"Those Terrible Greys" Topic

"The morning dawned, grey and overcast. Sometime before first light heaven had ceased to weep for the harvest that would soon be taken up. Behind the ridge of Mont St Jean the trumpeters of the Union Brigade pressed the mouthpiece's to their lips and blew the first notes of reville, the lonely sound mingling with the orchestra of drums and bugles sounding across the position. Cold damp and clammy, the Greys were awoken to the usual barks of their sergeants, "Turn out!" Corporal Dickson of F troop, was awoken by trooper MacGee, who shook him and shouted "Damn your eyes boys it's the bugle!". Watering parade was next, dragoons squelched through the clay and matted crops to see to the horses before getting breakfast. The smoke of hissing cooking fires, built back up from wet wood, creating a cloud over the position, and spicing the cool morning air that smelled of wet earth and crops.

Stirabout was not a meal calculated to inspire comfort, boiled water and oats, has an unappetising look, but it set the men up well enough. Sergeant William Clarke had been unable to speak with his brother the day before, and now took the opportunity to see him, and share a tot and a handshake, just in case. Having done this the familiar notes of boot and saddle was heard and the process of preparing the horses and men for the day began. Lt Hamilton was not at all impressed by the appearance of the dragoons, everyone looked miserable, covered head to foot in mud and black coal dust from the roads, and their white crossbelts stained pink from the die of their red coats. What state the horses were in can only be guessed at, despite the protection of cloaks and waterdecks, it is likely they were only grey from the neck up, and probably required a stiff brushing down when they had dried off. As soon as the regiment was saddled and morning parade was finished up, Colonel Hamilton was given the "Parade State" that showed the Greys could field a compliment of over 400 sabres. Out in front Corporal Dickson was one of the men acting as vedette, sitting astride his grey mare Rattler on the Ohain Road, foragers had also been sent out to procure what they could for the day. General Ponsonby had sent for Lt Hamilton again that morning and this pleased him, in his experience staff officers had more of a chance of getting out of an action alive due to the need to be always on the move. As the day brightened, few men could be at all sure that a battle was to be fought yet at the same time with each passing hour, the likelihood that the rumour mill was accurate and that they would stand, strengthened. Dickson sitting astride his horse, carbine in hand, on the crest of the ridge was able to see the comings and goings, he heard the rattle of the French drums sound from across the valley, and saw German troops parting the crops on the way to La Haye Sainte. Presently the blue coated Dutch infantry of Biljandt's brigade struck off from the crossroads and march smartly past onto the exposed face of the ridge and foreign artillery troop gallop past soon after. The sight of feather bonnets and red coats coming off the road heralded the arrival of Picton's Brigades. The 92nd marched past their countrymen, chanting Scot's Wae Hae, and news was passed back and forth between the Scotsmen on the road as they went, it was old news, the Gordon's had been mauled badly at Quatre Bras as well, losing their commanding officer to the French, and they were keen for another rub to settle the score. All indicators pointed to troops being disposed for battle, but veterans like Hamilton were not so sure, the Duke had a habit of being unpredictable and particular about when, where and how he gave battle, at that moment they were still as likely to be acting as the rearguard again as charging for Paris.

Arriving at General Ponsonby's headquarters he joined the brigade staff on an inspection of the outposts. Riding along the sunken road that ran across the top of the rise, bordered by straggling deciduous hedges of holly, dotted by Elm and beech trees sprouting from their midst on the high banks. Riding along they passed knots of officers scrutinising the landscape with telescopes. In one such group they found the the duke of Richmond and his 15 year old son Lord March, an ADC to General Maitland but excused duty due to a terrible hunting accident in April, standing with a group of officers scanning the left flank for the Prussians. They paused to pass the time of day, and at first one thought they had seen a Prussian picket. However it was deemed not to be so and all were dispirited. The principle understanding was was that battle would not be given unless the Prussians were on the field to begin with. Hamilton was one of those officers who remembered Napoleon "Trooping the line" and the cheers of the French army carrying over from the opposite ridge, which further doused their spirits…"
Full text here
link

The Rest of the Battle.
Here…
link

Amicalement
Armand

Yes ordered this a while back and looking forward to reading…

Tango01

Shouldn't the title be 'Those Terribly Undisciplined Greys' LOL.

Glad you enjoyed it boys.

My good friend… you are right! (smile).

But… what a courage!!

I enjoyed reading also "the other side" of the history (the charge of the French Lancers and their casualties too).

Amicalement
Armand

Tango01

Yes, it is one of those famous British cavalry charges that sits alongside the Charge of the light Brigade.

Agree!

Amicalement
Armand

Tango 1
Thanks a lot for the link. I have just bought the book and imagine that the dolphins are carrying it across the Atlantic as I write this. It will make a useful supplement to Edward Almack's old history.

Gazzola:
Perhaps your alternative title, "Those Terribly Undisciplined Greys", is a little harsh on your countrymen (and perhaps a distant relative?) and does less than justice to the men who died in that charge.

I've read the first-person accounts of the interaction in Alcock (a number are reprinted in Fletcher's Archives Vol, I) And no one suggests that the regiment was "undisciplined" merely over-eager. Remember that this regiment had not done battle for over half a century and experienced men with wise counsel were very thin on the ground.

There were, of course, other factors in the debacle.

An officer who was there declares that the regiment had no reserve to screen the first wave when their horses were blown.

The troops were led from the front by their officers, as was the custom among European armies of the time, and many, including General Ponsoby, were killed, leaving some troops leaderless.

Requests for support from the Hussars were turned down in the absence of orders from Wellington. It appears that this refusal of aid earlier on caused deep resentment among the Greys, but it was a common problem among regimental commanders serving under an awe inspiring Commander in Chief. I am sure that you will remember that MacDonalds request for support from the Imperial Guard cavalry at Wagram was turned down my the interim commander, General Walther, on the grounds that he could only move on the direct order of Napoleon, who was somewhere else, or from Marshal Bessiers, who was hors de combat.

The regiment, contrary to some accounts, did come about and redress its line, but there was always another gaggle of French infantrymen tempting them to further destruction.

It has also been said, based on the well-known painting, perhaps, that buglers sounded the recall but were ignored, though again, I have seen no first-hand reports of this. I am sure, though, that during the melee, no one was quite sure who was ordering what.

So perhaps Napoleon's original, alleged remark should be left to stand.

I did find your short list of famous British cavalry charges both accurate and interesting. Civilians tend to enjoy and remember the tragic defeat of their soldiers. Thus we remember the French Foreign Legion at Camerone, Colonel Custer's annihilation at Little Big Horn and Leonidas's last stand with his 300 Spartans.

Great charges that ended in victory, like Lord Henry Paget's defeat of Imperial Guard cavalry, while Napoleon looked on from a safe distance, are known only to enthusiasts like us.

Cheers,
Phil