Picton, and instantly by command of that lamented officer brought into action by a charge upon a column of the Enemy: it succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations in routing this column, who afterwards formed under the protection of their cavalry, and then commenced a most galling fire upon us, which we returned with the utmost steadiness and precision. The battalion was brought into action under the most trying circumstances imaginable, and continued so for a long time; but they never for one moment lost sight of that character which upon former trials they had so well earned and maintained. The ground through which they moved was planted with corn that took the tallest men up to the shoulders; and the Enemy by this, and the advantage of the rising ground, threw in volley after volley of grape and musketry, which did astonishing execution.

"After being engaged for some time in a line, the battalion was formed into a square to resist the Enemy's cavalry, who were then advancing in great force; and I have the pride of stating, that though charged six or seven times by an infinite superiority of numbers, the French cavalry never for an instant made the slightest impression upon the square of the Royal Scots.

"The high encomiums given to this battalion on the morning of the 17th, by the General Officers both of Brigade and Division, for its conduct on the 16th, have made me very proud of being a Royal Scot. The Cuirassiers never were able to make the smallest impression upon our squares, nor did we lose one single man by the cavalry. We were at the very commencement of the action sent with Sir James Kempt's brigade, by order of Sir T. Picton, and remained apart from our own brigade the whole day. The 42d and 92d were chiefly engaged near a village, in which the Commander of the Forces remained with the head-quarters for a great part of the afternoon. Our battalion and the 28th formed one square, and it so happened that the Cuirassiers charged that part of the square in which the Royals were posted.

"On the afternoon of the 17th, the battalion, in concert with the rest of the army, retired through the village of Genappe, and took up the position of Waterloo, which was destined to add fresh glory to the British arms, About nine o'clock in the morning of the 18th, the battalion was attacked by the Enemy,

and with very little interruption the entire day they formed a line of skirmishing in front of the brigade. I have often seen the battalion engaged; but I must confess, on this trying day, they far excelled any thing I ever witnessed, and, indeed, so pleased was the late General Picton with their gallantry and good. conduct, that he several times expressed it himself to them in the most flattering terms."

Extract of a Letter from Charleroi, June 20th, in the morning. The well-known sentiments of the Functionary who is the author

of this letter, guarantees the authenticity of the details which he gives.

"The 14th in the evening, the Prussians were informed, that a movement was executing along the whole French line; and in fact, at seven a. m. on the 15th, the tirailleurs were upon Marchiennes-sur-Pont and Couillet. There were several affairs of out-posts, and the firing of musketry took place as far as the entrance of the wood of Gilly. The French remained masters of the town at eleven a. m.

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Buonaparte's army defiled during two days; he was himself at the head of the first column; he passed through here at three o'clock, as far as the wood of Gilly, where he took a position.

"About 6 or 7 p. m. he returned to lodge at Puissants, and set off again the next morning at 10, to direct the battle which took place from Ligny to Quatre-Bras.-I never in my life saw a finer French army, than that which he had this time.*

"It was wholly composed of veteran troops, and had a considerable matériel. Well, in twice twenty-four hours he has lost all. His soldiers began to arrive here on the 18th, at 7 p. m. in the most terrible disorder. Three quarters of those who returned were wounded. The Generals and Officers were in the most cruel despair, and vented a thousand imprecations against this man, who cannot satiate himself with blood: they will not serve him any longer. Almost all the Colonels, Majors, and Generals, are either killed or wounded. In a word, of 40,000 cavalry who passed through here, not 10,000 capable of service have returned; they all threw away their arms, and every soldier said he was going home, and that nobody should ever bring him into the fire again.

N. B. The writer has served several campaigns as a conscript.

"Officers have told me, that the retreat from Moscow was not near so terrible as this, because the Generals and Chiefs of Corps had abandoned every thing, and saved themselves as they could. "Of the immense artillery which Buonaparté had, only twelve pieces of cannon have returned.

"From Quatre-Bras to Beaumont, you cannot take four steps without finding effects that have been abandoned. More than 100 caissons, loaded with ammunition, provisions, and money, were abandoned in the streets of Charleroi, which, in three hours, were all pillaged by the populace.

"I have just learned, that almost all the villages through which the French passed in their retreat, have been plundered. Marshal Blucher's corps is here, and the heads of his columns are advancing to Beaumont. The French prisoners taken by the Prussians, are sent to Tirlemont, Louvain, Liege, &c. Their number is immense; the artillery taken is sent to the rear of the army."

From a Correspondent at Brussels, June 22.

"After the action of the 16th, which was uncommonly obstinate and bloody, both armies retired a few miles. The French occupied a large wood near Genappe: the English took up a strong position, with a village called Waterloo in their centre, (which was head-quarters), about thirteen miles from Brussels, having the fine forest of Soigné, which extends from thence to the very gates of Brussels, in their rear. The Prussians, under General Bulow, were posted on the left of the Anglo-Belgic army, having the small town of Wavre for their head-quarters. All Saturday, the 17th, both sides were busy preparing for the terrible contest. A cannonade was kept up at intervals. The weather was sultry, with heavy showers and much thunder and lightning. The British artillery and cavalry (the want of which was severely felt on the 16th, had now come up, with the 27th, and someother fresh regiments. The ground being unequal, the little hills and swells were furnished with cannon. These preparations continued till about noon of Sunday the 18th, when the French debouched from their coverts, and were astonished, but not daunted, to find us so well prepared to receive them. They made their attack with more than their usual impetuosity, attempting to cut our line, and turn our left wing; in which if they

had succeeded, they would have separated us from the Prussians. To effect this, they made the most astonishing and reiterated efforts, column propelling column, whilst their artillery and mortars scattered destruction along our whole line. They, in fact, did succeed in breaking up some of our squares of infantry, notwithstanding the most heroic acts of courage that ever were displayed in any battle. But the Enemy's columns were shaken; his men could no longer be made to stand; and his officers fought unsupported by their soldiers, like men in despair. At this critical moment, the grand and general charge was made. Our brave fellows poured down on the Enemy with irresistible force; and about nine o'clock, the French gave up the well-fought field, and retreated about six miles, leaving the ground thickly strewed with killed and wounded, arms, cannon, and baggage. How our great Hero of the battle escaped being killed or taken is wonderful, as he was never exposed so much before. He was seen with his spy-glass, viewing the manoeuvres of the field, with the same sang-froid and self-possession that an astronomer might be supposed to view the satellites of Jupiter; whilst showers of balls and shells flew about him, with evident direction, and which killed and wounded several of his Staff. A select party of French cavalry cut their passage through our line of infantry, and were near succeeding in taking him prisoner. At one critical time, when our lines and squares were wavering, Lord Wellington himself, at the head of the 95th, charged and drove back the most advanced of the Enemy.-(Vide Etching.)

"The feats of particular regiments were also remarkable. The 28th, formed into a square, repulsed the repeated efforts of the Cuirassiers to break through them. The 73d did the same; it repulsed every thing until its flanks were opened by showers of grape.-( Vide Etching.)

"The three Highland Regiments, the 42d, 79th, and 92d, already thinned in the action of the 16th, and of which they bore the brunt, were now reduced to complete skeletons.-Such was also the state of the 44th after the action. Nor were the acts of the cavalry less meritorious, particularly the Heavy Brigade. The charge was led by the 6th, or Enniskilling Dragoons, with Sir William Ponsonby at their head. They cut down every thing before them, and overturned the French chasseurs like ninepins. It is said they actually made 3,000 prisoners. They were

followed up with equal intrepidity by the Guards, the Scotch Greys, and the 1st Dragoon Guards: but to enumerate the particular deeds of each, would require the historic page to contain them. Suffice it to say, that all the British did their duty in the most exemplary manner, as they never fail to do: nor shall I tarnish so brilliant a battle by making any remarks on corps who might not have been so steady. As to the Enemy, it is but justice to say, his courage and conduct equalled, if not surpassed, the finest of his former exploits. It would be unworthy in us to wish to elevate our own character by traducing our enemies. For by how much his valour shall have been conspicuous, by so much the more glory will they have acquired who have beat him. History will have a fine and just subject of praise in that of his Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince of Belgium. Towards the close of the day, when our lines were bending, he was at the head of his people, cheering and exciting them, amidst the hottest fire; in doing which, his Royal Highness received a musket-ball in his left arm, which ultimately lodged in the shoulder."

Extract of a Letter from a German Officer, July 16.

"I have visited the field of battle.* The sleep of the dead is sound. On the spot where this day month thousands thronged and fought, where thousands sank and bled, and groaned and died, there is now not a living soul, and over all hovers the stillness of the grave.

"In Ligny 2000 dead were buried. Here fought the Westphalian and Berg regiments. Ligny is a village built of stone and thatched with straw, on a small stream which flows through flat meadows. In the village are several farm-houses, inclosed with walls and gates. Every farm-house the Prussians had converted into a fortress. The French endeavoured to penetrate through the village by means of superior numbers. Four times were they driven out. At last they set on fire the farm-houses in the upper end of the village with their howitzers; but the Prussians still kept their ground at the lower end. A whole com

* Those who witnessed the field two days after the battle, state, that the spectacle was most horrible; the contortion of the fallen was inconceivable, and this horror was increased by the large masses of horses that fell. Editor.