Through the first line this time the horsemen burst their
way, and surely now they must carry all before them. But no farther went
the measure of their success; the second line shattered them to
fragments, and all was over. Back behind the ramparts fell the French,
crushed and dispirited, for nothing now remained to them but surrender.
And for this great victory Prince Ferdinand's thanks were chiefly
bestowed on those British regiments whose magnificent valour and
steadiness had alone made it possible.
But the British cavalry, under Lord George Sackville, did not come in
for equal commendation. Lord George and the Prince had long been at
daggers drawn. Hence, probably, it may have been, that when the French
were broken and in full flight, and Prince Ferdinand's repeated orders
to bring up his cavalry reached Lord George, that officer ignored or
wilfully disobeyed them. The Marquis of Granby, Lord George's second in
command, had already begun to move forward with the Blues, and behind
were the Scots Greys and other famous regiments, thirsting to be at the
throats of the French. But Lord George Sackville's peremptory orders
brought them to a grudging and reluctant halt. Thus, throughout an
engagement which brought honour so great to their countrymen, the
British cavalry stood idle in the rear, chafing at their inaction and
openly murmuring.
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