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От
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Chestnut
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К
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Никита
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Дата
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21.05.2003 18:34:05
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Рубрики
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Древняя история;
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Из имеющегося у меня описания этого эпизода
следует, что в штыки ударила как раз БРИТАНСКАЯ гвардия. И судя по результату, вполне успешно.
"At around 7.30 p.m. Napoleon decided to use his trump card. He sent his elite troops, the Garde Imperial, who had never before been defeated in battle, marching up the slope in massive column formations. At around 400 yards from the Allied line they came under artillery fire from British and KGL batteries, but still they came on.
Wellington had used his most renowned battle tactic of withdrawing his men over the reverse slope of the ridge and ordering them to lie down on the ground. As the French approached, therefore, they thought there was a gap in the line and victory would be easy. When the French were some 40 paces from the crest of the ridge, Wellington gave the order and up out of the ground arose four ranks of red coated Guardsmen, who poured musketry into the ranks of the Garde Imperial. The effect was devastating. Some continued to advance, some stopped, some tried to turn back but were pushed forward by the ranks behind. At the same time, the 52nd marched parade ground style down from the ridge and along the exposed flank of the French column. They wheeled left and poured a deadly enfilading fire into the column. Then the Guardsmen launched a bayonet charge into the head of the column.
Suddenly in all the chaos and carnage a shout that had never been heard before rang out -- "La Garde recule". By this time the Prussians were advancing in force from the east, pushing the French back from the village of Plancenoit. Suddenly Napoleon's Grande Armee turned into a disorganised, fleeing rabble. Some units of the Garde formed square and refused to surrender, but by then the battle was lost"