MAJOR PERCY'S MISSION AFTER WATERLOO.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIE,—In the very interesting extracts from the late Miss Bagot's journal, communicated by her niece to the Spectator of December 23rd, there is a point which seems to want clearing up, where the journal charges Major Percy with in- accuracy in including Sir William Ponsonby amongst the killed at Waterloo. Having no books of reference here, I feel some diffidence in asserting that the journal is wrong and Major Percy right, I have little doubt that the journal was led into error by ignoring the fact that there were two Pon- sonbys—both cavalry officers, who fell on the same part of the field—viz., General Sir William Ponsonby, who commanded the Union Brigade, and Colonel the Hon. F. Ponsonby, who commanded (I think), the 12th Light Dragoons.
That Sir William Ponsonby, who, by raising his cocked-hat, gave the signal for the famous charge of the Union Brigade, was killed outright, is, I believe, beyond dispute. It was to Colonel the Hon. F. Ponsonby, while lying wounded in the same muddy hollow where Sir William, on his exhausted charger, was overtaken and slain by French Lancers, that the strange adventures referred to in the journal happened, ending in the miraculous preservation of his life. Should my correc- tion of the journal's correction of Major Percy, itself require correction, Captain Siborne's exhaustive account of the Battle of Waterloo will supply full material.—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. H. (BULLOCK) HALL.
Le Maquis, St. Raphael (Voir), France, December 26th.
P.S.—I may perhaps be permitted to add that my father, the late Major Bullock, had his horse shot under him at Waterloo while charging with his regiment, the 11th Light Dragoons.
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