Lot Essay
INDENTMajor General Sir Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B., G.C.H. (1764-1835), entered the 36th Foot as Ensign, September 1793 and joined the regiment at Trichinopoly; Lieutenant 1795; exchanged to the 25th Light Dragoons 1797, and served with them in the Mysore campaign and was present at the capture of Seringpatam, 1799; appointed Captain, 9th Dragoons, 1800, and was promoted to the Majority of the 28th Light Dragoons the following year; Lieutenant Colonel, 72nd Foot, 1802, and was wounded at the head of his regiment at the recapture of the Cape of Good Hope, 1806; appointed to command the 15th Hussars, August 1808, and distinguished himself at the cavalry charge at Sahagun, 21 December (wounded, Field Officers Gold Medal)
The Charge of the 15th Hussars at Sahagun
Early in the morning of the 21st the 15th Hussars, under Lord Paget, encountered a body of French Dragoons retiring towards the bridge at Sahagun. Outnumbered two to one, the British cavalry immediately charged the enemy who withstood the initial rush, but were quickly dispersed, pursued, and overtaken with great slaughter; the Hussars further distinguished themselves during the retreat of the British army upon Corunna.
During the next three years the regiment was employed on general garrison duties in England and was actively employed during the 'Luddite' and other disturbances; Grant was appointed aide-de-camp to the Prince Regent, 1811, and promoted to Colonel; he accompanied his regiment to the Peninsula, 1813, and commanded the Hussar Brigade at the action at Morales (wounded); also commanded the Hussars at the Battle of Vittoria, 21 June 1813, where he led them in a series of gallant charges against the numerically superior enemy (second honorary distinction for this battle); continued his command of the Hussar Brigade until the Peace of Amiens, 1814; Major General, 1814 (K.C.B.); appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland
Grant at Waterloo
Major General Grant commanded the 5th Cavalry Brigade comprising the 7th and 15th British Hussars, 13th. Light Dragoons, and the 2nd Hussars, King's German Legion, at Waterloo; during the battle his "prompt, judicious and fortunate movement of the Brigade, from the designed attack of the (Polish) Lancers ... restored confidence to this part of the line which seemed in some danger, and may justly be considered an event of the utmost importance" (five horses killed or wounded under him); appointed Colonel, 12th Royal Lancers, 1825, and of the 15th King's Hussars, 1827; Lieutenant General, 1830; Member of Parliament for Queensborough, 1831; General Grant died December 1835 aged 72 years
The Charge of the 15th Hussars at Sahagun
Early in the morning of the 21st the 15th Hussars, under Lord Paget, encountered a body of French Dragoons retiring towards the bridge at Sahagun. Outnumbered two to one, the British cavalry immediately charged the enemy who withstood the initial rush, but were quickly dispersed, pursued, and overtaken with great slaughter; the Hussars further distinguished themselves during the retreat of the British army upon Corunna.
During the next three years the regiment was employed on general garrison duties in England and was actively employed during the 'Luddite' and other disturbances; Grant was appointed aide-de-camp to the Prince Regent, 1811, and promoted to Colonel; he accompanied his regiment to the Peninsula, 1813, and commanded the Hussar Brigade at the action at Morales (wounded); also commanded the Hussars at the Battle of Vittoria, 21 June 1813, where he led them in a series of gallant charges against the numerically superior enemy (second honorary distinction for this battle); continued his command of the Hussar Brigade until the Peace of Amiens, 1814; Major General, 1814 (K.C.B.); appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland
Grant at Waterloo
Major General Grant commanded the 5th Cavalry Brigade comprising the 7th and 15th British Hussars, 13th. Light Dragoons, and the 2nd Hussars, King's German Legion, at Waterloo; during the battle his "prompt, judicious and fortunate movement of the Brigade, from the designed attack of the (Polish) Lancers ... restored confidence to this part of the line which seemed in some danger, and may justly be considered an event of the utmost importance" (five horses killed or wounded under him); appointed Colonel, 12th Royal Lancers, 1825, and of the 15th King's Hussars, 1827; Lieutenant General, 1830; Member of Parliament for Queensborough, 1831; General Grant died December 1835 aged 72 years