British Campaigns in Flanders 1690-1794: Being Extracts from "A History of the British Army"Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
History
British Campaigns in Flanders 1690-1794: Being Extracts from "A History of the British Army"
Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
Flanders -- History, Military; Great Britain -- History, Military -- 18th century
at Waterloo, gave the Dutchmen a volley and partly saved themselves,
but the Twenty-third suffered terribly, and the whole line was thrown
into confusion. Before order could be restored, Salières had thrown
three more brigades upon Lauffeld, which closed in round it, blocking
up a hollow road which formed the entrance into it from the rear, and
barring the way for all further reinforcements of the Allies. The few
troops that were left in the village were speedily overpowered, and
Lauffeld was lost.
Some of Daun’s Austrians now advanced to Cumberland’s help from the
right; but three French brigades of cavalry, which were waiting before
Vlytingen, at once moved forward to check them, and charging boldly
into them succeeded in turning them back, though themselves roughly
handled when retiring from the charge. Meanwhile Saxe had brought up
ten guns to right and left of Lauffeld, and reinforcing the cavalry
of D’Estrées and Ségur extended it in one long line from Lauffeld to
Wilre, for a final crushing attack on the Allied left. Order had been
restored among the British infantry, who were now retreating with great
steadiness; but they were wholly unsupported. Ligonier, determined
to save them at any cost, caught up the Greys, Inniskillings, and
Cumberland’s dragoons, and led them straight against the masses of the
French cavalry. The gallant brigade charged home, crashed headlong
through the horse, and fell upon the infantry beyond, but being galled
by their fire and attacked in all quarters by other French squadrons,
was broken past all rallying and very heavily punished. Ligonier
himself was overthrown and taken prisoner. Cumberland, who had plunged
into the broken ranks to try to rally the British troopers, was cut off
by the French dragoons, and only with difficulty contrived to join the
remainder of his cavalry on the left. With these he covered the retreat
of the army, which was successfully effected in good order and with
little further loss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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