Leud told me that he saw some of the army (as he expressed it) en débandage. Buonaparte was probably only waiting for the moment when, with his Guards, he could decide the day. We shudder when we reflect, that at this important moment all depended on the local knowledge of a single peasant. Had he guided wrong, had he led them into the hollow way through which the cannon could not pass, had Bulow's army come upan hour later, the scale had probably descended on the other side. Had Buonaparte been victorious, and advanced to the Rhine, the French nation would have been intoxicated with victory, and with what they call the national glory, and a levy en masse would have been effected throughout all France. "How great soever the number of killed and wounded in a battle may be, yet, as compared with the amount of the armies engaged, it may generally be pronounced moderate. However murderous our artillery are, yet their operation is inconsiderable, as relative to the great number of rounds. At the battle of Leipsic, probably only about one in the hundred of cannon and cartridge balls fired took effect. The battle of Waterloo was more sanguinary from the smallness of the field of battle; probably every sixth man fell in it. Al "The disorder of a battle generally first originates with the runaways, who fly from an impression that all is lost, and who bawl this out to others, in order to excuse their own flight. though the Prussian army, on the 16th, retreated only half a league from Ligny, yet shoals of fugitives passed through Liege and Aix-la-Chapelle, spreading universal alarm. I fell in with some of them twenty-five leagues from the field of battle; they asserted that the French were within a mile of Brussels, and their light troops already in the suburbs. On the 18th, so early as five in the afternoon, French runaways came to the inn at Quatre Bras, who had fled from the field, even at the time when circumstances seemed very favourable to them. "The idea of being cut off operates very strongly upon men; should it get possession of the mass, then all order is lost, and the army destroys itself. Hence may be explained the great defeat of the French on the 18th. In Genappe there was nothing but pellmell confusion, and they suffered themselves to be cut down like cattle. In Genappe, 800 lay on the spot. General Duhesme, who commanded the rear guard, was cut down by a Brunswick hussar at the gate of an inn. The Duke fell yesterday, and thou shalt also bite the dust:' so saying, the black hussar cut him down. The fury of the Brunswickers no longer knew any bounds. Wellington's army consisted chiefly of young regiments, and very many of whom were quite youths. What supported them, was the confidence which they had in the talents of their General. 66 "The Belgians and Dutch, by the common victory in which they participated, have been pretty well amalgamated and fraternised. Besides, the nation feels itself honoured by its brave Prince." Letter from Prince Bernhard of Saxe Weimar, to his Father. "Bivouac near Waterloo, in the Wood between Brussels and Genappe, June 19th, 1815. "Dear Father, Thank God I am still alive, and have escaped unhurt from two bloody battles. The first was on the 16th of June, the second was yesterday. I beg you, when you read this, to take Ferrari's map in your hand. For four weeks I was in cantonments in Genappe, with the regiment of Orange Nassau, of which I am Colonel. On the 15th I was appointed Brigadier of the second brigade of the division Perponcher; my predecessor had had the misfortune to break his leg. Besides my two battalions of Orange Nassau, I now had under my command three battalions of the Duchy of Nassau, when my brigade was 4000 strong: to-day I have not 1200 left! On the 15th, the French fell upon the Prussian army, and pressed it very much. My brigade continued on the left wing of the Dutch army, the headquarters of which were at Braine-le-Comte-my division lay in Nivelles. A battalion of Nassau were at Frasne, and also a battery of Dutch horse-artillery. When the Prussians retreated towards Fleurus, the post at Frasne was attacked and driven back. The infantry threw itself into a wood on the right, and the artillery retired fighting to Quatre Bras. At this important post I had drawn my brigade together, and cannonaded the enemy, whom I succeeded in keeping off. I maintained this post through the whole night. Towards morning, on the 16th, I was reinforced by a battalion of Dutch yagers, and a battalion of militia. Soon after arrived my General of Division and the Prince of Orange. With the latter I went to the out-posts, and by his order undertook a reconnoissance, with a battalion and two cannon. Towards noon the enemy showed strong columns, and began to cannonade us. It is said he had three corps of his army engaged against us on this day. We had only five battalions to oppose to him, and the skirts of a wood to defend to the utmost. "The Duke of Wellington himself was present at the beginning of the action: I kept my ground a long time against an enemy thrice my number, and had only two Belgic cannons to protect myself with. The enemy took the point of a wood opposite me, and incommoded my left flank. I, without loss of time, took some volunteers and two companies of Dutch militia, and recovered my wood at the point of the bayonet: I was at the head of the storming parties, and had the honour to be one of the first in the wood. In cutting away some branches I wounded myself with my sabre very slightly in the right leg, but was not a moment out of battle. It is, in fact, not worth while to mention this wound; I write to you about it, only that you and my good mother may not be alarmed by exaggerated and foolish reports. While I manfully defended my wood, the enemy drove back our left wing as far as Quatre Bras. It was on this occasion that the brave Duke of Brunswick was killed by a ball, which entered his breast. Strong columns of infantry turned my right flank; I asked for orders how to act, but received none. When I saw myself surrounded on all sides, and my people had expended all their ammunition, I retreated in good order through the wood to the neighbourhood of Hautain-le-Val. The Hanoverian division Alten supported me, and recovered the wood, but lost it again; at last it was forced by the English with great loss, and maintained through the night. I bivouacked for the night in the wood. The Prussians retreated this day to Wavre, and on account of this retreat we were obliged to retire to the position near Mont St. Jean, between Genappe and Brussels; this was done on the 17th. We were obliged to bivouac for the night upon a very muddy soil, in the most dreadful rain. Yesterday about ten o'clock began the decisive battle, which was completely gained towards evening by Wellington over Napoleon in person. A hundred and sixty cannon are the fruit of this bloody victory. I commanded on the left wing, and was charged to maintain a village and a position. With a great loss of men I succeeded. The victory was still doubtful, when, about four o'clock, the Prussians, under Generals Bulow and Ziethen, arrived upon our left flank, and decided the battle. Unhappily the Prussians, who were to support me in my village, mistook my Nassauers, whose uniform is still very French, though their hearts are true German, for Frenchmen, and made dreadful fire upon them. They were driven from their post, and I rallied them a quarter of a league from the field of battle. My General of Division, whose first brigade was wholly destroyed, is now with me. I must conclude, because I have just received orders to proceed to Nivelles in pursuit of the enemy. Farewell, dear father; salute my mother, my sister-in-law, my brother, and all my friends; and be assured that I will do everything to be worthy of you. "The Colonel and Brigadier, “BERNHARD OF SAXE WEIMAR.” 66 Extract of a Letter from an Officer in the Army of the late "Brunswick, June 29, 1815. On the 15th, in the evening, about ten o'clock, a letter was brought from the Duke of Wellington's office, which contained an order that all the troops might be concentrated at the Allée Verte, near Brussels, on the following morning at day-break. Orders were accordingly given, and sent off as fast as possible: but the dislocations being rather at a great distance, the troops could not arrive before five o'clock; when our lamented Duke, on the instant, marched through Brussels, and so on to the road to Waterloo. Directly afterwards the Duke of Wellington followed, and, after showing a letter to the Duke, changed his horse; they then set off together, and were as fast as possible followed by their suites. About ten o'clock we arrived at Quatre Bras, where we found part of the Nassau troops engaged, and heard that the French advanced very fast, and were exceedingly strong. We then went on a hill to observe their approach; but hardly had they perceived the number of officers, but the rascals fired at us with grenades: so we were obliged to leave the spot, and I narrowly escaped being killed. About twelve o'clock we returned; and the Duke strongly expressed his wish of having an opportunity of meeting the French in equal force with his troops. To his great satisfaction, the Royal Scotch, the Hanoverians, and his own corps, arrived betwixt one and two o'clock. Tired and hungry as they were, they sang as they passed the Duke, abusing and swearing against Buonaparte, wishing that they might soon meet him, and have an opportunity of setting the soldiers of the Grande Nation to rights. Hardly had we marched half-an-hour when we saw the French expecting us on a hill. The Duke of Wellington then ordered to collect the troops as quick as possible, and to prepare for battle. At two o'clock all was ready, and the attack began. The battle was very bloody, but we compelled the enemy to retreat. About half-past four the French advanced again, and appeared double the number of the Allied army; but no fear was shown. The cannonade began most horribly, which in some respects put the train and baggage in confusion; however, the troops stood, and fought like lions: so the French were again obliged to retreat, and were driven back to their position. Here they had a great advantage, being covered by a little wood, where they had placed all their artillery and riflemen. The Duke of Wellington most likely knew this, and ordered a fresh attack, to get the French out of the wood. The troops advanced, the Brunswick division on the left wing. When they came near the wood the French commenced a horrible fire with artillery and |