Historical Record of the Sixth, or Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1689, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Sixth, or Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1689, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Inniskilling Dragoons, 6th
The spectacle was grand, and the result glorious to the British
arms. The French masses being unable to deploy, the heads of
columns were instantly broken and forced back; confusion ensued,
the firing ceased, a general flight commenced, and as the smoke
cleared away the British dragoons were seen plunging their horses
into the midst of the broken columns, and cutting down the French
musketeers with a terrible carnage, until the slope of the position
was literally covered with slain. Crowds of French soldiers threw
down their arms and surrendered; while others cast themselves on
the ground to escape the victorious troopers. The Royals and Greys
took each an eagle: the INNISKILLING dragoons cut off from their
own lines and made prisoners a numerous body of French infantry,
with whom part of the regiment was detached to the rear. The
brigade continued its victorious course, spreading terror, carnage,
and dismay over the field: it crossed the ravine, carried several
batteries, and penetrated to the rear of the enemy's position.
Pursuing their opponents too far, the INNISKILLING dragoons were,
on returning, charged by a numerous body of the enemy's lancers,
and sustained considerable loss.
Major-General Sir William Ponsonby having been killed by the
lancers, the command of the brigade devolved on Colonel Muter
of the INNISKILLING dragoons; and that of the regiment on
Lieutenant-Colonel Fiennes Miller, who had previously had his
horse killed under him, and had received several bayonet wounds,
but having had his wounds dressed, and procuring a horse which had
belonged to a French officer of lancers, he kept his post at the
head of the regiment.
The brigade having re-formed, was stationed behind a little wood,
where it remained, protected from the enemy's incessant fire of
shot and shells by some high ground and by the trees, until about
four o'clock in the afternoon, when it was ordered to the right of
the position, and there suffered severely from a heavy cannonade.
Lieutenant-Colonel Miller was again wounded about five o'clock, and
withdrew, leaving the regiment under the command of Captain Madox.
About half-past five Colonel Muter was wounded, and the command of
the brigade devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Clifton, of the royal
dragoons.
In the general attack made on the French army at the close of the
day, the brigade had another opportunity of distinguishing itself,
and, although it was reduced to a very small number of officers
and men by casualties and parties detached to the rear with
prisoners, yet it proved victorious over every description of force
which opposed its advance. The French army sustained a decisive
overthrow. The troops under the Duke of Wellington halted on the
field, surrounded by cannon and other trophies of victory, while
the Prussians, who had arrived at the close of the action, pursued
Bonaparte's discomfited legions throughout the night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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