EARL OF UXBRIDGE. The preface to further details of the cavalry operations cannot be better commenced, than by a short recapitulation of the share taken by that distinguished officer, the Earl of Uxbridge, in the operations of the army. On the 29th of May, 1815, the whole of the British cavalry and horse artillery, together with the rocket corps, were reviewed on an extensive plain, at Schendelbeke, a village between Ninove and Gramont, but nearest to the latter. The whole of the troops, amounting to about eight thousand men, were formed on the ground in three lines, about half past nine o'clock A. M. The Duke of Wellington arrived about half past twelve, accompanied by Field-Marshal Blucher, the Prince of Orange, the Duke de Berri, the Earl of Uxbridge, and a long list of distinguished foreigners. Some idea may be. formed of the extent of the lines, when it is stated, that it occupied an hour and a half to ride along them. After the Duke of Wellington had performed this part of the duties of the day, and taken his station, the whole of the troops marched past in columns of half squadrons, at quarter distance. It was the finest sight that perhaps was ever seen in any country; the crowd of spectators from all parts of the vicinity was immense, and there were several English equipages from Brussels on the ground. The cavalry, which was commanded by the Earl of Uxbridge, claimed particular notice. His Lordship's great exertions, and happy arrangements, had the effect of giving a more than ordinary combination to the whole body; and his personal devotion upon all occasions of service, inspired confidence and alacrity in every individual, which insured success in the hour of conflict. The Duke of Wellington was pleased to express his approbation of the appearance of the troops in a general Order on the following day. After the review, the Earl of Uxbridge entertained the Duke of Wellington and his party with a most splendid dinner at Ninove, the cavalry head-quarters. Covers were laid for one hundred persons, and none under the rank of field-officer were invited, unless belonging to the Staff. On the opening of the campaign, on the 16th of June, the cavalry had scarcely reached the scene of action, being to be drawn from very distant cantonments. (Vide page 21.) On the 17th, large bodies of the enemy's cavalry, brought from the right, pressed hard upon the retreat of the British; but the Earl of Uxbridge, equally alert with the Usurper, never suffered the squadrons of the latter to derange his movements for an instant; and the enemy, in several examples, had good reason to regret the keenness of his pursuit, which he at length gave up, towards five o'clock in the evening. "He displayed," says an eye-witness of his Lordship's conduct in the field on this occasion, "consummate valour, in the sight of the admiring men. As it was the greatest object at the moment, to kindle the spirit of our troops; what could more effectually do this, than the display, gallantry, and dash of their superior? This was the more important, as it is also a certain fact, that not having as yet made an essay on the cuirassiers, they entertained the idea, that all attack upon them was ineffectual."* At the entrance into Genappe, the Earl intrepidly led on the 1st Life Guards against the Lancers, and enabled the former fully to establish their superiority. The 2d Life Guards were about making a similar charge, when the enemy prudently retired. Much having been said respecting the first attack of the Hussars, it perhaps will afford the best explanation in giving Lord Uxbridge's Letter to his Regiment. Brussels, June 28, 1815. "My dear Brother Officers, "It has been stated to me, that a report injurious to the reputation of our regiment has gone abroad; and I do not, therefore, lose an instant in addressing you on the subject. The report must take its origin from the affair that took place with the advanced guard of the French cavalry, near Genappe, on the 17th instant, when I ordered the 7th to cover the retreat. As I was with you, and saw the conduct * Vide Officer's Letters, 2d Life Guards, dated, June 20, 1815, Vol. I. of every individual, there is no one more capable of speaking to the fact than I am. As the Lancers pressed us hard, I ordered you (upon a principle I ever did, and shall act upon,) not to wait to be attacked, but to fall upon them. The attack was most gallantly led by the officers; but it failed, it failed, because the Lancers stood firm, had their flanks secured, and were backed by a large mass of cavalry. The regiment was repulsed, but did not run away. Noit rallied immediately, I renewed the attack. It again failed from the same cause. It retired in perfect order, although it had sustained so severe a loss; but you had thrown the Lancers into disorder, who being in motion, I then made an attack upon, with the Life Guards, who certainly made a very handsome charge, and completely succeeded. This is the plain honest truth. However lightly I think of Lancers, under ordinary circumstances, I am of opinion that, posted as they were, they had a most decided advantage over the Hussars. The impetuosity, however, and weight of the Life Guards, carried all before them. And while I exculpate my own regiment, I am delighted in being able to bear testimony to the gallant conduct of the former. "Be not uneasy, my brother officers; you had ample opportunity, of which you gallantly availed yourselves, of revenging yourselves on the 18th for the failure on the 17th; and after all, what regiment, and which of us individually is certain of success? Be assured that I am proud of being your Colonel, and that you possess my utmost confidence, "Your sincere friend, (Signed) " ANGLESEY, LIEUT.-GEN." On the 18th, about noon,* upon an attack of our centre by the enemy, "the Duke of Wellington led some battalions of infantry, and Lord Uxbridge led the cavalry," when the Life Guards received his Lordship's orders to charge the enemy; and it being their first charge, excepting the trivial affair in the retreat of the preceding day, every expectation was alive:-its result was glorious! and his Lordship declared himself "perfectly satisfied." * General Pozzo di Borgo, the Russian General's Account. Vide Vol. I. At about half past eleven, three heavy masses of the enemy's infantry advanced, supported by artillery, and a numerous body of cuirassiers. This formidable body drove in the Belgians, leaving the Highland brigade to receive the shock; and which, though it had been weakened the preceding day, received them in line, and gave them a formidable check. "At this critical and awful moment, Lord Uxbridge galloped up to the 2d Heavy Brigade (Ponsonby's), when the three regiments were wheeled up in the most masterly style, . presenting a beautiful front of about thirteen hundred men; and, as his Lordship rode down the line, he was received by a general shout and cheer from the brigade. After having taken a short survey of the troops, and the threatening attitude of the enemy, his Lordship determined upon a charge, which, for the wonderful intrepidity of its execution, and its complete success, has rarely been equalled." About seven o'clock, his Lordship, noticing the great pressure upon the infantry, at the time when it was necessary, from the slaughter committed by the enemy's fire, to take one or two remains of regiments to form a square, and when the heavy cavalry were much reduced, ordered the two brigades commanded by Major-General Sir Ormsby Vandeleur and Sir Richard Hussey Vivian from the left to the main point of attack. These troops being fresh and entire, revived the spirits of the oppressed infantry; and it was upon this change of corps, removed so opportunely by his Lordship, that the most important services were rendered, such as materially hastened the triumphant finale. His Lordship had previously, at six o'clock, "led the Household troops in some brilliant attacks, cutting in pieces some battalions of the Old Guard, into whose masses they penetrated."+ Upon the general advance of the line, and "after having successfully got through this arduous day, his Lordship received a wound by almost the last shot fired," in the joint of his right knee, from the bad state of which it was found necessary to amputate the leg just above the joint. In contemplating this misfortune, incalculable * Vide Officer's Account of Sir W. Ponsonby's brigade, page 55 following, + Vide Austrian Account, Vol. I. Duke Wellington's Dispatch, to the country, as it may rob her of his Lordship's future services, it should still be reflected on with gratitude, that the accident did not occur at an early period of the day, so as to have prevented the exertion of his active and animating efforts; for (though it should be said without designing to take from the great merits of the officers beneath him in command) it is but seldom that there can be in one and the same individual, so happy an unity of qualities fitted to form au officer of the highest pretensions; and probably under similar circumstances, "it would be difficult to find another chief to lead the cavalry with the same courage and skill."* In the Earl of Uxbridge were combined the possession of exalted rank and fortune in the country, an established character of the highest class as an officer, vigour of mind, great personal activity, and a dash and spirit, proper to excite the admiration and emulation of all around him, and fix his well-earned reputation of being "the first cavalry officer in the world!" The materials of this work consisting of the communications, or extracts from the correspondence of officers who were actually on the field of battle, it becomes the Editor's duty not to pass over without remark those variations which may from time to time present themselves between the accounts here given, and those which are to be met with in other books. In a popular and valuable publication of the day, we find it is stated, in relation to the charge of the 2d Heavy Brigade, on the 18th, that "Sir John Elley, Quarter-MasterGeneral, requested and obtained permission to bring up that brigade, consisting of the Life Guards, Oxford Blues, and Scotch Greys, and made a charge, the effect of which was tremendous." In this instance, the great celebrity of the author of the sentence quoted may have the effect of perpetuating an error, if not corrected; and it is to be lamented, that such a writer should have been misinformed upon the subject, excepting only as to the effect of the charge of the Heavy Brigade. Sir John Elley was wounded early in the day: all the |