Sir Thomas Picton's 3rd Division are ordered to seize the river crossing at Portina. Everyone was enjoying the morning stroll, till Marshal Ney hove into view, with the same intent and much malice aforethought!
Urgent orders were sent down Picton's columns to pick up the pace, the race was on! Sadly, the British could not match the dash of the Frenchies and began to straggle. Marshal Ney's plan was to fight a holding action on his left flank, and personally lead a mass assault over the Portina on the right. Both sides advanced, on the right flank the Young Guard Colonel saw his chance, and on his own initiative led his two battalions directly for the bridge. For the first time, his covering skirmishers felt the full force of British musketry and suffered accordingly...
Ney's assault on the right came on splendidly, not even Picton's ranting and cursing could get his men up fast enough. Luckily for him he had a pearl among his swine, Cornet Harry Faversham of the 10th Hussars!
In a charge, that even had the old Hussar in Ney cheering, Harry's squadron thundered over the bridge and into the French masses. This splendid action held the Frenchies till Sir Thomas had led up the 42nd to the bridge. Cornet Faversham (on the left) taking on a French regiment, single handed. I feel that, if he survives, this young lad will go far!
As fighting becomes general all along the line Cornet Faversham leads the 10th in a second charge over the Portina, happy Harry making a cut at Marshal Ney who's trying to rally his shaken sowjers. The Marshal's personal aide-de-camp is sent galloping off to rally a second French Battalion.
Seeing this wavering of the enemy, Sir Thomas shouts...
"Now Campbell, now's your time!"
And the Black Watch lead the charge over the Portina brook!
As Cornet Faversham led the survivors of the 10th's glorious charge back over the Portina brook, the heavy French fire drives back one of Picton's Battalions. But not before several French units buckle as the 42nd hits home...
The French Artillery redeplys onto higher ground and thunders into action!
In the furious exchange of musketry both sides have units decimated and forced back.
Marshal Ney himself is wounded and carried from the field by his soldiers. As stricken units on both sides fall back from the fighting...
The assault led by the 42nd clears all but a Battalion of Old Guard Grenadiers from the French right flank.Sadly, though for Sir Thomas, the collapse of the British right flank allows the Guard Fusilier Grenadiers to cross the bridge and begin to roll up the British line!
Sir Thomas turns front to flank and grimly fights on. Young Faversham gallops back into the fray to rally a wavering Battalion of Redcoats...
The crisis of the battle is reached. Picton turns front to flank and fights on grimly, but his enemy are the men of the Imperial Guard the Grenadiers of which loom from the battle smoke into the rear of the redcoats. We must see who can pound the hardest!!!
Cornet Faversham dashing across the bridge again, puts new heart into the British and they see off the Old Guard's Grenadiers with a thunderous volley!
Before the truimphant British can react a stunning volley from the Middle Guard Fusilier Grenadiers knocks young Faversham for six!
A second French volley sends Sir Thomas Picton tumbling into the brook!
The victorious Middle Guard Fusilier Grenadiers cross the bridge to victory, the British fall back in disorder. As excited shouts of...
"Vive L'Empereur!"
Echo around the bridge, an old Grumbler sits down on his knapsack and takes a long draft of wine from his canteen...
"Bah, wot's all the shouting for, victory's a trollop we've taken many times before!!!???"
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