Account of Sergeant Charles Ewart of the Scots Greys, who captured the Eagle of the French 45th Regiment at Waterloo. For this feat he was given a commission as an Ensign in the 5th Royal Veteran Battalion on 22nd February 1816. Born in Kilmarnock, he died at Davyhulme, Manchester 21st June 1846. This is an extract of a letter written by Ewart, dated Rouen 16th August 1815, recorded in the Edinburgh Advertiser of 21st June 1816 and published in Charles Dalton's "Waterloo Roll Call" (1904):
The enemy began forming their line of battle about nine in the morning of the 18th. They came down to the left, where they were received by our brave Highlanders. No men could ever behave better; our brigade of cavalry covered them. Owing to a column of foreign troops giving way, our brigade was forced to advance to the support of our brave fellows, and which we certainly did in style; we charged through two of their columns, each about 500[0]. It was in the first charge I took the eagle from the enemy; he and I had a hard contest for it; he thrust for my groin - I parried it off, and I cut him through the head; after which I was attacked by one of their Lancers, who threw his lance at me, but missed the mark by my throwing it off with my sword by my right side; then I cut him from the chin upwards, which cut went through his teeth. Next I was attacked by a foot soldier who, after firing at me, charged me with his bayonet; but he very soon lost the combat, for I parried it and cut him down through the head; so that finished the contest for the Eagle. After which I presumed to folow my comrades, Eagle and all, but was stopped by the General saying to me, 'You brave fellow, take that to the rear; you have done enough until you get quit of it,' which I was obliged to do, but with great reluctance. I retired to a height, and stood there for upwards of an hour, which gave me a general view of the field, but I cannot express the sight I beheld; the bodies of my brave comrades were lying so thick upon the field that it was scarcely possible to pass, and horses innumerable. I took the Eagle into Brussels, amidst the acclamation of thousands of the spectators that saw it.
