A party of men under George Simmons were sent to cut wood to form an abattis, which the Riflemen constructed on the Charleroi road, at the point where the hedge abutted on it.
Pl. I.
E. Weller, lith., London.
London: Chatto & Windus.
WATERLOO
18TH JUNE 1815
From 4.30 to 6.30 o’clock, p.m.
The battle began, as is well known, with an attack on Hougoumont. But about two o’clock D’Erlon’s corps moved upon La Haye Sainte. They advanced in four columns. The left central column moved in a direction parallel to the Charleroi road; as they approached the sandpit, which was hidden from them, both by its depression below the level of the surrounding plain, and by the height of the standing corn, they became exposed to the fire of the Riflemen stationed in it. This obliged them to incline to their right; but they then became exposed to the fire of Johnston’s company lining the hedge, which not only threw them farther to their right, but checked them. So that not only was the interval between their columns diminished by the fire of the Riflemen driving them to the right, but the distance between that column and that which succeeded it was also diminished by the fire of Johnston’s company checking their advance. Donzelot’s brigade, however, continued to press forward, and out-flanking the advanced companies of the Riflemen, obliged them to run in on the other three companies of the Battalion. Still the French pressed on; for a Belgian brigade on the left of Picton’s division had fled, leaving a gap in our line. But Picton brought up his infantry; and pouring in a terrific volley while the French were attempting to deploy, led his division to the charge (in doing which he himself fell), and completely routed them. At this moment, as they were going down the slope, a body of cuirassiers crossed from their right, pursued by the 2nd Life Guards. The French infantry flung themselves on the ground, while pursued and pursuers passed over them, and Leach’s two companies and Johnston’s company running out to and beyond their former positions in the sandpit and at the hedge, slew many men, and made many prisoners. But the Duke’s orders were peremptory that the troops were not to quit their positions, and the Riflemen, having disposed of their prisoners, returned to theirs.
For some hours after this first attack the 1st Battalion was left comparatively quiet. A constant and fierce cannonade was indeed kept up, from which they suffered; but no direct attack was made upon them till about six o’clock, when the French again advanced against La Haye Sainte. As the ammunition of the Hanoverians who occupied it was exhausted, they succeeded in obtaining possession of it. Having established this post, close to the companies in the sandpit and lining the hedge, they kept up an incessant fire from loop-holes and from the windows of the farmhouse on these companies; who being thus raked by a fire on their right flank, and being also pressed hard in front by the advancing columns, were obliged to fall back and join the remaining companies of the Battalion, who were lining the Wavre road. Thus the enemy were able to establish on the knoll and along the crest a line of infantry; who kneeling or lying down, showed only their heads, but delivered a most murderous fire against the Riflemen and the other regiments of Kempt’s division. Frequent endeavours were made by the French officers to induce their men to leave this shelter, and to charge the English line; and now and then a few gallant spirits seemed inclined to try it. But as often as they did so, the rifles of the 1st Battalion swept them off. The enemy also brought up two guns by the garden hedge of La Haye Sainte to the back of the Charleroi road, and opened fire along it at those lining the Wavre road, but the Riflemen taking deliberate aim slew the gunners before they could fire a second round.
At this time the Hanoverian regiment, commanded by Colonel Von Ompteda, while attempting to deploy (in obedience to the Prince of Orange’s injudicious orders), was attacked by a body of cuirassiers, rolled up, and cut to pieces. Though this took place in front of the ground occupied by the Riflemen, and within range, they could not fire, through fear of shooting the unfortunate Hanoverians as well as the slaughtering cuirassiers. But just as these last were being charged by an English regiment of cavalry (the 23rd Light Dragoons), they opened upon them a well-directed fire which sent both parties flying; and the ground so lately crowded with combatants was entirely cleared, except of the dead and wounded Hanoverians, and the many cuirassiers brought down by the rifles of the 95th. Sir Andrew Barnard was wounded early in the day. The command of the 1st Battalion then devolved on Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron; and on his being also wounded later in the day, Captain and Brevet Major Leach commanded it.