402 LIEUT.-GENERAL THOMAS DYNELEY, 0.B., B.A. 
would be out of my power to describe with what steadiness we came 
on. I was at this time on the right and about 10 yards in front of the 
light infantry. The French advanced firmly towards us, keeping up a 
tremendous fire of musketry which either fell short or went over our 
heads. When we were about 100 yards apart, Colonel Kempt, who 
commanded the light infantry,’ with incredible coolness gave the order 
“Halt!” “Throw down your blankets, shoes,” etc.; then the order 
“Forward!” and in afew seconds after “Charge!” Our men reserved 
their fire until within a few yards of the enemy and then fired in their 
faces. The French turned tail and those who could run fast enough 
escaped the bayonet, the whole of the rest were either killed, wounded 
or taken prisoners ;? in short, Bonaparte’s favourite lst Regiment of 
infantry was cut to pieces. The field presented the most distressing 
spectacle, being covered with killed and wounded. 
From the rapid way our light infantry went off I was unable to fol- 
low them, having to mount my guns on horses’ backs; however, seeing 
another body of our troops coming up, I joined them.? But after 
firing a few rounds of grape, I was served in the same manner by their 
making a charge and leaving me. 
I then again mounted my guns and went to the left, where I found 
a steady fire being kept up on the enemy’s cavalry, who threatened to 
charge that flank, but they scarcely ever came within gun shot. I 
could see the General trying to get them on, but all to no purpose; 
they then retired in the greatest order under a very heavy fire amidst 
the cheers and hisses of the whole of our troops; in short, they were 
fairly hissed off the field and old John Bull was left ‘ Cock of the 
‘Walk.’ There was a very fine field of wheat which our men by mis- 
take set on fire at the commencement and which continued burning the 
1<* The corps which formed the right of the advanced line was the battalion of light infantry 
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Kempt,* consisting of the light companies of the 20th, 27th, 35th, 
58th, 61st, 8lst and Watville’s, together with 160 chosen battalion men of the 35th Regiment nnder 
Major Robinson.” Extract from the despatch of Sir John Stuart. 
*Later Sir James Kempt distinguished in the Peninsula and at Waterloo. 
2Tt has been asserted that the French and English crossed bayonets at the battle of Maida; the 
following extract however, on the authority of Colonel Kempt, fully corroborates Lieutenant 
Dyneley’s statement of what took place on that occasion :—Hd. 
‘“‘T know that the French soldier advances to meet the British bayonet with more hesitation, I 
will not say trepidation, than he would meet any other enemy. The British soldier rejoices in his 
bayonet.” No two lines have ever crossed bayonets in battle. I was often assured that it was done at 
the battle of Maida, but I did not believe it. Long after the battle, Sir James Kempt, who com- 
manded our battalion of the 49th Regiment making that charge, declared in my presence that the 
bayonets didnot cross. The French while advancing hesitated, and at last turned and ran away ; but 
they delayed too long in doing so; the British rushed in and laid upwards of 300 of them on their 
faces with the bayonet. Very many years afterwards I repeated this to Commodore Sandham of 
the Navy, who said tome: I am glad you mentioned this matter to me, for I was that morning a 
Lieutenant in one of the ships which landed our forces in the bay of St. Euphemia, and witnessed 
the action from our decks. After the battle was over the men were re-embarked, together with 
many wounded French soldiers, and it was curious to see the wounded in the “‘sick bay” the follow- 
ing morning—all the French on their faces, being stabbed in the back; while all the British lay on 
their backs, being shot in front by the volley which the French fired as they advanced to the 
charge.”’ “The life of James FitzGibbon, a veteran of 1812,” pp. 303-4. 
3 « Brigadier-General Acland, whose brigade was immediately on the left of the light infantry, 
_ with great spirit availed himself of this favourable moment to press instantly forward upon the 
corps in his front; the brave 78th Regiment commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Macleod, and the 81st 
under Major Plenderleath both distinguished themselves on this occasion. The enemy fled with 
dismay and disorder before them, leaving the plain covered with their dead and wounded.”’ Ex- 
tract from despatch from Major-General Sir John Stuart. Camp on the plain of Maida, July 6th, 
1806, 
