Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
The British Cavalry were similarly employed--SOMERSET's Brigade on the
right of the Charleroi road, near the Orchard of the Farm of Mont St
Jean; PONSONBY's on the opposite side of the road, in rear of a coppice
bordering the hollow below that Farm; and VANDELEUR's on the interior
slope of the position, more to the right than where it had been posted
during the earlier part of the day.
PACK's and BEST's Brigades closed to their right upon KEMPT's, so
as to fill up the interval occasioned by the retreat of BYLANDT's
Dutch-Belgian Brigade; and the Knoll in front of KEMPT's Brigade was
again occupied by three Companies of the 95th Regiment; as was also the
Farm of La Haye Sainte by the 2nd Light Battalion King's German Legion,
reinforced by two Companies of the 1st Light Battalion of that Corps.
Major General Sir JOHN LAMBERT's Infantry Brigade, which had been kept
in reserve near Mont St Jean, was put in motion at the time PONSONBY's
Dragoons advanced to the charge; and it was now placed on the left of
the Charleroi road, in Column, at quarter distance, in rear and in
support of the Fifth Division.
The importance of the result of this signal defeat of the French
attack was fully commensurate with the glory by which its achievement
was distinguished. The object of that attack, which was to force the
Centre and Left Wing of the Anglo-Allied Army and to establish a very
considerable body of troops in the vicinity of Mont St Jean, was
completely frustrated: 3,000 prisoners were taken; two Eagles were
captured; and between thirty and forty pieces of cannon were put _hors
de combat_ for the greater part of the remainder of the day.
Thus terminated one of the grandest scenes which distinguished the
mighty drama enacted on the ever memorable plains of Waterloo; a
scene presenting in bold relief, genuine British valour crowned with
resplendent triumph; a scene, which should be indelibly impressed upon
the minds as well of living British warriors as of their successors in
ages yet unborn.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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