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Lot Essay
Staff Sergeant Nicholas Moore was born in 1777, the son of a farmer from Berrington, near Beal. According to a family statement that is included with the Lot, 'One day he suddenly left his horses outside the Old Angel Inn in the High Street of Berwick and went off to join the Army'. A senior N.C.O. by the time of the Peninsular War, Moore served in Major Bull's famous 'I' Troop and was acting as Troop Sergeant-Major on the occasion of Norman Ramsay's extraordinarily gallant dash through the French Cavalry at Fuentes D'Onor:
'Norman Ramsay was commanding half of 'I' Troop during the retirement of the Allied squares and dropped into action in a series of positions from which he fired across their front and then limbered up and moved to another position in the rear. He carried out this manoeuvre successfully for some time but at last delayed too long and, just when he was vulnerable, the gun teams and limbers wheeling on to the guns, the detachments bent to wheels and trails, and the guns unloaded, a mass of French Cavalry swept through the gun position. To observers in the retiring squares it seemed that the whole of the half-Troop had been overrun and must have been killed or captured' (Honour Titles of the Royal Artillery, by Major-General B.P. Hughes refers).
Napier describes the outcome:
'But a great commotion was observed in their main body: the men and horses were seen to close with confusion and tumult towards one point, where a thick dust and loud cries, and the sparkling of blades and flashing of pistols indicated some extraordinary occurrence. Suddenly the multitude became violently agitated, an English shout pealed high and clear, the mass was rent asunder, and Norman Ramsay burst forth sword in hand at the head of his Battery, his horses, breathing fire, stretched like greyhounds along the plain, the guns bounded behind like things of no weight, and the mounted Gunners followed close, with heads bent low and pointed weapons in desperate career'.
The gallant Moore had earlier been present at Busaco, and went on to participate in the actions at Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian and Nivelle. Finally, in June 1815, he was present with Bull's Troop at the Battle of Waterloo, a day that would result in a proud C.O's commendation of his men for their 'coolness and steadiness' in facing two enemy Cavalry charges and the attention of some 18 enemy guns. The latter were 'well served and annoyed us considerably' (See Waterloo Letters, by Major-General Siborne). Moore retired to Castlegate in Berwick and died in 1863.
'Norman Ramsay was commanding half of 'I' Troop during the retirement of the Allied squares and dropped into action in a series of positions from which he fired across their front and then limbered up and moved to another position in the rear. He carried out this manoeuvre successfully for some time but at last delayed too long and, just when he was vulnerable, the gun teams and limbers wheeling on to the guns, the detachments bent to wheels and trails, and the guns unloaded, a mass of French Cavalry swept through the gun position. To observers in the retiring squares it seemed that the whole of the half-Troop had been overrun and must have been killed or captured' (Honour Titles of the Royal Artillery, by Major-General B.P. Hughes refers).
Napier describes the outcome:
'But a great commotion was observed in their main body: the men and horses were seen to close with confusion and tumult towards one point, where a thick dust and loud cries, and the sparkling of blades and flashing of pistols indicated some extraordinary occurrence. Suddenly the multitude became violently agitated, an English shout pealed high and clear, the mass was rent asunder, and Norman Ramsay burst forth sword in hand at the head of his Battery, his horses, breathing fire, stretched like greyhounds along the plain, the guns bounded behind like things of no weight, and the mounted Gunners followed close, with heads bent low and pointed weapons in desperate career'.
The gallant Moore had earlier been present at Busaco, and went on to participate in the actions at Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian and Nivelle. Finally, in June 1815, he was present with Bull's Troop at the Battle of Waterloo, a day that would result in a proud C.O's commendation of his men for their 'coolness and steadiness' in facing two enemy Cavalry charges and the attention of some 18 enemy guns. The latter were 'well served and annoyed us considerably' (See Waterloo Letters, by Major-General Siborne). Moore retired to Castlegate in Berwick and died in 1863.