Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-11-11


she Field OF Waterloo; spot memorable
Tor the events il has witnessed, and parti-
Cnlarly attracting 10 those who have taken
an interest ia political events OF the last
fifteen years. Having purchased plan OF
che held and the necessary book OF dIrec-
irons, | set out on Saturday morning last
Ia cabriolet for Waterloo, with young
3frenchraan by my side, to serve me as
Valet de place. 1t was necessary tor me
DO study ny book we'll upon the road, 10
order to be familiar with the persons who
Syere engaged IN the scenes OF the 18th
June, 1915. My attention was at length
aoused by the exclamation OF my guide,
Monsieur, VOLTA Waterfowl VOLTA DecOs-
aer!' We bad already passed the village,
and that OF st. Jean was before Us, and at
"a short distance the man, who OF all o.
shers Oh such an OCCASION, 1 could most
A.,yish TO see, John Ba5tiste Decoser. who
ssacted as guide to Napoleon during the
battle. He was seized by the French at
20 O'Clock in the meftng aud carried TO
Napoleon who, mounting him on horse
back, Tying him to !he saddle, aud giving
the bride to trooper, compelled him 10
sact as guide.
Over the field which on one night was
sdreOched with the blood OF more than
.eighty thousand men, the wheat and grass
now wave IN rich luxuriance: the houses,
which then were shattered to their feun-
.dations now exhibit ~ renewed form all
The indications of peace and happiness:
the sturdy trees which then groaned from
vtbe priless piercing of wars swift messen-
@gers of destruction, now raise again their
proud heads, and invite the wandering
and weary traveller to take shelter under
their branches. But still there are sufG-
cieDt landmarks remaining by which 10
trace the progress OF the battle, aud De-
cosier was with me 10 say here stood Ma
poleen here stood Wellington. At such a
point, and al such an hour, entered the We
nerable Butcher Such general COM
mandeG here, snd such was his fate; such
!, one there, and such was his fate. Be
sides there are not wanting graves, and
monuments and relics; destroyed cha
teau here. a shattered wall there, and
trees whose wounded i decayed branches
testify 10 the various modes OF destruction
here brought into operation on that dis
tressing lay.
The first object pointed out 10 me was
The farm house of Mount ST. Jean, used by
the British as hospital II was directly
LIN the rear of Welington's position and
sat one time con aimed more than FIVE thou>
fsand wounded. who were beaped upo0
each other within its walls. The roof and
ssides, though now repaired, bear the marks
of MANY cannon shot. Next. was the
sbouse OF La Hayne Sainte, which was dt-
.rectly iD front of the lise. Here and al
the Chateau Hougomont was the seat of
ibat;le, Both places were protected by
high BRICK garden walls. which afforded
so much security as to make them l,npor-
tant posts tor either party-and both pls
sees were taken and retaken three times du-
ring the battle The house OF La Hayne
sSainte was very much shattered. but not
Sieslroyed. ID has been furnished with
s,ey roof, and new walls IN part. The
garden walls still shows the impression
which the thousand bullets made upon II.
In the yard attached 10 IL, II is said more
than three thousand persisted The Cha
.aeau HougoDont was al distant part OF
1be field, and was first attacked by the left
wing OF the French, under jerome Bona
parte II was burnt by the French, when
filled with English soldiers, and many
wounded oil both parties, who were bu-
Tied in its ashes; but tie English soon at
ter enjoyed their revenge by the slaughter
OF more than fifteen hundred Frenchmen,
IN small orchard adjoining, of not more
than four acres; on one tree OF this orchard
are 10 be counted the marks of more than
shree hundred bslls-and il still lives
Near the Chateau, io the centre OF the
ward, and in the midst OF the slaughter.
stands small brick chapel which receiV-
ed no material INJURY II is DOW shown,
and contains two images of carved wood,
one OF the Virgin Mary over the desk, the
other our Saviour, on the Cross, directly
over the door During the coUHagrstion
OF the house, the door OF this chapel took
fife-the flames Just reached the feet OF the
image scoIched them little. and, as il
is SAID, here stopped without any human
sntervention probably was the case
and II is remarkable Circumstance, The
Protestant regards IT with solemniiy, while
abe Catholic bends before il with teDfold
degree of respect and yeneration. Fbe
white walls of this little chapel are literal
Nv covered wltp the names OF those who
have visited il; and it gave me no little
pain. to trace with my pencil the ge.
mime hand writing OF Byron, and TO in
scribe my own name 10 small place which
still remained vacant.
Decos e. took no little pains TO point out
upon the PLAN every position, and TO re-
late all the circumstances connected with
each. so Tar as be recollected, and had
been informed by those engaged 10 the
hattie who have since conversed with him.
Ve saws no has accompanied Wellington