 The route towards the hustings between the special constables was narrow , and as the inexperienced horses were thrust further and further into the crowd they reared and plunged as people tried to get out of their way . The arrest warrant had been given to the Deputy Constable , Joseph Nadin , who followed behind the yeomanry . As the cavalry pushed towards the speakers ' stand they became stuck in the crowd , and in panic started to hack about them with their sabres . On his arrival at the stand Nadin arrested Hunt , Johnson and a number of others including John Tyas , the reporter from The Times . Their mission to execute the arrest warrant having been achieved , the yeomanry set about destroying the banners and flags on the stand . According to Tyas , the yeomanry then attempted to reach flags in the crowd " cutting most indiscriminately to the right and to the left to get at them " - only then ( said Tyas ) were <unk> thrown at the military : " From this point the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry lost all command of temper " . From his vantage point William Hulton perceived the unfolding events as an assault on the yeomanry , and on L 'Estrange 's arrival at 1 : 50 pm , at the head of his hussars , he ordered them into the field to disperse the crowd with the words : " Good God , Sir , don 't you see they are attacking the Yeomanry ; disperse the meeting ! " The 15th Hussars formed themselves into a line stretching across the eastern end of St Peter 's Field , and charged into the crowd . At about the same time the Cheshire Yeomanry charged from the southern edge of the field . At first the crowd had some difficulty in dispersing , as the main exit route into Peter Street was blocked by the 88th Regiment of Foot , standing with bayonets fixed . One officer of the 15th Hussars was heard trying to restrain the by now out of control Manchester and Salford Yeomanry , who were " cutting at every one they could reach " : " For shame ! For shame ! Gentlemen : forbear , forbear ! The people cannot get away ! " 
