Here the brave, the lamented Sir W. Ponsonby fell, leading on his men to victory and glory.

got it as hot as they gave it; then it came down to the left, where they were received by our brave Highlanders. No men could ever behave better; our brigade of cavalry covered them. Owing to a column of foreign troops giving way, our brigade was forced to advance to the support of our brave fellows, and which we certainly did in style; we charged through two of their columns, each about 5,000; it was in the first charge I took the Eagle from the Enemy; he and I had a hard contest for it; he thrust for my groin---I parried it off, and cut him through the head; after which I was attacked by one of their lancers, who threw his lance at me, but missed the mark, by my throwing it off with my sword by my right side; then I cut him from the chin upwards, which went through his teeth; next I was attacked by a foot soldier, who, after firing at me, charged me with his bayonet---but he very soon lost the combat, for I parried it, and cut him down through the head; so that finished the contest for the Eagle. After which I presumed to follow my comrades, Eagle and all, but was stopped by the General, saying to me, "You brave fellow, take that to the rear you have done enough until you get quit of it ;" which I was obliged to do, but with great reluctance. I retired to a height, and stood there for upwards of an hour, which gave a general view of the field; but I cannot express the horrors I beheld: the bodies of my brave comrades were lying so thick upon the field, that it was scarcely possible to pass, and horses innumerable. I took the Eagle into Brussels, amidst the acclamations of thousands of the spectators who saw it." Editor.

The Eagles taken, belonged to the 45th and 105th regiments, and were superbly gilt and ornamented with gold fringe. That of the 45th was inscribed with the names of Jena, Austerlitz, Wagram, Eylau, Friedland, &c. being the battles in which this regiment, called the Invincibles, had signalized itself. The other was a present from Louisa to the 105th regiment. One was much defaced with blood and dirt, as if it had been struggled for, and the Eagle was also broken off from the pole, as if from the cut of a sabre, but it was nevertheless preserved. It is worthy of observation, that the Eagles taken, were only given to their respective regiments at the Champ de Mai. On the 1st of June, they glittered over the heads of the vain Parisians, amid cries of Vive l'Empereur. Editor.

The Life Guards, the foremost in this important battle, by their physical power and courage, appalled the veteran enemy, although clad in mail, and in possession of that high mind (grande pensée), which devoted them to honour and the country. Often, in the conflict of" La Belle Alliance," did the Earl of Uxbridge turn his eye towards them, exclaiming, "Now for the honour of the Household Troops ;" and as often was his Lordship solaced by the brightest effects of glory under his eye. (Vide Extract of a Letter from an Officer in the Horse Guards). Editor.

Captain Kelly, of the Life Guards, encountered and killed the Colonel of the

The grief of his country and friends for his loss, will be aggravated by the knowledge that it is to be attributed as much to the fault of his horse, as to his too ardent courage, which carried him alone and unsupported into the midst of his enemies; the account that has been given of the death of this gallant officer is perfectly correct. He led his brigade against the Polish Lancers, checked at once their destructive charges against the British Infantry, and took 2000 prisoners; but having pushed on at some distance from his troops, accompanied only by one Aide-decamp, he entered a newly-ploughed field, where the ground was excessively soft. Here his horse stuck, and was utterly incapable of extricating himself. At this instant, a body of Lancers approached him at full speed. Sir William saw that his fate was inevitable. He took out a picture, and his watch, and was in the act of giving them to his Aide-de-camp to deliver to his wife and family, when the Lancers came up: they were both killed on the spot.* His body was

1st regiment of French Cuirassiers, in the battle of the 18th; after which he stripped the vanquished of his epaulets, and carried them as a trophy.

One man is known to have had three horses shot, and taken prisoner; but being rescued by Light Dragoons, returned and remounted to the charge.

Shaw, in the Horse Guards, of pugilistic fame, was fighting seven or eight hours, dealing destruction to all around him; at one time he was attacked by six of the French Imperial Guard, four of whom he killed, but at last fell by the remaining two. A comrade, who was by his side a great part of the day, and who is the relater of this anecdote, noticed one particular cut, which drove through his opponent's helmet, and with it cut nearly the whole of his face at the stroke. Editor.

* It is not the only instance of the coolness and bravery of that family in the field of battle. The Hon. Major-General Ponsonby, who fell in the battle of Fontenoy, in the year 1745, at the head of his regiment, was also in the act of bestowing his ring and watch on his son Brabazon, who was his aide-de-camp, when a cannon-ball struck him dead. We have been favoured with this fact by the great-grandson of the General. The watch and ring are still in possession of the family, and preserved with great veneration. Editor.

ound, lying beside his horse, pierced with seven lance wounds; but he did not fall unrevenged. Before the day was ended, the Polish Lancers were almost entirely cut to pieces by the Brigade which this officer had led against them.

There is a considerable space of ground, and a deep dell between the observatory and Hougoumont. fig. 28, Plate 2. The peasant* who had served Napoleon as a guide the preceding day, was with him during the principal part of the battle; and from him we learnt that he often expressed surprise that the Belgic troops did not come over to him. Wherever the French encountered them, by his orders they called to them to join and not to fight against their Emperor. He had formed the idea of arming the Belgic peasantry, and a considerable dépôt of muskets was at Lisle for that purpose. Before the engagement began, he addressed a short speech to the soldiers, which was received with enthusiasm, promising them that Brussels and Ghent should be given up to plunder for three hours, according to some accounts-to others, for three days. He is reported to have said, These English fight well, but they must give way soon;" and asked Soult if he "did not think so?" Soult said, that he much doubted whether they would ever give way. "And why?" said Napoleon with his usual quickness. Soult replied: "he believed they would sooner be cut to pieces." Still Napoleon seemed to entertain the fullest confidence of victory, and at six o'clock jocu

Vide La Coste's (the peasant's name) interesting and detailed narrative in Vol. II. of Additional Particulars.

larly observed that they should arrive at Brussels in

good time for supper.

Soon after, the Prussians advanced from the wood at the bottom of the ravine, fig. 29, Plate 1, passing the little hamlet in the hollow, fig. 30, Plate 1, and advancing up the heights, fig. 31, 32, Plate 1, to the right flank and rear of the French position. At first he would not credit it-he angrily exclaimed, they were his own troops, they were French reinforcements advancing under Grouchy and Vandamme: but when the truth was forced upon him, when he perceived that they were really Prussians, his countenance changed, he turned pale, and faltered in his speech; and when he saw the impetuous charge of the Allies, and the confusion and discomfiture of his own troops, his alarm became extreme, and exclaiming," Tout est perdu!" he precipitately galloped from the field, It is, I believe, beyond a doubt that he was one of the first to set the example of flight. After relating these parculars, the guide, hearing some person speak of him with contempt, cordially agreed with us that he certainly was a pitiful scoundrel, (“un vrai scélérat,”) for he had only given him a single napoleon for all the trouble he had had with him.

At the commencement of the action the Duke of Wellington on horseback, surrounded by his Staff, stood on the high ground to the right of the high road from Brussels to Genappe, fig. 34, Plate 2. To say where he afterwards was, is impossible-it would be more difficult to say where he was not; wherever his presence was most requisite, he was to be found; he

seemed to be every where present. Exposed to the hottest fire, in the most conspicuous position, he stood reconnoitring with his glass, watching the Enemy's manœuvres, and issuing orders with the most intrepid coolness, while balls and shells showered around him, and his Staff Officers fell wounded and dying by his side. Sir William De Lancey received the shot which occasioned his death while the Duke was in close conversation with him, and many of his escapes seemed almost miraculous.*

He was once on the point of being taken prisoner by a party of cavalry; and at one time, perceiving the 52nd and 95th regiments waver and give ground under the attack of an overwhelming force, he rallied them, placed himself at their head, charged in person, drove back the Enemy, and restored the day. So tremendous were the dangers he braved, and so astonishing his escapes, that the hand of a protecting Providence seemed to have shielded him through the perils of that eventful day, to be the Saviour of his

* At a critical part of the battle, he took his station on a ridge, and declared he would not stir from it, nor did he stir till he quitted it in triumph. In the whole of the contest, he performed all the duties a military man could perform. He was General of Division, Commander of Corps, and Colonel of a Regiment! He at times headed several different regiments, and rallied them to the attack. Towards the close of the day, Napoleon led an attack of the Imperial Guards; they were met by the British Guards (who did not feel the panic, which it was boasted these men had occasioned among the Prussians and Russians), and overthrown in an instant, in the finest style. The position of Waterloo was well known to his Grace: in the summer of last year, his Grace went there in his way to Paris, and on that occasion took a military view of it. He then declared, that if ever it should be his fortune to defend Brussels, Waterloo would be the position he would occupy. His conduct on the 18th had thrown all his former actions into the shade; he never moved, but in fire; and when one of the hottest charges was made by the enemy, he threw himself into the hollow square that was charged. Editor.

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