Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-04-05
THE FIELD OF WATERLOO.
By wAsH1NaroN IRVING.


have spoken heretofore with some
levity ofthe contrast that exists between
the English and French character, but IT
deserves more serious consideration -
They are the two great nations Of modern
times most diamitrically opposed, and
most worthy of each others rivalry, es-
ssnlislly distnct 10 their characters, ex-
ceiling in opposite qualities, and reflect
ing lustre on each other BY their very op.
position. In nothing is the contrast
more Gtrikingly evinced than in their mill
tary conduct. For ages have they been
cOntending, and for ages have they crowd
ed each others history With acts of splen-
did heroism.
Take the battle ofWaterleo, for instance,
the last and most memorable trial Of their
rival prOwess. Nothing could surpass
tho brilliant daring on one side, and
the steadfast endurance on the other
The French cavalry broke like waves on
the compact squares of the English infan-
try. They were galloping round those.
serried walls 6flnen, seeking in vain for
entrance, tosting their arms in the air in
the heat of their enthusiasm, and braving
the whole front of the battle. The Brit
sh troops, on the other hand, forbidden
TO move or FIRE, stood firm and enduring.
The columns were ripped up by cannonry
whole rows were swept down at shot:
the survivors closed their ranks, and stood
throug Oh the pelting of the iron tempest.
without firing shot, without any action
to STIR their blood or excite their spirits.
Death thinned their ranks, but could not
shake their souls.
a beautiful instance Of the quick and
generous impulse to which tho French
are prone, iSgVen in the case ofa French
cavalier in the hottest of the action, char
ging furiOusly upon British officer, but
pOreeiVing in the moment Of the assault
that his advsrsary,had lost the sword arm.
dropped the point Of his sabre and cour-
teously rode on. Peace be with that gen.
erous wSrrior, whatever were his fate. If
he went down in the storm Of battle, with
laundering fortunes Of bis chieitsin, may
the fruit Of Waterloo gov green above
his grave, and happier tar would be the
fate ofsuch spirit TO sink amidst the
tempest, and unconscious Of defeat, than
survive aud mourn over the blighted lau.
rSls of his country.
In this way the two ARMIES fought
through a long and bloody day-the
French with enthusiastic valor-the En-
glish with cold inhexib!s courage-until
fate, as fto leave the question of superb
ority still undecided between two such
sdversaries, brought up the Prussians to
decide the fortunes Of the field.
It was several years afterfwards that
visited the field of Waterloo. The
ploughshare had been busy With its obliv-
10 us labors, and. tho frequent harvest had
nearly oblierated the veStiges of war
Still the blackend ruins of the Hugumont
stood 4 monumental pile, 10 mark the vi
olence of the vehement struggle. Els
broken walls, pierced by bullets and shat
tered BY explosions, showed the deadly
strife that had taken place within, when
Gaul and Briton, ,hemmed in between mar
row walls, hand TO hand and foot to foot,
fought from garden TO court yard, from
courtyard TO chamber, with intense and
concentrated rivalship. Columns Of
smoke fumed from this vortex ofbattle as
from volcano. ''Et was" said my guide
ga hell on earth.N Not far off, two or
three broad spots of rank unwholesome
green still marked the places where these
rival warriors, after their fierce and fitful
struggle, slept quietly ia the mother earth
Over all the rest of the field peace had
resumed its sway. The thoughtless
whistle the peasant fioated in the air
instead ofthe trumpets clangor, the team
slowly labored up the side once shaken by
the hoofs Of frushihg squadrons, aud wide
fields of corn waved peacefully over the
soldiers graves. as summer seas dimple
over the place where many atGll ship lies
buried