Historical Record of the Fifth, or Princess Charlotte of Wales's Regiment of Dragoon Guards: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685; with Its Subsequent Services to 1838Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fifth, or Princess Charlotte of Wales's Regiment of Dragoon Guards: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685; with Its Subsequent Services to 1838
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Princess Charlotte of Wales's Dragoon Guards, 5th
On the 26th of August His Royal Highness was detached to support
the corps under Prince Eugene of Wirtemberg, posted near the
fortress of Königstein; and Prince Leopold maintained, with his
cavalry, a precarious position for five hours, against the repeated
attacks of a force treble his own numbers, by which he defeated
the designs of the enemy, and preserved Prince Eugene's troops
from destruction. On the following day the corps took post beyond
Pirna, which place the enemy took by storm, and endeavoured to
extend with his cavalry upon the level ground near the Elbe; but
was driven back by the troops under Prince Leopold. The main
army, however, retired towards Bohemia, by which the retreat of
the corps near Pirna was rendered difficult, and the abilities of
His Royal Highness were particularly conspicuous in the masterly
dispositions and skilful movements of the cavalry under his orders,
in facilitating and covering the retrogade movement of the corps. A
sharp action occurred in the village of Peterswalde on the 29th of
August, when His Royal Highness signalized himself; several other
actions occurred on the same day in the mountains, and towards
the evening, the Prince repulsed the attack of a superior force
near the village of Prisen, with signal bravery and astonishing
success; and on the following morning he received from the Emperor
Alexander the Cross of the military order of St. George. The action
was renewed on the 30th of August, and the allied army having been
concentrated, the French were defeated with considerable loss.
Prince Leopold had a distinguished share in the engagement, and
he pursued the retiring enemy to the village of Peterswalde: the
brilliant conduct of His Royal Highness between the 26th and 30th
of August, was rewarded by the Emperor of Austria with the military
order of Maria Theresa.
Prince Leopold had a distinguished post at the battle of Leipzig,
and, with the cavalry under his orders, contributed materially
to the decisive termination of that gigantic contest. His Royal
Highness was actively employed in the beginning of 1814; was at
the battle of Brienne, and in the pursuit of the defeated army
on the 2d of February, and in several minor affairs. On the 25th
of March the Prince was in the action with the French at La Fere
Champenoise, when, attacking the enemy's right flank at Caunentrai,
he carried the position, captured five pieces of cannon, and,
when attacked in turn, he repulsed the enemy, and maintained his
ground with signal intrepidity. The battle of Paris concluded
the campaign, and on the 31st of March, the Prince entered that
city with the cavalry of the reserve, and remained there in
garrison. These important events were succeeded by the abdication
of Napoleon, and, when the Congress assembled at Vienna, Prince
Leopold of Saxe-Coburg conducted the business relating to his own
country.
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