The Waterloo Roll Call: With Biographical Notes and AnecdotesDalton, Charles
History
The Waterloo Roll Call: With Biographical Notes and Anecdotes
Dalton, Charles
Great Britain. Army -- Registers; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
“The enemy began forming their line of battle about nine in the
morning of the 18th. They came down to the left, where they were
received by our brave Highlanders. No men could ever behave better;
our brigade of cavalry covered them. Owing to a column of foreign
troops giving way, our brigade was forced to advance to the support of
our brave fellows, and which we certainly did in style; we charged
through two of their columns, each about 500. It was in the first
charge I took the Eagle from the enemy; he and I had a hard contest
for it; he thrust for my groin—I parried it off, and I cut him through
the head; after which I was attacked by one of their Lancers, who
threw his lance at me, but missed the mark by my throwing it off with
my sword by my right side; then I cut him from the chin upwards, which
cut went through his teeth. Next I was attacked by a foot soldier,
who, after firing at me, charged me with his bayonet; but he very soon
lost the combat, for I parried it, and cut him down through the head;
so that finished the contest for the Eagle. After which I presumed to
follow my comrades, Eagle and all, but was stopped by the General
saying to me, ‘You brave fellow, take that to the rear; you have done
enough until you get quit of it,’ which I was obliged to do, but with
great reluctance. I retired to a height, and stood there for upwards
of an hour, which gave me a general view of the field, but I cannot
express the sight I beheld; the bodies of my brave comrades were lying
so thick upon the field that it was scarcely possible to pass, and
horses innumerable. I took the Eagle into Brussels, amidst the
acclamation of thousands of the spectators that saw it.”
On 18th June, 1816, Ensign Ewart, and other Waterloo officers, were
entertained at a public banquet in Edinburgh. “Nearly 400 noblemen and
gentlemen sat down to an elegant dinner in the Assembly Rooms, the Rt.
Hon. Wm. Arbuthnot, Lord Provost of the city, in the chair. After
several toasts had been given and duly honoured, Sir Walter (then Mr.)
Scott proposed a bumper to the health of Ensign Ewart, late of the
Scots Greys, whose bravery was conspicuous where he took a French
Eagle, and killed with his own hand three of Napoleon’s guard. The
toast was drank with great acclamation, and a general expectation
prevailed that Ensign Ewart, who was present, would address the
company. After a short pause, the Lord Provost rose, and, at the
request of Mr. Ewart, stated how much he felt honoured by this mark of
the company’s approbation, but that he would much rather fight the
battle over again and take another Eagle, than make a speech.”
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6TH DRAGOONS.
F. McDowell.
Appointed quartermaster 10th Dec., 1829. H. p. 1843. D. in June, 1846.
Thos. Boyd.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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