Siborne's 1815 Campaign [02] Siborne's 1815 Campaign: Volume 2-The Fields of Waterloo, the Battle of the 18th June by William Siborne

Author:William Siborne [Siborne, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1782824545
Amazon: 1782824545
Goodreads: 26781505
Publisher: LEONAUR
Published: 2015-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

BRITISH SQUARES AND CUIRASSIERS

The Anglo-Allied cavalry, having the advantage of perfect order, now advanced to the charge; and after encountering some little resistance on different points, speedily succeeded in relieving the squares from the presence of the enemy, whom they pursued over the crest of the ridge and down the exterior slope.

No sooner was Ney’s cavalry driven from the position, than the Allied artillerymen flew from their shelter to their guns, and the French batteries recommenced their fire. The former dealt destruction amidst the retiring masses as soon as, and wherever, they were uncovered by the Allied cavalry; but some of the British regiments, giving too much rein to their ardour, carried their pursuit rather too far; particularly the 23rd British Light Dragoons; who, having attacked the flank of a column of cuirassiers whilst the latter was advancing against the 1st Regiment of Dutch Carabiniers, by which it was then attacked in front—Trip himself leading—drove both the cuirassiers and a body of lancers across the hollow on the right of La Haye Sainte, back upon their own batteries on the heights beyond, and thus created confusion amongst the French gunners; who, however, made them pay for their temerity as they withdrew again towards their own position.

Towards the Allied right, the lancers, pursued by the 1st Light Dragoons of the King’s German Legion, instantly reformed, and, resuming their charge, became themselves the pursuers; but on advancing over the ridge, they were not only exposed again to the fire from the squares, but were at the same time most unexpectedly assailed by a brisk discharge of round shot from Captain Bolton’s British Foot Battery, which had just been rapidly advanced to its left front, and very judiciously posted on some favourable ground close to, and on the right of, the Nivelles road, and in direct rear of the main ridge. Its fire was directed with great precision at the French cavalry in the intervals between the squares in its front, and by its valuable assistance the enemy was soon compelled to retire again across the ridge.

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