Orange, supported by the regiments of Brunswick and Nassau, with the guards under General Cooke, on the right, and General Alten's division on the left. In front was the farm of La Haye Sainte, which was occupied in considerable force. The road from Gemappe to Brussels ran through the middle of the centre. The left wing, comprising the divisions of Generals Picton, Kempt, and Lambert, extended to the left of Ter la Have, the defiles of which defended the extremity of the left, and prevented it from being turned. The greater part of the cavalry was posted in the rear of the left of the centre. Separated by a valley varying from half to threequarters of a mile in breadth, were other heights following the sinuosity of those on which the British troops were posted. The advanced guard of the enemy reached these heights in the evening of the 17th, and some slight skirmishes took place between the outposts. The night was stormy and tempestuous; the rain descended in torrents, and the soldiers were up to their knees in mud. Many of the officers, who had not yet been able to change their ball-dresses, laid themselves down to rise no more; as their limbs were so completely stiffened by the cold and wet, that they were unable to move. Few places could be found sufficiently free from mud to light a fire, and, when the fire was lighted, the rain, which continued to pour down, immediately extinguished it. But, if the night were terrible to the soldiers who were inured to the inclemency of the weather, it was still more dreadful to the inhabitants of the villages in the rear of the French army. It had always been Buonaparte's policy, when so much depended on the heroism of his troops, to relax the severity of his discipline, and to permit them to indulge in the most shameful excesses. They now abandoned themselves to more than usual atrocities. Every house was pillaged; the property which could not be removed was wantonly destroyed, and the terrified inhabitants fled in despair to the adjacent woods. him, if he was well acquainted with the local situation of the country, and if he would be his guide? La Coste having answered him satisfactorily, Buonaparte told him he would accompany him, adding—* Speak frankly with me, my friend, as if you were with your children." While Napoleon remained at the farm, La Coste was closely watched by one of the guards, who, whilst walking with him, informed him of the force of the French army, and told him, that, upon passing the frontiers, they had an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men, of which forty thousand were cavalry, among which were nine thousand cuirassiers, seven thousand of the new, and eight or nine thousand of the old, guards. This soldier praised much the bravery displayed by the British at Quatre Bras, and particularly admired the sang froid of the Scotch Highlanders. During this time, Buonaparte had La Coste called three different times, to obtain information as to the maps of the country, which he constantly consulted. He questioned him chiefly upon the distance of several towns of Brabant from the field of battle, and made him explain those he had seen in his youth. La Coste named fourteen, which appeared to please Buonaparte: he seemed very much satisfied to find that La Coste was Flemish, and that he spoke the language: he advised him, above all, to give only well-authenticated information, and not to answer for things of which he was uncertain. Before any of the French troops were placed in the positions which they were to occupy, Napoleon ascended a neighbouring eminence, and carefully examined every feature of the surrounding country. Not an inequality of the ground, not a hedge escaped him. He was employed in this preparation during four or five hours, and every observation was carefully noted in a map, which he held in his hand. The space occupied by the two armies was the smallest in extent of front, compared with the numbers engaged, in the recollection of military men. The British line did not extend more than a mile and a half in length, nor the French line more than two miles. This may partly account for the immense loss sustained by each party, and particularly for the destruction occasioned by the artillery. Notwithstanding the torrents of rain and the depth of the roads, the Corsican was enabled to bring up his whole army, together with three hundred pieces of artillery. He was apprehensive that the British would retire in the night; and, when he saw them at the dawn About nine o'clock the rain began to abate, and, at of day occupying the position of the preceding even-eleven, the French were ready to advance to the attack ing, he exclaimed with emotion, "Ah, I have them, then, these English!" A farmer, named La Coste, who lived at the house called Belle Alliance, was seized by the French, and carried to Buonaparte, who was then at a farm called Rossum. On his being introduced, the Corsican asked Their left wing was commanded by Jerome Buonaparte; the centre by Generals Erlon and Reille, and the right by Count Lobau. The imperial guard was in reserve. The leaders of the hostile armies were acknowledged to be the greatest generals of the age. Buonaparte had often confessed that the Duke of Wellington was the 46 Orange, right, an front was pied in to Bruss left wing Kempt, Have, th the left, greater | the left c Separa quarters lowing 1 troops we reached some sli posts. The n descende knees in been abl down to ly stiffen to move. from mu the rain, extinguis But, it were inu still mor the rear naparte's roism of pline, a shameful to more laged; t wantonly in despai Notwit of the ro whole ar tillery. retire in of day d ing, he then, the A farr called B carried t Rossum. second general in the world, and this acknowledgment | campaign, or till the seeds of dissension were sown was always followed by the lamentation that he had not among the allies. As the troops of the respective armies yet had the good fortune to meet him in battle. When advanced to their positions, Buonaparte ascended an be set out from Paris to place himself at the head of his observatory, which had been recently erected by order troops, almost his last words to his friends were, "that of the king of the Netherlands, preparatory to a trigohe was at last going to measure swords with this Wel-nometrical survey of the country. From this spot he lington, of whom he had no doubt that he should give a good account." The Duke had successively vanquished all the French marshals who had been opposed to him, and now, for the first time, found himself confronted with their master. Never, in the annals of modern warfare, had two generals of equal reputation met on the field, or two whose system of tactics was so entirely different. commanded the whole of both lines. He was particularly struck with the fine appearance of some of the British troops. "How steadily," said he to his aidesde-camp, "these troops take their ground! How beantifully those cavalry form! Observe those grey horse! (the Scotch Greys). Are they not noble troops? Yet, in half an hour, I shall cut them to pieces." Lord Wellington had despatched a courier on the preceding evening to Marshal Blucher, stating that he expected to be attacked, and desiring the co-operation of as many divisions as he could spare. The Marshal promised to be with him in person, and proposed that, should the French army decline the combat, the combined British and Prussian troops should become the assailants. The plan of Buonaparte was simple, but grand. The whole weight of his ariny was directed on one point, either where his opponent seemed to be weakest, or where success must be followed by the annihilation of the foe. To accomplish his favourite objects, he hesitated not to sacrifice regiments, divisions, or whole armies. When one corps retired in confusion, another was instantly ordered to occupy its place. "Forward, forward," was the only reply to every intelligence of repulse; and it must be acknowledged, that his calculations were usually correct, and his efforts successful. The system of the Duke of Wellington was diame-plied the British hero. trically opposite. Anxious to spare the blood of his soldiers, he usually awaited the attack of his enemy. No temporary or partial success could induce him to compromise the safety of his army: but his penetrating eye detected the first error, or the first indecision of the foe, and, with a promptitude as characteristic as his previous coolness, he availed himself of the critical juncture, and secured the victory. These renowned generals were now opposed to each other for the first time. The reputation which each had previously gained, the rivalry which existed between them, and the almost uniform success which had attended their different systems, were powerful incentives to extraordinary exertions. Nor had they now to contend for mere personal glory; the one had to secure his usurped dignities-the other to give repose to a bleeding world. When the French troops were all drawn up on the opposite heights, one of the Duke of Wellington's officers expressed some alarm, and wished that the Prussians were arrived. "The roads are heavy," re"They cannot be here before two or three o'clock, but my brave fellows will keep double that force at bay until then." About eleven o'clock the cannonade commenced, and soon became general through the whole of the line. At half-past eleven, the left wing of the French advanced against the chateau of Hougoumont. The battalions which occupied the wood in front defended themselves with great gallantry against the overwhelming numbers that pressed upon them; but, after many repeated attacks, the French penetrated to the house.. The English were now reinforced by the second brigade of guards, who, occupying the chateau, and lining the orchard and walls, resisted every attempt to dislodge them. The French forced their way to the very doors of the chateau, but were there received with so well-directed a fire that they retreated in confusion, or perished beneath the bayonet. Again they penetrated. and again were forced back. In less than half an hour fifteen hundred men perished in the orchard, which did not comprise more than four acres. After some time, the house and out-buildings were set on fire, and a most dreadful scene ensued. In one Napoleon had rushed on with all his accumulated force, as the last effort of despair. No new levies were at hand to repair his losses. Victory alone could obtain reinforcements; and, if he were severely repulsed in this engagement, his ruin was sealed for ever. On the other hand, if success attended him, the enthusi-part the combat raged with unabated fury, although asm of the French would again be roused; thousands would flock to his standard; the country which he now invaded would declare in his favour, and he would be enabled to protract the war until winter closed the both parties were enveloped with flames. In another, the British, after having repulsed the enemy, were unwilling to quit their station, although the flames were advancing towards them, and the building threatened to crush them in its ruins. In one of the out-buildings | charging a shot. They gained the height, and pressed the wounded of both parties, who were indiscriminately on, resolved to carry the position. Sir Thomas Picton heaped together, perished by the most terrible death. immediately formed his division into a solid square. Their shrieks and groans echoed through the wood; and advanced to the charge. Appalled by the boldbut the combatants were too fiercely engaged to lend ness of this manœuvre, the French hesitated, fired one them any assistance, and they were left to perish in the volley, and retreated. conflagration. The chateau was now reduced to a mere shell, and the French were enabled to approach it with greater facility; but, as often as they penetrated within the walls, they were repulsed by the bayonet, and at length, being foiled in all their attempts, and having suffered an immense loss, they retreated to the main body. The British had received orders not to pursue them beyond a certain point, and contented themselves with still maintaining the post which they had so nobly defended. Had the French been able to gain possession of this position, and to have planted their artillery precisely at the angle which it occupied, they would have commanded the whole of the Duke of Wellington's lines, and their fire would have carried destruction through the British army. The reader will therefore perceive why this was selected as the first object of attack, and why that attack was continued with such obstinacy. On this occasion, Sir Thomas Picton received musket-ball in his temple, and expired without a strug gle. After his lamented fall, it was discovered that he had received a wound in the hip, on the 16th, which he had concealed from all except bis valet, and which had assumed a serious aspect for want of surgical assistance. This meritorious officer had been forty-five years in the army. The first active service in which he was employed was in the West-Indies, where he was sent with his regiment (the sixty-eighth) on the breaking out of the revolutionary war. There he distinguished himself upon every occasion, and particularly at the capture of St. Lucie, and speedily rose from the rank of captain to that of lieutenant-colonel. In 1797, he was appointed governor of Trinidad : and, though in that situation he was accused of extreme severity, the accusation was completely rebutted by the verdict of a British jury; and the inhabitants of Trinidad were so sensible of the benefits which they had received under his administration, that, on his quitting the island, they voted him five thousand pounds, as a testimony of their esteem and gratitude. Some time after this a dreadful fire reduced the capital of the island to ashes. A subscription was opened for the unfortunate inhabitants, and Picton immediately returned the five thousand pounds, which he had received from them. When Buonaparte was convinced that he had failed in his design upon Hougoumont, the fire of canno and musketry became more terrible. Columns of French infantry and cavalry, preceded by a formidable artillery, advanced from all points, ascended the eminence on which the British were stationed, and precipitated themselves on their squares. In vain the French artillery mowed down entire ranks of their opponents. The chasms were instantly filled, and not a foot of ground was lost. "What brave troops!" exclaimed Buonaparte to his staff. "It is a pity to destroy them; but I shall defeat them at last." The British reserved their fire until the enemy had approached within a few paces, and then, with one well-directed volley, levelled whole squadrons of the French. Other troops, how-to England. ever, succeeded, and the enemy pressed on to closer and more destructive combat. The principal masses of the French were now directed on the left of the British, where the divisions of Generals Picton and Kempt were posted. Napoleon's object in this attack was to turn the left of the allies, and, by separating them from the Prussians, cut off the retreat of Lord Wellington in that direction. The Scottish regiments displayed all the heroism by which they had been distinguished in the battle of the 16th, and sustained the principal brunt of the attack. After a lapse of some years, he was employed in the expedition to Walcheren, and, on the capture of Flushing, was appointed governor of that place; an attack of the fever, which proved so destructive to the British army, compelled him to relinquish his post, and return He had scarcely recovered, when he was appointed to the command of a division in the Duke of Wellington's army in the Peninsula, and was the favourite companion of the hero in most of the battles of that protracted war. In the battle of Vittoria, his division sustained, for more than four hours, an unequal contest against the main body of the French army, and received, at the close of the engagement, the warmest acknowledgments from the commander-in-chief. It was at the personal solicitation of the Duke that he accepted the command of a division in the campaign A strong column of the enemy advanced under a of the Netherlands, where he terminated his military galling fire from the British artillery, without dis-exploits and his mortal existence. |