@chevalierism
from here
BITTERNESS ROLLS ON HIS TONGUE, like waves, it makes him tastes the putrefaction of one’s pride. His empire crumbles under the weight of his shame, and thought blood never truly stained his hands, he now bears the guilt of injustified death. The rules of war are bent, broken under his feet while they all chant ’ CULPRIT, MURDERER ’. Never did he gave such orders, nor would he have done so if it wasn’t for his incapacity to react. Laying under the weight of a dead horse, he saw the massacre as he awoke again, the cries of a thousand souls ringing to his hears. —— It was your duty to put an end to this massacre, Captain. But it seems that you did nothing, truly. How are we to explain this to our superior ? Maybe I should leave you this task. “
Chaos had descended over the field of battle. The dying, angry, pleading and scared men formed a chorus of screams, cries, shouts and prayers. Grey had been in the center with the other dragoons from the 17th. The charge- so efficient and orderly- had quickly come apart. Ten yards from the line, the Americans fired. Horses and men fell, including Tarleton himself. Men, enraged now, did not check their fury, but let it sweep them farther into the line.
Word of a surrender reached him and Grey gave the order but his men were too fervent. Above the ghastly cacophony, his order to cease went unheeded. Brief minutes felt like years. It was slow getting his men to desist, and so many Americans, muskets on the grounds, had been cut down, hacked to pieces.
At last, the British fury abated and the fighting ended. Grey ordered his men to start gathering the wounded. Some were badly wounded, the cavalry sabre doing its cruel task with deadly efficacy.
Arguing against Tarleton’s assessment would be insubordinate and useless. God knows he had tried, but the discord on the field had suffocated his orders, his men too deaf with frenzy to comprehend and obey. Yet, he should have done more.
“With the facts, sir. When our men saw you fall at the first volley they became incensed with pride and vengeance. It was not a massacre; men die in battle. The Americans were foolish to refuse our offer and when they chose to surrender, the ground had already turned incarnadine. We have taken great care to bring care for the wounded. That is not the characteristic of a bloodthirsty army.”
