Scotland Forever!

 

This iconic oil painting, created by British painter Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Butler) in 1881, depicts the charge of the Royal Scots Greys, a British heavy cavalry regiment, at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The painting captures the moment the cavalry begins its charge, with dynamic composition and vivid colors emphasizing the bravery and motion of the horses and cavalrymen. Despite historical inaccuracies (the charge was at a slower pace due to muddy terrain), it remains a celebrated image of valor.

Widely reproduced and regarded as an emblem of courage, it reflects Thompson’s fame for depicting ordinary soldiers’ heroism, shaped by her observations of cavalry exercises. It is held at the Leeds Art Gallery in the United Kingdom.

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An American at the Battle of Waterloo

 

Though not in an official U.S. capacity, one notable American did fight at the Battle of Waterloo, Colonel William Howe De Lancey.  Born in New York City in 1778, De Lancey came from a prominent Loyalist family that fled to England after the American Revolution.  He later joined the British Army and rose to become chief-of-staff to the Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars.

At Waterloo on June 18, 1815, De Lancey played a critical role in organizing troop movements and logistics.  Tragically, he was struck by a cannonball during the battle and died from his wounds a few days later.  His story became widely known due to a moving memoir written by his new bride, Magdalene Hall, who had joined him in Brussels shortly after their wedding and just before the battle.

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