| Rank and File. | ||
| 52d regt. | 1st bat. | 997 |
| 71st do. | do. | 788 |
| 95th do. | 2d bat. Rifles | 571 |
| 95th do. | 3d do. do. | 185 |
| ——— | ||
| Total | 2,541 | |
| ===== |
Brevet Colonel Reynell, afterwards Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Reynell, commanded the battalion at this period.
Napoleon resolved on attacking the Allies before their forces had been fully collected, and by well-masked and admirably combined movements, a portion of his army was concentrated on the 14th of June between the Sambre and the Meuse.
On the morning of the 16th of June, as the battalion was proceeding to the usual exercising ground of the brigade at Leuze, it received orders for an immediate advance upon Nivelles, where it arrived late that night. On the same day Prince Blucher had been attacked at Ligny, and was forced to retreat to Wavre. The Duke of Wellington and a portion of his army had been also attacked at Quatre Bras by Marshal Ney, who, however, made no impression upon the British position.
In the course of the morning of the 17th of June, the Duke of Wellington made a retrograde movement upon Waterloo, in order to keep up his communication with the Prussians. At day-break on the same morning, the first battalion of the Seventy-first retired, and broke up its position, with the rest of the allied army, on the plains in the neighbourhood of Waterloo, being situated to the left and rear of Hougomont.
The Seventy-first, with the rest of the army, bivouacked in position during the night of the 17th of June, drenched by the rain, which fell heavily. Upon the morning of the memorable 18th of June, the battalion stood in open column, and in this situation was exposed for some time to a heavy fire of artillery, but a judicious movement to a short distance alleviated in a great measure this annoyance. Line was next formed, and about two o’clock the battalion, with the rest of the brigade, advanced, met their opponents in position, charged, and instantly overthrew them.
A heavy fire now commenced upon the retreating enemy, but the alignement having been completely deranged by the impetuosity of the advance, Colonel Reynell, with his usual coolness, proceeded to restore order, and had just completed the dressing of the line when the French cavalry were seen advancing. Square was instantly formed, and the Seventy-first, with the rest of the brigade, sustained a charge from three regiments of French cavalry, namely, one of cuirassiers, one of grenadiers-à-cheval, and one of lancers.
The charge was made with the most obstinate bravery, but nothing could overcome the steadiness of the British infantry, and after a destructive loss, the French were forced to retire.
Previously to this advance, the square of the Seventy-first was struck by a round-shot, which killed or wounded an officer and eighteen men of the eighth company.
About seven o’clock in the evening the left wing of the battalion was formed in rear of the right, and, while thus placed, was, with the rest of the division, attacked by a column of the Imperial Guard. These troops were fresh, having been kept in reserve during the day. They were allowed to approach close without molestation, and the regiments throwing in a close and well-directed fire, they could not deploy, but broke, and retired in confusion.