William Turnor (1782?–1860)
Letter to J. P. Clarke
Mont St Jean and Cateau Cambresis, 19–23 June 1815
MS Add. 8354/12(iii), front page
In this letter, written on the morning after, Captain William Turnor of the 14th Regiment of Foot conveyed the exhilaration, confusion and savagery of ‘the most bloody as well as the most decisive battle that has been fought since the commencement of the French revolution’. Although his own regiment, on the right of the line, was spared the fiercest fighting, Turnor related rumour and gossip in breathless style. The British infantry had ‘immortalized’ themselves, but some were saying that Allied cavalry units had failed in their duty. French cavalry had charged British squares ‘four, five, six times, but they were not to be broken’. Veterans of the Peninsular campaign, wrote Turnor, reckoned the battles in Portugal and Spain mere ‘combats’ in comparison, ‘and this may easily be credited when we reflect that Napoleon fought for a crown, and was opposed to the greatest General of the age’.
Turnor was born in Esham, Hampshire, and saw service in Hanover with the 14th Foot in 1805–6 and afterwards in the Peninsular War, taking part in the battle of Corunna in 1809. After Waterloo he served in India between 1818 and 1831, eventually retiring from the army as a Major-General. he died in December 1860 at the age of 78.
Transcript:
To/ J. P. Clarke Esq
Welton Place
Mont St Jean. The
Field of Battle ten
miles from Bruxelles
19th June 1815.
My dear Sir,
Tho’ the papers will give you better information relative to the sanguinary conflict of yesterday, I am unwilling to permit a Courier to proceed to England without acquainting you that your friends in the 14th are well. The contest just terminated, commenced at 12 o’clock, & lasted without interrupt[t]ion till nine in the evening. It was the most bloody as well as the most decisive battle that has been fought since the commencement of the French revolution, & its result will be more important than even that of Leipsic. The Cannonade was horrendous on both sides. The French fought with desperation & I am fully convinced that no troops on Earth except the English could have won the victory, they are in action savagely courageous. The Cavalry of the Enemy particularly distinguished themselves, & charged our Infantry when in squares of Battalions, four, five, six times, but they were not to be broken. Our Infantry has immortalised itself, & its conduct has never been surpassed, indeed never equalled. We are so fortunate as not to have suffered very great loss, having been posted the right of the Line to hold in check a very strong body of the Imperial Guard. The whole day we were exposed to the fire of several Batteries of artillery, & particularly to that of two Pieces bought to bear upon us. The situation was trying in the extreme but our young Soldiers behaved well. They would have been glad to have been led against the Infantry, but we dared not lose sight of the Cavalry, many Regiments both of Infantry and Cavalry are almost annihilated, but it is said that some Regiments of Dragoons were not so forward as they ought to have been. One Regiment of Hussars is particularly mentioned as having refused to charge. — The field of Battle exhibits this morning a most shocking spectacle too dreadful to describe. Every effort was made by Buonaparte to turn our Right within 200 yards of which we were posted, he shewed the greatest courage; led in person many charges both of Infantry & Cavalry. Those Officers who were in the Peninsula describe the battles there as mere combats in comparison with that of yesterday, & this may easily be credited when we reflect that Napoleon fought for a crown, & was opposed to the greatest General of the age. The escape of Lord Wellington is next to a miracle, for he was exposed the whole day to the hottest fire. We know not the extent of our loss, but it must be great indeed.
Cateau Cambresis 23d. June 1815.
We marched on the 19th before I could finish my letter: since that time I have been so overcome by fatigue that I have been unable to conclude it. We arrived on these heights yesterday, & march again in the morning. The reports of the day are that the Towns in this part of France are opening their gates. The only friends of Buonaparte are his soldiers, & they are now deserting him: his Army is quite dispersed. There were 900 of his Cuirassiers here yesterday morning, but we are told that they have been intercepted & sent to Paris by the Prussians. The loss of the Enemy is computed at 70’000 & 210 pieces of Cannon. A detachment has just marched against Cambray, whether the gates will be opened to us I know not, but we think it probable. It is said that a French officer who deserted to the Prussians, advised Blucher to detach some Regiments of Cavalry to cut off the retreat of Buonaparte, & that he was actually intercepted at Genappe: a Hussar laid hold of his bridle, but was shot. His carriage & baggage were taken, & I believe that [also] of the whole Army. Lord Wellington is here & Prince Frederick of Orange. You will I am sure excuse this vile scrawl. Tidy is as well as a man can be who sleeps on the wet ground. I beg my respects to Mrs C. We are in high spirits, & are anxious to put a period to the contest, as we were the first engaged. I should be happy to hear from you. A Letter addressed to me with the British Army in France will find me. I am dear Sir your obliged & faithful friend Wm Turnor
