Bradstyley:
DPM_Sheep:
Werewolf:
There was also the famous incident at Waterloo, when one of Wellington's officers had his leg blown off...
Officer: "By God, Sir! My damn legs gone!"
Wellington: "By God, sir, so it has."
The Officer survived and was fitted with a wooden leg. After he died of old age, his family hung the wooden leg on the wall of his home.
Officer: "By God, Sir! My damn legs gone!"
Wellington: "By God, sir, so it has."
The Officer survived and was fitted with a wooden leg. After he died of old age, his family hung the wooden leg on the wall of his home.
That would be Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge. Paget had run off with the wife of the Iron Duke's younger brother and Wellington detested him.
Says much for the Duke that he put it aside and made Paget his cavalry commander, because he knew he was the best man for the job.
He was a rather mediocre cavalry commander, he let the Union brigade run out of control after they charged D'Erlons corps and be virtually destroyed, should've positioned himself with the Scots Greys in brigade reserve rather then leading the charge, then the Scots Greys could've charged against the French Lanciers when they counterattacked the rest of the Union brigade.
I can't 'bold' the bit I want to because the whole text is jumping about most irritatingly. But my point is this - Uxbridge was to blame for the Union Brigade over-running and 'going a bit too far'?
Since when were British Cavalry officers, of whatever rank or hue, able to issue any order that would be obeyed other than 'Charge!' British military history is redolent with examples of cavalry being almost completely uncontrolled - see Balaclava, Waterloo, Prince Rupert etc etc.
It simply isn't in the genes.
Still, being well controlled at Waterloo didn't do those Polish Lancers any good at all in the long run did it?
