The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-16 00:00:00

THE LAST CHARGE AT WATERLOO.

It was about five o'clock on that memorable day that we
suddenly received orders to retire behind au elevation in
our rear. The enemy's artillery had come up en masse
within a hundred yards of us. By the time they began to
discharge their guns, however, we were lying down behind
the rising ground, and protected by the ridge before re-
ferred to. The enemy's cavalry was in the rear of their
artillery, in order to be ready to protect it if attacked, but
no attempt was made on our part to do so. After they had
pounded away at us for about half an hour, they deployed,
and up came the whole mass of the imperial infantry of the
Guard, led on by the Emperor in person. We had now
before us probably about 20,000 of the best soldiers in
France, the heroes of many memorable victories ; we saw
the bearskin caps rising higher and higher as they ascended
the ridge of ground which separated us, and advanced
nearer and nearer to our lines. It was at this moment the
Duke of Wellington gave his famous order for our bayonet
charge, as he rode along the line : these are the precise
words he made use of—" Guards, get up and charger
We were instantly on our legs, and after so many hours of
inaction and irritation at ma'ntaining a purely defensive
attitude—all the time suffering the loss of comrades and
friends—the spirit which animated officers an .l men may
easily be imagined. After firing a volley as soon as the
enemy were within shot, we rushed on with fixed bayonets
and that hearty hurrah peculiar to British soldiers. It
appeared that our men, deliberately and with calculation,
singled out their victims; for as they came upon the Im-
perial Guard our line broke, and the fighting became irre-
gular. The impetuosity of our men seemed almost to para-
lyse their enemies : I witnessed several of the Imperial
Guard who were run through the body apparently without
any resistance on their parts. I observed a big Welshman
of the name of Hughes, who was six feet seven inches in
height, run through with his bayonet, and knock down
with the butt end of his firelock, I show d think at least a
dozen of his opponents. This terrible contest did not last
more than ten minutes, for the Imperial Guard was soon in
full retreat, leaving all their guns and many prisoners in
our hands. The famous General Cambronne was taken
prisoner fighting hand to hand with the gallant Sir Colin
Halkett, who was shortly after shot through the cheeks by
by
a grape-shot. Cambronne's supposed answer of , d
Garde ne se rend pas" was an invention of after-times, !in
he himself always denied having used sue'a an expression.
—Reminiscences of Captain Gronow.

•
The following passage of a letter in the Moniteur
has attracted some attention :—The battle before Richmond
is looked upon as a complete defe ,t for th- Federal troops.
great battles
The most devoted partisans of the North admit that the re-
verse is of the most serious character, not only for the posi.
tion of Gen. 111‘Clellan, but a!so for the Northern cause.
fkphaunebrlaei rsrhaarenesg two
arrangement will be em-
boldened Within the space of one week
both lost by the North. Under these circumstances it is
to raise their voice." hoped that the partisans
me Vienna Gazette
the following
notice, in which may be seen an indirect reply to the
• • of Italy by Russia : recog.
ninon "Baron Wins are
the Nea o
liter). Envoy Extraordinary and MinisterPePlenipotentiary,'Neap
-
who has been accredited to the Austrian Court, has had
the honour of a solemn audience of the Emperor to present
his letters of credence." t