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—Permission was accordingly obitained of this Commander, and Sir John resolved to accompany him. This brigade consisting of the first and second regiments of life-guards, the first regiment of dragoon guards, and the blues, set off at full speed, and crossed the ridge with so much force and fury, that the cuirassiers, notwithstanding their weight and armour, and the power of their horses, were altogether unable to withstand them, being literally rode down, both horse and man, while the strength of our soldiers was no less conspicuous when they mingled and fought hand to hand. The French consequently fled, and in their flight hundreds of then were forced over an old quarry, where they rolled, an undistinguishable, mass of men and horses. Sir John Elley was himself distinguished for his personal powers :—He was at one time encircled by several of the cuirassiers, but being a tall and powerful man, he cut his way out, leaving some of his assailants on the ground, marked with wounds, which evinced the uncommon strength of the arm that inflicted them.
In the middle of the conflict, the Royals, Greys, and Enniskillens, with Sir William Ponsonby at their head, flew past, dispersing other divisions in their course, and, with a temerity of which we have no example, threw themselves along a train of artillery of 80 pieces, causing the cannoneers to abandon their guns; and for some time intimidating all within their view. But the French General Milhand, with his cuirassiers on the one side, and General Travere coming round on the other with the 4th regiment of lancers, fell upon them:—then, indeed, in the midst of the cannon, which was the subject of dispute, commenced a contest, to which history can preduce few parallels:—nor can the boldest imagination picture any thing more terrible!
