"Signatures of Officers Present of the 2nd (or R.N.B.) Regiment of Dragoons entitled to share of Prize Money granted for the Waterloo Campaign.""Canterbury 29 May 1817."
"Signatures of Officers Present of the 2nd (or R.N.B.) Regiment of Dragoons entitled to share of Prize Money granted for the Waterloo Campaign.""Canterbury 29 May 1817."
"Signatures of Officers Present of the 2nd (or R.N.B.) Regiment of Dragoons entitled to share of Prize Money granted for the Waterloo Campaign."
"Canterbury 29 May 1817."
"At the end of the night I was sent to collect what men I could that had gone off with the wounded, and all that were left with the regiment was 16 officers and men."I buried 8 officers the next day. Trotter was the first, he was shot through the heart; I have written to his brother-in-law, and said I would pay his bills and remit home the money that arose from his things being sold. I have bought Colonel Hamilton's horse, which is a very fine one, 5 years old and fit to carry 15 stone, for £55; he refused £100 for him often. When the bills for Trotter's things are given, I shall send them either to you or the agent. I lost some of my things, many officers their whole baggage. The Belgian cavalry ran off to Brussels, saying the Army was defeated, and took our baggage from the men by force; such a scene never was witnessed; the road at last got blocked with waggons, and the Brunswick Hussars and the Belgians seized upon everything. Let me hear from you as soon as possible. Write to my father when you get this and say I am well. I shall write you next from Paris, which is only 100 miles off, and with love to the children,"Believe me,"Yours truly,"A. J. Hamilton."To Captain Lawson."
"At the end of the night I was sent to collect what men I could that had gone off with the wounded, and all that were left with the regiment was 16 officers and men.
"I buried 8 officers the next day. Trotter was the first, he was shot through the heart; I have written to his brother-in-law, and said I would pay his bills and remit home the money that arose from his things being sold. I have bought Colonel Hamilton's horse, which is a very fine one, 5 years old and fit to carry 15 stone, for £55; he refused £100 for him often. When the bills for Trotter's things are given, I shall send them either to you or the agent. I lost some of my things, many officers their whole baggage. The Belgian cavalry ran off to Brussels, saying the Army was defeated, and took our baggage from the men by force; such a scene never was witnessed; the road at last got blocked with waggons, and the Brunswick Hussars and the Belgians seized upon everything. Let me hear from you as soon as possible. Write to my father when you get this and say I am well. I shall write you next from Paris, which is only 100 miles off, and with love to the children,
"Believe me,"Yours truly,"A. J. Hamilton.
"To Captain Lawson."
Letter from Cornet Clape (age 16), Scots Greys, to his Mother a week after the Battle of Waterloo.
"My dear Mother,"I am afraid my long silence may have occasioned you some uneasiness, particularly as the list of killed and wounded was so long making its appearance. I would have written the day after the battle, but where could Ifind pen and ink, in the middle of a cornfield that was occupied the night before by the enemy."I have certainly delayed writing to you this week, as I wanted to date my letter from Paris, which we have been expecting to enter every day. As you must now be certain that I have escaped without a broken head, and, as to my health, I could not enjoy better, you may perhaps wish for the history of our proceedings since we left Dunderhauten."On the morning of the 15th we were roused from a most comfortable sleep by the sound of Bugles, and noise of Sergeants crying 'Turn out,' 'Turn out!' We understood that the enemy had in some fear of our pickets, and that we were to march about 15 miles, which we did, when we were ordered to move on with all possible speed to the field of action. We could hear the firing distinctly. We got to Ne——lles about nine at night. The firing had almost ceased, they were bringing in the wounded by hundreds. We arrived on the field of Battle at 12 o'clock, where we bivouacked, after having marched upwards of 50 miles. I rolled my cloak round me, and laid down in some rye, where I slept as sound as ever I did in my life. On the morning of the 17th the firing commenced early, chiefly skirmishing. We could not see much of it, as we were covered by some rising ground. About 12 the Cavalry and Artillery took up positions upon the heights, to cover the retreat of the Infantry. We commenced our march in their rear about 4 o'clock, going through Jenappes: the rain fell in torrents. We soon after moved into the cornfields, where we what they called shewed a front, retiring, then fronting again. It was here that I first heard the whizzing of a Ball (there is really something very grand about it). They were coming pretty fast and very near us: however we had not a man killed, or wounded. At 7 we halted. The firing had ceased. We had touched nothing since we left Dunderhau—but a little bread and some . Luckily we were near a very large farm house, that supplied us with wood and straw. Such a scene of destruction I never before witnessed. Ploughs, Harrows, Chairs, Tables, everything that would burn was brought out to make fires. The straw was unthrashed. Old sows, little pigs, calves and cows, all shared the same fate. I got a calves kidney, and although it was not dressed in style (for one half of it was raw) I made a very dainty meal of it."Oh: the night: what could be more uncomfortable. It began raining again at 10, and we had nothing but our cloaks to cover us, which were soaked in half an hour. On the morning of the 18th, the clouds began to break, the sun made his appearance, and with good fires we soon got dry. At 10 the firing commenced, we then moved to the bottom of the Hill, where Colonel Hankins (?) Horse came down with him crossing a ditch: he was severely hurt: we were just in the range of the 12 Pounders. We were ordered up theHill, and after 3 hours, charged the enemy in the finest style possible. The men were only too impetuous, nothing could stop them, they all separated, each man fought by himself. I received a bullet from a Frenchman not 20 yards from me: it went through my cloak, and lodged in my saddle, which it has completely spoiled. I was the last person with Colonel Hamilton, who was just like a madman. He was crying 'Halt, Halt, the Greys,' when there was none to be seen. He then galloped completely into the French Lines, where I thought it time to leave him; and make the best of my way back, which by the greatest good fortune I effected. If we had been supported by the Light Dragoons, we should have lost very few, and done three times the execution. After we had collected all we could of the two Brigades, we retired behind a wood, where we remained till 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we were ordered to the right. Talk of the charge, I say it was a farce to this; this tried a soldier: we were formed upon a hill facing the enemy, receiving his whole force of Artillery and Musketry, without being able to return a shot. Really the Bullets came as thick as Hail, the men were dropping on all sides, here we were until half-past seven, diminishing every moment. We seemed to be placed there only to be shot at, and the enemy threatening to charge us every instant with 6 times our number. We thought all was lost, yet all resolved to stand to the last. How can I express, my dear Mother, what we felt at seeing the Light Dragoons and Artillery come up, and in an instant saw the whole French Army in a rout. I must leave it to your own imagination. Our Regiment was only 36 strong when we marched to this Mount, when we left it we could only muster 14. Colonel Clarke had two horses shot under him, and was wounded himself. Major Vernon was wounded. Major Cheney had five horses shot under him, and kept mounting the fresh ones with the same coolness that he would had they been at his own stable door. My old mare received three slight wounds. One was a bullet through her ear. Poor Whindham was shot through the foot in the charge, he is doing well. What a scene did the field of action present to our view. The wounded groaning, the dead cut up in a most hideous manner. Horses standing upon three legs, you could not go a step without stumbling over something. We that night occupied the very ground that the enemy had bivouacked upon the previous night, and much obliged to them we were for the huts they had left us. Since that time we have been taking forced marches, and are now quartered at N——, six miles from Paris. Sergeant Ewart of the Greys took the Eagle."
"My dear Mother,
"I am afraid my long silence may have occasioned you some uneasiness, particularly as the list of killed and wounded was so long making its appearance. I would have written the day after the battle, but where could Ifind pen and ink, in the middle of a cornfield that was occupied the night before by the enemy.
"I have certainly delayed writing to you this week, as I wanted to date my letter from Paris, which we have been expecting to enter every day. As you must now be certain that I have escaped without a broken head, and, as to my health, I could not enjoy better, you may perhaps wish for the history of our proceedings since we left Dunderhauten.
"On the morning of the 15th we were roused from a most comfortable sleep by the sound of Bugles, and noise of Sergeants crying 'Turn out,' 'Turn out!' We understood that the enemy had in some fear of our pickets, and that we were to march about 15 miles, which we did, when we were ordered to move on with all possible speed to the field of action. We could hear the firing distinctly. We got to Ne——lles about nine at night. The firing had almost ceased, they were bringing in the wounded by hundreds. We arrived on the field of Battle at 12 o'clock, where we bivouacked, after having marched upwards of 50 miles. I rolled my cloak round me, and laid down in some rye, where I slept as sound as ever I did in my life. On the morning of the 17th the firing commenced early, chiefly skirmishing. We could not see much of it, as we were covered by some rising ground. About 12 the Cavalry and Artillery took up positions upon the heights, to cover the retreat of the Infantry. We commenced our march in their rear about 4 o'clock, going through Jenappes: the rain fell in torrents. We soon after moved into the cornfields, where we what they called shewed a front, retiring, then fronting again. It was here that I first heard the whizzing of a Ball (there is really something very grand about it). They were coming pretty fast and very near us: however we had not a man killed, or wounded. At 7 we halted. The firing had ceased. We had touched nothing since we left Dunderhau—but a little bread and some . Luckily we were near a very large farm house, that supplied us with wood and straw. Such a scene of destruction I never before witnessed. Ploughs, Harrows, Chairs, Tables, everything that would burn was brought out to make fires. The straw was unthrashed. Old sows, little pigs, calves and cows, all shared the same fate. I got a calves kidney, and although it was not dressed in style (for one half of it was raw) I made a very dainty meal of it.
"Oh: the night: what could be more uncomfortable. It began raining again at 10, and we had nothing but our cloaks to cover us, which were soaked in half an hour. On the morning of the 18th, the clouds began to break, the sun made his appearance, and with good fires we soon got dry. At 10 the firing commenced, we then moved to the bottom of the Hill, where Colonel Hankins (?) Horse came down with him crossing a ditch: he was severely hurt: we were just in the range of the 12 Pounders. We were ordered up theHill, and after 3 hours, charged the enemy in the finest style possible. The men were only too impetuous, nothing could stop them, they all separated, each man fought by himself. I received a bullet from a Frenchman not 20 yards from me: it went through my cloak, and lodged in my saddle, which it has completely spoiled. I was the last person with Colonel Hamilton, who was just like a madman. He was crying 'Halt, Halt, the Greys,' when there was none to be seen. He then galloped completely into the French Lines, where I thought it time to leave him; and make the best of my way back, which by the greatest good fortune I effected. If we had been supported by the Light Dragoons, we should have lost very few, and done three times the execution. After we had collected all we could of the two Brigades, we retired behind a wood, where we remained till 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we were ordered to the right. Talk of the charge, I say it was a farce to this; this tried a soldier: we were formed upon a hill facing the enemy, receiving his whole force of Artillery and Musketry, without being able to return a shot. Really the Bullets came as thick as Hail, the men were dropping on all sides, here we were until half-past seven, diminishing every moment. We seemed to be placed there only to be shot at, and the enemy threatening to charge us every instant with 6 times our number. We thought all was lost, yet all resolved to stand to the last. How can I express, my dear Mother, what we felt at seeing the Light Dragoons and Artillery come up, and in an instant saw the whole French Army in a rout. I must leave it to your own imagination. Our Regiment was only 36 strong when we marched to this Mount, when we left it we could only muster 14. Colonel Clarke had two horses shot under him, and was wounded himself. Major Vernon was wounded. Major Cheney had five horses shot under him, and kept mounting the fresh ones with the same coolness that he would had they been at his own stable door. My old mare received three slight wounds. One was a bullet through her ear. Poor Whindham was shot through the foot in the charge, he is doing well. What a scene did the field of action present to our view. The wounded groaning, the dead cut up in a most hideous manner. Horses standing upon three legs, you could not go a step without stumbling over something. We that night occupied the very ground that the enemy had bivouacked upon the previous night, and much obliged to them we were for the huts they had left us. Since that time we have been taking forced marches, and are now quartered at N——, six miles from Paris. Sergeant Ewart of the Greys took the Eagle."
Letter from the Adjutant of the Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo, Lieutenant Macmillan, to Major-General Balfour of Ballurnie, Fife, late Colonel of the Scots Greys, and giving an account of the part the Regiment took in the battle. Copied by MajorDonnithorne from the original in the possession of Mr. Balfour of Ballurnie, son of General Balfour.
"Nantevin.July 13th, 1815."5 miles west of Paris."Dear General,"After a long silence on my part I shall attempt to give you a short extract of our late movements. No doubt ere this time you will have seen theGazettecontaining a list of the killed and wounded of the Greys on the 18th ultimo. I fancy it's much greater than has ever occurred since it was a regiment. We took into the field that day three squadrons above sixty files each. Now we musteroneof little more than that number. I fear many of the men and horses wounded, will never be again fit for service. Poor Colonel Hamilton led the regiment in grand stile into action. You know him, more than courage is required on such occasions."Major-General Ponsonby who commanded the Brigade fell early in the action, as did Colonel H.; but which of them fell first, the former being in the centre of the Brigade, and we being on the left, I do not know which of them was first killed."No regiment could behave better than the Greys, Sergeant Ewart took an Eagle, and the Royals another, which I believe were all that were taken, but not one word in the Despatch by whom taken, indeed the Despatch is extremely cold, and which is observed as such by everyone here, that has seen it. The Heavy Brigade are mentioned as having done their duty—the first consists of 2 Regiments, Life Guards, Blues, and first Dragoon Guards. The 2nd, second and sixth Dragoons: the Hussars and Light Dragoons had little or anything (sic) to do except look on. Sergeant Ewart cut down the officer and two soldiers before he could get possession of the Eagle."Hankin's horse fell with him at the commencement of the charge, we saw nothing more of him for that day, had he remained a short time in the field he must have been killed from his been (sic) so very inactive that the French Lancers immediately got into our regt. after each charge, he having no reserve he would certainly have been destroyed, the Light Dragoons this time might have been made extremely useful."Colonel Hankin's horse also fell with him twice on the 17th, when we in our turn covered the retreat of the British Army, which was done under a most tremendous fire of cannon from the enemy, the First Dragoons only lost one man, that was all, Lord Uxbridge's Hussars[3](the 7th) were to have been the last and were so placed, but from some cause or other, behaved not very well, indeed his Lordship said in front of the first Life Guards, that he must callupon them to advancefor that his own regiment had deserted him. The Life Guards charged a mass of Lancers on thechasee(sic), and which they tumbled over like rats and the road covered with them and their horses.[3]This Regiment no longer exists.—E. A."It is quite impossible to describe in a letter the battle of the 18th. The carnage is far beyond belief."The enemy fought most fureyously, indeed they fought with halters round their necks as well as their Master. The heavy Cavalry was the admiration of the whole army, they bore down everything that came in their way."I am pretty certain that had it not been for their exertions on that day, we should not now have had possession of the French Capital, with the aid of part of the Prussians at the close of the day, and which came very seasonably, not only to complete a hard day's work, but to follow a routed enemy which they did to perfection. I went over a part of the field of Battle next morning where we had principly been engaged, with the view of getting removed such of the wounded of the Greys as remained, and also to bury the officers, the former had all been removed, and the latter I saw put under ground as well as we could. Poor Carruthers died next day of his wounds. The men wounded say that they received their wounds after they were taken prisoners, this from their horses being killed, from which it would appear that the French expected no quarter was to be given on either side: the field is far beyond my power to describe, it was literally covered with men and horses, &c., &c."I beg you will excuse this horrid scrawl as I find that I am not competent to give even a faint description of this bloody battle."Clark had a horse killed under him and himself wounded. Poole had a horse killed and himself for some time a prisoner. Verner a horse shot through the head and himself through the shoulder and apparently by the same ball. Wemyss a horse shot. Cheney had five horses (only one his own, and the rest troopers), his own died next day. My horse shot through the shoulder and my cloak like a ridle from musket balls. Indeed only two officers escaped without being touched either themselves or horse."As Colonel Clark is now likely to succeed to the command of the Regiment.""Interesting Anecdote."Sergeant Weir, of the Scots Greys, was pay-sergeant of his troop, and as such might have been excused serving in action, and perhaps he should not have been forward, but on such a day as Waterloo he requested to be allowed to charge with the Regiment. In one of the charges he fell mortally wounded, and was left on the field. Corporal Scot, of the same regiment (who lost a leg) asserts that when the field was searched for the wounded and slain, the body of Sergeant Weir was found with his name written on his forehead by his own hand dipped in his own blood. This his comrade said he was supposed to have done that his body might be found and known, and that it might not be imagined he had disappeared with the money of the Troop."
"Nantevin.July 13th, 1815."5 miles west of Paris.
"Dear General,
"After a long silence on my part I shall attempt to give you a short extract of our late movements. No doubt ere this time you will have seen theGazettecontaining a list of the killed and wounded of the Greys on the 18th ultimo. I fancy it's much greater than has ever occurred since it was a regiment. We took into the field that day three squadrons above sixty files each. Now we musteroneof little more than that number. I fear many of the men and horses wounded, will never be again fit for service. Poor Colonel Hamilton led the regiment in grand stile into action. You know him, more than courage is required on such occasions.
"Major-General Ponsonby who commanded the Brigade fell early in the action, as did Colonel H.; but which of them fell first, the former being in the centre of the Brigade, and we being on the left, I do not know which of them was first killed.
"No regiment could behave better than the Greys, Sergeant Ewart took an Eagle, and the Royals another, which I believe were all that were taken, but not one word in the Despatch by whom taken, indeed the Despatch is extremely cold, and which is observed as such by everyone here, that has seen it. The Heavy Brigade are mentioned as having done their duty—the first consists of 2 Regiments, Life Guards, Blues, and first Dragoon Guards. The 2nd, second and sixth Dragoons: the Hussars and Light Dragoons had little or anything (sic) to do except look on. Sergeant Ewart cut down the officer and two soldiers before he could get possession of the Eagle.
"Hankin's horse fell with him at the commencement of the charge, we saw nothing more of him for that day, had he remained a short time in the field he must have been killed from his been (sic) so very inactive that the French Lancers immediately got into our regt. after each charge, he having no reserve he would certainly have been destroyed, the Light Dragoons this time might have been made extremely useful.
"Colonel Hankin's horse also fell with him twice on the 17th, when we in our turn covered the retreat of the British Army, which was done under a most tremendous fire of cannon from the enemy, the First Dragoons only lost one man, that was all, Lord Uxbridge's Hussars[3](the 7th) were to have been the last and were so placed, but from some cause or other, behaved not very well, indeed his Lordship said in front of the first Life Guards, that he must callupon them to advancefor that his own regiment had deserted him. The Life Guards charged a mass of Lancers on thechasee(sic), and which they tumbled over like rats and the road covered with them and their horses.
[3]This Regiment no longer exists.—E. A.
[3]This Regiment no longer exists.—E. A.
"It is quite impossible to describe in a letter the battle of the 18th. The carnage is far beyond belief.
"The enemy fought most fureyously, indeed they fought with halters round their necks as well as their Master. The heavy Cavalry was the admiration of the whole army, they bore down everything that came in their way.
"I am pretty certain that had it not been for their exertions on that day, we should not now have had possession of the French Capital, with the aid of part of the Prussians at the close of the day, and which came very seasonably, not only to complete a hard day's work, but to follow a routed enemy which they did to perfection. I went over a part of the field of Battle next morning where we had principly been engaged, with the view of getting removed such of the wounded of the Greys as remained, and also to bury the officers, the former had all been removed, and the latter I saw put under ground as well as we could. Poor Carruthers died next day of his wounds. The men wounded say that they received their wounds after they were taken prisoners, this from their horses being killed, from which it would appear that the French expected no quarter was to be given on either side: the field is far beyond my power to describe, it was literally covered with men and horses, &c., &c.
"I beg you will excuse this horrid scrawl as I find that I am not competent to give even a faint description of this bloody battle.
"Clark had a horse killed under him and himself wounded. Poole had a horse killed and himself for some time a prisoner. Verner a horse shot through the head and himself through the shoulder and apparently by the same ball. Wemyss a horse shot. Cheney had five horses (only one his own, and the rest troopers), his own died next day. My horse shot through the shoulder and my cloak like a ridle from musket balls. Indeed only two officers escaped without being touched either themselves or horse.
"As Colonel Clark is now likely to succeed to the command of the Regiment."
"Interesting Anecdote.
"Sergeant Weir, of the Scots Greys, was pay-sergeant of his troop, and as such might have been excused serving in action, and perhaps he should not have been forward, but on such a day as Waterloo he requested to be allowed to charge with the Regiment. In one of the charges he fell mortally wounded, and was left on the field. Corporal Scot, of the same regiment (who lost a leg) asserts that when the field was searched for the wounded and slain, the body of Sergeant Weir was found with his name written on his forehead by his own hand dipped in his own blood. This his comrade said he was supposed to have done that his body might be found and known, and that it might not be imagined he had disappeared with the money of the Troop."