=Charge of the Union Brigade.=--Following this affair, the famous charge of the Union Brigade took place. Lord Anglesea, observing that the French lancers and cuirassiers were preparing to make a flank attack upon the British infantry, wheeled the Royals, Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys), and Enniskilleners into line, charged and overwhelmed the French cavalry, and falling upon the disorganised infantry completed the brilliant work of the 5th division. It was in this charge that Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured the Eagle of the 45th Regiment. The Eagle of the 105th Regiment was captured by Captain Clarke of the Royal Dragoons--securing the right for these regiments to wear the Eagle badge--and 2,000 men were taken prisoners. The impetuosity of the British Dragoons carried them into the rear of the French position, and they were driven back by the French horsemen, their brave leader, Sir William Ponsonby, being killed in the retirement. Meanwhile the incessant attacks which Napoleon commanded had played havoc with several of the British regiments, necessitating the bringing into action of Wellington's reserves--indeed, the position had become so serious that the left wing of the army, though only partially engaged, had suffered so severely that it could not afford to send assistance to the right or centre.
=Great Regimental Losses.=--The loss in individual regiments was awful. Four hundred men of the 27th were mowed down in square without drawing a trigger (their medals in fine condition have fetched as many pounds as the number of the regiment represents). The 92nd, reduced to 200 men, made a daring attack upon a French column 2,000 strong, and with the aid of their countrymen, the Scots Greys, routed it. The 33rd, reduced to a skeleton, asked for support, and the commanding officer was told to "stand or fall where he was," and of the 28th and 73rd it is related that Wellington asked, pointing to a mass of killed and wounded men of these regiments, "What square is that so far in advance!" But the impoverishment of the regiments by incessant attacks and murderous artillery could not break the indomitable tenacity of the British; in vain had Milhaud's Cuirassiers, forty squadrons strong, thrice attacked the British squares. In vain did the remnants of these valorous squadrons, assisted by Kellerman and Guyot--making a total of seventy-seven squadrons, make a desperate effort to pierce those stubborn and thinning squares of British infantry. In vain did Ney repeat his attack upon the centre, even though he annihilated what remained of the German Legion, which had with such admirable courage held the farm of La Haye Sainte, and broke the formation of the British troops, causing Wellington to ask the question relating to the 28th and 73rd. In vain did the ten battalions of the Imperial Guard, led by Marshal Ney, push their way up the slopes between Hougomont and La Haye Sainte, for the Foot Guards--with the 52nd, 71st, and 92nd Regiments--offered such a murderous reception that "the Guard turned and fled." No wonder Napoleon ejaculated, "_A present c'est fini--sauvons nous!_" for, Wellington ordering the whole line to advance, the weary, hungry, and even wounded soldiers rushed forward with a joyous cheer and forced the retreat, which, as the British leader, with the 42nd and 95th, threw himself on Ney's flank, and the allied cavalry charged the enemy's columns, became an utter rout.