’s brigade, at a later
period of the day, crossed the Charleroi road, and joined lord Edward
Somerset’s. Meanwhile our rockets were playing with destructive
effect upon the enemy, who were rallying opposite to our left.
After this sanguinary conflict, Napoleon rode along his right
wing, and as usual he was loudly cheered. Sir Hussey Vivian, who
at the time was in front of the knoll on our left, told me that he
distinctly saw the Emperor: he was galloping towards some of his
lancers that were reforming; upon the near approach of Napoleon
they waved their lance-flags and shouted, _Vive l’Empereur!_
Shortly before this, Vivian ordered two of major Gardner’s guns
which were attached to his brigade, to open fire. Upon this the
French artillery opened, and a shot striking one of our ammunitions
tumbrels, it blew up, which called forth a shout from the French
gunners.
We may remark upon this attack[39], which the Duke pronounced the
most serious that occurred during the day, that it was entirely
defeated; that it gave us a great many prisoners, led to our
disabling many of their guns, and that its failure frustrated
Napoleon’s entire plan. Nor can any doubt be entertained, that if
Wellington’s forces on this eventful day had been wholly composed of
his Peninsular soldiers, of whom he had said, “I always thought, I
could go anywhere and could do anything with that army!” we should
not have looked so anxiously for the arrival of the Prussians, nor
would they have been up in time to have taken any share in the
victory.
Meanwhile the enemy’s attack upon La Haye-Sainte had been continued;
they had, as related, dislodged the German riflemen from the orchard
and garden, although a most determined resistance had been made by
major Baring. During the advance of d’Erlon’s columns, the Duke
observed the dreadful havock made by the enemy’s batteries in his
front troops posted between the two high-roads, and ordered them to
retire behind the crest of the ridge for shelter. This movement was
mistaken by Napoleon for one of retreat, and he immediately launched
forward Kellermann’s cuirassiers and carabineers to pick up our guns
and stragglers, and press our rear. Shortly before this, his Grace
advanced a reinforcement to La Haye-Sainte, having observed that the
enemy was about to make another attack. Upon the arrival of this
reinforcement, Baring tried to recover the orchard, as well as the
little garden on our side of the farm, which had fallen into the
hands of the French. The Germans were advancing, when they observed
some cuirassiers moving forward. Lord Edward Somerset, whose brigade
was now in line immediately in rear of this part of the position,
had placed two officers on the ridge, to give a signal of the
enemy’s advance, in order to time his charge. Upon the cuirassiers
approaching the line of skirmishers in front of our right of the
farm, these latter ran in upon Baring’s troops, who were near the
orchard, and threw them into confusion. They took to flight, but
were overtaken, ridden down and sabred. While the cuirassiers were
ascending the ridge, our artillery opened with grape and case-shot,
which laid many low, and disordered their ranks: they however pressed
forward most gallantly. Somerset’s line was now coming over the
ridge, led by Uxbridge, and, at the moment our front squares fired
into the cuirassiers, the two cavalries dashed into each other:
the shock was terrific; the swords clashing upon the casques and
cuirasses so that, as lord Edward Somerset humorously observed to me
when he visited the field in June 1842, “You might have fancied that
it was so many tinkers at work.” But it was of short duration. The
British household cavalry soon cleared the ridge of the cuirassiers,
although these made a most gallant resistance: they fled down the
slope on both sides of La Haye-Sainte, closely followed by the
brigade; those on the allied left of the farm, by the 2d life-guards.
It was in following up this charge, that part of this brigade mixed
with Ponsonby’s broken dragoons on the French position, and fell upon
and sabred some of the enemy’s infantry who had been assaulting La
Haye-Sainte. Part of the 1st life-guards pursued some cuirassiers,
till both became wedged in between the two high banks of the Genappe
road, beyond the orchard of La Haye-Sainte. Some of Reille’s troops,
who had advanced in support of d’Erlon’s attack, fired down from
these banks upon our life-guards, who had to get back to our line
as well as they could. Most of the King’s dragoon guards had dashed
over the road and were falling back to reform; but they lost many men
and some officers, by the enemy’s fire from the little garden of La
Haye-Sainte.
In leading this charge, lord Edward Somerset lost his cocked hat,
and went to the charge bare-headed. On his return, whilst looking
for his hat, a cannon-ball took off the flap of his coat and killed
his horse. During the rest of the day he appeared in a life-guard’s
helmet.
Lambert’s brigade was now brought forward to reinforce the remains of
Kempt’s division.
Captain Siborne, in the following spirited manner, concludes his
narrative of the attack and defeat of the enemy, upon our left and
centre, between half-past one and three o’clock:
“Thus terminated one of the grandest scenes which distinguished the
mighty drama, enacted on the ever-memorable plains of Waterloo: a
scene presenting in bold relief genuine British valour, crowned with
resplendent triumph; a scene which should be indelibly impressed upon
the minds as well of living British warriors, as of their successors
in ages yet unborn.
“Britons, before other scenes are disclosed to your view, take one
retrospective glance at this glorious, this instructive spectacle.
Let your imagination carry you to the rear of that celebrated
position, and a little to the left of the Charleroi road. Behold,
in the foreground on the right, a British line of cavalry advancing
to the charge, exulting in the consciousness of its innate courage,
indomitable spirit, and strength of arm. Whilst you are admiring
the beautiful order and steadiness of their advance, your eyes
are suddenly attracted by the glittering of a line of horsemen in
burnished coats of mail, rising above the brow, and now crowning the
summit of the ridge.
“They are the far-famed cuirassiers of France, led on by a
Kellermann: gallant spirits, that have hitherto overcome the finest
troops that could be brought against them, and have grown grey in
glory. Trumpets sound the charge; in the next instant your ears catch
the low thundering noises of their horses’ hoofs, and your breathless
excitement is wound to the highest pitch as the adverse lines dash
together with a shock, which at the moment you expect must end in
their mutual annihilation. Observe the British, how they seem to
doubt for a second in what manner to deal with their opponents.
“Now they urge their powerful steeds into the intervals between
the necks of those of the cuirassiers. Swords brandished high in
air gleam fitfully in rapid succession throughout the lines, here
clashing together, there clanging against helmet and cuirass, which
ring under their redoubled strokes. See, the struggle is but a
moment doubtful: the cuirassiers, seemingly encumbered by their coats
of mail, are yielding to superior strength, dexterity and bravery
combined; men and horses reel and stagger to the earth: gaps open out
in their line; numbers are backing out, others are fairly turning
round; their whole line now bends and breaks asunder into fragments:
in the next moment they appear, as if by a miracle, to be swept from
off the crest of the position, and being closely and hotly pursued by
the victors, the whole rushing down the other side of the ridge, are
snatched from your view. Your attention is now irresistibly drawn to
that part of the foreground immediately facing you, where you have
barely time to catch sight of a line of British infantry just as it
forces its way through the hedge that runs along the crest of the
ridge, to charge a column advancing up the other side.
“At the moment the shouts that proclaim its triumph reach your ear,
you are struck by the majestic advance, close to your left, of
another line of British horsemen. These halt just under the brow of
the ridge. In their left front your eye now also embraces a line of
British infantry moving quickly up the steep; whilst at the same
time you see the heads of two hostile columns issuing through the
hedge, and crowning the ridge amidst shouts of _Vive l’Empereur!_ The
one nearest to you, finding no immediate opposition to its farther
advance, is rapidly establishing itself on the height; the other
is met by the advancing line of infantry. A struggle ensues; the
farther column is concealed from your view by the smoke by which it
is suddenly enshrouded: but, at the very moment when doubts arise in
your mind as to the result, the cavalry rushes forward, and passing
through intervals opened out for it by the infantry, charges both
those heads of columns, cutting them up, as it were, root and branch;
and then bounding through the hedge, the whole disappears as if by
magic.
“Now let your imagination, keeping pace with the intensity of feeling
excited by such a scene, carry you up to the summit of the ridge.
Behold, at once, the glorious spectacle spread out before you; the
furious impetuosity of their onslaught overcomes all resistance:
the terror-stricken masses, paralyzed by this sudden apparition
of cavalry amongst them, have neither time nor resolution to form
squares, and limit their defence to a feeble, hasty, straggling
fire from their ill-cemented edges: a flight, commencing from the
rearmost rank, is rapidly augmented by the outward scattering,
occasioned by the continually increasing pressure upon the front;
the entire slope is soon covered with the dispersed elements of the
previously attacking force: parties of infantry are hurrying over
the brow of the ridge to aid others of the cavalry in securing their
prisoners; three thousand of these are swept to the rear, and two
eagles are gloriously captured. From the momentary contemplation of
these trophies, your eyes instinctively revert to the course of the
victors, whom you now perceive in the middle distance of the view; a
broken line of daring horsemen rushing up the opposite height.
“Their intoxicating triumph admits of no restraint. They heed not
the trumpet’s call to halt and rally; but, plunging wildly amidst
the formidable line of batteries ranged along the French position,
they commence sabring the gunners, stabbing the horses, and seem to
clear the ground of every living being. But physical efforts, however
powerfully developed and sustained, have their limit; exhausted
nature yields at length, and their fiery steeds, subdued not by
force but by exhaustion, retire with lagging, faltering pace. You
look in vain for a support; there is none: but your eye is suddenly
caught by the fluttering of lance-flags of a column of the enemy’s
cavalry approaching from the left, and you become nervously alive
to the danger that awaits the valiant band of heroes, who are only
now made sensible of the necessity of retiring to collect and rally
their scattered numbers. Seeing no support ready to receive them, and
becoming aware of the near approach of hostile cavalry, they make
a last and desperate effort. Those who are best mounted, and whose
horses are least blown, succeed in regaining the allied position
unmolested; but a very considerable number are overtaken by the
lancers, with whom they now contend under a fearful disadvantage in
point of speed and order.
“But mark! a rescue is at hand: a gallant line of friendly cavalry
throws itself against the right flank of the lancers, the farther
portion or left of that line first dashing through and scattering
an unsteady mass of infantry, the sole remaining column out of the
entire attacking force that has yet kept together. The tide of
destruction now sets in strongly against the lancers: their pursuit
is checked; the heavy dragoons are relieved from the pressure. A
_mêlée_ ensues, but you are not kept long in suspense; for in another
moment this newly arrived force, making good its way, succeeds in
driving the lancers in confusion down to the foot of the valley. The
arena in your front is speedily cleared of both friends and foes; the
discharge of rockets which now attracts your attention appears like
a display of fireworks in celebration of the glorious triumph. The
affair has terminated.
“But stay to witness the concluding part of the scene. Observe the
splendidly attired group entering upon the right, just above La
Haye-Sainte.
“It is headed by one whom you cannot for a moment mistake, the
illustrious Wellington. Lord Uxbridge, returning from his brilliant
charge, now joins the Duke, while the whole _Corps diplomatique et
militaire_ express in the strongest terms their admiration of the
grand military spectacle of which they have been spectators. Among
them are representatives of nearly all the continental nations; so
that this glorious triumph of your valiant countrymen may be said
to have been achieved in the face of congregated Europe. Honour,
imperishable honour, to every British soldier engaged in that
never-to-be-forgotten fight.
“When Britain again puts forth her strength in battle, may her
sovereign’s guards inherit the same heroic spirit which animated
those of George, Prince Regent, and inspire them with the desire to
maintain, in all their pristine purity and freshness, the laurels
transmitted to them from the field of Waterloo; and when the soldiers
of the three united kingdoms shall again be found fighting side by
side against the common enemy, may they prove to the world that they
have not degenerated from the men of the ‘Union brigade,’ who, by
their heroic deeds on that great day, so faithfully represented the
military virtues of the British empire.”
[Illustration: (Lord Uxbridge)]
Several instances of extraordinary heroism were displayed by lord
Uxbridge[40], especially when, between one and two o’clock, he was
leading on to the charge the admiring men of the two heavy cavalry
brigades. It was perhaps not less prudent than gallant to kindle a
daring spirit in our cavalry, and rouse them to the highest pitch
of emulation by the dashing valour of their chief. There was not a
man amongst us who did not feel certain that Uxbridge would have led
the charge, even if the whole French army had been moving in mass
against him; yet it is well known that there was one looking on, who
did not wear a black stock nor carry a musket[41], that would have
been better pleased if our chivalric leader had been a little more
cautious to support, and more successful in keeping the cavalry well
in hand.
“But on the British heart were lost
The terrors of the charging host;
For not an eye, the storm that view’d,
Changed its proud glance of fortitude.”
[Illustration: (end of chapter; image of a soldier)]
FOOTNOTES:
[29] Both those officers told me this on the field, in 1842.
[30] I was told by an officer who accompanied this column, that
seventeen men were killed by the first shot.
[31] Why this attack was not made simultaneously with that upon
Hougoumont, and at the same time a demonstration upon the allied
centre, to prevent troops being drawn from it to support the points
assailed, I am at a loss to say.
[32] Soult, Ney, Napoleon and Wellington were all born in 1769.
[33] Many females were found amongst the slain, although not of the
same class as the heroine alluded to. As is common in the camp, the
female followers wore male attire, with nearly as martial a bearing
as the soldiers, and some even were mounted and rode astride.
[34] Picton appears to have had a presentiment that this campaign
would close his glorious career. What a pity he did not survive to
see the effect of his charge!
[35] Ewart got a commission the following year. Like Shaw, the
life-guardsman, he was a man of herculean strength, and of more than
ordinary stature, being six feet four inches, and of consummate
skill as a swordsman. He died in 1845, having attained the age of
seventy-seven.
[36] It was here, and at this period, that a gentleman in plain
clothes called out to the dragoons, “Go along, my boys! now’s your
time!” It was the late duke of Richmond, come out merely as an
amateur, and to see how his ball-guests, and his sons, three of whom
were on the field, were faring. He was not attached to the staff
of this army: otherwise he would have been second in command, as,
besides being colonel of the 35th, he was full general.
[37] The Greys and Royal dragoons having each captured an eagle at
Waterloo, they were both ordered to wear an eagle on their colours,
accoutrements and buttons.
[38] Styles received a commission; and captain Clarke, now colonel
Kennedy, the order of the Bath and the Hanoverian Guelphic order.
[39] I am quite at a loss to explain the most unaccountable
remissness of the enemy’s cavalry in not supporting this attack;
and why our light cavalry on the left, did not more promptly carry
out the orders given by lord Uxbridge before the battle began, to
vigorously support offensive operations in their front.
[40] Personal intrepidity in a chief is no doubt important, and
those under him acquire courage at times from the example of their
leader. But be it said, without any disrespect to my high-spirited
old commander, discretion may sometimes be outstripped, when personal
intrepidity passes the bounds of prudence.
[41] His Grace has said, he would rather carry a musket than be
attached to the emperor of Russia. (_Dispatches_, vol. XII, page 268.)