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ICO *S!Lambert

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THE OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED,

From 15th to 26th June, 1815,
AND THE TOTAL LOSS OF EACH REGIMENT,

WITH AN ENUMERATION OF THE
WATERLOO HONOURS AND PRIVILEGES,

CONFERRED UPON THE MEN AND OFFICERS,
AND LISTS OF REGIMENTS, &c. ENTITLED THERETO

ILLUSTRATED BY

A PANORAMIC SKETCH OF THE FIELD OF BATTLE,

AND A

PLAN OF THE POSITION AND MOVEMENTS,

With those of the Prussians, traced.

BY A NEAR OBSERVER.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. BOOTH, DUKE STREET, PORTLANÚ PLACE ;

AND T. EGERTON, MILITARY LICZARY, WHITEHALL.

1815

AND

CIRCUMSTANTIAL DETAIL

PREFATORY TO THE

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN,

RELATIVE TO THE

BATTLE OF WATERLOO,

ALSO TO

PREVIOUS AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS.

On the evening of Thursday the 15th of June, a Courier arrived at Brussels, from Marshal Blucher to announce, that hostilities had commenced. The Duke of Wellington was sitting after dinner, with a party of officers, over the desert and wine, when he received the dispatches, containing this unexpected news. Marshal Blucher had been attacked that day, by the French; but he seemed to consider it as a mere affair of outposts, which was not likely to proceed much further at present, though it might probably prove the prelude to a more important engagement. It was the opinion of most military men in Brussels, that the enemy intended by this feint, to induce the allies to concentrate their chief military force in that quarter, in order that he might more successfully make a serious attack upon some other point, and that it was against Brussels and the English army, that the blow would be aimed. The troops were ordered to hold themselves in readiness,

b

to march at a moment's notice; but no immediate movement was expected, and for some hours all was quiet.

It was past midnight, and profound repose seemed to reign over Brussels, when suddenly the drums beat to arms, and the trumpet's loud call was heard from every part of the city. It is impossible to describe the effect of these sounds, heard in the silence of the night. We were not long left in doubt of the truth. A second courier had arrived from Blucher, the attack had become serious; the enemy were in considerable force; they had taken Charleroi, and had gained some advantage over the Prussians, and our troops were ordered to march immediately to support them; instantly every placo resounded with the sound of martial preparations. There was not a house in which military were not quartered, and consequently, the whole town was one universal scene of bustle: the soldiers were seen assembling from all parts in the Place Royale, with their knapsacks upon their backs; some taking leave of their wives and children; others sitting down unconcernedly upon the sharp pavement, waiting for their comrades; others sleeping upon packs of straw, surrounded by all the din of war, baugh horses, and baggage waggons, artillery, and commissariat trains--carts clattering, hammers knocking, chargers neighing, bugles sounding, drums beating, and colours flying

A most laughable contrast to this martial scene was presented by a long procession of carts coming quietly in, as usual, from the country to market,