Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-08
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SIGHTS AND SCENES ABROAD.

We have before US half dozen letters
from Americans IN Europe, which have
been communicated for different public
journals, and each of which contains
more than one paragraph possessing in
terest. The letters Of DR.. Hagan, OF the
Vicksburg Sentinel, are marked by the
pecullnritles of that gentleman's mind
and however we may differ from him up.
on some points, all must admit that he
writes with force and vigor. One of his
latest epistles gives sketch of the me-
morable field Of Waterloo, which al.
though described by thousand persons,
still possesses interest.
WATERLOO.
The Doctor says, that "the most strik-
ing object to be seen san immense mound,
near the centre of the field, surmounted
by Belgian brass lion made Of cannon
taken at the battle, erected on the spot
where the Prince of Orange was wounded.
This mound stands to the right Of the
road as you proceed from the Village OF
Waterloo, which is in reality near four
miles distant. Mount St. lean, where
the carriages bringing visters from Brus-
sells always stop TO feed and rest the
horses, is upwards ola mile from the field,
Two monuments on tie left of the road
nearly parallel with the grea, mound, are
first examined by vsters. One was
raised for Sir Alexander Gordon, one OF
Wellngton's aids the other to the Hano.
verian Officers who fell in the battle
The four sides of the latter are covered
with the names of the falleE Dutchmen
who fought for British and European lie.
climate despotism." He adds:
"From Gordon's monument we went to
the grea; mound, which is 900 feet high.
1t is at an elevation Of "a degrees, and of
course is very difficult of ascent in dl.
rect line. 1t affords full view of the en-
tire ground occupied by the whole troops,
and our guide pointed out all narts of the
field. The hollow square was formed
not far from where the mound and monu-
menls stand. The English and allies
had decidedly the best position, as the
French had to pass hollow and ascend
the hill on which the allies were posted
to make all their attacks. This hill has
been considerably reduced BY carrying off
the soil to build the mound 10 commence
rate the Prince Of Oranges flesh wound
We did not visit The grave of Lord An
& lesea's leg, or the Farm House OF La
Haye Saint, which afforded the British
such timely protection. The spo, where
Bonaparte's tent stood, and the house of
the old farmer Coste, who remained with
him during the battle, we're pointed out
Grape shot, bullets, buttons, and various
Other relics said to be found on the field,
are for sale by thousands of the numerous
guides and clcerones who inles, the place
TO offer their services. One is absolutely
necessary to point out the places, and his
price is from 10 5 francs, or from 60
cents to dollar. The country from
Brussels to Waterloo is rather uudulai.
ing, but in high state of cultivation. -
The crop Of oats which grew in the midst
of the battle field was just being cut down
the day we visited it, and instead of the
rich and abundant crops which had anti
cpated from so well MANFRED field,
found The poorest crop had seen in all
Belgium. This was easily accounted for
by the guide, who pointed to the mound,
which had taken from 5 to 30 feet Of the
surrounding fields to make it up. The
base Of the mound is about 1900 feet, and
the earth for the first portion was drawn
by horses, then by wheelbarrows, and the
upper portion was said by our guide to
have been carried up on the backs of wo-
men, because their labor was cheaper
than that of men ~