Page "Duke of Wellington's Regiment" Paragraph 43

The British forces prevailed in taking the objective.

However, Russian forces advance on the Great Redoubt to counter-attack.

An officer shouted to the British soldiers not to fire, claiming them to be French, despite the fact that they were not.

Other British officers soon contradicted him, ordering the men to fire at the massed ranks of soldiers advancing on their position.

The soldiers were confused, and the British officers soon decided the prudent option would be to get back down the hill to safety.

The Russians failed to pursue, mostly because some French artillery pieces were firing a few shells in the direction of the Russian forces.

The Guards Division, comprising the most elite infantry regiments of the British Army, advanced and crossed the river.

However, the Scots Guards were shattered when retreating soldiers from the Royal Welch Fusiliers, who had been attacked by a mass of Russian soldiers, crashed into the Scots Guards and caused chaos amongst the formation.

The Russians seized the moment, launching a mass bayonet charge resulting in heavy hand-to-hand fighting.

The Scots Guards suffered 200 casualties and were forced to retreat.