Minutes into an assault on the French artillery, Colonel Frederick Ponsonby was cut down from his horse and run through by a lancer. To his surprise he did not die, but he was easy prey for a French sharpshooter, who robbed him. A short time later, a French officer found him and asked sympathetically after his wounds.

The kindly French officer gave Ponsonby some brandy and eased his posture, but could not take him to safety and duty called him away. Ponsonby then had to endure spell as a rest for a cocky French sharpshooter, and even as the battle was ending a squadron of Prussian cavalry (his own side) trampled negligently over him.

114 words