Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-10-29

other; and it is next to impossible, even
on h- spot, TO conjecture what a week
or day nav br ng forth. ShoOg rein.
lorcements ere hourly expected by both
sides; AID should Commodore ChsmDIin.
20 in. who WAS OF St. Mary's Bar, with
three or four sail OF vessels, the Amer.
can party expected to carry The day if
ct. Com. Aury, With his veterans, viii
probably keep the upper hand.
From the NiD York Daily .9drcrtiSr.
Tie account which we publish to-day,
Of the situation and srfferipgs Of the han.
col. Ponscnby, of the British army at the
battle of Waterloo, affords sstriklng, and
indeed an awful exhibition, OF that most
tremendous scene-A FIELD OF BATTLE.
This gentleman, Notwithstanding the
number and severity Of his wounds, it
weuId seem, was in full possession Of hi,
rea. on aud understanding, after the recs-
very from the first blow BY which he was
stunned for short time, and though ~.
| ing in state not only helpless, but for.
lern as the Imagination can well conceive,
he was still capable Of realizing what
took place within the reach Of his senses
in that situation. The result OF his ob-
sery atiOns, so tar as he has detailed it 90
this occasion, appears in the abovemeE.
| toned account.
One circumstance which is worthy Of
notice, is the ccld.bIooded cupidily Of
men, no matter o. what nation, engaged
in sacrificing each others lives. French
soldiers, Prussian soldiers, and, as far as
he could judge. British soldier, had a
desire to plundsr him, while lying 10 such
sorromful predicament. Nor could
they be satisfied, even when he assured
them that he had already been stripped
Of what little treasure he had about him.
The state. of mind which he was iB,
and which he describes in simple but for.
cib.e language, must have been truly
dread vi. To be under the necessity Of
lying, wounded and bleeding as he was,
through such tremendous conflict, in.
capable Of helping himself, or even Of
guarding in the slightest degree against
the approach of danger. Of any descrIp.
lion, and after the battle had ceased,
through the succeeding night, witnessing
his own awful situation, aud that OF thou
sauds Of his iellow-beinss that surrounded
him, wounded, dying, and dead, one
would think, would have overpowered
the stoutest heat, aud the strongest
nerves. Such, indeed, were its effects
upon the mind Of this officer, who appears
TO have been capable OF supporting as
much as human nature could well lear,
that ne describes the intervals Of pro.
found silence, which occasionally sue.
ceeted the roaring Of cannon, and the
clashing Of arms, as even more painful
than the preceding tuuuit and uproar.
What lamentable elects are produced
BY the pride and ambition Of man. The
probability is, that rot less than forty
thousand human beings lost their lives in
this battle. Suppose that each Of these
was able to reckon even fire near reid.
lions, or friends, deeply interested in
their welfare. The allowance is ,ery
small, and vet it would make the number
of tico hundred thousand persons mad.
miserable in single day, for the sole pur.
pose Of gratifying the aforementioned
base and detestable passions. We know
very well that much consolation is derv.
ed from this bloody source to the marital
spirits, from the cor siderations ei fame,
and talents, aad great exploits. Nothing
captivates the mind more fully than
bravery, heroism, and military skill and
conduct. But, let it be remembered,
that from the same source, have proceed
ed more misery and woe to the human
race than from any, aud perhaps all O.
theirs, since the fall OF Adam. II is to be
hoped that the time is approaching, when
more Just estimate viii be fixed upon
subject SO intimately connected with the
happiness and misery Of this miserable
world.
BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
In the great battle Of Waterloo, col.
PoNsoNBY, British officer Of great me-
rit, was desperately wounded, and was
supposed to have been killed. His lite,
however, was preserved in manner al
most miraculous, after enduring, one
would imagine almost too great tor the
human frame to support. The following
account, drawn up from his own state.
ment, contains ar interesting narrationo'
his situation and suferings while lv'Ds
on the field, and afford terrible and aw-
iul picture Of the effects of such s,nsal'
ma y confjcts--pic,ures which too often
exist, in all their horrid color', and laI'