WATERLOO CAMPAIGN 1815

ACCOUNTS OF THE 42ND HIGHLANDERS

composed by Geert van Uythoven

[An anecdote about Major (Captain) Archibald Menzies. Italics are in the original text]

“At the Battle [of Quatre Bras] on the 16th of June, a brave Major of the 42d Highlanders, preferring to fight on foot in front of is men, had given his horse to a little drummer-boy of the regiment. After some severe fighting with the French Horse Cuirassiers and Lancers, and after receiving several severe wounds, he fell from loss of blood near a brave private, Donald Macintosh, of his corps, who was mortally wounded at the same instant. The little drummer-lad had left the horse, to assist poor Donald: a lancer seeing the horse, thought him a fair prize, and made a dash at him. This did not escape the watchful and keen eye of the dying Highlander, who, with all the provident spirit of his country “ruling strong even in death,” groaned out, “hoot man, ye manna tak that beast, ‘t belongs to oor Captain here.” The Lancer, understanding little of his brogue, and respecting less his writhing gestures, seized on the horse. Donald loaded his musket once more, shot him dead, --and the next moment fell back, and expired content. An officer of the Cuirassiers, at this time observing our poor Major still bestirring himself, road up, and stooping from his charger, aimed to dispatch him with his sword; our resolute Major seized his leg, and still grappled with him so stoutly, that he pulled him of his horse upon him. Another lancer, observing this struggle, galloped up, and, to relieve his officer, attempted to spear the Major, who, by a sudden jerk and desperate exertion, placed the Frenchman, in the nick of the necessity, in his arms before him, who received the mortal trust below his cuirass, and in this condition continued lying upon him, with his sword in his hand, for near ten minutes. The Major, unconscious that he had received a death-wound, expected all this time to receive his own at his hand. At last the French officer raised himself, ran or staggered a few yards, and then fell to struggle or to rise no more. Another private of his regiment now came up, and asked his Major what he could do to assist him? –“Nothing, my good friend, but load your piece and finish me.” “But your eye still looks lively (said the poor fellow); if I could move you to the 92d, fighting hard by, I think you would yet do well.” With the aid of a fellow soldier, he was moved as the man proposed, and soon seen by an intimate friend, Colonel Cameron, commanding the 92d, who instantly ordered him every succour possible. A blanket and four men carried him a little in the rear. While they were raising him, Colonel Cameron exclaimed, “God bless you; I must be off –the devils (meaning the lancers) are at us again –I must stand up to them.” He did so, and in a few minutes, stretched dead on the bed of honour, finished his mortal career of glory in the bold defence of his country.

It is a pleasure to add, that the brave Major is still alive, wearing the honourable decoration and marks of sixteen severe wounds received in this unequal and arduous conflict, and lame too from a severe wound received at the storming of Badajoz.”

[Miscellaneous anecdotes, traits etc. taken from ‘Booth’s Battle of Waterloo’ Vol. II (London 1817) pp. 81-82].

© Geert van Uythoven