From: shuksan!major@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Mike Schmitt)
Subject: Re: Altered history of warfare
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 20:43:59 GMT


From shuksan!major@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Mike Schmitt)




From shuksan!major@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Mike Schmitt)


>> Waterloo, on the other hand might have gone differently had the Scots Greys
>> not attacked again and again until the Prussians arrived. (hmmm, yes, I have
>> to look up the battle again - pretty dim there)

   It was Wellington's entire Cavalry Corps (under Lord Uxbridge) that 
   made no less than 11 cavalry charges from midday on.  The first charge
   being the one in which the Scots Greys participated - they had a devestating
   effect on the advancing French infantry - however, they were unable to rally
   and were cut down by countercharging French lancers. 
 
> Can someone post what the Scots Greys actually did at Waterloo? Some
> wargaming friend told me that what actually happened was they charged
> the French, then lost control and kept going. When this happens you 
> have effectively lost the unit until they can rally and reorganize. 
> The Scots Greys were supposedly a Dragoons regiment that wore strange 
> uniforms. In the movie "Waterloo" they were slaughtered by Napoleon's 
> lancers. 

  (addendum) It was not just the Scots Greys it was the entire heavy dragoon
  wing of the cavalry - 7 regiments - which charged into D'Erlon's four
  infantry divisions.

  The 'Union' Brigade consisted of the 1st Royal Dragoons (English), the
  2nd Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys) (Scottish), and the 6th
  Dragoons (Inniskilling) (Irish).  The 'Union' Brigade along with the
  Household Brigade (four regiments of Guard Cavalry) repulsed the French
  attack - but failed to rally - and continued to charge until French cavalry
  countered and cut them down - those that made it back to British lines
  eventually reformed and conducted more charges the rest of the day - though
  they were no longer so effective - so the brunt of the cavalry work rested
  on the shoulders of the Light Dragoons and Hussars.

  The "Greys" got their name from the huge pale horses they rode.  Except for
  their headress, the Greys wore the regulation heavy dragoon uniform (short
  red jacket with gold lace trim).  

  The "Greys" wore a bearskin cap with leather peak (like the dragoons wore
  with Marlborough) and carried a straight, heavy, 3-foot broadsword.

  The other heavy dragoons wore a romanesque helmet with a long black
  horsehair plume. 

  The Scots Greys    began with 396 sabres and lost 199 during the battle.
  The Royal Dragoons began with 394 sabres and lost 196.
  The Inniskilling   began with 396 sabres and lost 222.

  Today the lineage of the Scots Greys is carried on by the Royal Scots
  Dragoon Guards (Tank Regiment) of the 7th Armoured Brigade, which took
  part in the Gulf War.


  
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> -- 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- 
Mike Schmitt - Disclaimer: These opinions are not my employer's.  My opinions 
are protected by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of
America.  If you don't like it - get out of my country.   
"Professionals are predictable, it's the amateurs that are dangerous."

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