Shortly afterwards, Vivian was joined by Colonel Sir Colin Campbell of the Staff, who brought him an Order from the Duke that he was not to attack before the Infantry came up, unless he felt confident of success. Vivian remarked that as the Allied Infantry in its anxiety to get on, was probably not in compact order, its safety might be seriously endangered should it be exposed to a Cavalry attack; and that, in his opinion, it would be better that not a moment should be lost on his part in driving off the Cavalry which appeared in his front. Sir Colin Campbell coincided in this opinion, and returned to the Duke.
After the very short pause at the head of the Column, consequent upon this little discussion, Vivian, continuing the advance, ordered the 10th Hussars to form Line on the front Half Squadron, and, at the same time, sent Orders to his two other Regiments also to form Line on their leading Half Squadrons respectively, but then to remain in support. The rapid pace which had been maintained by the head of the Column, and the incline to the right which had been given to it, required great activity on the part of the Left Half Squadrons to get up into Line; and as Vivian ordered the charge as soon as the first Squadron was formed, it was executed not in Line but rather in echelon of Squadrons, which, under the circumstances of the moment, as will presently be seen, was the preferable and more desirable formation.
Just as the charge was ordered, the 2nd Light Dragoons of the King's German Legion, in a Column of Squadrons, which had been detached from the main position, almost simultaneously with the advance of Vivian's Brigade, came up on the right of the 10th Hussars, and in a direction rather crossing the front of the latter Regiment, which had its left thrown somewhat forward whilst the Germans were moving straight to their front, and directly upon the French Dragoons of the Guard before mentioned as posted in the hollow on the Allied right of the eminence on which stood the French Cavalry about to be charged by Vivian's Brigade. The Dragoons at first appeared disposed to resist the Germans, and received them with a tolerably effective carbine fire from their rear ranks; but the former charged home, cut down several of the Enemy's horsemen, and made some prisoners. In following up the charge, however, the Regiment exposed its Right Flank to a body of Cuirassiers, by which it was thrown into disorder. Lieutenant Colonel de Jonquières, the Commanding Officer, ordered the halt and rally to be sounded; but in the next moment he was wounded, as was also Lieutenant Colonel Maydell.
Battle of Waterloo
Major Friedrichs, who was next in command, highly distinguished himself on this occasion by the spirited manner in which he rallied several of his men together; and as those that had been dispersed, rapidly placed themselves on his flanks, and thus extended his new Line, he made another charge, which sent the Enemy's Cavalry about, and put it to flight. The Regiment then continued moving forward, with proper caution, along the base of the higher ground on the left, over which the 10th British Hussars were also charging and advancing.
In the mean time, the latter Regiment made its charge: the Right, Centre, and Left Squadrons, in rapid succession, dashed in amongst the French Cavalry posted as before mentioned. The Left Squadron of the 10th had scarcely closed with the Enemy, before the whole of the Cavalry on the (French) left of the Squares of the Guard, was in full flight. Vivian, perceiving the complete success of this brilliant charge, ordered a halt; and then returned as quickly as possible to the 18th Hussars.
After the 10th Hussars had pursued the French Cavalry about two hundred yards, a body of Cuirassiers charged their Right Squadron, on its Right Flank, and forced it about a hundred yards away to the left, whilst the Centre and Left Squadrons not being aware of Vivian's Order to halt continued their pursuit, inclining to their right, under Lieutenant Colonel Lord Robert Manners, then commanding the 10th.
Previously to describing the subsequent proceedings of this Brigade, it is necessary to revert to other matters in order to connect them with the general disposition of the main Army.