Added: Nov 18, 2008
From: DoctorXProducer
Duration: 0:56
'Our officers of cavalry have acquired a trick of galloping at everything. They never consider the situation, never think of manoeuvring before an enemy, and never keep back or provide a reserve.'—Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of WellingtonThe Battle of WaterlooAt a crucial juncture, Uxbridge ordered his two brigades of British heavy cavalry, formed unseen behind the ridge, to charge in support of the hard-pressed infantry. The 1st Brigade, known as the Household Brigade, commanded by Major-General Edward Somerset (Lord Somerset), consisted of 'guards regiments': the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, the Royal Horse Guards (the Blues), and the 1st 'King's' Dragoon Guards. The 2nd Brigade, also known as the Union Brigade, commanded by Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, was so called as it consisted of an English (1st, 'The Royals'), a Scottish (2nd, 'Scots Greys'), and an Irish (6th, 'Inniskilling') regiment of heavy dragoons. According to Wellington, they had little tactical ability or nous (common sense). The two brigades had a combined field strength of about 2,000 (2,651 official strength), and they charged with the 47-year-old Uxbridge leading them and little reserve. The Household Brigade charged down the hill in the centre of the battlefield. The French brigade of cuirassiers guarding d'Erlon's left flank were still dispersed, and so were swept over the deeply sunken main road and then routed.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo)Video clip: Waterloo (1970)
Channel: Education
Tags: battle bonapart british cavalry french heavy humanities hundred napoleon science social uxbridge war waterloo wellesley wellington years
Rating: 5.00 (3 ratings) Views: 447' favoriteCount='1 Comments: 1
Pokhton Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - great stuff!!!!