Delaware gazette and peninsula advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1820, 1817-06-07
A private Soldiers account
UF THE
Battle of Waterloo.

Copy Of Letter from john Lewis. a
private in the 95th regiment riht
corps, to his parents at Administer.
France and not only that, but in Paris,
thank God. July 8, 1913.
Dear Father 4 Mother,
make no DOUBT but you have heard
of the glorious news, and suppose
you thought was killed or wounded.
but yesterday is the first day we have
halted since the beginning of the bat
tie on the Sth Of June, and my hands
are swclled so with walking day and
night. that | scarce can hold my pen.
1 do not know whatthe English news
papers say about the battle, but,
thank God, AIN living, and was an
eye witness to the beginning OF the
battle-to the end Of it; but my pen
cannot explain TO you, nor twenty
sheets o.. paper would not contain.
what | could say about it.; for thank
God, l had my strength and health
more on the days we were engaged
than | had in my life; so what l am
going to tell YOU is the real truth ;
but think my brother Tom. as he is
such scholar, it he was to look in
the newspapers. he might sec What
officers was killed and wounded Of the
9ot!i regiment; we have but six com
panions in the country. and after the
battle we were only 255 privates; 5
colonies, major. Is officers. II SER
jcants, and 1 bugler were killed; my
first rank man was wounded by part
OF shell through his foot, and he
dropt AS We was advancing; ] cover
ell the next man ] saw, aid had not
waii.rd twenty steps before 'nl,ske,
shot came sideways and took his nose
clean off; ami then l covered another
man. which was the third; just after
that the man that stood next u me on
my left hand had his left arm sho,
away by nine pound shot just above
his elbow. and he turned round and
caught hold of me with his right
fiaa.i, and the blood run all over m,
trnW sers; We was advancing and he
dropt directly. After this, was or.
dered to extend in front Of all Oui
large guns, AN small arms WAS firing
at the British lines in onV rear, and
declare to ssch- with nny guns and tho
French guns frirS over our heads
my pen cannot explain any thing like
it: il was not 400 yards from Ill,
French lines to our British 'nc., AN,
We WAS about l50 yards Il. FAINT o.
ours. so we was about 21p yard.
fron, the French and samct. mes not
400 yards, so leave you to judge if
han not "a narrow escape Of my life
a | jusi said. we now extended il
front; noney's imperial horse guards
all cloihed in armor, made charge
at US; We saw them coming, and ",
WI closed in ami formed a Square jus
az they came within ten yards Of US
and they f,unn they could 10 no goo.
with US; they fire. y ill their rar5iurl
on us. and raine TO the right about iii
rcctiy, and at that mournt The ms,
on my right hand WAS shat tlirou,sl
the lo'y. ard line blood ran out al hi
belly anu !,ack like pig stu, k in thu
throat; he dropl IN lis side spok,
t0 hin, he Just said. Lewis. ~
done' and lied directly Ali TIL
time We Kept up a constant fire at thu
iinperi.i guards as ti,ry retire. ed. bu
they osteu cane tn the right abou
and fired; and. as WAS loading ~,
rifle. one Of their OTIS came az,
sti'u'h my ride. not two inches ah0v,
my left hand as ! was ran,u,iny dow,
the bali with my right hand. and brok,
The stuck, and bent TIE barrel in sui
manner that could not get the hal
down; ust at that time we extende,
again, and my rifle WAS ." use to me
"a nine pound Shot came and cut th
SERGEANT of our company right in two
he WAS not above three files from me
~ | threw down my rifle and wcn
and toon his rife, as il WIS not hur
at the tilne.-Wc had lost both on
colonies. major, AMI two eldest cap
tain,. AMI OILY ayouHg captain TO TAX
command Of US; as Tor volun,i Wai
he was sent to England about thre
weeks before the battle. Seeing "
had lost 50 .uany wen and all our CON
manding officers. my heart began [
fail, and Boney's guards made anothc
barge on rs; but we made them r;
treat as before. and while We was
square the second time the Duke ,
Wpllinstnn and his staff can,e Mn