Page:Battles of Quatre Bras & Waterloo.pdf/18

This page has been validated.

18

to meet their numerous opponents, and strength to fight them with ease and success. On one occasion, he rode up to 95th, then in front of the line, a little to the left of La Haye Saint, and seeing them on the point of receiving the charge of a column of French, said, “Stand fast, 95th, we must not be beat; what would they say in England?" Then placing himself at their head, charged and repulsed a very superior force. As to the cavalry, it would be difficult to say which of them excelled; but be that as it may, by their united efforts, they bore down their veteran enemy, although clad in mail, and in possession of that high mind which devoted them to honour and their country. In the conflict of La Belle Alliance the Marquis of Anglesea was frequently with the life guards. At the commencement of a charge, he would say, "Now for the honour of the household troops!" and as often had he occasion to praise them for their valour— the dragoon guards and blues were equally gallant in the important fight. "Look," he would say at other times, to those about him, when viewing the romantic charges of the Scotch greys, the royals and Enniskillens, those brave fellows will get themselves cut to pieces." The light cavalry were excellent in pursuit, and more scarcely ever unsuccessful, even in their encounter with the enemy's heavy horse: but their chief employment was in pursuing cavalry; when broken by either of the heavy brigades, as then, a dragoon was heard to say, "we had nothing to do, you know, but to ride with them and work away."

The reserves of the Duke of Wellington were now all in action, and the French reserves were not yet brought forward. His troops were diminished in numbers and worn out with fatigue. The brave Scotch division was reduced from six-