Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-03


fulj view: SO had NapoIeon's station, al
bout mile along the road from where vel
stood. With the poor farmer Lacoste.
IN horseback beside him, stood
the Emperor unable to conceal his as.
at the recoil and almost fight
e his finest troops ;.and constrained, in|
snite.. of himself, repeatedly TO mutter
to the spirit, rapidity and
steadipess Of the British cavalry. 8 These
English igh, admirably" said he to|
souIt: "but they mast give way" ono.
ire. they prefer being cut to pieces
was the answer Of one who knew some3
thing Of them. The.grey horses especial
" struck him, and he often repeated,
dueles superbes trouPes
The centre attack was most of this time
in full activity, and overwhelming efforts
we're making to gain the farm house of
Law Have Sainte, advanced two or three
hundred Yards from the B itish position.
Here fortune bestowed one melancholy
smile on Napoleon's arms. No moment
Of temporary success was theirs in the
line: but they did establish themselves.
with twenty to one, in the post of La
Have Sainte, in consequence. a the Duke
of Welingten's account testifes, of the
unexpected failure of the ammunition OF .
detachment of the German legion, to
which it's defence was committed fai-
lure which, from the position and great
strength of the enemy, it was at the time
considered impossible to supply. This
very limited as it turned out bootless sue
cess of the enemy,it appears, is matter
of much self reproach to the commander
In chief. He has been heard to use very
hard words, when speaking of what he
calls his want OF presence of mind on the
occasion. 1t was impossible tosend am
nunition in by the gates at the two sides
If the farm yard, but it might have ap-
preached the back Of the house, uoder
cover OF the British fire. and been hand
ed in by an aperture made on purpose
considering what the gen. on such day
had to think of it will not be thought sur.
Drising. that with all his commanding
influence, the Duke of Wellington has not
'su ceeded lninducing any of his auditors
Ito ioin in the accusation. But had one
comfort. the post when carried With i'm
Immense loss, did no good to the captors
1T neutralzed large force and never
|for moraent shook the British centre.
The three attacks now described, we
were told, might serve as fair specimen
iof the reiterated war during the entire day
From II in the morning till 7 at night
lit consisted of a succe sion OF such at
Itacks, with unabatcd fury a d in reasine
force and often with a boldness aud
deadly effect, which pc picked our sol
diers. and put their matchless hrmness
| to the utmost trial. 1t may be believed
that every fresh onset swept away multi
| tudes of our infantry. still the survivors
gave not an inch of ground, but made
good, the lines and firm the squares. M
men In Europe could have endured a,
they did. Again and again the enemy
cannon and cavalry rebounded from theil
6 adamantine 'front.'" dismayed and scat.
| tered -These we're the breathing
times of our heroes Line was with ad.
|mirable alacrity formed for greafei
breadth of fire than the squa e. afforded
ediately on seeing the hack plates Of
The cuirasses, when masses Of French in,
|fantry approached with a heavy fire Of
Imusketry. They did :" go through thsiI
work." as Napoleon of EN- nuttered, un.
ike any troops he had ever seen. Such
were the deadly visits of the cannon aud
cavalry that, as ! have repeatedly been
assured by officers with wi On have
|conversed, these interludes of infantry
battle were kind of reGeShmeat, after
their toll with the other arms! They ne
yer took the trouble to look at the nun
bers; they felt as if boys had attacked
them, merely to.keep them in wind; ant
routed them by very few
steps Of a run in advance with pointed
oaY onets--The Duke, in visiting different
points, was often received with shout
nf impotence to be led on-The gallant
95th we're very tired Of the iron cases, &
the iron grape shot. An immense body
of French Infantry happened to approach
that noble regiment at one time, when
Lord Wellington was paying them VI
sit, Let us at 'em, nay Lord, "iet us
down upon 'em," quite regardless OF
their plumbers. " Not yet" replied the
chief, ''not yet, my braye,men. but you
shall have at them soon; finn little lon
ger: we mast not be beat: what woa'd
they say in England ?" The last caution
" as praise rather than encouragement !;