had the troops continued with light guns, the great day had been lost. The earlier hours of the battle were chiefly affairs of artillery but, kept down by the admirable and steady fire of our guns, the Enemy's infantry could not come on en masse ; and his cavalry, though bold, impetuous, and daring, was forced to try the flanks, rather than the front of our position.*

*No account yet published of the battle, seen by the Editor, has mentioned in adequate terms, the effect of our artillery at Waterloo; no English account at least. The Enemy felt it, and in their manner of expressing themselves, have passed the greatest compliment. A French account, given in our preceding pages, says, “The English Artillery made dreadful havock in our ranks." See p. 135, Vol. I. "The Imperial Guard made several charges, but was constantly repulsed, crushed by a terrible artillery, that each minute seemed to multiply. These invincible grenadiers beheld the grape-shot make day through their ranks; they closed promptly and coolly their shattered files." p. 138. "Enormous masses of British infantry, supported by an immense cavalry we had nothing to oppose to, (for our own had already met its destruction.") ib. This confirms the description of our destructive fire: but in all the accounts, the battle, from the first to the last, the important effects of this right arm of war appears to be forgotten. Buonaparté as making his last effort at Waterloo, says a foreign account, headed the advance, having no other resource, of his forlorn hope; “but when he arrived within 400 yards of three solid squares of allied troops, which occupied a ridge with formidable artillery, which ridge it was necessary to carry, he suddenly stopped under the broken ground of a sand-pit or ravine, and a little on one side, out of the direction of the cannon-balls." See p. 150. Buonaparté himself, we thus see, was stopped by the fire of our artillery; and the account referred to, by an eye-witness, describes the formidable column as "surprised and discontented," when they found Buonaparté was not, as they expected, at their head. They did not however stop, but pushed on; and we shall see the result. "In proportion as they ranged up the eminence," the account continues," and darted forward on the squares which occupied its summit, the artillery vomited death upon them, and killed them in masses." See p. 150. In an account given by an officer of the Northumberland, of Napoleon's conversations on board that ship, he says, "Buonaparté gives great credit to our infantry and artillery." See p. 175. A Hanoverian account, first published in this work, says: "The fire of the Enemy's artillery, now became brisker, and it was kept up on both sides with a vehemence such as few of the oldest soldiers, perhaps, ever witnessed." p. 194. The French official account, given in a preceding part, says: "For three hours numerous charges were made, which enabled us to penetrate several squares, and to take six standards of the light infantry; an advantage out of proportion with the loss which our cavalry experienced by the grape-shot and musket-firing." p. 258. Again:---“ As the Cuirassiers suffered from the grape-shot, we sent four battalions of the middle guard to protect the Cuirassiers, keep the position, and, if possible, draw back into the plain a part of our cavalry." p. 259. "At half past one o'clock, the four battalions of the middle guard, who had been sent to the ridge to support the Cuirassiers, being greatly annoyed by the grape-shot, endeavoured to carry the batteries with the bayonet." ib. Thus we see that the artillery continued till the very close of the action, as at the beginning, its destructive effects. In p. 115

The steadiness of our infantry, too, became confirmed by the comparative repose afforded by the fire of the artillery. Notwithstanding, had Napoleon supported his first cavalry attacks on both flanks by masses of infantry, he had gained the day. His last attack, which was so supported, we were aware of. An officer of the Imperial Cuirassiers, whether a deserter or not we could not determine, apprised us of this, pointing to the side on which he said the attack would be made in a quarter of an hour. It was necessary to find the Duke, and reported the important informa

of our present volume, the following passage occurs. "The two brigades of artillery belonging to General Cooke's division had taken up a position on the ridge of the hill, in front of the line of infantry, and the moment the Enemy made his appearance, our nine-pounders opened upon his columns. The Artillery officers had got the range so accurately, that almost every shot and shell fell in the very centre of his masses. So great was the effect produced by these few guns, that all Jerome's bravery could not make his fellows advance. This was the beginning of the action.” Again :---“The artillery on both sides was well served; but Buonaparté bad upwards of 250 pieces in the field. Notwithstanding our inferiority in this arm, which was still more apparent from the size of the Enemy's guns, (being 12-pounders, ours only 9 and 6,) than from their numbers, ours were so well fought, that I believe it is allowed by all, they did equal execution.” p. 18,Vol. II. Again.---Describing Buonaparte's last effort at half past seven o'clock, when" he gave orders to form the last column of attack, formed principally of the Guard, which had hitherto suffered but little---he gave directions for the whole of the line to second this effort, upon which he said the victory depended; and placing himself at their head, they advanced in double quick time. These veteran warriors, so long esteemed the first troops in Europe, advanced across the plain, which divided the two armies, with a firmness which nothing could exceed; and though our grape and cannister made dreadful havock in their ranks, they were not disconcerted." p. 20. See also the account of Capt. Bolton and Napier's brigade of Foot Artillery, from which it appears the Artillery had turned the Enemy, previous to the advance of the Guards, p. 46. The French displayed the greatest rage and fury; they cursed the English while they were fighting, and cursed the precision with which the English grape-shot was fired, which, said the man, was neither too high nor too low, but struck right in the middle." p. 82, Vol. I. Many other testimonials might be added to these, of the excellent practice made by our artillery in this short campaign---shortened probably thereby---A statement of the loss before us, states 32 officers, 300 men killed and wounded, and 529 horses killed of the Artillery, in the actions of the 16th and 18th." This statement may be relied on. And it may serve to mark the comparative severity of this short campaign, when we state, that the total field casualties of the corps of Artillery in the whole Peninsular warfare, wherein their zeal and execution have been highly and justly praised, did not half equal this amount. We may further be allowed to remark, though perhaps irrelevant, that in the whole of the campaigns of Portugal, Spain, the Pyrenees, and their vicinity, we did not lose a single gun. In one action, some of the field-pieces fell into the Enemy's hands for a while, but were retaken. Editor.

* Dr. Halliday's account, published in Paris.

tion, so that the necessary dispositions were made. With all these, this last struggle was nearly fatal to our hopes. But our infantry remaining firm, not only receiving the cavalry in squares, but, on their retiring, darting into line, and charging the Imperial Infantry Guards, and again resuming their squares, the Enemy was forced to give way. I have seen nothing like this moment. The sky literally darkened with smoke-the sun just going down, and which till then had not for some hours broken through the gloom of a dull day-the indescribable shouts of thousands-it was impossible to distinguish between friend and foe. Every man's arm was raised against that of every other. Suddenly after the mingled mass had ebbed and flowed, the Enemy began to give way, and cheering and English huzzas announced that the day must be ours.

of

"Are you not tired of battles ?-sick of the sanguinary description?-What must have been the reality? The Duke himself said, in the evening, that he had never seen such a battle, and hoped he never should again. To this hope, we will all say, Amen. "Before the affair began, the Duke had a copy of a report from -, who was on piquet at St. Lambert, that Bulow with 25,000 Prussians were arrived at Ohain, three quarters of a league from his post;-That Bulow had sent an officer to say so, and wished the Duke to be acquainted with it. Meeting Sir Thomas Picton, I communicated it to him. He told me the line was ordered under arms, and that we were to be attacked. Passing Sir Thomas, and riding to the left of the position, whither I understood the Duke to have gone, the Enemy's Lancers were observed gaily stretching to their right; and the heads of their infantry columns were just appearing. This was about 10 A. M. Sir Thomas Picton, with whose division we were also come to the spot, and whilst speaking to our party, rode up to a Belgic battalion to correct something giving way. He has since fallen. Not finding the Duke, we rode toward the centre, where we found him. On telling

was aware of it.

what, we had learned, he said his Grace

"His Grace had determined not to lose a wood * 300 yards in front of that part of the line that was in reality the weakest. This wood is close to where the extension of our line touched the pavé

*It is reported, that Lord Uxbridge, when asking the Duke for the material points of his operation should any accident arise, received for reply, keep Hougomont. E.

leading from Nivelles to Waterloo. From this pavé, there is an avenue of 200 yards leading to one large and two smaller houses enclosed, together with a large garden, within a wall. Beyond the wall, and embracing the whole front of the buildings, and an orchard, and perhaps altogether three or four acres, is the thick wood. To the right, as viewed from our position, the wood was high; to the left, less high; and toward our position, thick, but low. "Whilst looking about, it was again remarked, that the weak point of our line was on our right; and it was imagined, that the Enemy, making a demonstration on our left, would forcibly seize the wood, and interposing between us and Braine-la-Leude, endeayour to turn the right flank of our second line. To prevent this, the Howitzer troop (Major Bull's) was ordered up, and came in very handsome style. By this time, the Enemy had forced a Belgic battalion out of the orchard to the left of the wood, and there was a hot fire on a battalion, (or 4 companies, I forget which,) of the Guards stationed in the buildings, and behind the walled garden.

"The imposing approach of the Howitzer Troop, encouraged the remainder of the division of the Guards, who were lying down to be sheltered from the fire. The Duke, observing what was intended, made some remarks upon the delicacy of the service, as it regarded the correctness of the howitzers, part of the wood being held by our troops, and part by the Enemy; his Grace explaining at the same time in the clearest and most calm manner the situation of affairs. The Duke being satisfied that every dependence might be placed upon the men and guns, orders were given, the troop commenced its fire, and in ten minutes the Enemy were driven from the wood. Major Ramsay's and Captain Mercer's troops of Horse Artillery were now ordered to the right of Sir Henry Clinton's division, in the second line, and Captain Webber Smith's troop fired down the pavé leading from Nivelles to Waterloo. By this time the Enemy, stretching to his left, showed some squadrons of Lancers and Cuirassiers towards our right. There were several undulations and one hollow road, by which he might advance rapidly to the attack; and we remained some time, expecting to observe some indication of his approach; but the Enemy not pressing, part of the 51st Light Battalion was pushed on beyond where the road in your map leads from the pave to Braine-la-Leud. "The action becoming more general, the fire hotter, and nothing

pressing particularly on our right wing, we returned to the first line. Ramsay's troop was ordered to the centre of the second line, whither also it became necessary, at one time, to send Bull's troop to refit and repair carriages. The wood from the front of which it went, was taken and retaken three times. At a quarter before three the large building burst out in a volume of flame, and formed a striking feature in the murderous scene. Imagining that this fire might oblige our troops to quit a post most material, and that it would have an effect, and probably a great one, on the results of the day, I remarked the time by my watch. The Guards, however, held the post, and maintained themselves in the lesser buildings, from which the Enemy could not dislodge them. To our right of the burning buildings, a troop of Horse Artillery, galled by the superior fire of the Enemy's artillery, could not keep its ground. But the post being essential, it was ordered up again at all hazards; and its loss was not so great as might have been reasonably expected. True is the observation, that boldness is generally safety.

By this time the infantry were entirely formed into squares; the cavalry generally in solid columns; the crest of our position crowned with artillery. It was now that the French cavalry, advancing with an unparalleled intrepidity, attacked at once the right and centre of our position, their advance protected by a cannonade more violent than ever. Behind the crest of the position, the ground declined gradually to the easy valley in which the pave runs; by an equally gentle swell, the ground rose beyond the pavé to the position of the second line, perhaps a quarter of a mile from the first, but receding more toward the left. This declination of ground was most favourable to the infantry, who under a tremendous cannonade were thus in a great measure sheltered, by their lying down by order. On the approach,-the majestic approach,-of the French column, the squares rose, and with a steadiness almost inconceivable, awaited, without firing, the rush of the cavalry; who, after making some fruitless efforts, sweeping the whole artillery of the line, and receiving the fire of the squares as they passed, retired, followed by, and pell-mell with, our own cavalry, who, formed behind our squares, advanced on the first appearance (which was unexpected) of the Enemy's squadrons. The Enemy rushed down the hill, forming again under its shelter, and in a great measure co