1815.

BOOK XV. were offered in vain for a pair of horses to go to Antwerp, a distance of thirty miles; and numbers CHAP. Vit. set off on foot, and embarked in boals upon the canal. In the afternoon, a violent thunder-storm caine on, followed by torrents of rain, which, during the whole of the night, when the army were laying unsheltered upon the field of WaterToo, never ceased a single moment. On the next day, the terror and confusion reached its highest point. News arrived of the French having gained a complete victory, and it was universally behieved. A dreadful panic had seized the men left in charge of the baggage, in the rear of the army, and they ran away with a rapidity that could not have been surpassed even by the French themselves. The road between Waterloo and Brussels, which lays through the forest of Soignes, is completely confined on either side by trees; it was soon choaked up; those behind attempted to get past those before-officers' servants were struggling to secure their masters' baggagepanic-struck people forcing their way over every obstacle, with the desperation of fear-and a complete scuffle ensued, which might really be called a battle burlesqued, in which numbers of horses were killed, and some lives lost, not to mention the innumerable broken heads and black bruises sustained on the occasion.

The road was covered with broken and overturned waggons-heaps of abandoned baggage -dead horses, and terrified people. In some places horses, waggons, and all, were driven over high banks by the road side, in order to clear a passage. The quantity of rain that had fallen, of itself made the roads nearly impassable, and it was impossible for the wounded to be brought from the field. Certainly these Waterloo men, who came flying into Brussels on Sunday, did not cut a very glorious figure!

At Antwerp, though more distant from the scene of action, the consternation was nearly as great. Long rows of carriages lined the streets, filled with fugitives, who could find no place of shelter; and people of rank and fortune were glad to eat and sleep in one and the same miserable hole, which, at any other time, they would have disdained to enter. So great was the universal anxiety, that during the whole of the 18th, though the rain was almost incessant, the great Place de Maire was crowded with people, who stood from morning until night, under umbrellas, impatiently watching the arrival of news from the army, and assailing every body who entered the town with fruitless inquiries.

"Whether in Antwerp or Brussels (observes the author just cited) the hearts and souls of all were with the army. One common interest bound together all ranks and conditions of men. All other subjects-all other considerations were forgotten-all distinctions were levelled-all com

mon forms thrown aside and neglected,-ladies accosted men they had never seen before with eager questions; no preface-no apology-no ceremony was thought of strangers conversed together like friends-all ranks of people ad dressed each other without hesitation-every body seeking-every body giving information and English reserve seemed no longer to exist.

"It is impossible to imagine the strong over. powering anxiety of being so near such eventful scenes, without being able to learn what is really passing. To know that within a few miles such an awful contest is deciding-to hear even the distant voice of war-to think that in the roar of every cannon, your brave countrymen are falling, bleeding, and dying-to dread that your friends, even those dearest to you, may be the victimsto endure the long and protracted suspense-the constant agitation-the varying reports-the in cessant alarms-the fluctuating hopes, and doubts, and fears-no-none but those who have felt what it is can conceive or understand it."

But to return to the movements of the contending armies. Bonaparte found, upon bringing up his troops on the evening of the 17th, that it was too late, for that day, to make any attempt against the position chosen by his skilful adversary. “k would have required three hours more of day light," said he, "to have attacked them;" in consequence of which, he deferred the attack till the 18th. We shall here endeavour to state the amount of the French army on the morning of that day as nearly as possible. We have already stated that it consisted of 130,000 men, before the invasion of the Netherlands took place; but when Bonaparte joined it, with his guards and other troops, on the 12th, it was increased to between 140 and 150,000 men. It was divided into five corps of infantry, and four of cavalry, and was accompanied by 300 pieces of artillery. The cavalry consisted of 25,000 men, and a fiver body never entered a field. It was supposed that Bonaparte was peculiarly weak in this arm, but the reverse proved to be the case. Among the cavalry were the lancers, who were distinguished by their address, activity, and ferocity; and the cuirassiers, of whom there are said to have been nine regiments, were remarkable for the excel lence of their appointments, and the superior power of their horses. Of the quality of this last corps we shall have occasion to notice bereafter. It is impossible to speak too highly of the Frenc infantry in point of bravery and discipline in the field. The elite of the army the imperial guards, who were, at east, 20 strong. All these troops were comp Jetely armed and equipped, and supplied even 10 profusion with every kind of ammunition. Their loss the battles of Quatre Bras and Lign, amounted

to about 15,000 men, leaving a for

Consisted of

of abou

1815.

BOOK XV. which was commanded by Major-general Sir W. Ponsonby. The 7th, 10th, and 18th hussars, CHAP. VII. formed the first British brigade of light cavalry, and was commanded by Major-general Sir Hussey Vivian. The 11th, 12th, and 16th light dragoons, formed the second British brigade, and was commanded by Major-general Sir J. Vande leur. The 13th light dragoons, 15th hussars, and 23d light dragoons, formed another British brigade of light cavalry, which was commanded by Major-general Sir C. Grant. The 1st and 2d light dragoons and 2d hussars formed the first brigade of cavalry of the king's German legion, which was commanded by Major-general Dornberg, and the 1st and 3d regiments of hussars, formed the second brigade of cavalry of that corps, and was commanded by Colonel Sir F. Arentzchild. The prince-regent's hussars and Verdun hussars formed the first brigade of Hanoverian cavalry, which was commanded by Colonel Esteroff, of the Hanoverian service.

The first and third divisions of the infantry of the Anglo-Hanoverian army, with their artillery, and the second and third divisions of infantry, and a division of cavalry of the army of the Netherlands, with a battery of foot and another of horse-artillery, of the same army, composed the first grand corps, which, as we have already observed, was entrusted to general his royalhighness the Prince of Orange.

The second and fourth divisions of the AngloHanoverian infantry, and second brigade of cavalry of the king's German legion, with the artillery attached to these divisions, together with the Indian brigade, and first division of infantry of the army of the Netherlands, and a battery of foot and another of horse-artillery, formed the second grand corps, commanded by Lieutenantgeneral Lord Hill. The reserve of the army consisted of the fifth and sixth divisions of British infantry, with the corps of cavalry and infantry of his serene highness the Duke of Brunswick Oels.

We shall now attend minutely to the positions chosen by the contending armies on the 18th. Nothing that concerns Waterloo should be lost. Every spot should be dear to Britain, because every clod of earth is wet with the blood of her bravest sons. Every footstep attests her prowess, every object recalls to the memory of the beholder her glory and their fame.

The army under the command of his grace the Duke of Wellington was, as we have already noticed, posted about a mile in front of Waterloo, at the point where the position crossed the high roads leading from Brussels to Charleroy and Nivelles. Its right was thrown back to a ravine rear Merke Braine, which village was occupied. Its left extended to a height above the hamlet

Ter la Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right centre, and near the Nivelle road, his grace occupied the house and garden of Hougoumont, or Chateau Goumont, which covered the return of that flank; and, in front of the left centre, he occupied the farm of la Haye Sainte (the Holy Hedge). The centre occupied the vil lage of Mount St. John. A road runs from Ter la Haye to Ohain, and the woody passes of St Lambert, through which the Duke of Wellington kept up a communication by his left with the Prussian army at Wavre. The whole position was situated upon an eminence, and extended abou a mile and a half. The army was disposed in two lines. The first line, which was composed of the choicest troops in the Duke of Wellington's army, occupied the top of the hill, and were defended on the left partly by a large ditch and hedge, which ran in a straight line from Mount St. John. The second line lay behind the brow of the bill; and was, in some degree, sheltered from the enemy's fire. The reserve, under the command of Lord Hill, was placed in reserve on the right of the position, in front of the village of Merke le-Braine, with its right resting on Braine-laLeud.

The Prussian army, which began to move at break of day, was placed as follows, viz. the fourth and second corps marched from Wavre by St. Lambert, where they were to take a position covered by the forest of Soignies, near Frischer mont, in order to take the enemy in the rear when the moment should appear favorable. The first corps was to operate by Ohain, on the right flank of the enemy. Their line, in the evening, extended about a mile and a quarter.

The French army was posted on a range of heights, in front of the army under the British general. The first corps was placed with its left on the road to Brussels, in front of the village of Mount St. John, and opposite the centre of the allied army. This corps had not been engaged on the 16th, and was consequently entire. The second corps had its right on the road to Brussels, and its left upon a small wood, within cannonshot of the English army. The cuirassiers were in reserve behind, and the imperial guards in re serve on the heights. The sixth corps, cavalry of General Detourmont, under the chief command of Count Loban, was destined to pose the Prussians in the rear of their right. The rest of the cavalry were with the guards, and the other two corps of the army. Over the whole position of the French army there were sixty bat teries of cannon. The front, when extended to meet the Prussians, was about two miles and a half.

With regard to the natural strength of the res pective positions, the reader, upon turning to the

map, will perceive, from the course of the rivers, or rather rivulets, that the country occupied by the armies was the most elevated ground in those parts, and which rises from every quarter as you approach it. The whole forms numerous ridges, without any very prominent eminences; and the vallies betwixt them are intersected with ravines. For half a league in advance of Waterloo the ground invariably rises to Mount St. John. It is interspersed, as it rises, with ridges, like the waves of the sea, wave behind wave. The position occupied by the Prussians, at the close of the day, joined the British at Ter la Haye. From that place, the ridge which forms Mount St. John, turns first in a south and then in a south-west direction, by Frischermont, towards Planchenoit. Its front, opposite the French position, rose like an amphitheatre, in several swells or ridges, each higher than the other, but all inferior in height to the chief ridge, on which Mount St. John is situated. At their foot is a valley, from whence the ground again rose, in an elevated chain, towards the position of the enemy. On the front opposite, and nearly on similar ground, with a valley between the allies and them, and also between their centre and their right wing, the French army was posted. All these eminences were covered with artillery.

In the valley, which lay between the positions of the French and British armies, about half-way between the two ridges, and to the right of the centre of the British, is situated the farm-house and chateau called Hougoumont, or Chateau Goumont. This was a gentleman's house, of the old Flemish architecture, having a tower and battlements. It was surrounded on one side by a large farm-yard, and on the other opened to a garden, and fenced by a brick-wall, which was loop-holed by the British on the night of the 17th. The whole was encircled by an open grove of tall trees, covering a space of about three or four acres, without any underwood. This chateau, with the advantages afforded by its wood and gardens, formed a strong point d'appui to the British right wing. The Duke of Wellington had occupied this house, as also the wall and gar

den, with a detachment of guards from the se- BOOK XV. cond brigade, and a regiment of the troops of Nassau. It was a post of the utmost importance; CHAP. VII. for while it was held the enemy could not ap1815. proach the right of the British army.

The country around is generally open, groups of trees only appearing behind Frischermont, Planchenoit, Mon Plaisir, and near the so much talked of observatory. Several villages and farm-houses rose amidst those fields, which were cultivated in the highest manner, and covered chiefly with rye, at this season of the year in the utmost luxuriance of vegetation. From the incessant rain all the ground was very soft; and, in some new-ploughed fields, the troops could not move without sinking to the calf of the leg. In the rear of those memorable fields lies the vast forest of Soignies, consisting chiefly of bushes, extremely tall and beautiful. Through this forest, for several miles, runs the great road from Brussels to the frontiers. In passing the position which we have just described, the Duke of Wellington, on the preceding year, remarked, that it was a spot which he should choose were he ever called upon to defend Brussels. Little did he at that moment imagine, that he should so soon be called upon to defend Brussels; and still less could he think that it would be against such an enemy.

Such was the ground, and such were the positions of the contending armies, who were about to contend for the fate of Europe. The shades of a short, but gloomy, rainy, and uncomfortable night were past. The morning of the 18th, (Sunday) dawned. Like the night, it was cheerless and rainy: dark and sullen clouds obscured the face of heaven, and blackened the approach of this eventful and bloody day. No sun of Austerlitz here shed his morning beams on those ranks which looked upon such omens as an infallible sign of victory. With the morning arose thousands who were destined never to see the dawn of another. Stiff, and almost motionless, from having slept on the open fields, and under such deluges of rain, the officers and soldiers awoke, and began to prepare for battle.