BOOK XV. orchard, near the farm of Caillou. There he was met by two cavaliers of the guard, who con CHAP. VIIL ducted him cautiously through the Prussian par ties that were scouring the country; but who, fortunately for him, were all employed in stopping and plundering the equipages.

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When the wreck of the French army arrived at Genappe, a part of the troops seemed resolved to halt for the night, and the entrance into the town was barricadoed with broken waggons and gun carriages, and a few guns were planted in the principal streets. Impressed with some idea of security, after these preparations, the houses were filled in a moment with the hungry and fatigued, in search of food and repose. They had not halted above half-an-hour when the advance of the Prussian cavalry was heard. The enemy, for a short time, opened a brisk fire of musketry and artillery: but the Prussians having brought up some cannon, the place was stormed, and a dreadful slaughter ensued. The French soldiers ceased resistance; and suffered themselves to be cut down like cattle. General Duhesme was cut down at the gate of an inn by a Brunswick bus sar. Upwards of 800 French were killed in Genappe. They were quite panic-struck, and fled from this place, leaving every thing they had. From this point the flight, if possible, became more disorderly than ever. Arms, knapsacks, every thing was thrown away. Here Bonaparte escaped with great difficulty. The waggons and baggage were so closely wedged together that it took an hour and a half for Bonaparte, and about *150 of his staff, to get through them. So close were his pursuers, that, in escaping from his carriage, he was obliged to defend himself with his pistols; and scarcely had he quitted his seat, when the vehicle, with six beautiful horses which drew it, fell into the hands of the victors. So great was his haste to escape, that in it he left his hat, his sword, his magnificent embroidered state mantle, and the perspective glass with which he surveyed the battle, all of which fell into the hands of Blucher himself. His seal-ring, all his jewels and equipage, fell into the bands of the Prussian soldiers. All the orders with which he had been invested, and those which he usually wore, were also taken; amongst which was the Prussian order of the black eagle, with the motto, “Every man his own," and which the issue of this day bid fair to confer on many. His baggage, many fine Arabian horses, his library, were also taken; and, along with these, whole bales of revolutionary proclamations, addressed to the Belgians, ready dated on the 19th, from the palace of Lacken. Mounted on horse. back, he left Genappe, and with his followers proceeded in the utmost haste to the frontiers. Notwithstanding the darkress of the night, he was frequently recognized by the soldiers, who

knew him from his pye-bald horse, his grey great. coat, and who whispered to each other as be passed them, "Look! There is the emperor" Even these words seemed to alarm him, and he accordingly quickened his pace to get forward, From Genappe the Prussians continued to pursue the wrecks of his wretched army. It was continued till the next day was far advanced, the whole march "being but one continued chace, either in the corn-fields or the houses." The whole period was employed by the Prussians only in firing and cutting them down, for no se rious resistance could be attempted. At every footstep cannon, equipages, arms, and accoutre ments, fell into their hands. Before day-light sixty pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the Prussians. "The causeway," said Blucher, "presented the appearance of an immense ship wreck; it was covered with an innumerable quantity of cannon, caissons, carriages, baggage, arms, and wrecks of every kind." About 40,000 men, partly without arms, and carrying with them only twenty-seven pieces of their numerous ar tillery, the remains of the whole army, and that in complete disorder, passed through Charleroy on the forenoon of the 19th. About five in the morning Bonaparte, with about fifty companions, passed the Sambre at this place. Here he took some refreshment, the first for twenty-four hours, The Prussians advanced with unremitting ardour. The French army fled before them with increas ing confusion. When they came to Charleroy, the crowd upon the bridge became so great that Bonaparte placed a company with fixed bayonetsupon it, in order to stop the fugitives. The attempt was vain. These troops were overpowered, and then it was impossible to stop the torrent The Prussians found nine cannon and 100 caissons, abandoned by the enemy, in this place. Twenty seven pieces only passed the bridge, and of these six pieces more were left between Charleroy and Sobre-le-Chateau. At Charleroy, Bonaparte left the direction of his remaining troops to Soult; and getting into a carriage, set out for Paris, taking the road by Rheims and Soissons,

The fugitives having once effected their pass age across the Sambre, thought they might ven ture to halt, and had established bivouacks in the meadows and orchards on its right bank, when an alarm was given that the Prussians were ap proaching without waiting for any orders, with out destroying the bridge, or even reconnoitring, they renewed their disorderly flight. The whole started at once, and every one provided for bim self, without knowing whither to direct bis steps. At a short distance from Charleroy there are two roads, one leading to Avesues, and the other to Philippeville. No directions having been given to them, the fugitives divided themselves into two parties, the most numerous of which took the

road by which they had before advanced, while the other took a direction towards the left, and marched on Philippeville. Numbers of stragglers, without any other design than that of avoiding the pursuit of the Prussians, threw themselves into the surrounding woods. Thus the army be came more and more dispersed, till at length scarcely 20.000 men remained, and a great part of these were without arms.

Meanwhile Marshal Grouchy, ignorant of the fate of the rest of the army, still continued in the neighbourhood of Wavre. Early in the morning of the 19th, he was attacked in the position in which we left him, by Thiel nạn; but, after a severe contest, he succeeded in compelling that gene ral to abandon Wavre and the mill of Bielge, and to fall back upon the rest of the Prussian army. At the same time, Grouchy continued to advance; and had arrived in front of Rozierne, ready to march upon Brussels, when a French officer brought him the account of the loss of the battle of Waterloo. He then found himself in a truly perilous situation; but after much difficulty, and some loss, he succeeded in éffecting his escape from Wavre to Namur. Here he was attacked by the Prussians, and, after a severe conflict, compelled to abandon the place, and make the best of his way to Dinant, where he arrived on the 20th, with about 25,000 men, having thus lost in the various actions 10,000 men.

About

The loss of the French army, in the battle of Waterloo, (without including that of Grouchy at Wavre,) in killed, wounded, and prisoners, amounted to, at least, 60,000 men. Such a vic zory, however, could not be gained without great Foss on the part of the allies. The loss of the British, Hanoverians, Belgians, &c. and Prussians, was little short of 30,000 on this important day. The field-of-battle on the next morning présented a most melancholy scene. 40,000 dead, all of whom had been stripped naked, and perhaps the same number of wounded, whom, as yet, it had been impossible to remove, lay crowded into a narrow space. Near 25,000 horses, dead or wounded, lay mixed with their former riders, and increased the horrors of the scene. It was not so much the ghastly wounds which had deprived them of life, which disfigured their mangled remains. But these had been farther trampled by the cavalry, crushed by the artillery, and torn to pieces by the continued showers of bullets, which the latter vomited forth over these positions. The number of dead upon the field-of-battle, said an eye-witness, could not be numbered. It presented, on the morning of the 19th, said one who saw it, a spectacle like a vast army asleep. According to the most accurate accounts which can be procured, the total number burnt or buried on these fatal fields

1

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thousand carriages, and many peasants from the BOOK XV. surrounding countries, even as far as Mons, were employed in burning or burying the dead. The CHAP VII. task was not only loathsome, but dangerous ; and the Prussians were absolutely forced to com pel them at the point of the bayonet. To avoid infection from their corrupting remains, the peasants first dug large pits, and then, by means of large hooks, dragged the bodies into them. The country, for several miles, presented the appearance of one continued groupe of hillocks, 80 thickly was its surface covered with large graves, in which hundreds of the bodies of men and horses were thrown together. In one acre of ground a beholder counted forty graves thus filled with dead. The weather having become dry after their burial, the wet mould, which had not been thrown over them to a sufficient depth, cracked from the heat, and opening, shewed, in some places, their ghastly remains. Notwith standing the burning and the burying the dead, for several weeks after the battle, the smell from their putrid carcasses was insufferable, and a pestilential gale continued to be wafted over the surrounding country from this theatre of death. For many days the number of carrion flies which fed on the dead bodies was dreadful, and most annoying to those who visited the spot. It is said that some soldiers absolutely lost their reason from the remembrance of this dreadful scene. The diameter of the principal part of this field of blood was about two miles, wherein every thing was totally destroyed. The dead were ab solutely lying in ranks, and horses grouped in heaps with their riders. All the wells, and all the water in the neighbourhood, for many days after the battle, were red with blood, and became putrid from the number of dead bodies found in them. The churches in the surrounding villages were filled with dead and dying. Every village, every hamlet, all the ravines, corn-fields, and forests, were filled with wounded soldiers, who had crawled to these places for shelter, and whoir, even when they were seen, it was, for several days after, found impossible to remove. It was. as late as the Thursday following before all the wounded then discovered could be removed. "On: the 21st," says one who visited the field-of battle, "I saw, in one groupe of wounded, thirty-six out of seventy-three who had lost an arm or a leg, besides flesh-wounds;" while the roads, even ou the 25th, were covered with waggon-loads of wounded, shrieking with pain. On the morning: after the battle, numbers of the wounded were seen raising themselves up amongst the heaps of dead, and imploring from the visitors, some as mouthful of water; others, that the beholdersmight put an end to their miseries. Every road, inevery part of the country for thirty miles round, .

BOOK XV. the extremes of agony and want. The Dutch and Belgians exerted themselves to reach their CHAP. VIII. homes, and the Freuch their own country. After a damp day, on the 18th, the night became clear 1815. and chill, which had a fatal effect on the wounded. Thousands perished for want of timely medical aid. Many were found in cottages and obscure retreats, their bodies become half putrid from the severity of their wounds, yet still in life. Thousands were cut off in the extremes of hunger and distress. At the end of ten, twelve, and fifteen days, there were found, in bye-corners, wounded men who had preserved life by gnawing the flesh from the dead bodies of their dead comrades, or of horses that chanced to be near them. Others, slightly wounded, were found several days after the battle, on the field, using the French cuirasses as frying pans to dress their scanty meals. Even in the rear of the allied position, such scenes of distress were numerous. From Waterloo to Brussels, the road, for nine miles, was so choaked up with scattered baggage, that the wounded could with difficulty be brought along. The way was lined with unhappy wretches who had crept from the field; and many, unable to proceed, lay down and died. Holes dug by the side of the road formed their graves, while their tattered garments and accoutrements covered the surrounding lands. In Brussels alone, more than 23,000 wounded were assembled, where they were treated with the utmost kindness and attention. The people, in crowds, went out to meet them with refreshments, bandages, &c. The principal families, and women of rank, supported them with every necessary, and frequently administered to their wants with their own hands. The treatment, however, of the French prisoners by the peasantry were different. These were treated with harshness; and these poor creatures now felt the severest want and neglect. By the British only were they treated with humanity. These were seen, though wounded themselves, binding up the wounds of their enemies. What a contrast in their conduct! Every thing on these fields, for a great extent, was laid waste. For five miles round, the country appeared like a sandy waste covered with hills and heaps of slain. The cornfields were so beaten that they resembled stubble. The ground was completely ploughed up by the bullets and the feet of horses, and cut into trenches by the wheels of the artillery. Scarcely a clod of earth but was wet with the best blood of Britain and of Prussia, and with the fiercest blood of France. At Hougoumont, every tree in the wood seemed as if blighted, and were pierced with cannon-bullets. Some were pierced with twenty. Their branches were broken off and destroyed. Immense graves and dreadful heaps of ashes, the remains of burnt bodies, marked this fatal spot. Broken swords, shattered helmets,

torn epaulets, and sabre sashes, bathed in blood. shewed how furious and how destructive the bat tle had here been. Mixed with these were seen the flaring red poppy, rearing its head amidst the fresh-dug mould, while the sweet little wild-flow. er, "Forget me not," unconcious of the ruin near it, in a few days began to spread its beauties round the warrior's grave. Soldiers' caps, pierced with many a ball, belts, helmets, cuirasses, tattered cloathes, cartouch-boxes, military decora tions, crosses of the legion of bonor, French novels, German testaments, packs of cards, letters from lovers to the objects of their affection, from parents to their children, mangled bodies, legs, heads in the helmets intended to protect them, and arms, strewed in fearful confusion, lay along these bloody fields. Besides the loss of men, and all the best horses which Bonaparte had for c valry, the French army lost above 300 pieces of cannon, 500 caissons, all their baggage, and almost all their arms. Such were the consequences, in part, of Napoleon's escape from Elba; and such the third page of that terrible sheet, on which, according to the Moniteur, in March preceding, ceding, the emperor had just written the finest page of history, and to which the annals of the world afford no comparison." The present page indeed, in blood and its results, stands unparal leled in the annals of the world. The sheet of Napoleon's political life to which it belonged was nearly full. The last page alone remained. The consequences of Waterloo filled it!

Amongst the heroes who signalized themsel on this glorious day, on whom Wellington be stowed praise, and whose loss he mentioned with regret, are the following names, with which the public had long been familiar. Major-general Coke, who was severely wounded, Major-genen Maitland, and Major-general Byng. Lieutenantgeneral Sir H. Clinton, Major-general Adam, Lieutenant-general Charles Baron Alten, who were severely wounded. Colonel Ompteda, Colonel Mitchell, Major-general Sir James Kemp, and Sir Dennis Pack; Major-general Lambert, Major-general Lord E. Somerset, Major-general Sir William Ponsonby, Major-general Sir C Grant, Major-general Sir H. Vivian, Major-ge neral Sir O. Vandeleur, Major-general Dornberg, and General Lord Hill. Colonel Sir G. Wood, Colonel Smith, Adjutant Major-general Barnes who were wounded; and Quarter-master-general Colonel Delancey, who was also severely wound ed in the middle of the engagement, and afterwards died. Lieutenant-colonel Lord Fitzroy Somerset, who was severely wounded; Lieutena colonel the honorable Sir Alexander Gorde who died of his wounds. General Kruse, of the Nassau service, General Trip, and General Vanhope, the latter commanding a brigade of infat try belonging to the King of the Netherlands

The Russian General Pozzo di Borgo, the Austrian General Baron Vincent, the Prussian General Muffling, and the Spanish General Alava, also distinguished themselves greatly. The latter general, so well known in the peninsular war, was the Spanish minister to the court of the Netherlands; and, being at Brussels at the time, he joined the hero he admired, and was close beside him throughout the day. The Prince of Orange also particularly distinguished himself; and until he received a severe wound in the right shoulder, he was never absent from the post of danger. Henry, Earl of Uxbridge (now Marquis of Anglesea) was also noticed for his extraordinary gallantry on this memorable day. During the whole of the engagement, his exertions were great and unremitting, while his example was most animating. Scarce a squadron charged but he was at their head; and wherever the cavalry could be of service, there he led them. Though exposed to the hottest of the fire, he had escaped unhurt; but almost the last shot which the enemy fired shattered his right knee and deprived him of a leg. Few general officers escaped untouched, and many commanding-officers fell. Every officer on the personal-staff of the Duke of Wellington was either killed or wounded. Among these were Lieutenant-colonels Gordon and Canning. The former officer was earnestly and affectionately remonstrating with the duke, that he was exposing bis invaluable life more than any private soldier, when he was struck by a musket-ball and instantly fell. Colonel Canning had been sent by the duke with some important orders to a distant part of the line, and was returning, when a grape-shot struck him in the breast. As he fell, his friend, Lord March, hastened to his assistance. The colonel, with difficulty, raised himself up, and eagerly inquired whether the duke was yet safe. Being answered in the affirmative, he exclaimed, "God bless him!" and then seizing the hand of Lord March, said, "God bless you," and expired. He had accompanied the Duke of Wellington as aid-de-camp during the whole of the peninsular war. Colonel Ferrier, of the 1st foot-guards, fell, after leading his regiment eleven times to the charge. Lord Hill's coolness and determined bravery never shone more conspicuous than on the 18th of June; though, from commanding the reserve, his exertions were not so much called for on this as on many former days. All the above officers, and many others, signalized themselves on this glorious day. To particularize every individual who distinguished himself would be impossible, as "there is no officer nor description of troops," said the Duke of Wellington, "who did not behave well."

Every regiment in the British army signalized itself in this memorable battle. The conduct of The conduct of the Scotch greys was particularly noticed, and

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praised by Bonaparte himself, who frequently BOOK. XV exclaimed, as he saw them beat some of his best soldiers, "What superb troops!" The 42d, Chap. VIII. 79th, and 92d, though dreadfully reduced in numbers, both in Picton's and other severe attacks, here shewed the same courage and skill which they did at Quatre Bras. The 30th and 73d regiments, placed in a part of the line exposed, in a particular manner, to the attacks of the cuirassiers, suffered severely. In an attack by the cuirassiers against Sir Colin Halket's brigade, the enemy attempted a ruse de guerre, by the commanding officer advancing and lowering his sword to General Halket. Several officers immediately called out, Sir, they surrender; but Sir Colin was not to be duped. He justly sus pected an offer of surrender to a body of infantry, fixed to the spot, in a defensive position, by a body of cavalry, who had the option of galloping off, with all the plain open behind them. "Be firm, and fire," said he to his officers. The volley sent the cuirassiers, as usual, about: and while the balls rung against their armour, a laugh of deri sion, which arose in the British line, added to their mortification. At the close of the battle, the brave General Halket received a ball in his cheek, which carried away the palate, and incapacitated him from tasting any food. The conduct of the guards exceeded all praise. The 52d and 71st regiments, when in pursuit of the young guard, suddenly separated, and, running in an oval, met again at a considerable distance, and thus cut off several thousand prisoners. Late in the day, a very affecting circumstance occurred in General Halket's brigade. Two officers, who were not on terms of good understanding with the others of the regiment to which they belonged, for having opposed some expensive regulations in the mess, owing to their having families, and also two sisters to support, had, from being thus in a manner placed by themselves, formed the most intimate friendship. Towards the evening, the one jocosely said to the other, "I always told you they would never hit me." Scarcely had be spoken these words, when he was shot dead, to the inexpressible grief of his friend, who stood for some moments motionless; and then, rushing to the body, threw himself beside it, exclaiming,

Oh, my friend-my only friend!" Even at this moment the scene drew tears from the eyes of every beholder. The gallant Colonel Delancy, who fell by the side of the Duke of Wellington, when he found that his wound was mortal, would not allow the surgeons to take up their time with attending to him. He was carried to Brussels, where he expired. He had been married only three weeks before, to a beautiful and deserving woman. Colonel Miller, of the guards, when dying, requested that they would bring the colours of his regiment, the 1st foot-guards; and

BOOK XV. after beholding them, he requested that they might be waved over him till he died. Captain CHAP. VIII. Curzen, Lord Scarsdale's son, met his fate with similar spirit. Falling from his horse, he said to 1815. his friend, Lord March, who was near him, "Good bye, March ;" and afterwards seeing him animating his corps, he exclaimed, though in the last stage of life," Well done, March.' "Well done, March." Colonel Halket, a brother of the general, made a dash at a French general, who had advanced in front of his men, giving them orders, and brought him off in the full view of his astonished followers as a prisoner. A Highland serjeant had the baskethilt of his sword so bruised that he could not get his hand out till he got the aid of a blacksmith.

The humanity of two French officers in this battle deserve to be noticed. The honorable Colonel Ponsonby, of the 12th light dragoons, fell in the first of the three charges of the light horse, soon after the commencement of the action. His wounds were desperate, and he was lying in a helpless state, when a lancer, probably to ascertain the fact of his existence, in the barbarous manner of all soldiers, plunged his lance at his shoulder, which penetrated to his lungs; meaning, as it was supposed, afterwards to plunder him, when an advance of another corps drove him away. In this state he lay for a considerable time, with several severe wounds, and suffering great agony, particularly from thirst. At length his situation was noticed by a French officer, who lay severely wounded at some distance, and, with great difficulty, crept towards him, and presented a pocket-pistol to his mouth, when he was at the last gasp, and from which he drank some kind of spirit. From this humanity, Colonel Ponsonby attributed his strength to go through his sufferings. After his recovery, he made every endeavour to find this officer, that he might return his grateful acknowledgements. Colonel Hervey, of the 14th, was in a charge of the light cavalry, when he found himself opposed to a French of ficer, who was proceeding to make a cut at him, when perceiving the colonel had but one arm, he dropt his sword, exclaiming, he would never use his sword against a man thus situated. In this instance, also, the gallant colonel was not able to 'find his noble opponent.

The close of the battle was destructive to many British officers. Sir Francis D'Oyley, of the 1st foot-guards, fell in the very last charge to which his regiment was led, and at the moment when the enemy was breaking and preparing to fly. Colonel Fitzgerald, of the life guards, likewise fell, as he was cheering his men to pursue the enemy. We have already mentioned the gallant conduct of the Marquis of Anglesea, and of his being wounded by almost the last shot that was fired. This nobleman, on the 17th, when the British army were retreating, was in the rear of

the last troop of cavalry, when, looking behind him, he observed a French regiment formed across the road to charge. He instantly turned round, and alone galloped back towards the enemy, waving his hat to his soldiers, who had advanced some way on their retreat, and were at a considerable distance from their general. Major Kelly, of the horse-guards, was the first person to join his lordship at full gallop, and these two heroes remained alone for a minute or two, close in front of the French, who stirred not, amazed, as it would seem, by the gallantry which they witnessed. The regiment soon came up, and charging, the enemy were forced to retire,

The British army, at Waterloo, exceeded all its former exploits; and all the laurels which they had previously gained were here wove into one immortal wreath to adorn their brows, The merits of the British soldiers, on this occa sion, were properly appreciated: and the princeregent extended solid rewards to every rack and every individual. Every regiment which had been present was permitted from thenceforth to bear the word "Waterloo" upon their colours; all the privates were to be borne upon the muster-rolls and pay-lists of their respective corps as Waterloo-men, and every Waterloo-man allowed to reckon that day's work as two years service in the amount of his time for increase of pay, or for a pension when discharged. The subaltern officers were, in like manner, to reckon two years' service for that victory; and a regulation was made, that henceforward the pensions granted for wounds should rise with the rank to which the officer attained. A medal was also given to each of the survivors, of the same materials for officers and men, that they who had been companions in danger, might also wear the same badge of honor. At the sight of this noble appendage, their parents, friends, and future offspring will rejoice, and their foes lament with sorrow. France will long remember it with mourning and an guish; and the name of Waterloo, for a century to come, will make her daughters weep and her sons tremble. Deep, indeed, and severe are the wounds of grief in the bosoms of surviving friends, for those who have fallen in this glorious battle; and lasting will be the sorrow round the banks of the Thames, the Shannon, the Forth, and the Oder. In many a town, and in many a village, the tear of affection will flow on the 18th of June. But while a British heart can feel a glow of plea sure at the thought of its country's security and honor, so long will this grief be softened by the recollection of the day wherein those for whom they mourn were taken away from them. For the relief of the wounded, and of the relatives of the slain, a subscription was immedietely com menced in England, in which the munificest charity of Great Britain and its dependencies far