Sergeant Charles Ewart Scots Greys

Sergeant Charles Ewart

Scots Greys

Charles Ewart made his name in history by capturing the Eagle of the 45th Regiment during the charge of the Union Brigade at Waterloo. Ewart was no spring chicken. At the time of the battle he was 46 years old and had served in the army for 26 years. He was a superb horseman, immensely strong and powerful and a giant of a man. At a time when the average height of a soldier was about 5’6”/5’7”, Ewart stood 6’4”. He is described in one book as being “of Herculean strength and of consummate skill as a swordsman”.

Ewart slashed right and left at a dozen men guarding the Eagle. After an epic hand to hand struggle in which he killed three Frenchmen, he seized the Eagle and was ordered to take it to the rear by General Ponsonby. Rewarded with a commission for capturing the Eagle, he left the army in 1821 with a pension of £100 per annum. Died in Lancashire in 1846. The Eagle is still in possession of the Ewart’s Regiment and is displayed at Edinburgh Castle. Ewart’s tomb is located on the Esplanade in front of the Castle.

Here is Ewart’s account of how he took the Eagle written in a letter to his brother shortly after the battle :-

“It was in the first charge I took the Eagle from the enemy; he and I had a hard contest for it; he thrust for my groin - I parried it off and cut him through the head; after which I was attacked by one of their lancers, who threw his lance at me, but it missed the mark by my throwing it off with my sword by my right side; then I cut him from the chin upwards, which cut went through his teeth. Next I was attacked by a foot soldier, who, after firing at me, charged me with his bayonet; but he very soon lost the combat, for I parried it and cut him down through the head; so that finished the contest for the Eagle. After which I presumed to follow my comrades, Eagle and all, but was stopped by the General, saying to me, “You brave fellow, take that to the rear; you have done enough until you get quit of it”, which I was obliged to do, but with great reluctance. I retired to a height, and stood there for upwards of an hour, which gave me a general view of the field, but I cannot express the sight I beheld; the bodies of my brave comrades were lying so thick upon the field that it was scarcely possible to pass, and horses innumerable. I took the Eagle in Brussels, amid the acclamations of thousands of the spectators that saw it.”

Here is an account of the same incident as witnessed by Ewart’s comrade, fellow Scots Grey, Corporal John Dickson :-

“I saw Ewart, with five or six infantry men about him, slashing right and left at them. Armour and I rushed up to these half dozen Frenchmen, who were trying to escape with one of their standards. I cried to Armour to “Come on!” and we rode at them. Ewart had finished two of them, and was in the act of striking a third man who held the Eagle; next moment I saw Ewart cut him down, and he fell dead. I was just in time to thwart a bayonet thrust that was aimed at the gallant sergeant’s neck. Armour finished another of them. Almost single handed, Ewart had captured the Imperial Eagle of the 45^th ‘Invincibles’, which had led them to victory at Austerlitz and Jena. We cried out to Ewart, “Well done, my boy!”