Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
The French, on perceiving the arrival of the British Infantry, opened
a furious cannonade from their Batteries, with a view to disturb its
formation, while NEY, anxious to secure the vantage ground of a Field
which he plainly foresaw, was likely to become the scene of a severe
contest, renewed his attack upon Gemioncourt, still bravely defended
by the 5th Dutch Militia. Hereupon, PERPONCHER, having received an
Order to advance this Battalion along the high road, immediately
placed himself at its head, as did also the Prince of ORANGE himself,
who rode up to it at the same moment. The manner in which His Royal
Highness personally led on his National Militia on this occasion,
was distinguished by the most resolute and conspicuous gallantry.
The Battalion was exposed to a most destructive fire from some guns
which the Prince seemed determined to capture. Placing himself
frequently at its head, and waving his hat, he presented in his own
person so brilliant and heroic an example, that for a considerable
time the Battalion maintained its ground most bravely against the far
superior number of the Enemy. It was composed, however, of young and
inexperienced soldiers, who had not attained sufficient confidence to
fight in anything like deployed order; and, therefore, when, a few
minutes afterwards, a swarm of Cavalry rushed upon it, it soon lost its
compactness, and broke into a confused and hasty retreat; whilst the
French Infantry succeeded in obtaining possession of the Farm, in which
they firmly established themselves.
The Duke of WELLINGTON, who now assumed the command, was so much alive
to the importance of maintaining Gemioncourt and its inclosures, that
he gave directions for its immediate occupation by a British Regiment,
but the one destined for this service having by some accident been
otherwise disposed of, some delay occurred, and the 28th British
Regiment, commanded by Colonel Sir CHARLES PHILIP BELSON, was then
marched down towards that point, under the guidance of Lieutenant
Colonel GOMM, on the Staff of the Fifth Division. As the Battalion
approached the Farm, the latter was discovered to be already occupied
by the French, whereupon it was withdrawn to its Division.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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