Waterloo - Searching the lost cuirassier

[Zouave]

I remember reading about this cuirassier officer who was saved by the British. He was brought inside a British infantry square, while the battle was still raging on, after being unhorsed and wounded. There, he received medical care which probably saved his life.

Is this a myth or a fact? Does anyone know the name of this French officer? He belonged to which cuirassier regiment?

I hope this story is true.

[the Iron Duke]

I have no idea if the story is true or not but it sounds quite believable. The English and the French fought each other fiercely but they always respected each other and during many circumstances during the Peninsular war and Waterloo both sides were treating wounded of the enemy. One example is the capture of the injured Major Napier by a drummer boy at Corunna, who protected him from his own men until both of them were safe.

It's a nice story and I will keep searching for references.

[Zouave]

Thanks for taking interest in this thread, Iron Duke ( aka Wellington ).

Anyone else? Please? Post Captain, Stratego, Captainsennef, Torien, Legate, General Brock, Cap. Teancum, Cambronnne...

I think I read this story in John Keegan's book "The Face of Battle".

[Post Captain]

Originally Posted by Zouave

Thanks for taking interest in this thread, Iron Duke ( aka Wellington ).

Anyone else? Please? Post Captain, Stratego, Captainsennef, Torien, Legate, General Brock, Cap. Teancum, Cambronnne...

I think I read this story in John Keegan's book "The Face of Battle".

Sorry Zouave, i have noticed this thread, but cannot find anything so far. Wonder who were the brave infantrymen who dashed out and rescued him.
At the moment i am going through Digby Smith's 'Napoleon's Regiments' to see if it is mentioned there.

[Legate]

Originally Posted by Post Captain

Sorry Zouave, i have noticed this thread, but cannot find anything so far. Wonder who were the brave infantrymen who dashed out and rescued him.

Same here,I am looking but have not found anything yet.

Post Captain,who is your avatar? It looks familiar,but I cant recall who it is.

[Post Captain]

Originally Posted by Legate

Same here,I am looking but have not found anything yet.

Post Captain,who is your avatar? It looks familiar,but I cant recall who it is.

Captain Henry Blackwood who commanded HMS Euryalus at Trafalgar.

[Legate]

Originally Posted by Post Captain

Captain Henry Blackwood who commanded HMS Euryalus at Trafalgar.

Many thanks,sir!

[Zouave]

Originally Posted by Post Captain

Sorry Zouave, i have noticed this thread, but cannot find anything so far. Wonder who were the brave infantrymen who dashed out and rescued him.
At the moment i am going through Digby Smith's 'Napoleon's Regiments' to see if it is mentioned there.

Thanks Mickey, I know I can count with you.

From what I remember, the cuirassier was on the ground very near a British square and he was crawling towards the square.

[Zouave]

Originally Posted by Legate

Same here,I am looking but have not found anything yet.

Thanks, Legate.

[Legate]

I couldn't find anything in "Napoleon's Regiments". Doesn't really get into specifics. I am not working on Thursday,I will be going to a bookstore,they should have Keegans book there,I will see if I can find our Cuirassier. Unless someone beats me to it.

[MajorSennef]

Originally Posted by Zouave

Thanks for taking interest in this thread, Iron Duke ( aka Wellington ).

Anyone else? Please? Post Captain, Stratego, Captainsennef, Torien, Legate, General Brock, Cap. Teancum, Cambronnne...

I think I read this story in John Keegan's book "The Face of Battle".

Your memory serves you right: I found an admittedly very short passage in Keegan's FoB, Chapter 3 Waterloo, 'The Wounded':
... Hughes, the adjutant of the 39th, taking an unhorsed French officer of the 6th Cuirassiers from under his men's bayonets into the centre of the square for protection'; ...

[Stratego]

I have a fairly good account of this happening also...it's in my library, but unfortunately my youngest son is sleeping at this moment. I'll get back on it tommorow. Promise !



Greets,
Stratego

[General Brock]

Originally Posted by captainsennef

Your memory serves you right: I found an admittedly very short passage in Keegan's FoB, Chapter 3 Waterloo, 'The Wounded': Hughes, the adjutant of the 39th, taking an unhorsed French officer of the 6th Cuirassiers from under his men's bayonets into the centre of the square for protection'; ...

Good find C.Sennef
Good memory Zoauve

This account is on Page 204. Now there is a small error with the 39 regt. of foot. It was not at Waterloo!!!
Checked OObs in Hawthornthwaite, Uffindell & Corum and regt. index The Battle - Barbero.

Regimental History link below.

http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitDa...=11429&Tab=Uhi

So I don't quite know what this means, miss quote by Author or wrong unit number. Waiting to see what Stratego has for his account.

Regards
James

[R.N. Armstrong]

Originally Posted by General Brock

Good find C.Sennef
Good memory Zoauve

This account is on Page 204. Now there is a small error with the 39 regt. of foot. It was not at Waterloo!!!
Checked OObs in Hawthornthwaite, Uffindell & Corum and regt. index The Battle - Barbero.

Regimental History link below.

http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitDa...=11429&Tab=Uhi

So I don't quite know what this means, miss quote by Author or wrong unit number. Waiting to see what Stratego has for his account.

Regards
James

James,

This is interesting, because I went to Siborne's collection of letters from participants at Waterloo, and I could not find a respondent from a 39th Regt. Thought maybe it had been buried within another unit. Unfortunately, the volume is not indexed by subject, but by personalities.

rna

[General Brock]

R.N.
I also went through Houssaye, Chandler and Siborne myself and found nothing on the 39th Regt.

On doing a regimental history. They seem to have started out in India and were more active after Waterloo in the Crimea if my memory serves me correct. (But I could be wrong)

Regards
James