sequently immense; but, though the soldiers rapidly fell, no chasm was for a moment left. The files were closed, and the square gradually diminished, nor would they have surrendered though cut off to the last man. At length the British cavalry advanced to their relief, while the intrepidity of the allies prevailed in all parts of the field, and the French were driven back to their former positions, with prodigious loss.

General De Lancy now fell as he was leading back to the charge a battalion of Hanoverians who had been thrown into confusion. He conceived that his wound was mortal, and, as the soldiers eagerly rushed forward to carry him to the rear, he desired them to leave him to his fate; adding, that they should not waste that time on him, which might be employed in assisting many brave fellows who might be enabled again to fight their country's battles.

were fallacious, and he died in a few days, probably a martyr to his own disinterestedness.

An uninterrupted series of attacks now commenced through the whole line, but chiefly on the centre, some- They obeyed and retired; but the next morning he times with infantry, at other times with cavalry, and was found yet living, and his friends began to enteroccasionally with both united; while nearly three hun-tain hopes of his recovery. These hopes, however, dred pieces of artillery played on all parts of the British position. The carnage was truly awful; yet it would have been greater had not the earth been so completely soaked with rain. On this account the balls never bounded along as when the ground is dry. The shells also frequently buried themselves, and, when they exploded, produced no other effect than throwing up a fountain of mud.

The person of the Duke of Wellington was repeatedly exposed to the greatest dangers. While he stood on the centre of the high road in front of Mont St. Jean, several guns were levelled against him, distinguished as he was by his suite, and the movements of the officers about him.

The battle had now raged with unabated fury nearly The balls repeatedly grazed a tree on the right-hand six hours, and almost one-third of the allied troops of the road, which tree now bears his name. “That's were killed or wounded. The Prussians, so long ex-good practice," observed the duke to one of his suite, pected, did not yet arrive, and Lord Wellington began to fear that they had been defeated by the French corps which had been left to watch them.

The duke's reserves were now all in action, while those of Buonaparte were not yet brought forward. The brave Scotch division was reduced from six thousand to less than two thousand men. The sixth division had been almost destroyed without firing a gun. The spirits of the soldiers began to droop, and it required the utmost exertion of the officers to prevent them from yielding to despair, They disdained the idea of retreating, and were eager to be led against the foe: but thus to stand and be murdered without resistance was more than they could bear. They were tired of having nothing to occupy their attention but the dreadful roar of the artillery, the fall of their companions, and the lamentable cries of the wounded. An indifference to life was rapidly spreading through their ranks, and the British commander was in a state of the most anxious suspense, convinced that, unless the Prussians arrived within another hour, the battle must be inevitably lost. Yet he was perfectly cool and collected; and, while one regiment continued firm at its post, he would not resign the contest. An aide-de-camp now came with the information that the fifth division was almost destroyed, and that it was impossible for them any longer to maintain their ground. "I cannot help it," he replied, "they must keep their ground with myself to the last man. Would to God! that night or Blucher were come."

"I think they fire better than in Spain." Riding up to the ninety-fifth regiment, when in front of the line, and even then expecting a formidable charge of cavalry he said, "Stand fast, ninety-fifth-we must not be beat-what will they say in England ?”

On another occasion, when many of the best and bravest men had fallen, and the event of the action seemed doubtful even to those who remained, he said, with the coolness of a spectator, who was beholding some well-contested sport-" Never mind, we'll win this battle yet." To another regiment, then closely engaged, he used a common sporting expression; "Hard pounding this, gentlemen; let's see who will pound longest."

Sir William Delancey, struck by a spent ball, fell from his horse-" Leave me to die," he said to those who came to assist him, " attend to the duke."

Sir Alexander Gordon received his mortal wound, while expostulating with the commander-in-chief on the personal danger to which he was exposing himself. One of the duke's aides-de-camp was sent off to a general of brigade in another part of the field, with a message of importance. In returning, he was shot through the lungs; but, as if supported by the résolu tion to perform his duty, he rode up to the Duke of Wellington, delivered the answer to his message, and then dropped down dead, from his horse.

Captain Curzon, of the 69th, the fourth son of Lord Scarsdale, an aide-de-camp to the duke, was sent with Lord March on a service of importance, when a grape

shot struck him on the breast. As he fell from his horse, he affectionately exclaimed, "Good bye, March." In vain his noble friend rendered him every possible assistance; the tide of life ebbed fast. At this juncture a movement of the French curassiers threatened to attack a battalion of Nassau troops, near the spot on which he lay. Lord March, perceiving the danger to which they were exposed, hastily endeavoured to form them into square. As he was thus employed, and animating the soldiers to wait with firmness the expected attack, Curzon lifted his head, and, with his dying breath, exclaimed, "Well done, March; that's right, my brave fellow, well done, well done!"

At this moment he received intelligence that the Prussians were opening on his right flank, and threatening his rear. He, however, disregarded the report, affirming that these pretended Prussians were no other than Grouchy's corps; and even abused several aidesde-amp, who brought the intelligence, charging them with timidity, and dismissing them with ill-humour.

After so peremptory an answer, many of them, ashamed to have been mistaken, heedlessly advanced towards the Prussian Yagers; and, notwithstanding these kept up a sharp fire against them, they approached near enough to be either killed or taken prisoners. In no long time, however, Buonaparte was undeceived by a furious attack on the part of the Prussians; part of the sixth corps was detached to sustain this new

moment expected, should come up. By his orders, General Labedoyere announced the arrival of Grouchy, and that he was attacking the enemy; and this false intelligence he also spread among the soldiers as he rode along the line.

Buonaparte was equally astonished and chagrined at the obstinate resistance of the British troops. He incessantly took snuff in large pinches from his waistcoat-shock, until Marshal Grouchy's corps, which was every pocket, violently snuffing up a part, and throwing the rest from him. "These English are devils!" he exclaimed; “will they never be beaten ?" A moment afterwards he added, "I shall defeat them yet; though it is a pity to destroy such brave troops." He then túrned to Soult. "How admirably these English fight! but they must soon give way." Soult, who had some experience of British courage and firmness, replied, that "he doubted whether they would ever give way." Why?" indignantly asked Napoleon., "Because, sire, they will suffer themselves to be cut to pieces

66

first."

No blame can be attributed to the Prussians with respect to the delay of their arrival. Prince Blucher had put his army in motion at break of day. The corps of Borstel and Bulow were to march by St. Lambert, occupy a position there under cover of the forest near Fritschermont, and take the enemy in the rear when the moment should appear favourable. Zietheu's corps was to co-operate on the right flank of the enemy by Ohaim, and Thielman to follow slowly, and afford succour in case of need. But the first two of these corps had been placed on the east side of the river Dyle at

pg 1.1K vadaThe Corsican's attacks were now redoubled, and he began to expose himself to the thickest of the fire; though the accounts which have been published of the desperation with which he sought every danger, and his apparent determination to die on the field, are alto-Wayre; they had to cross by a narrow bridge, and, to gether unfounded, 397 add to the delay which this necessarily occasioned, the houses in the street leading to it had been set on fire by the French; so that the infantry passed with difficulty, the cavalry and artillery with still greater, and the ammunition was compelled to wait till the fire was extinguished. The passage, too, by the defile of St. Lambert, was far more difficult than had been expect ed; so that, when it was half-past four in the afternoon, only two brigades of Bulow's corps had arrived at the position which was assigned them.

Buonaparte now contemplated with a stern countehance the horrible scene of slaughter which presented itself to his view. The more numerous the obstacles which presented themselves, the more his obstinacy seemed to increase. He became indignaut at these unforeseen difficulties; and, far from fearing to push to extremities: an army which reposed boundless confidence in him, he ceased not to pour down fresh, troops, and to give orders to march forward,to charge with the bayonet, to carry by storm. He was repeatedly informed from different points, that the day went against him, and that the troops appeared to be disordered: but his only reply was, Forward! forward!One general sent him information that he could not maintain his position, being dreadfully annoyed by a battery; and requested instructions how to elude, its murderous fire" Let him storm the battery !" said the unfeeling wretch, and turned his back on the aide-de-camp, who brought the message.

The decisive moment was come; there was not an instant to be lost; and the general resolved immediately to begin the attack with the troops which they had. at hand. Their way was through the forest of Soignies, a tract consisting of more than thirty thousand acres. By good fortune, the peasant who guided them, was a man of more than ordinary sagacity; and, instead of coming out of the forest at Fritschermont, be proposed to descend into the valley lower down, and come out in a direction towards Planchenoit, nearly

on the rear of the French reserves. 66 we shall take them all."

"Then," said he, | geney and that they had never disappointed his expectations. He stated that the enemy, greatly diminished in numbers, could offer no effectual resistance, and that they had nothing to encounter but an artil

would easily carry with the bayonet. To these observations they replied with one general shout of “Vive L'Empereur!" which was distinctly heard as far as the British lines.

The allies now conceived that Buonaparte was about to attack them in person. He thought proper, however, to remain under shelter of the rising bank, while his devoted guards defiled before him under the command of Ney, and ascended the eminence.

The moment at which they arrived, was truly critical: nor can we reflect, without shuddering, how much, at this moment, depended on the knowledge and fide-lery, which was indeed formidable, but which they lity of a single peasant; who, had he been less disposed to serve the allies, or less intelligent, might easily have led them into a hollow way impassable to their cannon. When Napoleon was at length convinced that the corps which he had so obstinately taken for that of Marshal Grouchy, consisted of Prussians, he felt the critical situation in which he was now placed; but, as he did not believe that the main body of the Prussians could come up for some hours, he hoped that success was yet in his power. He therefore resolved to attack the weakest part of the British line with his whole concentrated force, and thus endeavour to defeat the Duke of Wellington before his reinforcements could arrive. Accordingly, leaving the sixth corps to keep the Prussians in check, he brought forward the whole of the cavalry of the imperial guard, and directed it on the centre of the British position. The shock, for the moment, was irresistible; the allied troops gave way; the heights were carried, and several guns were taken by the French. The Duke of Wellington, however, hastened to the spot, and placed himself at the bead of some English and Brunswickers. He addressed to them a few sentences, which he well knew would inflame their ardour, and led them against the enemy, who, flushed with success, were advancing to the very rear of his lines. Suddenly the victory was wrested from their grasp. The artillery which they had taken was hastily abandoned, and they fled with precipitation.

At this period, the Prince of Orange received a musket-ball in his shoulder, as he was rallying some of his troops who had shrunk from the impetuous attack of the French. In a previous stage of the combat he had been hurried away by the ardour of the fight, and taken prisoner; but a battalion of his troops rushing to his assistance, immediately effected his rescue.

The decision of the battle, the fate of Europe, now depended upon these troops. The fire of the allies abated; and, with indescribable feelings, they contemplated the approach of those chosen battalions, who had been so long the terror of Europe, and who had never yet been vanquished. The pause, however, was but for a moment. Every cannon opened at once on the foe, and swept away entire ranks. But as those in front fell, others instantly rushed forward to fill up the chasms, and, with stern and unbroken front, the imperial guard still continued to advance.

Some Brunswickers first attempted to oppose them: but, after an obstinate resistance, they were defeated with immense slaughter. The French penetrated within the lines; and, for a short space, the victory was more than doubtful.

In a hollow of the ground, directly in front of the French, and sheltered from the fire of their artillery, lay a regiment of the British guards. The Duke of Wellington had placed himself on a ridge behind them, and, on the imperial guard advancing within a hundred yards, he suddenly exclaimed, “Up, guards, and at them." The unexpected appearance of this fine body of men startled the French battalions, and they suddenly paused; but immediately recovering themselves, they advanced more rapidly, while their artillery filed off to the right and the left. They then approached within twenty yards of their opponents, and were in the act of rushing upon them with the bayonet; when a volley was poured upon them by the British, which literally knocked them backward with its shock. A second volley threw them into greater confusion, and, before they could either deploy or manoeuvre, the British cneered and rushed upon them with such impetuosity, that they suddenly turned, and fled in the utmost confusion.

The troops of Count Lobau had, in the mean time, repulsed the advanced-guard of the Prussians, and driven them back into the woods. Animated by this success, and at the same time sensible how necessary it was for him to avail himself of it, Napoleon put himself at the head of his guard, consisting of fifteen hundred men, and made one last desperate effort on the centre of the British. He led them on till he came to a hollow part of the road, where he stopped under a ravine, protected from the fire of the British artillery. The Duke of Wellington, perceiving the disorder of Here he addressed his troops. He reminded them how the French, and the advance of the Prussians on their often he had relied on their valour in cases of emer-right flank, immediately commanded the British troops

5.