The Duchess of Richmond's Ball goes to Waterloo

Upstart Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 36

Hi, writers! I was very surprised when I searched and didn't find a post on the topic of the Duchess of Richmond's Ball. Maybe I should have used different wording, but I saw nothing out there.

I am working on scenes from Waterloo's battle and want to include soldiers who rushed out to Quatre Bras, then fought at Waterloo, who were at the ball. I understand that all the main officers were invited to the ball, and that Wellington was there, but what isn't clear is who would've been attending otherwise. My focus is at Hougoumont Chateau and I'm wondering if any of the Coldstream Guards, Third Guards, including officers Graham and MacDonnell would've been wearing ball shoes. Is it safe to just have random soldiers in these shoes and what exactly do I call them?

Thanks! Very Happy

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Writing and Re-Writing,
Grace

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Pumps. And yes, many of the officers went out to the battle in full dress (and many of them died still wearing it). If you haven't read Heyer's An Infamous Army, she does a wonderful job with this. I cry every time at her description of the Scots heading out after performing the ball (though I think my fav bit of trivia is the infantry clinging to the saddles of the Scots Greys as the charged into battle so they could get there faster. Simply amazing stuff in that series of battles.
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject:

Oh yes, definitely pumps! That must have been quite uncomfortable, I imagine.

I have a rather interesting book about the Duchess of Richmond's ball (my husband thought I was crazy - buying a book just about one ball, not even any battles in it!) with the invitation lists and a rough list of who actually attended. Some officers apparently chose to stay away, such as De Lancey and Colborne. So it's not quite correct that everyone important was at the ball - the Richmods were rather selective in their invitation, too. Most Generals were apparently invited, but from Colonel downward, military rank was not automatically a ticket for the ball.

I actually haven't found MacDonnell on the De Ros invitation list, but I haven't looked at the Goodwood list... And these lists differ somewhat.
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Wellies

"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

This is the kind of thing I'd simply fudge. If I need my hero or someone specific to be at the ball (or not be at the ball), so long as it isn't someone big (like Wellington), I'd just do what I needed to do. If I'd knowingly moved someone about on that fateful night, I might mention it in an author's note.
_________________
-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com