Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-06

The varied not the mode Oh attack, Dut
Ipoured his devoted enthusiasts on: though
again and again driven back with I'M
mense slaughter. La Haye Sainte was
taken, hall mile in his front along the
road. II was of use but to enclose the
captors for the well directed range of thel
British howitzers. A message came from
the general, for orders about that useless
most. which could not be kept because OF
a battery which commanded 1t: what
would it please his majesty to order thel
general to do !" Sen emperar,"* wasI
| the Iaconic answer, and the emperor
turned his back on the aid de camp.
He could not restrain occasional COM
pliment to the British troops" how
thew form !-how they move how they
lido their work what beautiful troops :,
About this time, nearly four O'Clock IN
the afternoon, a British officer was brought
Into his presence a prisoner. lie was
severely wounded, but as it is an impor-
|tant rule in battle, to transmit prisoners
to head quarters, he was detained till
several questions were put to him by the
emperor, and, as was informed, with
l great politeness. r..
; LIST. sis Lord Wellington himself IN
1.-THE field ?"-.ans. g He Isl"
/ cd. " WHAT'S the state OF the spirits OF
the English troops l'-.ans. " AS deter
|mined as ever"
/ Sd. (" Where are the Prussians ?-
fms. $ 1t is believed they are at hand"
/ Bonaparte was OBJ erved to look
thoughtful. He however politely dlsmis.
|sed the officer, to have his wounds taken
care of.
! The British keeping their defensive
position, the entire French army, rs the
assailants, naturally found themselves
livery considerably advanced on the plalnl;
an advance which Bonaparte falsely Cal
led occupying the British line. This very
advance was their ruin. The British
artillery now played fron their highest
; ground upon the whole French army,
, with the exception Of the reserve of
guards, old and young; and every oppor-
; tunity of attack was seized by the British,
, both infantry and cavalry" The com.
bat deepened," and fresh spirits rushed
;, I" to glory or the grave" 1t was now
, the TUG of battle The impetuosity, the
.. high spirit, the " stern joy" of first onset
, gone by; now was come the murdercus
strain of the mighty armies, the poise 4
balance of the day.
1 " The affair is kept up," Zee soatient)
says the s Relation ;''-'' not foot on
either side is Welded new columns ad-
vanced !; charges renewed three times
the position is on the point of being tore
ed; and three times, after prodigies Of
valour the French are stopped short"
:, Nothing can be more descriptive than
what, follows of the reaction, the lansuor.
which succeeded over-eScitement; the
depression of banked enthusiasm.
! " Hesitation appeared in the French
army, and marked uneasiness. (de Uiees
I tsaguietudes.) Some dismounted batteries
retired, multitudes of wounded separate
from the columns, and spread alarm for
the issue of battle. Profound silence had
Succeeded to the acclamations and cries
of Joy of the soldiers sure of being led to
Victory. At the moment, all the troops.
NTH the exception of the infantry of the
guard, were engaged and exposed to a
lire the most murderOus. The action
lcontinued with the same violence, but led
10 no result.
| 6 II was near seven o'clock-Bo'a
parte, who till that moment had remained
on the ridge which he had chosen, and
from which he saw well all that passed,
contemplated, with leek of ferocity; the
Ihideous prospect ofso frighttul butchery.
The more the obstacle multiplied, the
more he became obstinate. He was in
dignant at the unforeseen difficulties and
far from having fears to devote an army.
whose confidence in him had no bounds,
he persevered in sending on fresh troops,
with orders to march forward, to charge
with the bayonet, to sweep away. Sc
veral times he was told from different
points, that the affair was against him,
that the troops appeared to be shaken
C en- can't" recondit-it," en- uvant, p
forcard ,for,oard.
Another British officer was brought
lprisoner at this rare juncture; and wit
messed the unexpected demeanor of this
hitherto idolized man, in the presence OF
an enemy so new to him. He raved and
stormed, and regardless Of witnesses
threw away in a moment, the character
founded on fifteen years of miracles. A |
British officer witnessed this suicide oil
Napoleon's fame. 1t was, it may be be-