front of the right centre and near the Nivelle road, his Grace occupied the house and garden of Hougomont, or Chateau Goumont, which covered the return of that flank, and in front of the left centre, he occupied the farm of la Haye Sainte, (the Holy Hedge.) On the whole position, extending nearly a mile and a half, there was about 112 guns, British and German. The left wing communicated through Ohain with Marshal Blucher at Wavre. The British troops were posted in three lines: some few light troops in front; a line of guns on the brow of the hill; the first line of infantry behind them, under the lee of the hill, in squares, each regiment forming its own: behind, more infantry, cavalry, guns, &c. with a reserve of Dutch troops on the right. The Prussian army which began to move at break of day, was placed as follows, viz. the 4th and 2d corps marched from Wavre, by St. Lambert, where they were to take a position covered by the forest, near Frischermont, in order to take the enemy in the rear when the moment should appear favourable. The 1st corps was to operate by Ohain, on the right flank of the enemy. Their line, in the evening, extended about a mile and a quarter. The 3d corps was at Wavre, and was directed to follow the others in case of need. The French army was posted on a range of heights, in the front of the army under the command of the British General. The 1st corps was placed with its left on the road to Brussels, in front of the village of Mount St. Jean, and opposite the centre of the allied army. This corps had not been engaged on the 16th, and was consequently entire and 25,000 strong. The 2d corps had its right on the road to Brussels, and its left upon a small wood, within cannon shot of the English army. This was the corps which was so hotly engaged at Quatre Bras, where it lost 4200 men, of course about 21,000 remained. These two corps were still, therefore, 46,000 strong. The formidable cuirassiers, amounting to 12,000 men,* were in reserve behind; and the Guards, from 30 to 40,000 strong, or say only 30,000, in reserve on the heights. The 6th corps, or reserve, which Soult said was not engaged on the 16th, and consequently entire, or 25,000 strong; with the cavalry of General d' Aumont, under the chief command of Count Lobau, was destined to proceed in the rear of their • This number I learned from private authority. 66 ight, in order to oppose a Prussian corps in that quarters The rest of the cavalry were with the Guards and the other, two corps of the army, and altogether amounted to at least 14,000 men, besides the cuirassiers. To these we must add perhaps 8 or 10,000 artillerymen and engineers. The united numbers, taking the Guards at 30,000, will then make 137,000 men, but from which we have to deduct the loss of the Guards on the 16th, which suppose 2000, still leaves 135,000 men. The 3d and 4th corps, commanded by Vandamme and Girard,. were dispatched under Grouchy, on the preceding evening, to get in the rear of the Prussian army. They had with them "a large corps of cavalry," which must have been above 7000, when we find that 5000 survived the sanguinary affair at Wavre, and the disastrous retreat from that place. These two corps were those which suffered most in the battle of Ligny, and, therefore, were not now near so strong as any of the rest; as they must certainly have lost 10,000 men on that day. Thus the reader will perceive that Bonaparte kept all his corps that were most entire, or that had not previously suffered much, in order to attack the British army, for the corps of cavalry, dispatched under Grouchy, was also one of these which suffered most on the 16th. Over his whole position there was 60 batteries of cannon, (Austrian Official Report.). His front when extended to meet the Prussians, was above two iniles and a half. With regard to the natural strength of the rospective positions, the reader, upon turning to the map, will perceive from the course of the rivers or rather rivulets, that the country occupied by the armies was the most elevated ground in those parts, and which rises from every quarter as you approach it. The whole forms numerous ridges without any very proininent eminences. The vallies betwixt these are intersected with Ravines. For half a league in advance of Waterloo the ground invariably rises to Mount St. Jean. It is interspersed as it rises with ridges like the waves of the sea, wave behind waye. At the right extremity of the front of this greatest elevation, is situated the farm house and chateau called Hougomont, or Chateau Goumont. Around the premises is a wall, and a wood of several acres consisting of young trees about 12. ar 14 feet in height. This wood is intersected with natural Drouet's speech, Chamber of Peers, June 25d, 1815. hedges and ditches. In the centre of the eminence, occupied by the British army, is the village of Mount St. Jean. “The Duke," said General de Borgo, "placed his batteries on the elevated ridge, occupied the farm and the garden, and ranged his army along the eminence, protected by its height from the fire of the enemy." The whole position was beautiful without being very strong. "It was very good," said General Alava, "but towards the centre it had various weak points, which required good troops to guard them, and much science and skill on the part of the General in chief. These qualifications were, however, to be found in abundance in the British troops and their illustrious Commander." The position occupied by the Prussians, at the close of the day, joined the British at Ter la Haye. From that place the ridge which forms Mount St. Jean, turns first in a South and then in a South-west direction by Frischermont towards Planchenoit. Its front, opposite the French position, rose like an amphitheatre in several swells or ridges each higher than the other, but all inferior in height to the chief ridge. At their foot was a valley from whence the ground again rose in an elevated chain towards the position of the enemy. On the front opposite, and nearly on similar ground, with a valley between the allies and them, and also between their centre and their right wing, the French army was posted. All these eminences were bristled with artillery. The country around is generally open, groupes of trees only appearing behind Frisckermont, Planchenoit, Mon Plaisir, and near the so much talked of Observatory. Several villages and farm houses rose amidst those fields, which were cultivated in the highest manner, and covered chiefly with rye, at, this season of the year in the utmost luxuriance of vegetation. From the incessant rain all the ground was very soft; and, in some new plowed fields, the troops could not move without sinking to the calf of the leg. All the inhabitants had fled from the villages and hamlets for several miles round, except the gardner at Hougomont, and at the farm of Mount St. Jean, where, it is said, the farmer's wife remained throughout the day, locked up in a garret, while the combat raged with the utmost fury in the lower parts of the dwelling. In the rear of those mc * Gen. de-Borgo's letter to Prince Wolkqusky, (Russian official.) morable fields lies the vast forest of Soigny, consisting chiefly of beeches, extremely tall and beautiful. Through this forest for several miles, runs the great road from Brussels to the frontiers. In passing the position which we have just described, the British General, on the preceding year, remarked that it was the spot which he should choose were he ever called upon to defend Brussels. Little did he at that moment imagine, that he should so soon be called upon to defend Brussels; and still less could he think that it would be against such an enemy. Such was the ground and such were the positions of the mighty hosts, which at Waterloo contended for the fate of Europe. The shades of a short, but gloomy, rainy, and uncomfortable night were past. The morning of the 18th (Sunday) dawned. Like the night it was cheerless and rainy. Dark and sullen clouds obscured the face of heaven, and blackened the approach of this eventful and bloody day. No Sun of Austerlitz here shed his morning beams on those ranks, which looked upon such omens, as an infallible sign of victory. With the morning arose thousands who were destined never to see the dawn of another. Stiff, and almost motionless, from having slept in the open fields and under such deluges of rain, the officers and soldiers awoke, and began to prepare for battle. Yet in this deplorable situation, the only feeling which was uppermost in their minds, was, least they should not be able to do their duty in the combat which was approaching. The rain continued. The day advanced. But " at nine o'clock," "at said the enemy, "the rain was somewhat abated."* Breaking through the masses of dark clouds which rolled along the atmosphere, about ten o'clock the Sun made his appearance, and for a moment cast his enlivening rays over those fields, as yet cheerful and bloodless. What a prospect he beheld, from Braine la Leude to the Dyle! With a dazzling lustre his beams were reflected, from the unsullied bayonets and glittering helmets of 300,000 warriors, ready and eager for battle. "All dreadful glar'd the iron face of war, • French official account of the battle of the 18th. Tremendous scene! that general horror gave, But touched with joy the bosom of the brave."* At this moment the trumpet sounded the dreadful note of preparation. The troops under Wellington were in the act of preparing their breakfast when aid-de-camps passing through their ranks proclaimed that the enemy was moving. The allied troops stood to their arms. The British artillery moved to the front. The enemy advanced. ed for attack-every thing prepared brave. The leaders experienced, and famous throughout the world. The security of Europe and the general peace of mankind depended upon the issue of their exertions. Every thing was arrangto repell! The armies Before entering upon the terrible details of this day, it may not be unnecessary to state, for the better understanding the subject, that this battle may properly be divided into six great periods. The first was the impetuous attack upon the right, at Hougomont, which lasted from half-past 11 A. M. till 1 P. M. The second was the dreadful attack from the centre to the left, which lasted from I P. M. till 3. The third was the tremendous attack along the whole line, but severest towards the centre, which lasted from 3 P. M. till past 6. The fourth was the terrible attack made by Napoleon at the head of his Guards, which lasted from half-past 6 P. M. till 8. Included in these periods also is the murderous combat maintained by the Prussians against the French right wing. The fifth was the general attack upon the offensive, on the part of the allies, and the attempt of Bonaparte to resist it, which lasted from 8 P. M. till near 10. The sixth was the general route and pursuit, which lasted from 10 P. M. till near midnight, on the part of the British, and on the side of the Prussians all night. In each attack arose a multiplicity of sanguinary combats. Each of these grand attacks were equal in their consequences, to combats which in other wars had decided the fate of empires; and taking the loss upon an average, each cost both sides 20,000 men. Bonaparte, it is said, hurried on the contest, contrary to the advice of his best Officers. This, however, is perhaps merely a French story put forth to throw the blame on him. But the troops like their leader would brook no delay. The French masses formed rapidly. A terrible cloud of cavalry and cuirassiers hung oppo * Pope's Homer, Iliad, Book xviü. lines 430, &c. |