Which Highland regiment...?

[ChaosCossack]

Does anyone know exactly which Highland regiment was the one that joined the charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo, by hanging on to the stirrup straps of the cavalry as they passed through them.

I have it narrowed down to the 42nd and the 92nd but none of the articles I've read so far give an exact regiment, just that "Highland infantry joined the charge in large leaps by swinging on the Scots stirrup leathers". I narrowed it down to two regiments by their position and the route of the cavalry as they passed the lines.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanx
Colin

 

[housecarl]

"According to legend, the men of the 92nd hung on to the stirrups of the Scots Greys during the charge. Although both regiments record it as part of their history, independent eyewitness accounts do not confirm the truth of the "stirrup charge".
Wiki, but you probably looked there.

 

[Helm]

George McDonald Fraser mentions it in passing in his memoirs of his time with the 92nd
Steve

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Colin ....this may help. http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol035dp.html

Colin

 

[Paul Kernan]

Go with folklore...the Gordons (92nd)

 

[ChaosCossack]

92nd it is then...
According to a couple of accounts I read, the 92nd was trading shots with the head of the French column but were somewhat disordered. To my mind, that puts them less than 50 yards apart. The Greys were manouvering through a hedge and their own infantry, so couldn't be at much better than a trot. The 92nd may have joined in after the first few ranks had passed them and MAY have snatched at stirrup leathers to get that last boost towards the enemy... or may not have, as the French would already have been hoofing it back down the ridge.

It's a heroic image though, isn't it?

Colin

PS- I avoid Wikipedia when possible... don't trust it

 

[housecarl]

PS- I avoid Wikipedia when possible... don't trust it[/quote]
Statistics and lies.

 

[Helm]

I'd think the practicalities of clinging to a bit of leather and iron on a moving horse over a rough battle field would preclude anything more than a walk but it is, as said a nice story

Steve

 

[Steve]

Gordons.