by Griff Hosker
When I reached the captain he was just a hundred yards from the French. They could hit us with a lucky shot but any closer and we would be in great danger. There were too few of us for that.
“Let’s stay here, Major, and see what we can do eh?”
We lay down and began to pick off the skirmishers. I saw, whilst I was reloading, that the farmhouse was now on fire and I watched as the defenders fled the building. We were now trying to limit the damage. We had lost the farmhouse but the cannons could now rake the column. The French skirmishers were forced from the sandpit but then the light infantry which had just retaken the farmhouse began to stream north to attack the gunners on the ridge.
Captain Blaine knew his business. "Ninety fifth! Into the sandpit."
We all ran and occupied the sandpit which had been recently vacated by the French. Not all of the French had fled and the captain and I had to draw our swords. When two of the men left within had fallen the others ran south. Those riflemen who still had loaded guns fired at them as they fled. "Save your ammunition for the others. They are running! We have to hit the skirmishers."
We were not enough to do more than irritate the skirmishers for it was now a whole light infantry regiment which was sniping at the gunners. Unlike the French we had a limited number of gunners and could not afford to lose them. Suddenly a line of infantry appeared on the ridge and I saw the Duke himself appear behind them and order them to fire. The skirmishers fell, almost to a man but then the French guns which had been brought up began to fire at the infantry. Miraculously although many of the redcoats fell the Duke remained unharmed.
"Captain, there is your new target." I had seen the French bringing up cannon. Now that the farmhouse had been cleared they could move to within a couple of hundred yards of the ridge. There they could clear the defenders. Bonaparte was about to win.
"Rifles! To the other side of the sandpit. "
Although a column of infantry was marching north to the ridge it was the artillery gunners that we had to target. They could do far more damage than the infantry. We kept firing until the gunners were forced to lie down behind their wheels and limbers. They could not fire so long as we remained in the pit. Even then the rifles cleverly used the metal of the barrels to send their missiles around corners. They fired to ricochet bullets. There was no hiding place. What was important was that the gunners could not fire while we were there. When I heard the controlled volleys from the ridge I knew that the line of infantry had unleashed a devastating volley. The brigade broke and fled down the hill. The gunners tried to unlimber amidst a fierce fire from the rifles. They did not manage it and the depleted crews took their precious guns back down the slope to the safety of the French lines.
When, at last, they had gone I stood. "I had better get back to my duties." I held out the rifle.
"No, Major, you have earned it. It is rare to find a staff officer who actually knows how to shoot."
I shook hands, "Farewell Captain, take care."
I scampered back up the hill to the ridge. Although the fighting to the east of La Haie Sainte had died down I could see it continuing ferociously to the west of the farmhouse. There they did not have the luxury of a sandpit. I grabbed Pierre's reins. The wounded rifleman nodded proudly to me. "You can always rely on the Rifles to get things done!"
"You can indeed."
When I reached the Duke I saw that Wolf was tied to the elm tree. The Duke nodded to me; he was alone. "I had to send your fellow to the Crown Prince to ask why he was not supporting the farmhouse." He pointed east. "I think our friend Blucher is closing with us now if we can only hold on for an hour or so."
"Yes sir." I was distracted for I saw a Hanoverian regiment heading down the western side of La Haie Sainte. They were only four hundred yards from me. Behind them I saw the Crown Prince and, waiting behind, Sharp. As the Luneburg regiment marched down the hill I remembered the cavalry. I had seen French cuirassiers supporting the infantry. If I had seen them then surely the Dutch must have. Where were the cavalry? I had a sinking feeling in my gut.
As the Hanoverians neared the chateau I saw the Crown Prince shout something. He gestured down the hill and Sharp began to trot down the hill. I knew disaster was about to strike. Ignoring the Duke's protests I spurred Pierre and he responded magnificently. I rode diagonally towards the Luneburgers who were desperately trying to form square. They were not going to make it in time. I realised at the moment that neither was I. The French heavy, armoured horsemen tore into the Hanoverian regiment which was in the process of forming square. A few managed to get off musket shots but most did not. Some just stood there and were skewered, dying with a puzzled look upon their faces.
I saw Alan as he drew a pistol to fire at almost point blank range. The horseman before him fell. I was willing my friend to retreat but there was too much noise. General Alten had sent the King's German Legion, belatedly, to the aid of the beleaguered Luneburgers but it would be too late for most. I was not concerned with the Hanoverians. My old friend was in the greatest of danger and it was all Slender Billy's fault. I drew my pistol and my sword. I watched as Sharp discharged a second pistol and then drew his sword as he was surrounded by four cuirassiers. I fired my pistol when I was only ten yards from one of them. The ball went into his neck and he fell from his horse.
Alan had managed to injure another but a blow from a heavy French sabre struck him. I saw blood spurt from his arm and then his sword fall. Pierre clattered into the back of one of the cuirassiers as I brought my Austrian sword like a club at the side of the head of the man who had just struck Sharp. Both the cuirassier and Sharp slid to the ground at the same time. I brought my sword around in a wide sweep. It hacked into the neck and almost severed the head of the last French horseman. The King's German Legion was engaging the rest.
I flung myself from my saddle. The sword thrust had almost severed Sharp's left arm. I took my silk scarf and tied it tightly around his upper arm. I knew how to make a tourniquet.
"Alan, stay with me. Look at me, it is Robbie!"
He opened his eyes. "That butcher just sent those poor lads in without any support. I couldn't let them go on their own. I tried to get them into square." He shook his head, "I'm sorry sir, I didn't know the words. Why did he do it sir? Why?"
"Forget him. Now let's get you on your horse." It was strange for we were in the middle of a slaughterhouse and yet I was able to lift Sharp on to his horse. Half of the French horsemen were fighting the Kings German Legion while the other half were finishing off the Luneburgers. We were ignored. "Hold on to the saddle and I will lead him."
Once on the back of Pierre I walked slowly north. I did not want to risk Alan falling. I glared at the Crown Prince as I passed. He stared impassively ahead. Alten's men had cleared the infantry and the Dutch horse were chasing away the cuirassiers. The front had been stabilised but no thanks to Slender Billy. The Crown Prince was a menace and he needed dealing with. I would take Sharp to the surgeon and then I would save some lives.
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Chapter 13
I rode directly to Waterloo and the surgeon. My presence on the battlefield and my proximity to the Duke afforded me some courtesy and men moved aside. When I reached the tent I helped a semi-conscious Sharp down. The interior of the tent was terrifying. Blood lay in puddles on the floor and orderlies casually tossed mangled limbs aside like unwanted food. In the tent I saw the surgeon as he sawed through a rifleman's leg. Suddenly the rifleman became still and the surgeon said. "Damn! He is dead. Next!"
Before his orderly could fetch one from outside I shouted, "Doctor! This wound is fresh the man can be saved."
"The man is a civilian, Major Matthews."
"This is an officer, Lieutenant Sharp, and he is one of the Duke's aides. He is next."
I must have shown my determination by the expression on my face for he nodded, "Very well." The orderlies put him on the trestle table they were using. "And you, sir,
are now unnecessary. Go back to the Duke where you can do some good."
I nodded and left. I led Sharp's horse back to the Duke. De Lancey and Uxbridge had returned along with Baron Muffling. The Duke said nothing but narrowed his eyes as he looked at me. The French guns were still harvesting soldiers. The Earl pointed down the hill. "Those damn guns have almost destroyed the regiments, look."
I saw that the 30th and the 14th were so depleted in numbers that they were sending their colours to the rear. That was a sure sign that they thought they were about to be destroyed. The depot battalions would take the colours and remember the dead of Waterloo. The Duke shaded his eyes as he looked into the sky. "We have less than two hours until nightfall. Baron, will Marshal Blucher reach us in time?"
"Our men are in Plancenoit already. The French have had to send in the Young Guard. He will be here. He gave you his word."
"You fellows go and reassure the regiments that we will hold. I will find some reinforcements!" He dug his heels in and Copenhagen leapt away towards the rear.
The Earl laughed, "Where from? Is he is a bloody magician! Anyway it is safer away from here."
As I rode towards the ridge I saw that the area around the elm tree was littered with dead horses and soldiers. Yet the Duke and Copenhagen had not a mark on either of them. it was remarkable.
I rode to the 30th Foot. "Steady gentlemen. The Duke is bringing more troops to your aid."
A young Ensign said, "Sir, let us charge those guns and be done with it!"
I saw the guns which looked tantalisingly close. They were just four hundred yards away. I took out my sabre and pointed lower down the hill where the brigade of Chasseurs waited. "And if you did, young man, then those horsemen would have you for breakfast."
"But sir, at least we could fight then. It is hard to bear to stand here and watch fine fellows be cut down by ball and canister and not have the opportunity to reply."
"Endure it for but a little while."
He was right of course. Even as I turned a cannon ball struck three men. Two would never rise again. It was a waste. As I headed back to the tree I saw a howitzer shell as it landed, fizzing, close to the 23rd which was in the relative safety of the reverse slope. I watched a young private walk towards it. He picked it up and hurled it a prodigious distance away from his regiment where it exploded harmlessly.
I saw that the Duke had stiffened the line with the last of our reserves. He had steadied the line but to our right we could see the Guards Division. They were in square for fear of being attacked by the French cavalry which waited ominously in charge range. As a result they were being cut to pieces by the French artillery and the skirmishers who swarmed around them. If they fell then the whole of our centre would collapse.
The Duke saw it too and he gestured to me, "Matthews! Come with me!"
When we reached the Guards he said, "Be so good as to ask Colonel Colborne to chase those skirmishers away."
The 52nd was one of our largest regiments and Sir John Colborne one of our most popular leaders. As I rode towards them I heard the Duke giving commands to the Guards Division. "Guards, form a four deep line!" The well disciplined soldiers obeyed instantly despite continuing to take casualties.
Sir John Colborne was on his horse. As the cannon balls flew over his men were bobbing their heads up and down to avoid the shot which flew overhead. "You fellows, stop ducking. The Guards will think you are the second battalion."
It was a joke and everyone laughed. "Sir John, the Duke requests that you clear the skirmishers away from the slope. They are causing too many casualties." I pointed along the ridge where the Guards gave their first volley.
"Anything is better than standing here and taking it. Form two lines." The men were in their lines almost instantly. "Forward, muskets at the ready." They reached the top of the ridge and the whole battalion fired. Normally skirmishers are hard to hit but with a large battalion it was like firing a shotgun. The few who remained, fled. Another crisis had been averted. The 52nd fired at the flank of the gunners who were forced to move a little further down the slope and out of range of the battalion.
We had bought some time and I returned to the elm tree. I had just reached it when there was another cannonade from a battery across the valley. The constant firing had made them even more inaccurate but Sir William de Lancey fell to the ground even as I approached. The Duke and myself went directly to his side. We saw that a canon ball had struck him a glancing blow. I carefully undid his tunic and lifted his shirt. The skin was not broken but there was an enormous bruise close to his ribs.
The Duke looked at me with, for the first time that day, a troubled face. Sir William was a good friend of his. "Matthews, take him to the surgeon, I beg of you."
"Yes, sir."
We helped him to his horse. I could see the pain that he was in. Through gritted teeth he said, "I can manage on my own Sir Arthur. You need Matthews here."
"Nonsense this is nearly over now. It will be dark in an hour or two." It was the lie a friend tells another.
I led Sir William's horse back as gently as I could. This time the orderlies recognised the uniform of a senior officer and they rushed to help him.
"He was struck by a cannonball. The skin is not broken."
"Thank you sir, you can leave him with us."
I glanced in the tent next to the one where the surgeon was operating. I saw that Sharp was lying on a blanket, seemingly asleep. He had had his left arm removed. I went towards him and an orderly said, "He's sleeping sir. The surgeon gave him some laudanum. He'll recover right enough and sleep is the best medicine. I promise you that he will live," He shook his head, "he is better off than most of the poor buggers who came through here." I nodded. "How is the battle going, sir? The reason I ask is that we are getting more wounded, not less. Are we losing? Are the French coming? I don't fancy being a prisoner."
"No, but it will be a close run thing. Don't worry, the Duke knows his business." As I rode back to the front I wondered if I was telling him a lie to make things easier for, as I neared the ridge, I saw my worst nightmare materialise; the Imperial Guard was preparing to attack. We were already weakened and all our reserves had been used. How could we stand an attack from the best soldiers the French had? They had never been defeated and we were already almost spent and on our knees. They had more men than there were British soldiers on the battlefield. They had taken no casualties and had not moved all day. They would be fresh and eager to destroy this annoying little army that clung for dear life to a little ridge in Flanders.
As I reached the Duke and the Earl of Uxbridge I pointed across to La Belle Alliance. The Duke smiled, sadly, "I have seen already Matthews. It seems that this Bonaparte is a gambler."
"It is more likely that he has already used the last of his reserves."
"You may be right Matthews. We will do what we can to hang on until the Prussians arrive. Ride to Sir Hussey Vivian and ask him to bring his light brigade to the centre of the line. We shall have need of him."
There were many troops protecting our western flank and the Duke was now bringing in the better of them to bolster our depleted line. I spurred Pierre on for the brigade was a mile or two to the west. To my surprise and delight I discovered them just half a mile from the Dutch Corps. The Major General smiled, "I thought that the Duke might need my fellows. They have been sitting on their arses all day."
"If you would place your brigade behind the 33rd and the 69th. " I leaned in. "I fear that both regiments have suffered badly this day and your presence behind them will be of great help."
He nodded, "I know. Today has seen a great slaughter of cavalry. Do not worry, my chaps are solid enough."
"Let us hope that the waste is over." I thought of the men that Slender Billy had sent unnecessarily to their deaths. Now Sharp was crippled. I eased my pistol from its holster and cocked it. There was so much noise and fire from skirmishers and cannon that it was almost impossible to hear anything else. I had something
to do. I suspected I would be dead by the end of the day. I might as well die for something worthwhile rather than be struck by a random cannon ball. The smoke drifted across the battlefield and it was hard to make out figures. I would end the life of this incompetent man. Hopefully I would not be seen but I cared not. I would bear the consequences. He was a military disaster. I nudged Pierre to take me closer to the Dutch staff. I was unseen. As I drew closer to his back I levelled my pistol. If I shot him in the spine then I would guarantee that he would die.
Even as I eased back the trigger it was as though someone had answered my prayers for there was a flurry of shots from some Tirailleurs who had closed unseen. The Crown Prince pitched from his horse. The aides fired their pistols at the skirmishers and nearby Dutch regiments drove them off. Then the Prince's staff raced to their leader. Sadly he was not killed but when he was taken to the rear for the wound was not trivial, I breathed a sigh of relief. He would kill no more allied soldiers that day. I eased the hammer of my pistol back down. I would not need to risk my name and my honour.
When I reached the Duke he was looking tired. "Well?"
"He was already on his way sir and he and his men are right behind me. The Crown Prince has been wounded."
"Has he? Senior officers are falling like flies today." He saw General Halkett prowling along the rear line of his brigade. "Things will get hot here soon. Halkett. Make sure your chaps have plenty of ball and powder."
He came over on his horse so that he would not have to shout. "It is those damned cannon which are causing the problem, sir. Can we not retire behind the ridge?"
"Very well but just behind and have your men lie down. I need them in action the moment I give the command."
I understood both men. The four regiments had taken a huge battering over the last three days. Already some of the Dutch and some of the Belgian regiments' had broken. Although they had been reformed they were well behind our lines. They would have to be kept as a reserve; if we advanced then they would be used and that would only happen if we beat Bonaparte.