A FAMOUS ARTILLERY CHARGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 9 August 1916, Page 3

A FAMOUS ARTILLERY CHARGE.

Cavalry and infantry charges arc everyday incidents of warfare in the open field but the "artillery charge" of Fuentes d'Onoro is unique in history. On May 5, 1811, Marshall Massena attacked Wellington's forces near this little Peninsula town. The French cavalry made a brilliant charge, fore- ' ing back the outposts of British man Ramsay's battery of horse artiltroopers and cutting off Captain Norlery from the rest of the allied army. '.Massena's leading squadnons continued their impetuous course, but as they approached the British infantry they were momentarily checked. .Just at this instant a curious confusion was noticed amongst the ranks of the tuoopers, and the flash of swords and the I discharge of pistols indicated that I some kind of struggle was going on in I their serried ranks. The British in- , fan'try were puzzled by this extraordinary tumult, when suddenly they heard an English cheer burst forth from among the advancing squadrons, and Captain Ramsay appeared advancing with drawn sword at the head of his battery. The guns followed at headlong speed, the panting horses had been lashed into a reckless gallop; and now the mounted men, leaning forward on their horses with pointed sabres, wyr e thrusting and hacking their way out of the trap into which they had fallen. Brotherton, at the head of the 14th Light Dragoon, took in the situation at a glance. He led his squadron straight against the for.emost of Earnsay's pursuers; General Stewart joined, and engaged in a hand-to-hand combat, with the French Colonel Lamotte, who was compelled to surrender. The Light Division advanced and "formed to receive cavalry"; the British horse and

the rescued battery went round to the rear of the famous infantry regiment, ; and the French advance was tempor- I arily checked. Ramsay was later on i the victim of Wellington's seventy, i and died practically without promotion, j Yet it was grace to him that Tennyson was able to write, in his funeral ode i on the Iron Duke, that the later never | lost an English gun. j