highly inaccurate.
Since this was a battlefield and on a farm, the land was rutted and littered with debris, and dead and wounded men. Additionally, the thick smoke greatly reduced visibility. The Scots Greys actually walked their mounts through the ranks of the Gordons. While
Pipe Major Cameron played ‘Johnnie Cope’, on his bagpipes. Then, clearing the smoke, they broke into a trot to cover the last few yards to the advancing French lines. The Gordons rallied, fixed their bayonets and ran behind the horses through the smoke filled battlefield.
Depiction of Sergeant Charles Ewart
capturing the eagle of the French 45e Régiment de Ligne
(45th Regiment of the Line) at Waterloo
As the Scots Greys waded through the French column, Sergeant Charles Ewart found himself within sight of the eagle of 45e Régiment de Ligne (45th Regiment of the Line). With a chance to capture the eagle, Ewart fought his way towards it, later recounting:
“One made a thrust at my groin – I parried it off and... cut him through the head. one of their Lancers threw his lance at me but missed... by my throwing it off with my sword... I cut him through the chin and upwards through the teeth. Next, I was attacked by a foot soldier, who, after firing at me charged me with his bayonet, but... I parried it and cut him down through the head.”
With the eagle captured, Sergeant Ewart was ordered to take the trophy off, denying the French troops a chance to recapture their battle standard.
In recognition of his feat, he was promoted from sergeant to ensign.
The combined attack caught the French completely by surprise and they were cut down where they stood. Within three minutes the French attack was routed and the elite French infantry destroyed with hundreds taken prisoner. Only then did the Scots Greys mount a full gallop, enthusiastically chasing the remaining infantry, breaking into small disorganized groups as they charged. They did not respond to the recall and were subsequently counter attacked by French Cuirassiers and Lancers.
The French attack failed, the center held and the Allied front was secured. The French lost their advantage and from that time on the French found themselves in a desperate situation. At the battle’s end the Greys had lost 102 killed and 98 wounded. Combined with their losses at Quatre Bras the Scots Greys were all but wiped out.
Once again the Scots found themselves in the next crucial moment in the battle. It occurred when the heavy French cavalry of Marshall Ney attacked the defensive squares of the British army in the embattled center. In the center of that defensive line Piper Kenneth MacKay of the Cameron Highlanders marched around the square formed by the Camerons playing ‘War and Peace’ to steady the square as the massed cavalry charge of Marshall Ney swirled around them.
A square is strictly a defensive formation four men deep. The first rank of troopers kneel and brace their bayonetted weapons on the ground forming hedge row of sharp steel.The next three ranks kneel behind the hedgerow. Upon command the first rank will stand, fire and rerun to kneeing as they reload their weapons. The second rank stands, fires, kneels and reloads. Followed by the third rank. This presents a continuous rain of fire on the approaching enemy.
The square is the perfect defense against cavalry, as a horse will not engage with soldiers behind a hedge of bayonets. The cavalry could not attack the squares directly nor could they outflank them. As the mounted troopers rode among the squares both men and horse were cut down by the withering fire coming from within the square. Ney’s attack was thwarted and although further intense fighting continued the battle for all intent and purpose was over.
Piper MacKay was later awarded a set of silver mounted bagpipes by the king at the victory celebration in Paris. When one considers the contributions the Scottish soldiers made before and during the Battle at Waterloo, one can safely say if it wasn’t for their valiant bravery at critical junctions of the battle the result could have been vastly different. Scotland Forever!
SOURCE: Various Historical Sources.
