Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VII — John Shaqi
Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VIINorman, Charles Boswell
History
Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VII
Norman, Charles Boswell
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History
At Emsdorff, just a fortnight previously, the 15th Hussars had
nobly retrieved the slur which had been cast on the British cavalry
owing to the unfortunate behaviour of Lord George Sackville at
Minden. At Warburg the mass of the cavalry under Lord Granby
had an opportunity of showing that they were by no means behind
the 15th in dash or steadiness. De Muy, the French Commander,
occupied a very strong position in a bend of the River Diemel. His
right resting on the village of Warburg. The British infantry,
consisting of one brigade of four battalions under the command
of Colonel Beckwith of Kingsley's Regiment (now the Lancashire
Fusiliers) attacked in two columns. The right, under Major
Maxwell of the Lancashire Fusiliers, consisted of the Grenadier
companies of the Suffolks, Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Welsh
Fusiliers, Scottish Borderers, 37th (Hampshire), and 51st (King's
Own Yorkshire Light Infantry). On its outer flank was the Heavy
Cavalry Brigade under Lord Granby. The left infantry column was
under Major Daulhat of the West Riding Regiment; this comprised
the flank companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the King's
Liverpool Regiment, the Devons, the South Wales Borderers, the 33rd
(West Riding Regiment), and the 50th (West Kent). On Daulhat's
left were the light cavalry under General Mostyn, the 7th Hussars
leading. In support came the two regiments of Highlanders, Keith's
and Campbell's.[3] Between the two infantry columns were three
troops of Horse Artillery, under Captains Phillips, MacBean, and
Stephens; these earned Prince Ferdinand's highest praise for
their dash and the accuracy of their fire. Some delay occurred in
supporting the attack of the British infantry, who alone sustained
the early stages of the action; and the Prince ordered Lord Granby
to move round the rear of the columns and press home an attack on
the French right rear. Granby was a different stamp of leader to
Lord George Sackville. Two hours at the trot brought him within
striking distance of the French. Then, forming his six regiments of
heavy cavalry in two brigades, and supporting them with Mostyn's
Light Dragoons, charged straight home. The French never waited
the attack, save three squadrons which stood firm and which were
cut to pieces. The main portion of the French cavalry turned and
fled. Ordering Mostyn to follow these up, Granby (always well to
the front) wheeled the heavies to the right, and threw himself
on the right rear of De Muy's infantry. These, like the cavalry,
broke, throwing down their arms and making for the ford across the
Diemel in their rear. Our artillery now came up at the gallop,
and effectually prevented any attempt at reforming on the part of
the beaten foe. The loss in our cavalry was trifling. That of the
French amounted to nearly 8,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners,
whilst 12 guns remained in our hands as trophies of war at Warburg.
CASUALTIES AT WARBURG.
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