At Quatre Bras, two days before Waterloo, the 5th Lancers charged through a skirmish line of Dutch light infantry into the heart of the allied position chasing the Belgian cavalry before them. There was some confusion as both the Belgian and French cavalry spoke French and wore green uniforms, and the British Infantry fired on the Belgians by mistake! The lancers exploited this mix up and caught the newly arrived British regiments by surprise. They inflicted many casualties on the unprepared regiments, eventually retiring under musket fire and charges of regrouped Belgian cavalry. At Waterloo the 5th Lancers were positioned near the farm at Hougamont, supporting the return of cuirassiers after their massed charges in the afternoon. At Quatre Bras, two days before Waterloo, the 5th Lancers charged through a skirmish line of Dutch light infantry into the heart of the allied position chasing the Belgian cavalry before them. There was some confusion as both the Belgian and French cavalry spoke French and wore green uniforms, and the British Infantry fired on the Belgians by mistake! The lancers exploited this mix up and caught the newly arrived British regiments by surprise. They inflicted many casualties on the unprepared regiments, eventually retiring under musket fire and charges of regrouped Belgian cavalry. At Waterloo the 5th Lancers were positioned near the farm at Hougamont, supporting the return of cuirassiers after their massed charges in the afternoon.