Left Wing History (5):
Waterloo 1815
Reckless Uxbridge?
by Gary Cousins, Germany
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“Lord Uxbridge shortly returned to me, and finding the fire still heavy, and the enemy evidently in great force immediately in our front, he asked me whether we had not better advance and charge. The smoke at this moment was so dense on the side of the hill, that it was scarcely possible to see ten yards before us; and consequently, no enemy being visible, I observed, “that as my brigade was in perfect order, I thought it would be advisable not to hazard an attack whereby we might be thrown into confusion, which it would be difficult to repair; that if the enemy appeared on the crest of the hill through the smoke, by a sudden and unexpected charge on them we could, no doubt, drive them back.” His Lordship then dismounted from his horse, and advanced himself on foot and unattended down the hill, hoping to be able to see under the smoke and make his own observations. I rode down to him and begged him not to expose himself so; on which he returned, saying he agreed with me in thinking that I had better remain steady, ready to attack if the enemy appeared; and, mounting his horse, he left me to join the Duke, and I saw no more of him during the day. I mention this anecdote not only as descriptive of my
position, but in justice to Lord Uxbridge: it
will prove to those who imagine that in the
management of the cavalry on that day he
was at all incautious, (and such I know there
are), how little they understand his real character;
as a proof of his intrepidity and the
readiness with which he exposed himself, it
is not necessary; to these qualities every one
does justice.” [70]
Murray of the 18th Hussars wrote:
“Seven o’clock must have been about the
time”, and “the action was vehement at the
moment…”, when “…Lord Uxbridge, in hussar
uniform, mounted on a common troop-horse
(his own being exhausted), rode with
General Vivian a short time in our front.” [71]
Assuming, then, that this incident happened
north and slightly west of La Haie-Sainte,
with the air filled with smoke, and Alten’s
Division under constant and heavy musketry
and artillery fire and threatened by French
cavalry, one might take a less generous view
than Vivian of a second-in-command who
exposes himself in such a manner at the height of battle.
Yet as Lieutenant-Colonel Cathcart, Lord Greenock, AQMG to the Cavalry, asserted:
“…as I accompanied Lord Anglesey on
that occasion, I am able to vouch for the fidelity
and accuracy with which all the circumstances
relative to this visit of his Lordship's
are described by Sir Hussey in that letter.
On quitting Sir Hussey Vivian, Lord Anglesey
joined the Duke of Wellington, and it
was about this time that the last attack by the
Enemy took place.” [72]
Shaw said that Vivian’s Brigade formed up:
“…in rear of that part of the position on
which Kielmansegge's and Ompteda's stood,
and which was now reinforced by the Brunswick
and some of the Nassau troops;…” [73]
Shortly after the battle, Vivian wrote of
his arrival:
“I arrived in the rear of the Infantry just
at the time that several small Squares of Foreign
troops were giving way. In fact my
wheeling into line in their rear and cheering
them actually halted two of them, and gave
them confidence.” [74]
Later he recalled: “…I arrived most opportunely, at the
instant that Buonaparte was making his last
and most desperate effort: and never did I
witness anything so terrific: the ground actually
covered with dead and dying, cannon
shots and shells flying thicker than I ever
heard even musketry before, and our troops –
some of them – giving way.
In this state of affairs I wheeled my brigade
into line close (within ten yards) in the
rear of our infantry, prepared to charge the
instant they had retreated through my
intervals…My doing this, however, gave them
confidence, and the brigade, which was literally
running away, halted on our cheering
them, and again began firing.” [75]
Siborne wrote to Vivian:
“When, after having crossed the chaussée
you moved forward and formed line in immediate
rear of the Infantry with your left not far
from that chaussée, the first column of the
Imperial Guard (Grenadiers) had, I imagine,
approached near to that part of our line occupied
by the 1st Brigade of Guards.
This attack was supported on its own right by some Battalions
from the 1st French corps, advancing
from the hollow ground about La Haie Sainte,
accompanied by some Guns, and preceded by
a swarm of skirmishers. The Horse Artillery
Battery which had at an earlier point established
itself at near the angle of the little garden
of La Haie Sainte, now advanced two
guns to within 150 paces of the Hanoverian
square (see Sketch), so that altogether the fire
in your front at that moment must have been
tremendous...” [76]
Siborne’s account in History continued:
“The Prince of Orange, Alten, and almost
all the superior officers of the 3rd division,
had been wounded. But Kielmansegge, who
now commanded in this part of the field, was
fully alive to the critical circumstances under
which the 3rd division was placed, and exhibited
great ability, coolness, and determination,
by the manner in which he succeeded in restoring
it to order.
Still, the persevering and incessant tiraillade kept up against these
troops by the French was such, that the fire
thrown out from their shattered and enfeebled
ranks was quite inadequate to repress it. The
French skirmishers again crowded close up to
the line; maintaining a most rapid and destructive fire.
The Allied infantry was once more on the point of giving way. One battalion of
the Brunswickers was retiring in close column,
but in good order, having totally ex-hausted
its ammunition. The Nassauers were
falling back en masse against the horses' heads
of the 10th hussars, who, keeping their files
closed, prevented further retreat. Vivian and
Captain Shakespeare of the 10th, (acting as his
extra aide-de-camp.) rendered themselves
conspicuous at this moment by their endeavours
to halt and encourage the Nassauers. The
Hanoverians and the German legion on the
left, led by Kielmansegge, now resolutely
dashed forward, at the double quick - their
drums rolling. The enemy fell back.
The Brunswickers took up the movement, as then
did also the Nassauers - Vivian and his aide-de-camp cheering them on; whilst the hussars
followed in close support. In this manner,
Kielmansegge succeeded in leading back the
shattered remnants of the division to the place
they had so long and so honourably occupied
on the ridge.
Vivian’s brigade, by its proximity to
these troops, against which so close and unremitting
a fire of musketry was maintained,
was placed in a very trying situation for cavalry,
and suffered much in consequence. As
soon, however, as the infantry had rallied and
resumed their former position in the line, Vivian
withdrew his brigade under the crest of the
ridge, a distance of not more than thirty yards,
to place his men a little out of fire; and when
thus posted, he was better prepared to make an
attack if required…” [77]
Writing in 1833, Vivian said that he supported
some “foreign troops” at about the
same time that Wellington is said to have
rallied the Brunswickers:
“I notice a circumstance of the same sort
that I witnessed on this part of the field, about
the time mentioned, not to throw any doubt on
the statement of the Duke having rallied those
troops, but as it seems to point out exactly
where the 6th brigade of cavalry was posted.
A battalion of foreign troops, with white covers
to their shakos, fell back en masse against
the horses’ heads of the 10th, and undoubtedly,
had this regiment not been formed where it
was, would have retreated. This was shortly
after our arrival on the position.
Captain Shakespeare, of the 10th, was then standing
with me in front of that regiment, and we both
endeavoured to halt and encourage them; but
it was their coming against the horses’ heads,
and being unable to pass through the files, that
did check them. I must, however, do their
officers the justice to say I saw many attempts
to stop them, and one seized a drummer by the
collar, and made him beat the rally.
When halted, they faced about, moved twenty or
thirty yards forward, and again began firing,
which they kept up until the advance took
place. The Duke must at this time have been
just on the left of these troops; and probably
this is the very battalion to which you refer as
the one his Grace rallied.” [78]
Vivian was later persuaded that these
troops were Nassauers, and Siborne mentioned
Vivian’s account to Kruse of the Nassau
service, as he wrote to Vivian in 1836:
“I had previously drawn Gen. Kruse’s
attention to your remark about the white
covers to the schakos, & in his reply he says
“It is perfectly true that the 1st Regt. Nassau
(3 battns. – his Brigade) wore white covers to
the schakos and pouches, which, however, I
caused to be taken off about 3 o’clock as they
formed too good a mark for the enemy’s
artillery.” [79]
Vivian responded tetchily, as if his testimony
was in doubt, that “…I spoke to the P.
of O. on the subject of the white [? unclear]
shakos in my front & he said they were
Nassauers…The only way to reconcile it is to
suppose that some men must have disobeyed
the order for taking them off...”; and, positively
repeating his testimony of 1833, he
ended: “That I will swear to.” [80]
But Murray of the 18th Hussars thought
that his regiment had supported the Nassauers:
“What fell back upon the 10th except it
might have been on its extreme left would not
be seen by me at that period in front of the
18th. But I remember Lieutenant and adjutant
Duperier’s urging forward from the front of
the 18th some soldiers in a uniform green,
blue or some dark colour, I think green, & as
I also think with either white shakos or white
shako-covers & buff belts.
For this reason I suppose that the Nassau
Troops were posted between Colonel
Ompteda’s brigade and the Hanoverian militia
but more advanced from the position.
Hence if they fell back it would be upon
the 6th Brigade of cavalry.” [81]
Bacon of the 10th Hussars thought that
his regiment had supported the Brunswickers:
“…[I] therefore did not see the Nassau
troops giving way, but a column of the
Brunswick infantry was stopped [going] to
the rear, bent upon the interval between our
right and centre squadrons; Lt. Arnold rode
out upon their right flank with myself, and I
have no doubt the officers of our centre
squadron did the same upon the left, when
the column faced about, and marched to the
front….
What was passing in our front, was
impossible to tell, for we could not see ten
yards from us, but the shower of musket
balls coming from the dense columns of
smoke told of a formidable enemy close to
us.” [82]
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Manners of the 10th Hussars, in a letter to Vivian which was
passed on to Siborne, recalled:
“…forming as a support in rear of the
Infantry, a Battalion, or Brigade of Brunswickers
being in the immediate front of the
10th Hussars. The attack of the Enemy at this
point was exceedingly warm and spirited, and
as they held at the same time the Farm of La
Haye Sainte, also in our immediate front, the
10th suffered considerably; …
So furious indeed,
& determined was the French assault,
that at one time the Brunswickers gave way,
and victory seemed almost within the grasp of
the Enemy. This occasioned Sir Hussey
Vivian’s brigade also to retire for some distance,
which movement was performed with
the greatest steadiness & regularity. The
Brunswickers being rallied, advanced again in
their turn, with loud shouts, & drums beating,
supported by our brigade, & drove the French
back…” [83]
Vivian annotated Manners’ account (and
Manners accepted the correction [84]):
“The retreat was not 30 yards, & was
made merely to get the men clear of the confusion
& under the crest of the hill a little out of
fire, as the losses were so great, and so posted
the Brigade was just as ready to attack any of
the Enemy that reached the top of the position
as if posted there, and indeed it was better
placed, for the attack would have been less
expected. The movement was not made until
the Brunswickers were rallied & had resumed
firing.” [85]
In 1829 Captain Taylor of the 10th Hussars
wrote a detailed and sometimes confused
account, which Vivian passed to Siborne:
“…Here we saw the Infantry warmly engaged, and took open column after a little
time, and, bringing up left shoulders, moved along the rear of the Infantry, and the Infantry being rather pushed by the Enemy, who kept up a heavy fire, we
wheeled into line and supported, about fifty yards in rear of them;
they rather fell back upon us, and one Battalion of Brunswick Oels
in close column, retiring, being [in] want of ammunition, I believe,
but in good order, was near passing through us between my squadron
and Major Howard's. Just then two or three Battalions to the left
of it advanced at double quick, their drums rolling, and drove back
the Enemy. The Brunswick Oels faced about and advanced at the
charge also, Sir H. Vivian and Captain Shakespeare, &c., cheering
them on.
A cloud of tirailleurs being close up to our Infantry, behind which
we were, and keeping up a heavy fire, we had many casualties here,
particularly numbers of horses hit, some in two or three places…The
men behaved with great steadiness in a position rather trying for
Cavalry…” [86]
In 1836 Taylor explained to Siborne some points in his earlier
account:
“…In what I described in the paper before sent, of a regiment of
Brunswickers (I supposed them to be such from their dark uniform) being
about to pass between two of our squadrons to the rear. When I stated
Captain Shakespear (and as I still think) Sir Hussey Vivian spoke to them
and cheered them to advance - I did not mean to say that our line was
forced, but the French were evidently pushing much, and the fire was very
heavy. I saw their men through the smoke apparently not 50 paces from our
infantry and our regiment was in line close behind the infantry…
…I should say there was rather musketry than grape on us when in
line – and round shots from the sound…
…The troops I saw were as I have said above in a dark dress and
looked like Brunswickers, they did not retire through the squadron
intervals, but turned about and advanced again with other battalions to
the left in a general rally, drums rolling: Lieutenant Duperier at the
same time urging forward some troops of the same description corroborates
my accounts. It was probably another battalion of the same
force.” [87]
Clearly matters were highly confused, but it seems likely that the
18th Hussars, on the left, had the Nassauers to their front, while the
10th Hussars, to the right, were behind the Brunswickers. The Brunswickers
were without doubt on the right (and to the left of Halkett’s
Brigade). The accounts of the 1st Nassau Regiment stated that after
the unsuccessful attack led by the Prince of Orange, the whole line
withdrew, leaving the defence of the plateau in the hands of only
weak bands of troops, and that Kruse joined onto these with the 2nd
and 3rd Battalions of his regiment, close to the Brussels road; [88]
their plugging of gaps in Ompteda’s and Kielmansegge’s positions is a
plausible explanation of how the Nassauers came to be in front of the
18th Hussars.
In his own history of the campaign, Shaw commented:
“The troops that gallantly and successfully secured this part of the
position for the rest of the day, could not have been expected to make
the stand which they did against such determined and protracted efforts
of veteran French troops; they were only recent formations, and without
experience in the field…
…this part of the line was so severely pressed by the continued,
close, and persevering attacks of the enemy, that the support of Vivian's
brigade at this point was of importance.” [89]
What might have happened if the final French attack had achieved
a breakthrough against Alten’s Division must be left to the realms of
speculation. Baring said that, by the end of the day, Alten’s Division
was so crippled that it could not take part in the pursuit. [90]
It is remarkable that none of the reports of those troops mention the
presence of Vivian’s Brigade.
Left Wing History (5) Vivian’s 6th (Light) Cavalry Brigade on the 18th June 1815
Left Wing History (4) Vivian’s 6th (Light) Cavalry Brigade on the 18th June 1815
Left Wing History (3) Vivian’s 6th (Light) Cavalry Brigade on the 18th June 1815
Left Wing History (2) Prussian I Corps
Left Wing History (1) Waterloo 1815: Vivian's 6th Cavalry Brigade
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Such recollections make all the more remarkable,
and perhaps incredible, Vivian’s
recollection of an incident which happened
after Uxbridge returned from posting
Vandeleur’s Brigade:
Vivian’s Task…