Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
At length the 7th Hussars retired through Genappe, after having
thrown out their Right Squadron, commanded by Major HODGE, as Rear
Guard, to cover the retreat of the Centre Column, regulating its
proceedings in conformity with such Orders as it might receive from
Major General Sir WILLIAM DÖRNBERG, who had been desired to superintend
the movements of the Skirmishers. Major HODGE led out the Right Troop,
under Captain ELPHINSTONE, to skirmish, while Lieutenant STANDISH
O'GRADY, who commanded the Left Troop, held the high road, from which
he had occasionally to send assistance to the former, and frequently
to advance, to enable the Skirmishers to hold their ground, as their
movements were difficult, through ploughed fields so soft that the
horses always sank up to their knees, and sometimes to their girths. In
this manner, every inch of ground was disputed, until within a short
distance of Genappe.
Here DÖRNBERG informed Lieutenant O'GRADY that he must leave him; that
it was of the utmost importance to face the Enemy boldly at this spot,
as the Bridge in the town of Genappe was so narrow that the Squadron
would have to pass it in file; that he was to endeavour as much as
possible to obtain time for drawing off the Skirmishers, but not to
compromise his Troop too much. Lieutenant O'GRADY then called in his
Skirmishers, and advanced with his own Troop boldly up the road at a
trot. The Cavalry immediately opposed to him, went about, followed by
him for some distance; and he thus continued alternately advancing
and retiring, until he saw all the Right Troop safe on the road in
his rear. He then began to retire at a walk, occasionally halting and
fronting, until he turned the corner of the town of Genappe: when he
filed the men from the left, and passed through the place at a gallop.
Upon the arrival of the Squadron at the opposite entrance of Genappe,
it was posted between this point and the main body of the 7th Hussars,
which had been drawn up on the road in a column of divisions, prepared
to check the advance of the Enemy on his debouching from the town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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