Historical record of the Ninety-second Regiment, originally termed "The Gordon Highlanders" and numbered the Hundredth Regiment : $b Containing an account of the formation of the Regiment in 1794, and of its subsequent services to 1850Cannon, Richard
History
Historical record of the Ninety-second Regiment, originally termed "The Gordon Highlanders" and numbered the Hundredth Regiment : $b Containing an account of the formation of the Regiment in 1794, and of its subsequent services to 1850
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army. Gordon Highlanders
This was the state of affairs, when Major-General Sir Denis Pack
galloped up to the regiment, and called out “NINETY-SECOND, you must
charge, for all the troops to your right and left have given way.”
Three cheers from the regiment expressed the devoted readiness of
every individual in its ranks.
The French column did not show a large front. The regiment formed
four deep, and in that compact order advanced, until within twenty
paces, when it fired a volley, and instantly darted into the heart of
the French column, in which it became almost invisible, in the midst
of the mass opposed to it.
While the regiment was in the act of charging, and the instant before
it came in contact with the enemy, the Scots Greys (second dragoons)
came trotting up in rear of its flanks, when both corps shouted
“_Scotland for ever!_” the column was instantaneously broken, and in
its flight the cavalry rode over it. The result of this dash, which
only occupied a few minutes, was a loss to the enemy of two Eagles,
and two thousand prisoners, those that escaped doing so without arms
or knapsacks.
After this brilliant affair, Sir Denis Pack rode up to the regiment,
and said, “You have saved the day Highlanders, but you must return to
your position; there is more work to be done!”
It would be superfluous to detail every part that the regiment
had to act on this eventful day; how it stood in square, in line,
and in column, never yielding an inch to enemies who considered
themselves invincible when fighting, as in the present instance,
under the direction and in the presence of their Emperor Napoleon
Bonaparte, who frequently expressed his astonishment and admiration
at the manner in which the British fought, particularly “_Les Braves
Ecossais_,” as he termed them.
Towards evening two Prussian officers rode past the regiment
inquiring for the Duke of Wellington, and their columns began to
appear moving upon the enemy’s right, by the road from Wavre. At this
time the French made a last effort by a general attack throughout
the whole line, and the moment they were repulsed, the allied troops
advanced, drove them from every position, and forced them to seek
safety in flight, leaving their artillery, and everything that
constitutes an army in the field.
The regiment was directed to desist from the pursuit, and return
to its original ground, after giving three British cheers to the
Prussian army. In this manner was achieved the Battle of Waterloo,
the importance of which may be best estimated by the lengthened peace
which has ensued; and the memory of this eventful victory will ever
survive as a proud monument of the national glory of the British army.
On the 18th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment had Captains Peter
Wilkie and Archibald Ferrier, Lieutenants Robert Winchester, Donald
McDonald, James Ker Ross, and James Hope wounded. Fourteen rank and
file were killed, and ninety-six wounded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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