Leaving the 1st Battalion, for a time lining the hedge of the Wavre cross road, and exchanging fire with the French in La Haye Sainte, and the adjacent ridge, let us trace the actions of the 2nd Battalion, and of the two companies of the 3rd Battalion during the day. They were, I have already noted (with the 52nd and 71st), in Sir Frederick Adam’s brigade. Their station at the commencement of the action was between the village of Merbe-Braine and the road to Nivelles, near where that road is intersected by one leading to Braine-la-Leud. But as soon as the battle began, by the first attack on Hougoumont, they advanced across this last road, and stood in column of companies at quarter-distance on the plateau overlooking the Nivelles road. Subsequently they moved more forward still, and from the plateau drew up close to the road to Nivelles.
About four o’clock, when an attack was made on Hougoumont, a crowd of French skirmishers pressed up the hill in their front. The Duke of Wellington, who was close to the brigade, ordered it to form line four deep. This they did at once, the 2nd Battalion on the left, the 71st in the centre, and the two 3rd Battalion companies on the right. For the 52nd in this formation into line were pushed out for want of room, and formed in rear as a reserve. Then the Duke, pointing to the French skirmishers, bade them ‘Drive those fellows away.’ This they did speedily. For springing up the slope with a cheer, they drove the French before them over the crest, and down the slope on the other side; bringing up their right shoulders, and halting in a hollow which extends from the ridge towards the south-east of Hougoumont. Here they were threatened with an attack of cavalry, and at once formed square. They were soon charged by carabiniers and grenadiers-à-cheval of the Guard. In one of these Captain William Eeles formed his company of the 3rd Battalion in line with the rear face of the square of the 71st, and ordered his men not to fire till he gave the word. Then allowing the carabiniers to approach within thirty or forty yards of the angle of the front on which they were charging, he gave them such a volley as, combined with the fire of the square, brought half of them to the ground; some dead, some wounded; and many entangled among the dead or dying horses.
During the intervals between these charges the 2nd Battalion suffered much from a furious cannonade kept up on them.
About this time Colonel Norcott, commanding the 2nd Battalion, was wounded, and Major Miller succeeded to the command; and on his being wounded soon afterwards, the command of the Battalion devolved on Captain Logan. At the same time that Colonel Norcott was disabled, Colonel Ross, commanding the companies of the 3rd Battalion, was wounded; Major Fullerton succeeded to the command; and on his being wounded about an hour afterwards the command of these companies devolved on Captain Eeles.[160]
Thus each Battalion of the Regiment had, on this day, its two senior officers disabled by wounds.
When the last attack was made upon Hougoumont, Adam’s brigade, with the 2nd Battalion and the two companies of the 3rd, was withdrawn, first to the crest, and subsequently to the reverse slope, so as to be in some measure protected from the cannonade directed against it.
At seven o’clock a column of the Imperial Guard advanced against this part of the position. It was covered by a cloud of skirmishers; and in order to check them, a company of each of the regiments of Adam’s brigade was thrown out in skirmishing order. The enemy’s advancing column suffered so severely from the English guns, that a body of cuirassiers were sent forward to endeavour to silence these guns. The gunners ran in in rear of the infantry, and the cuirassiers not only drove in the skirmishers of the 2nd Battalion, but came upon Adam’s brigade, then in line. The Duke was then with them, and the 52nd, the regiment most threatened, came to the ‘Prepare to receive cavalry.’ But the cuirassiers did not face them, and their further attempts were checked by some English cavalry sent against them. The Riflemen were then on the road leading along the crest of the ridge.
Pl. II.
