Waterloo,
Henry Slater, 1st or Royal Dragoons, a Union Brigade medal
clip and ring suspension
Present with Captain Metuen’s ‘D’ Troop
From ‘Historical Records of the 1st Royal Dragoons’
At length, twenty thousand French infantry (Count d’Erlon’s corps) suddenly appeared on the opposite heights, and rushing forward, such was the celerity of their course, that, scarcely seeming to traverse the intermediate space, they quickly ascended the position, dispersed a Belgic brigade with which they first came in contact, forced the artillery-men, posted in the rear of the double hedge and narrow road, to abandon their guns, broke through parts of the British supporting infantry, and several thousand of French foot having passed La Haye Sainte, had actually crowned the allied position, when Lieutenant-General the Earl of Uxbridge came galloping to that part of the field. A few words issued from his lips: speedily the Royals, the Scots Greys, and Inniskillen dragoons were seen advancing in line; the noble bearing of these distinguished horsemen was characteristic of the innate valour of the officers and men, and the spectacle was singularly imposing. The three regiments halted a few moments to permit the broken battalions to pass through the intervals of squadrons, and then rushed forward, with terrific violence, upon the enemy’s infantry. The effect was magical: the heads of the French columns were instantly broken and forced back, a general flight commenced; the firing ceased, and the smoke having cleared away, those formidable masses, a moment before so menacing and conspicuous, had almost disappeared, or left only the traces of a dispersed rabble flying over the plain. Some, despairing to escape, abandoned their arms, and threw themselves on the ground, and the Royals, Greys, and Inniskillen dragoons were seen trampling down and sabring the French infantry with uncontrollable power. Crowds of French soldiers appeared at different points, surrendering as prisoners: many, however, defended themselves to the last; and others again, rising up, after being ridden over or passed by the dragoons, were observed firing on their rear, the slope of the position being left literally covered with dead.
During the heat of this conflict, Captain Alexander Kennedy Clark, commanding the centre squadron of the Royal Dragoons, having led his men about two hundred yards beyond the second hedge on the British left, perceived in the midst of a crowd of infantry the Eagle of the French 105th regiment, with which the bearer was endeavouring to escape to the rear. Against this body of men, Captain Clark instantly led his squadron at full speed, and plunging into the midst of the crowd, overtook and slew the French officer who carried the Eagle; and several men of the Royal Dragoons coming up at the moment, the Eagle was captured, and Captain Clark, giving it to Corporal Stiles, directed him to carry it to the rear.
The Royal Dragoons had Captain Windsor, Lieutenant Foster, Cornets Magniac and Sykes, Adjutant Shepley, six serjeants, eighty-six men, and one hundred and sixty-one horses killed: Brevet Major Radclyffe, Captain Clark, Lieutenants Gunning, Keily, Trafford, Wyndowe, Ommaney, Blois, and Goodenough, with six serjeants, eighty-two men, and thirty-five horses, wounded; also two men wounded and taken prisoners.
A few contact marks so near
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