11

The French Cavalry Charges

After the failure of I Corps, the French artillery resumed its barrage whilst Napoleon decided upon his next move, and for this he turned to his cavalry. The French cavalry was the most effective, and the most feared, in Europe. Used en masse, it was capable of changing the course of any battle, and had done so many times in the past. Now might be the moment to throw the cavalry at the Anglo-Allied line.

Wellington’s men had suffered repeated bombardment and had been weakened by the assault of d’Erlon’s I Corps. Surely they could not hold out much longer under such pressure?

Napoleon ordered Ney to lead the attack. At his disposal were Milhaud’s cuirassier corps and the Light Cavalry Division of the Imperial Guard led by Lefèbvre-Desnouettes. In total Ney had a little over 5,000 men. Formidable though this force was, as it moved off with the heavy cavalry in front, waiting on Mont St Jean were 18,000 infantry and fifty-six guns.

Napoleon ordered his Grand Battery to re-double its efforts in advance of the cavalry attack. ‘Never had the most veteran soldiers heard such a cannonade,’ observed General Count von Alten in command of the 3rd Division.

The French guns, though, subsided as the massed French cavalry moved off. Captain Mercer of the Royal Horse Artillery was stationed to the rear when the attacks began,

Suddenly a dark mass of cavalry appeared for an instant on the main ridge, then came sweeping down the slope in swarms, reminding me of an enormous surf bursting over the prostrate hull of a stranded vessel, and then running, hissing and foaming up the beach. The hollow space became in a twinkling covered with horsemen, crossing, turning, and riding about in all directions.¹

An Officer of the 5th Division continued the letter to his friend in Cumberland, which we have mentioned before, from the camp at Clichy:

Now Buonaparte again changed his plan of attack. He sent a great force both on the right and left; but his chief aim was the centre, through which lay the road to Brussels, and to gain this he appeared determined. What we had hitherto seen, was mere ‘boys play’ in comparison with the ‘tug of war ’ which took place from this time, (3 o’clock) until the day was decided.

All our army was formed in solid squares – the French cuirassiers advanced to the mouth of our cannon – rushed on our bayonets: sometimes walked their horses on all sides of a square to look for an opening, through which they might penetrate, or dashed madly on, thinking to carry everything by desperation. But not a British soldier moved; all personal feeling was forgotten in the enthusiasm of such a moment. Each person seemed to think the day depended on his individual exertions, and both sides vied with each other in acts of gallantry.²

Sergeant Morris (who is described as ‘a cockney lad of 17 when he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the 73rd Regiment in 1813’) served with the 71st Regiment:

A considerable number of the French cuirassiers made their appearance on the rising ground just in our front, took the artillery we had placed there, and came at a gallop down upon us. Their appearance, as an enemy, was certainly enough to inspire a feeling of dread, none of them less than six feet; defended by steel helmets and breastplates, made pigeon-breasted to throw off the balls. Their appearance was of such a formidable nature, that I thought we could not have the slightest chance with them. They came up rapidly until within ten or twelve paces of the square, when our ranks poured into them a well-directed fire, which put them into confusion, and they retired; the two front ranks then discharged their muskets into them.³

Ensign Edmund Wheatley was with the 5th Line Battalion, King’s German Legion, which was part of the 2nd KGL Brigade of Alten’s 3rd Division situated immediately to the west of the Brussels road in the very centre of the Anglo-Netherlands’ line:

A black consolidated body was soon seen approaching and we distinguished by sudden flashes of light from the sun’s rays, the iron- cased cavalry of the enemy. Shouts of ‘Stand firm!’ ‘Stand firm!’ were heard from the little squares around and very quickly these gigantic fellows were upon us.

No words can convey the sensation we felt on seeing these heavyarmed bodies advancing at full gallop against us, flourishing their sabres in the air, striking their armour with the handles, the sun gleaming on the steel. The long horse hair, dishevelled by the wind, bore an appearance confounding the senses to an astonishing disorder. But we dashed them back as coolly as the sturdy rock repels the ocean’s foam. The sharp-toothed bayonet bit many an adventurous fool, and on all sides we presented our bristly points like the peevish porcupines assailed by clamorous dogs.⁴

Lieutenant General Rowland Lord Hill, the commander of the British II Corps, also recorded the remarkable French charges:

Four times were our guns in possession of their (French) cavalry, and as often did the bayonets of our infantry rescue them. For upwards of an hour our little squares were surrounded by the elite of the French cavalry; they gallantly stood within forty paces of us, unable to leap over the bristling bayonets, unwilling to retire, and determined never to surrender. Hundreds of them were dropping in all directions from our murderous fire, yet as fast as they dropped others came up to supply their places.

Finding at last it was in vain to attempt to break our determined ranks, they swept round our rear and, rushing into the Nivelles road, attempted to cut their way back to their own lines; but the whole road was lined with our infantry on both sides, and the advanced part of it was an almost impassable barricade of felled trees. Here fell the remainder of these gallant Cuirassiers of whom not one was taken prisoner without first of all being wounded.⁵

Stirring accounts of this series of events eventually began to appear in the British press, a graphic example of which was published in the Chester Courant on Tuesday, 4 June 1816:

No part of the field was more fertile in impressive associations, [than] the ground of the 30th, and, I believe, the 73d regiments, brigaded under our gallant countryman, severely wounded in the battle, Sir Colin Halkett. I had already heard much of the firmness of these brave troops, and was to hear still more – To no square did the artillery, and particularly the cuirassiers, pay more frequent and tremendous visits; and never was it shaken for a moment; the almost intimacy of the soldiers with these death-bringing visitants increased so much as the day advanced, that they began to recognise their faces. Their boldness much provoked our men; they galloped up to the bayonet points where of course their horses made a full stop, to the great danger of pitching the riders into the square. They then rode round and round the fearless bulwark of bayonets; and in all the confidence of panoply, often coolly WALKED their horses, to have more time to search for some chasm in the ranks, where they might ride in. The balls absolutely rang upon the mail; and nothing incommoded the rider except bringing down his horse, which at last became the general order. In that event he surrendered himself, and was received into the square, till he could be sent prisoner to the rear; a generosity ill-merited, when it is considered that the French spared but very few lives, which it was in their power to take. Many officers were murdered, after giving up their swords; and when prisoners were collected, cavalry were sent to cut them down, when circumstances at the moment prevented their removal.

The cuirassiers were repeatedly driven off by the 30th, and their comrade regiment, reduced themselves by painful degrees, more and more every attack. – Line was always again formed with unwearied alacrity; no complaint escaped the patient soldier’s lips, if we except an occasional cry to be led on. The storm was seen again gathering and rolling on. – The serious command, ‘re-form square, prepare to receive cavalry,’ was promptly and accurately obeyed. The whole were prostrate on their breasts, to let the iron shower of the artillery fly over, and erect in an instant, when the cannon ceased and the cavalry charged. The country do not know one-tenth of the merit of ‘the MEN of Waterloo’.

Unable to break in upon the square by open force, a commanding officer of cuirassiers tried a RUSE DE GUERRE; he lowered his sword to General Halkett: several of the officers called out, ‘Sir, they surrender.’ – ‘Be firm and fire,’ was the promptly obeyed answer. The General justly suspected an offer of surrender to a body of infantry fixed to the spot in a defensive position, by a body of cavalry, who had the option of galloping off, with all the plain open behind them. – The volley sent the colonel and his cuirassiers, as usual, about, with a laugh of derision from the men he had meant to cut to pieces; and many a ring from their balls, upon the back pieces of the mails.

Ensign Macready was one of those men inside the square of the 30th Regiment. The 30th had lost heavily at Quatre Bras and had to combine with the 73rd Regiment to form this square:

As soon as they quickened their trot into a gallop the Cuirassiers bent their heads so that the peak of their helmets looked like visors and they seemed cased in armour from the plume to the saddle. Not a shot was fired till they were within thirty yards when the word was given … The effect was magical. Thro’ the smoke we could see helmets falling – cavaliers starting from their seats with convulsive springs as they received our balls, horses plunging and rearing in the agonies of fright and pain, and crowds of the soldiery dismounted; part of the squadrons in retreat, but the more daring remainder backing their horses to force them on our bayonets. Our fire soon disposed of these gentlemen.

The main body reformed in our front were reinforced and rapidly and gallantly repeated their attacks. In fact from this time (about four o’clock) till near six we had a constant repetition of these brave but unavailing charges … The best cavalry is contemptible to a steady and well supplied Infantry regiment – even our men saw this and began to pity the useless perseverance of their assailants and as they advanced would growl ‘here come those damned fools again’.⁶

On Friday, 11 August 1815, THE Chester Chronicle carried this account of the memorable French attacks, it being described as an ‘extract of a letter from a native of this city, in the 23d Royal Welsh Fuzileers, at Paris, to his Father, dated Camp, July 24,1815’:

I suppose you have heard of the dreadful battle on the 18th July – it was the most severe battle ever fought! We have lost one Colonel, 1 Major, 8 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, besides a great many men. I believe our Regiment has got the greatest praise of the whole army from the Duke of Wellington, and all the General Officers. Gen. Cole made application to the Duke to get our Regiment attached to his division, and has succeeded. The French fought better than ever on that tremendous day: THEY CHARGED US TEN DIFFERENT TIMES, but, thank God! we made them remember us, for we flanked them in all directions. Their Cavalry was so numerous, that we were obliged to fight in square the whole day, altho’ fainting for want of a drop of water, but not a drop could be got for fifty guineas!

The cuirassiers in particular attracted much attention in the British press, the following again being published in the Chester Chronicle, though this time on Friday, 7 July 1815:

The Cuirassiers of the French Imperial Guards are all arrayed in armour, the front cuirass is in the form of a pigeon’s breast, so as to effectually turn off a musket shot, though fired ever so near, owing to its being kept so bright; the back cuirass is made to fit the back; they weigh from 9 to 11lbs. each, according to the size of the man, and are stuffed inside with a pad; they fit on by a kind of fish-scaled clasp, and are put off and on in an instant; they have helmets the same as our Horse Guards, straight long swords, and pistols, but no carbines; and if there is a good horse to be found they are sure to have it. They are all chosen men, must be five feet seven French (above six feet English) have served in three campaigns, been twelve years in the service, and of good character.

Across the United Kingdom, newspapers editors sought or syndicated further accounts. The Hampshire Telegraph of Monday, 14 August 1815, for example, contained the following:

The 7th Light Dragoons were first opposed to the Cuirassiers. They broke their swords on the French Cuirassiers and the Frenchmen being large heavy men in armour, on large horses, the Light Dragoons could make no impression – they were obliged to retire. The Heavy Dragoons were then brought up, with instructions to strike only at the limbs. This they did with so much dexterity, the French were astonished, subdued, panic struck; they wavered, and the battle was won.

For its part the Caledonian Mercury of Thursday, 27 July 1815, carried this piece under the banner, ‘The Battle of Waterloo’:

All accounts agree in the great advantage that the French cuirassiers derived from their armour. Their swords were three inches longer than any used by the Allies, and in close action the cuts of our sabres did no execution, except they fortunately came across the neck of the enemy. The latter also, feeling themselves secure in their armour, advanced deliberately and steadily, until they came within about twenty yards of our ranks, as a musket ball could not penetrate their cuirasses at a greater distance. The cuirass, however, was attended with one disadvantage; the wearer, in close action, cannot use his arm with perfect facility in all directions; he chiefly thrusts, but cannot cut with ease.

Wellington had placed much of his artillery on the forward slope of the Mont St Jean ridge. This gave them an uncluttered field of fire up which the French infantry and cavalry had to advance. This forward position, though, placed the gunners in an exposed situation. To solve this, Wellington instructed the artillerymen to continue to fire at the approaching enemy until the last possible moment and then run into the nearest infantry square for protection, leaving their guns where they stood. As the French retreated the gunners could then run back out of the squares and fire at the backs of the enemy.

Lieutenant Colonel William Tomkinson of the 16th Light Dragoons described how well the artillery adapted to this method:

These attacks were made at intervals for nearly two hours; they were the most singularly daring attempts ever heard of, and in many instances appeared like an inclination to sacrifice themselves sooner than survive the loss of the day. Parties of cuirassiers, from two to three squadrons and frequently less, occasionally supported by a few infantry, and in many instances without infantry, rode up to the hill occupied by our troops.

An officer of cuirassiers rode close up to one of our squares with a detachment of men. He saw he had no chance of success, and by himself alone rode full gallop against the square, was shot and killed. Our men and officers regretted his fate.

The artillerymen at our guns remained at them to the last moment, firing grape on the enemy, by which the cuirassiers suffered. Our infantry got into squares of regiments, and the French Dragoons came riding amongst them, waving their swords and in many instances approaching close to them.

They never attempted in any body to attack the infantry, and after remaining on the position for ten minutes or possibly longer, retired again. The instant they turned their backs, the artillery in the squares of infantry ran to their guns and commenced their fire against them … It was an action in which the artillery suffered greatly and particularly distinguished themselves. Repeatedly they had to leave their guns and take refuge in the squares of infantry, and the instant the French cavalry turned to the rear, they ran to their guns, firing at them in their retreat. They were, too, exposed to the whole fire of the enemy’s guns without being suffered to return their fire. They were directed to fire only at the enemy’s columns …

I conceive that if any part deserved to be especially named, it was that part of the artillery placed above La Haye Sainte. Captain Ramsay, of the artillery, was killed near this point, his head was carried away by a round shot … During the time the enemy were employed in this attack our guns were in their hands, but without any means on their part of either injuring them or carrying them away. It [the repeated cavalry onslaught] was the most singular, hardy conduct ever heard of, and had such gallantry been properly directed, it must have been turned to some account. Had it happened immediately after an attack, or been once adopted in the zeal of the moment by any officer foiled in his object, there might be some excuse; but for such a thing to be continued for any length of time, and under officers who had been serving all their lives, is a proceeding quite unaccountable. They made two or three separate attempts from the one just mentioned, all of which ended in the same manner.⁷

Captain Norman Ramsay’s untimely death was also reported by the Liverpool Mercury of Friday, 10 May 1816:

A brigade of horse-artillery, commanded by the lamented Major Norman Ramsey [sic], opened its fire upon the French columns of Cavalry. They retreated repeatedly, but it was only to advance with new fury, and to renew attempts which it seemed impossible for human strength and courage ultimately to withstand. As frequently as the cavalry retreated, our artillery men, rushing out of the squares in which they had found shelter, began again to work their pieces, and made a destructive fire on the retiring squadrons. Two officers of artillery were particularly noticed, who, being in a square which was repeatedly charged, rushed out of it the instant the cavalry retreated, loaded one of the deserted guns which stood near, and fired it upon the horsemen. A French officer observed that this manoeuvre was repeated more than once, and cost his troop many lives.

At the next retreat of his squadron, he stationed himself by the gun, waving his sword, as if defying the British officers again to approach it. He was instantly shot by a grenadier, but prevented, by his self-devotion, a considerable loss to his countrymen. Other French officers and men evinced the same desperate and determined zeal in the cause which they had so rashly and unhappily espoused. One officer of rank, after leading his men as far as they would follow him towards one of the squares of infantry, found himself deserted by them, when the British fire opened, and instantly rode upon the bayonets, throwing open his arms as if to welcome the bullet which should bring him down. He was immediately shot, for the moment admitted of no alternative.

A soldier of the 5th Brigade also wrote of this incident, his account appearing in Colburn’s United Service Magazine in 1852:

[The cuirassiers] charging with a degree of impetuosity amounting almost to frenzy, they obliged the gunners and men attached to the artillery on our right, to retire for temporary protection to the squares, whilst they furiously passed through the intermediate spaces. Four times the guns were taken and retaken … In many instances, individuals left their ranks and rode round the squares, with the intention of drawing fire on themselves to enable the cavalry to charge with a greater probability of success.⁸

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Augustus Frazer commanded the Royal Horse Artillery (he was a career soldier who had been admitted as a Gentleman Cadet into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, a month before his fourteenth birthday):

The greater part of the action may be called an action of artillery. We had 108 British and 16 Belgic guns in play, the enemy more than 200. The enemy’s cavalry behaved nobly, herding us to the very mouth; all our guns were repeatedly abandoned but our gallant infantry formed into squares, never budged, & after each repulse we returned to our guns again … Our own arm, I speak of the horse artillery, has suffered, but has suffered with honour. I had it in my power to employ it in masses, & it has repaid the confidence placed in its exertions. Bull’s Howitzer Troop was brought up against a Wood [Hougoumont] and three times taken & retaken by the enemy.⁹

Lieutenant F. Wells served with Major Lloyd’s battery, to the right of which was Major Sandham’s battery and on its left was Major Cleeves’s King’s German Legion battery. These batteries were contiguous with each other along the very crest of Mont St Jean, to the west of the Brussels road:

The Cuirassiers and Cavalry might have charged through the Battery as often as six or seven times, driving us into the Squares, under our Guns, waggons, some defending themselves. In general, a Squadron or two came up the slope on our immediate front, and on their moving off at the appearance of our Cavalry charging, we took advantage [by running out of the squares] to send destruction after them, and when advancing on our fire I have seen four or five men and horses piled upon each other like cards, the men not having even been displaced from the saddle, the effect of canister.¹⁰

Most of the gunners were able to find shelter in the infantry squares, as arranged, though this did not always happen. Gunner John Edwards was in Ross’ troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and he subsequently described to his brother Oliver what happened during one of the charges by the cuirassiers:

Dressed in steel armour back and breast plates, they weigh about 32 pounds, charged up the main road till they came within 600 yards they extended right and left of the road, we fired case shot at them and swept them off like a swathe of grass before a scythe. The ground was covered with men and horses in 5 minutes, we limbered up but before we could move one yard the French was all around us. Me and four more of our gunners left the gun and formed up with the 1st German Horse [1st Light Dragoons, King’s German Legion] and charged the French cavalry, we swept through them four times, with a good horse received 4 cuts as I could not guard my horse and my self at one time.¹¹

In another instance, the 42nd Foot (Black Watch) were unable to form square in time before the French cavalry was upon them:

All day long we had masses of infantry hurled against us, varied by attacks from cavalry, and, as our division [Picton’s] held the key of the position, the whole force of the enemy was directed against it. Again and again after receiving the French with a volley, and repelling them with the bayonet, we had scarcely time to form a square before dragoons were upon us.

On one such occasion, being unable to get into a square in time, and seeing a squadron of cavalry bearing down where I and a few men were, ordered them to fling themselves on the ground and allow the horses to pass over. This we did, but it required some nerve to be perfectly still and thus be ridden over. I escaped unhurt, but as the troopers passed back, I got a sword thrust as a sort of query whether I was as dead as I looked! However, I lay motionless, and the bullets whizzing about did not allow my inquisitive friend to prolong his enquiries.¹²

Another account, originally written at the village of Gommignies on 22 June was published in the Lancaster Gazette of Saturday, 28 October 1815:

At this period the battle assumed a character beyond description interesting, and anxiously awful. Bonaparte was about to use against us an arm which he had never yet wielded but with success. Confidently relying upon the issue of this attack, he charged our artillery and infantry, hoping to capture the one, and break the other, and by instantly establishing his own infantry on the heights to carry the Brussels road, and throw our line into confusion. These cavalry, selected for their tried gallantry and skill (not their height or mustachios) who were the terror of Northern Europe, and had never yet been foiled, were first brought up by the 3d battalion of the 1st regiment. Never was British valour and discipline so pre-eminent as on this occasion, the steady appearance of this battalion caused the famous cuirassiers to pull up, and a few of them, with a courage worthy of a better cause, rode out of the ranks and fired at our people, and mounted officers, with their pistols, hoping to make the face of the square throw its fire upon them, and thus become an easy prey; but our men, with a steadiness no language can do justice to, defied their efforts and did not pull a single trigger. –

The French then made a sudden rush, but were received in such a manner, and with a volley so well directed, as at once to turn them; they then made an attempt on the 2d battalion, and the Brunswickers, with similar success, and astonished at their own failure, the cool intrepidity of their opponents, and the British cheers, they faced about. This same game was played in succession by the Imperial Horse Guards, and Polish Lancers, none of whom could at all succeed in breaking our squares, or making the least impression upon them whatever. – During their attacks, our cavalry rushed out from between the squares, and carried havoc through the enemy’s ranks, which were nearly all destroyed. I cannot here resist relating an anecdote of Major Lloyd, of the artillery, who, with another officer, (whose name I could not learn) was obliged to take refuge in our square at the time these charges were made, being unable to continue longer at their posts. There was a gun between our battalion and the Brunswickers, which had been drawn back; this, Major L. with his friend, discharged five or six times at the French cavalry, alternately loading it and retiring to the square, as circumstances required. We could see the French knocked off their horses as fast as they came up, and one cannot refuse to call them men of singular gallantry; one of them, indeed, an officer of the Imperial Guards, seeing a gun about to be discharged at his companions, rode at it, and never suffered its fire to be repeated while he lived. He was at length killed by a Brunswick rifleman, and certainly saved a large part of his regiment by this act of self devotion.

Thus discomfited, Buonaparte renewed his cannonade, which was destructive to a degree, preparatory to an attack of his whole infantry. I constantly saw the noble Duke of Wellington riding backwards and forwards, like the Genius of the Storm, who, borne upon its wings, directed its thunders where to burst. He was everywhere to be found, encouraging, directing, animating. He was in a blue coat, with a plain cocked hat; his telescope in his hand, there was nothing that escaped him, nothing he did not take advantage of, and his lynx’s eyes seemed to penetrate the smoke, and forestall the movements of the foe. How he escaped, that merciful Power alone can tell, who vouchsafed to the allied arms the issue of this pre eminent contest, for such it is, whether considered as an action by itself, or with regard to the results which it has brought about.

One spot that Wellington was positioned at in the battle was in a square of the 1st Foot Guards during one of the cavalry charges, as Ensign Rees Howell Gronow of the 1st Guards recalled:

About four p.m. the enemy’s artillery in front of us ceased firing all of a sudden, and we saw large masses of cavalry advance: not a man present who survived could have forgotten in after life the awful grandeur of that charge. You perceived at a distance what appeared to be an overwhelming, long moving line, which, ever advancing, glittered like a stormy wave of the sea when it catches the sunlight. On came the mounted host until they got near enough, whilst the very earth seemed to vibrate beneath their thundering tramp. One might suppose that nothing could have resisted the shock of this terrible moving mass.

They were the famous cuirassiers, almost all old soldiers, who had distinguished themselves on most of the battlefields of Europe. In an almost incredibly short period they were within twenty yards of us, shouting ‘Vive I’Empereur!’ The word of command, ‘Prepare to receive cavalry,’ had been given, every man in the front ranks knelt, and a wall bristling with steel, held together by steady hands, presented itself to the infuriated cuirassiers. I should observe that just before this charge the duke entered by one of the angles of the square, accompanied only by one aide-de-camp; all the rest of his staff being either killed or wounded.

Our commander-in-chief, as far as I could judge, appeared perfectly composed; but looked very thoughtful and pale. He was dressed in a grey great-coat with a cape, white cravat, leather pantaloons, Hessian boots, and a large cocked hat a la Russe. The charge of the French cavalry was gallantly executed; but our well- directed fire brought men and horses down, and ere long the utmost confusion arose in their ranks. The officers were exceedingly brave, and by their gestures and fearless bearing did all in their power to encourage their men to form again and renew the attack. The Duke sat unmoved, mounted on his favourite charger. I recollect his asking Colonel Stanhope what o’clock it was, upon which Stanhope took out his watch, and said it was twenty minutes past four. The Duke replied, ‘ The battle is mine; and if the Prussians arrive soon, there will be an end of the war.’…

Again and again various cavalry regiments, heavy dragoons, lancers, hussars, carabineers of the Guard, endeavoured to break our walls of steel. The enemy’s cavalry had to advance over ground which was so heavy that they could not reach us except at a trot; they therefore came upon us in a much more compact mass than they probably would have done if the ground had been more favourable. When they got within ten or fifteen yards they discharged their carbines, to the cry of ‘Vive I’Empereur!’ but their fire produced little effect, as is generally the case with the fire of cavalry. Our men had orders not to fire unless they could do so on a near mass; the object being to economize our ammunition, and not to waste it on scattered soldiers. The result was, that when the cavalry had discharged their carbines and were still far off, we occasionally stood face to face, looking at each other inactively, not knowing what the next move might be. The lancers were particularly troublesome, and approached us with the utmost daring.

On one occasion I remember, the enemy’s artillery having made a gap in the square, the lancers were evidently waiting to avail themselves of it, to rush among us, when Colonel Staples at once observing their intention, with the utmost promptness filled up the gap, and thus again completed our impregnable steel wall; but in this act he fell mortally wounded. The cavalry seeing this, made no attempt to carry out their original intentions, and observing that we had entirely regained our square, confined themselves to hovering round us. I must not forget to mention that the lancers in particular never failed to despatch our wounded whenever they had an opportunity of doing so.

When we received cavalry, the order was to fire low; so that on the first discharge of musketry the ground was strewed with the fallen horses and their riders, which impeded the advance of those behind them and broke the shock of the charge. It was pitiable to witness the agony of the poor horses, who really seemed conscious of the dangers that surrounded them: we often saw a poor wounded animal raise its head, as if looking for its rider to afford him aid. There is nothing perhaps amongst the episodes of a great battle more striking than the debris of a cavalry charge, where men and horses are seen scattered and wounded on the ground in every variety of painful attitude. Many a time the heart sickened at the moaning tones of agony which came from man and scarcely less intelligent horse, as they lay in fearful agony upon the field of battle.¹³

Wellington was undoubtedly in the thick of the action throughout the fighting on that fateful summer’s day in 1815:

The great danger to which the Duke of Wellington was exposed in the late battle, is shewn by two circumstances that have reached us from good authority. His aide-de-camp, Colonel Sir A. Gordon, respectfully remonstrated with him on his remaining so far within the range of a very destructive fire. The Duke said, he would take one more view of that part of the field, and go. Having employed his telescope for two or three minutes, his Grace was turning his horse, when Colonel Gordon, who was accompanying him, was killed by his side. Another aide-de-camp, Colonel Canning, had put his hand upon the saddle of the Duke’s horse, while receiving orders. As he withdrew it, his hand was shattered by a ball.¹⁴

Ironically, the cavalry charges were to some degree welcomed by the allied infantry as it meant that the French guns had to cease firing, as Ensign William Leeke of the 52nd explained. Until a little after 15.00 hours the 52nd had been held in reserve in front of Merbe Braine but was moved forward after the first of the cavalry charges had been repulsed:

Immediately, on descending the slope of the position towards the enemy, the regiment, almost concealed by the tall rye, which was then for the first time trampled down, formed two squares. I remember we were not far from the north-eastern point of the Hougoumont inclosure, and on the narrow white road which, passing within 100 yards of that point, crosses the interval between the British and French positions in the direction of La Belle Alliance … The old soldiers, who had served during the whole of the Peninsula war, stated that they were never exposed to such a cannonade as that which the 52nd squares had to undergo on this occasion for two hours and a half, from the French artillery planted about half a mile in their front. Our own artillery, on, or just under the crest of our position, were also firing over our heads the whole time, either at the enemy’s troops or at their guns. Some shrapnel-shells burst short, and wounded some of the 52nd men; but the firing of these shells was discontinued, on our notice of what they were doing to the artillery above us.

In the right square of the 52nd, and I suppose it was the same in all the squares of our brigade [Adam’s], there was one incessant roar of round-shot and shells passing over or close to us on either flank; occasionally they made gaps in the square. The only interval that occurred in the cannonade was when we were charged by the French cavalry, for they, of course, could not fire upon our squares for fear of injuring their own squadrons, so that the charges of cavalry were a great relief to us all I believe; at least, I know they were so to me.¹⁵

The 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment, was part of Major General Sir John Lambert’s 10th Brigade and was initially placed in reserve behind Mont St Jean farm. Later in the afternoon it was moved up to the crossroads and suffered heavily at the hands of the French gunners, as Major Mill of the 40th Regiment testified:

A very tremendous cannonade was commenced by the French on our lines, and uninterruptedly continued. We lay down in square to escape as far as possible its destructive effects. Half the Inniskillings were mowed down in a similar position, without having power or opportunity to return a shot.

At one time the officer commanding the Twenty-Seventh, when there was temporary cessation from artillery, rode up to our major, and announced the fact of having barely an officer left to command each company. Major Browne offered to lend him some of the Fortieth. This, however, was imperatively declined. ‘The sergeants of the regiment,’ he said, ‘liked to command the companies, and he would be loathe to deprive them of the honour.’ Whenever there was an intermission in this fire, it was to find ourselves surrounded and beset by hordes of horsemen, who were slashing and cutting at our kneeling ranks. The file firing of our standing ranks, being concentrated and constant, was very effectual against their attacks, and both horse and rider were to be constantly discerned rolling over on to the plain, and the remainder flying back in disorder to their own lines.¹⁶

An officer wrote to his father from Quatre Bras on 19th June:

At noon on the 18th the French made the most desperate attack with artillery, cavalry, and tirailleurs, ever witnessed. Our defence was equally terrible. The whole line was formed in squares and battalions; not one man fell back; the whole stood firm. The French cavalry repeatedly attacked echelon of squares after echelon, and were repulsed ten or eleven times with immense loss. Our squares stood in the face of shot, shells, and everything else; which caused great destruction, without our being able to return a shot.¹⁷

The French cavalry had been repulsed with very heavy losses and there was simply no point in throwing the brave horsemen against the Anglo- Netherlands squares again. This did not mean that Ney was going to give up his attempt at breaking the Anglo-Allied line, far from it, but his next effort would be a combined infantry and cavalry attack. Still standing in Ney’s path, however, was the farm of La Haye Sainte.