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Auction: 4014 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 131

The Highly Important Large Gold Medal for Vittoria with Clasp Salamanca, and Small Gold Medal for Salamanca, to Major General Sir William Ponsonby, One of the Most Famous Cavalry Commanders of The Napoleonic Wars, Led the Charge of the Union Brigade and was Killed by the Polish Lancers in the Most Emotive Single Episode of the Battle of Waterloo General Officer's Large Army Gold Medal for Vittoria (Major General William Ponsonby), with one clasp, Salamanca, complete with its gold riband buckle and gold neck cravat fitment, and full riband Field Officer's Small Army Gold Medal for Salamanca (Lieut. Coll. Honble. Willm. Ponsonby), with its gold riband buckle, both medals extremely fine (2) Estimate £ 50,000-70,000 Major General Sir William Ponsonby (1772-1815), second son of William Brabazon Ponsonby, First Baron Ponsonby, first served as Ensign and Lieutenant in the Independent Companies of Captain Bulwer and Captain Davis. He obtained a Company in the 83rd Foot in September 1794, and in December the same year became Major in the Loyal Irish Fencibles. On 1 March 1798 he joined the 5th Dragoon Guards, becoming Lieutenant Colonel in the Army in 1800. He obtained Command of the Regiment in February 1803, and advanced to Colonel in July 1810. The Affair at Villagarcia Ponsonby led his Regiment to Spain in 1811, and the 5th Dragoons took their place in Le Marchant's Heavy Brigade. The Regiment's first significant action was at Villagarcia in April 1812. After the Allies had taken Badajoz, Marshal Soult had been obliged to make all haste towards Seville where a large Spanish force was threatening the city. He left a French force of two divisions under Jean Baptiste Druet, Comte d'Erlon, to act as a 'corps d'observation' opposite the Anglo-Portuguese army. This force was closely pressed by Sir Stapleton Cotton with three Brigades of Cavalry, Le Marchant's and Slade's Heavy Brigades, and Anson's Light Brigade. The latter was temporarily under the command of Sir Frederick Ponsonby, William's second cousin. The two forces met outside Villagarcia, where the French cavalry, covering the retreating infantry, found themselves facing Ponsonby's Light Brigade. The French Commander, Lallemand, turned to meet the enemy, confident he could match the three Regiments of Light Dragoons, not realising that Le Marchant's Heavy Brigade, hidden by low hills, was rapidly approaching on the right flank. As the French formed to charge, the 5th Dragoon Guards, the leading Regiment of Le Marchant's Brigade, arrived, rapidly deployed, and charged their flank. The French were completely overpowered and retreated in great confusion. They tried to rally behind a ditch, but now the full force of the Light Brigade fell upon them and they retired a second time, only stopping when they reached the safety of the main French force. Faced with a well entrenched enemy numbering 12,000 the two English Brigades had to be content with the day's work. Salamanca, 'The Most Complete and Decisive Victory' Le Marchant's Brigade was to play a prominent part in Wellington's stunning victory at Salamanca on 22 June 1812. The French under General Marmont had taken up a strong defensive position among the wooded hills south of Salamanca. Their left wing defended the great plateau known as the Greater Arapile, on which three Divisions under Thomières, Maucune and Brennier were well supported by artillery. Wellington threw two divisions, under Leith and Cole, against the enemies front, while a third division under Packenham approached the extreme left of the plateau. The French fell back before the first attack and formed squares at the top of the Greater Arapile, presumably because from their vantage point they could see that Leith's division in the centre was well supported by cavalry. Whatever the reason, the squares did not hold before the volleys of Leith's infantry, and order was momentarily lost. Just at this critical moment Le Marchant's brigade of heavy cavalry gained the top of the plateau. Wellington had sent him off with the order 'charge in at all hazards'. In Charles Oman's words, 'No better opportunity for the use of heavy cavalry could have been conceived than that which existed at this moment. Infantry already engaged with, and worsted by, other infantry is the destined prey of cavalry coming on the scene from the flank in unbroken order.' Le Marchant lost no time in delivering his blow. Ponsonby's 5th Dragoon Guards were in front, the 4th Dragoons along side and the 3rd Dragoons in support. They charged diagonally into Maucune's left Brigade, scattering them southwards across the plateau. Two battalions of the 66th Regiment, followed swiftly by the 15th Regiment, were completely routed. Before order could be restored Le Marchant led his Brigade, now a mingled mass of all three Regiments, on to where the first Regiment of Brennier's Division was arriving in support of Maucune's shattered Division. Before the smoke had cleared the Dragoons were in among this leading Regiment, the 22nd, and once again the French, with no time to form square, were again shattered. In the confused fighting that followed Le Merchant was killed, and Ponsonby took command of the Brigade. He described the battle, and comments on his promotion, in a letter to his brother Frederick written at Flores De Avila, dated 25 July. My Dear Frederick, You will see in the Gazette a much better account of the complete victory which we have gained near Salamanca than I can possibly give. I will only say that it was gained by one of those prompt, vigorous and masterly manoeuvres on the part of Lord Wellington which had he never done anything before would be sufficient to stamp his character as a first rate officer- a manoeuvre as unexpected by Marmont as it was decisive of his ruin. Our brigade of cavalry had the good fortune to act a very prominent and decisive part in it, and the deroute of the enemy was beyond anything complete- and had we had another hour's daylight I do not think a thousand of them would have escaped. They had been bullying us for several days, particularly on the whole of that day, and billets for quarters in Salamanca were actually found in the pockets of several French officers- but the day closed on the complete discomforture and precipitate flight of Marmont and his army. We had the misfortune to lose General Le Marchant who was killed by a musket shot - I lament him sincerely, though in a worldly sense which by the bye I do not think you understand. I benefit by it, Lord Wellington having without any application on my part, appointed me to the staff as Colonel and given me the command of certainly as fine a brigade of heavy Cavalry as can easily be found. My own regiment forming one of it.' Vittoria The victory over the combined French armies under Joseph Napoleon at Vittoria was largely won by infantry. The ground around Vittoria is hilly and crossed by numerous ravines with rivers, streams and ditches, unsuitable for massed cavalry action. Ponsonby's Brigade was positioned to the west of Vittoria opposite the centre of the French line. The progress of the battle was confused and successful attacks on both the French flanks resulted in several hasty retreats and unsuccessful attempts at reforming which finally ended in the complete and disorderly rout of the entire French army. Ponsonby arrived at Vittoria itself to witness the chaos that was supposed to be the retreat, as the army became confused with the cumbersome baggage train and thousands of camp followers. King Joseph Napoleon escaped by taking one of the carriage horses of his barouche and galloping off as fast as he could. Ponsonby's Brigade therefore found itself in possession of the King's complete baggage train, and what the retreating French troops and civilians had not taken was now siezed by the British. Ponsonby himself came into possession of the King's sword, sabretache, and plate. The sword he later presented to King George III. The plate, including a silver-gilt dinner and dessert service, various cups, bowls and dishes, and a complete set of silver-gilt dessert knives, forks and spoons, descended to William, 3rd Lord Ponsonby, who loved gambling and extravagant living and so most was dispersed during his life time. The sabretache is still in the possession of the family. Waterloo The charge of the Union Brigade of heavy cavalry (the Royals, the Scots Greys, and the Inniskillings) at Waterloo, is without doubt one of the most famous cavalry charges in British history. There are several eye witness accounts, and the scene has been described countless times since. The best first hand accounts are those of Lieutenant William Hamilton, A.D.C. to Sir William, and Sir De Lacy Evans, who was acting as extra A.D.C. Lieutenant Hamilton's account is very detailed and is given here. 'The General who commanded the Brigade, Sir William Ponsonby, had also commanded our Brigade in the Peninsular and as I was the only subaltern in it who he knew, he asked me to be with him on the 17th and 18th of June. This was just what I wished, for a man sees more, and suffers less in action when on the staff than with a regiment, being obliged in the latter case to stand still and be shot at, while in the former he is constantly on the alert carrying orders and seeing and hearing everything that is going on. When the General appeared on the ground I joined him, his aide-de-camp being in Brussels whither the General had sent him, not expecting the action to begin that day. His Major of Brigade and extra A.D.C., de Lacy Evans, were also, however, with him. We proceeded after we looked at the Brigade to the top of the hill, leaving the Brigade drawn up close at the bottom of it. When we reached the summit we found the Duke of Richmond and one of his sons as amateurs in plain clothes with a number of officers having their glasses on the look out for Prussians: but we could see nothing of them although we were on the extreme left of our army. At this moment a circumstance occurred not mentioned by any writer whose account of the Battle of Waterloo I have read. Buonapart appeared in the front of his troops and the loudest cheering began on the left of the French and ran along their whole line. I confess I never before felt so disheartened: it evidently had a powerful effect upon all present but not one of the party said a word about it, nor was any attempt at a reply to it made on our side by the troops near us: they were, however, chiefly Belgians and some other regiments that had suffered severley on the 16th... Immediately afterwards the Cannonade began on the right and increased every minute till it was opposite to us, a south breeze wafting the smoke of the French guns towards us which wholly prevented our seeing anything in front of us. Our Brigade continued drawn up at the bottom of the hill and I was sent to desire the commanding officers of the different regiments to draw them as close to the hill as possible as they began to suffer from shells and shot, the effects of the cannonade... The cannonade now greatly increased, and under cover of the smoke from both their cannon and our own, the French advanced the division of Count D'Erlon, who had by this time got close to our infantry who opened their fire upon them: but the enemy, much more powerful in numbers, continued to push on. Our General, observing what was about to take place, immediately sent me down to bring up the whole Brigade with all speed - I did so: the General met us just before we reached the summit of the hill: had we been five minutes later it would have been too late to have effected what we did, as the French had charged our infantry with the bayonet who fled through the intervals of our squadrons, but immediately rallying advanced again with us to the hedge a little way down the hill, where they fired a volley at the French when they were close to each other. Our three regiments of Dragoons were not quite in line; the Royals were on the right and some yards in advance so that the General placing himself in front of them, they charged a little before the other regiments did: the French gave us only a partial volley, being in some disorder in consequence of their previous exertions against our infantry, and from having no idea of our brigade being so near at hand. We accordingly went right through them, not a horse, as is usually the case, went round from the fire, and the enemy threw down their arms. The other two regiments came up in succession, but were a little delayed by the hedge. We again charged, the General riding along the whole line to the left of the Brigade, so that we saw the whole 3 regiments charge; the result in each instance the same - namely - the enemy throwing down their arms and begging for their lives. In this conflict two eagles were taken. After passing through and killing, wounding and making prisoners of the whole of the advanced column of the French, we ought to have stopped and reformed the Brigade, but our men were not content with what they had done; they still went on. The General, his aide-de-camp and I, got however about 30 of them collected together in the hope of reassembling all who remained of those who had come on. For a great many had remained with the prisoners; then Colonel -- of the --th Dragoons came past us at full gallop with about 20 men of his regiment following him. In a second all the men which we had collected set off in the same direction. In the hopes of stopping them we followed and passed between the columns of the French infantry when their red lancers (Polish) closed behind us. I had lost sight of the General some minutes earlier and, not seeing a British soldier near me, I managed to cut my way through the enemy and eventually found some men of my own regiments...' Sir De Lacy Evans confirms the attempt by Ponsonby to regroup the scattered parts of his Brigade: 'The enemy fled like a flock of sheep across the valley, quite at the mercy of the dragoons. In fact our men were out of hand. The general of the brigade, his staff, and every officer within hearing exerted themselves to the utmost to re-form the men: but the helplessness of the enemy offered too great a temptation to the dragoons, and our efforts were abortive.' Napoleon took quick advantage of the situation and sent in two regiments of cuirassiers to fall on the flank of the disordered cavalry, and they were joined by a regiment of Polish lancers. De Lacy Evans continues: 'Every one saw what must happen. Those whose horses were best, or least blown, got away. Some attempted to escape back to our own position by going round the left of the French lancers. Sir William Ponsonby was of that number.' He might have escaped if he had been better mounted, but the groom with his chestnut charger could not be found at the moment of the charge, and he was riding a small bay hack which soon stuck fast in the heavy ground. Seeing he must be overtaken, he was handing over his watch and a snuff-box containing a miniature portrait of his wife to his brigade-major to deliver to his family, when the French lancers came up and killed them on the spot. General Pack wrote to Sir William's younger brother, the Bishop of Derry, from the field of Waterloo: 'You may well conceive the feelings with which I take up my pen to tell you of the fall of my dear friend William in the glorious but murderous battle of yesterday. He was immediately in rear of my Brigade with his Cavalry, and on our advancing to support the first line (Dutch Troops) which had given way to a furious attack of the enemy on that part of the position in our front, he followed up our advance by an instantaneous and most gallant charge by which nearly 1,000 prisoners and 3 Eagles were taken.The numbers of the enemy were immense both cavalry and infantry, and the impetuosity of his men carried them beyond support and their loss in consequence was dreadfully severe. His body was found this morning about half-a-mile in front of our position pierced through the breast with a lance and he died seemingly without pain.' Before the day was ended, the Polish Lancers were almost entirely cut to pieces by the Brigade which Sir William Ponsonby had commanded. The Duke of Wellington, in his despatch to the Secretary of State for War after the battle, states: 'Since writing the above I have received a report that Major General the Hon. Sir William Ponsonby is killed; and in announcing this intelligence to your Lordship, I have to add the expression of my grief for the fate of an officer who has already rendered very brilliant and important services and who was an ornament to his profession.' In the official account of the Battle of Waterloo, the following reference is made to Sir William Ponsonby: 'The remains of this gallant General were deposited in the family vault at Kensington belonging to his noble ancestors in the female line on the 10th of July 1815. England has not a more accomplished officer nor society a more amiable man than was Sir William Ponsonby. He was naturally diffident, well bred and unassuming with a singleness of mind and simplicity of character, both of which were so strongly expressed in his countenance as to induce a prepossession which his genuine worth secured. He owed his appointment solely to his merit and was selected for that by the illustrious Duke as both himself and family held opposite politics to His Grace. His conduct justified the choice for probably a more timely, a more brilliant charge was never made than by General Ponsonby on the morning of the 18th, who, with his brigade, succeeded in making 2,000 prisoners and in taking two eagles. He fell covered with wounds and with glory in his 43rd year.'

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