A Memory of Waterloo.

Southern Cross, Volume 13, Issue 13, 24 June 1905, Page 7

A Memory of Waterloo.

A SPLENDID CHARGE. Jane 18 was the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. A correspondent asks for the insertion of the following paragraph describing one of the incidents of the great conflict : —‘ At Waterloo the superb Union Brigade, consisting of the Inniskillings, the Scots Greys, and the Royals (Ist Dragoons) made one of the most tremendous and effective charges in the annals of war. It was at a crisis of the great battle. Napoleon had hurled 20,000 infantry at the weakest point of Wellington’s position. They had broken through the Belgians, but the steady fire of the British battalions for a moment checked their advance. Before they could re-form for the attack, the Union Brigade, which had been concealed behind a high hedge, suddenly burst like an avalanche on their flank. The shock of these charging Dragoons was awful and irresistible ; in a few seconds the whole mass of French infantry was pierced through, ridden over, and scattered in confusion. On went Inniskillings, Greys, and Royals, they dashed through the French batteries, which had for hours been dealing death and destruction, sabred the gunners, cut the traces, hamstrung the horses ; then on again, till they were enveloped by clouds of French cavalry, and had to cut their way back with terrible loss. In that famous charge the Inniskillings and their comrades destroyed two columns of infantry, each 5000 strong, took 3000 prisoners and two eagles, captured and disabled forty guns ! They mustered 350 sabres when they went into action. They could ony muster 167 when they came but.