Star.
London, England, 1816-05-30 00:00:00

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watt RE/MittoSi.
TO THE EDITOR. Of . STAR.
swahe high rewards, both pecuniary and he-
which have been bestowed• on that part of
now,'
'ch had the good fortune to be. eugaged
mg.
the
wcdouill at Waterloo, induces me to offer a few
sumo on that action, and to inquire how far
obterl
dissatisfaction which at present prevails
tbe 5 in consequence of the distribution of
the army, in
is well or ill.founded.
tlto
It is pootolly, but erroneously supposed,, that the
sag Waterloo was a continued general action
sag
days ; it was no such thing. On the 16th,,
t did not commence until late in the
the elernes .
Aa, id a Considerable portion of the army was at
I"7°Aiissco of a day's march, and some corps still
,vitigaither—from the scene of action. Nearly the whole
de 17th was a day of rest; and in the contest
• 4eneold- on the 18th, several of the regiments,
• stemlen are now decorated with Medals, and
oho distinctions, were but very slightly engaged,,
sod tome sot el all.
Far be it from me, Si, to attempt to detract from
12, praise to which the army engaged in that action
wide& They fought gallantly, and added
loather wreath to the *Routs which our glorious
and imileible army bpd acquiredi but in paying
• ;Mk led well-merited tribute of praise to their
11.! .
came admit that they are mare in
M reward than are many gallant portions of our
in" dist had preceded them in the path of Victory.
lbsy loading accents bad been as severely and as,
vutady contested; and I will name one, where thew
woo pisticululy in Officers, was muck greater, in
popostioa to the numbers, than that which was
amiss' at Waterloo..-I meals the battle of Al-
ta& lOthe battle of Vittoria, every ammuaition
mite, every baggage waggon, every gun but two,
wen taken front the enemy—this was not the case at
WOW. In the battle of Weida, the Bide bared of
is. who bore the contest of that glorious day, can
Motel that which no other army which has been
aiabed since the commeacement of the war can do--
20db that they killed, wounded, and made pri-
soners of the enemy, a number greater than the
,mment of their owe army:, yet the distinctions
ited for that action were confined to the General
agars, and to Officers commanding corps, having
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel s for an Officer Com-
Wading a regiment, If of a rank under that of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, was not to receive the distinction
granted on that occasion.
In the campaign .in Holland, in 1799, in which
five actioas were fought between the 27th of August
and the 6th of October, his Royal Highness the Cost-
lialinlit-nitalsir can himself bear testimony to the
gallantry of that tinny--that they defeated the enemy
every one of those actions, yot no distinction was
nu conferred.
For the victories seised in Egypt, the distinctions
were confined to a few General Officers, who were
made Knights of the Bath.
Until lately, it was not customary in our service
to confer marks of distinction on our Officers and
soldiers for their services, however long and arduous
might be the contests in which they were engaged,
or however glorious the result. The enthusiastic ad-
miration excited 'by the battle of Waterloo, arises,
tit horn the gallantry
Sand skill displayed on that
occasion having been greater than what bad often
before been evinced by our armies, but by the law
portant consequences it produced—by terminating
the war, and by placing in our hands a mast, who,
1) long as he was free, would never hen permitted
us to enjoy the blessings of peace. It is these multi
that have obtained for the Army of Waterloo rewards
finer before conferred : but let it be recollected, that
our former victories had contributed to produce these
teaks: that it was those victories which reduced
llOssrAsTE to that situation which rendered his de.
Met It Waterloo decisive. Had the resources of Ba-
uman not been so completely exhausted by his'
loser defeats—had he still possessed the means of
%tains the contest—the battle of Waterloo would
*have been considered as deserving of more dis-
*in than were many of the actions that preceded
it. Leta also be recollected, that the army which
fought at Waterloo had experienced no hardship of
anY kind—had not suffered a single privation :—they
Inalebed to the field, fought, and conquered r...their
serlift Was the service of a day.
be what I have said,. I beg I may not be under-
noot as intending to express an opinion that the re-
wards conferred on the army which fought et We.
tenon bare been improperly bestowed—nothing is
farther from my intention : No I the brave fellows
I'4 composed that army, merit all that they have
moiled; my wish is not to tarnish their well-merited
h"ourei but to prevent those gallant men who have
hafoulghetigileorioredusevlyeryinw.eivvaellionparatudaktheardsh7ltioi
varto'-Yes, Sir I would, were it possible, prevent
we% men from experiencing the keen regret and
*ley cation which they experience• in seeing strip.
the whole of whose serricei have been confined
It.o tin le •
th day, decorated with distinctions which
I had not bee* able to obtain.
12ihoer is the soldier's sole reward :—sniall, kis
it the number of Officers who have acquired, in
service, after having devoted their lives to it, the
("f providing fir a family. !Ile British service.
ri t 4 wei .
r service is Europe in which an honorary