Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-09-25
FROM sIMh's MAGAZINE.
AN INCIDENT OF WATERLOO
. BY j. r.. HEADLEY.

few months since, ! was standing on the
field of Waterloo, on the anniversary day of
that great batlle.-The fields were waving
with the ripening grain just as they were ON
that memorable morning, before trodden
down by the charging squadrons. As stood
where Wellington stood on the ridge occu-
pied by the English lines and SURVEYED the
entire field, and looked down on the narrow
valley where the fate of all Europe was once
put up and batted for, a world of conflicting
emotions struggled for mastery within me.
The magnlhcence and pomp of that stern ar
ray were before me, and my ear seemed dis
tlnctly to catch the first cannon shot that
opened the conflict. Far on the right comes
down on Hougoumont, Jerome Bonaparte.
with his twelve thousand men, sheet of
fire runs along the walls of the chauleau, and
gap opens in the advancing columns of the
foe. lis mangled head me,s like frost-work
before the destructive fire. The smoke of
battle covers them from sight, and rolls up the
valley, and 10, see nothing but the melee
OF horses and riders. the tossing of banners.
ana The soaring OF the French eagle amid the
| cloud of war, and hear nought but the roar
OF artillery, the braying of trumpets, the blast
OF the bugle sounding the charge, and the
heavy shock of cavalry.
Amid the confusion and terror of a scene
like this, which the Imagination will call up
on such battle field, how naturally does the
mind rest on. some single character, or Incl
dent, and gather around it all the interest of
the tight. 1t may not be so with others, find
1t true OF myself in all circumstances. re-
member, when standing on the top of the CO.
lonade of ST. Peters and looking down at the
tens OF thousands, that were waiting the bless
ing of the Pope. forgot all in poor pilgrim
beggar and his boy, that reclined on the am
pie steps.-Their distant home among the
Italian hills, their weary aspect as they slum-
bered there in the sunlight, and their sudden
starting as the blast Of a solitary trumpet an
nounced the approach of his "Holiness,' y
formed the ground work of scene more
touching than the one before me- So it was
here. In the church of the little hamlet OF
Waterloo, lying upon the edge of this field, are
multitude of tablets, placed above officers
who fell in this battle. Among them is one
recording the death of mere boy, who form
ed one ofWeIington's suite. The epiapb clos
es wlth-ehe was eighteen wears old, and this
was his twentieth battle" gazed on it with
feelings of the proloundest melancholy. So
yO"hS duu YET SO urea. TalDeu amIG the
smoke and thunder of battle. Accustomed
almost from infancy to scenes of carriage and
! cruelty, what moral effect it must have had
upon his character. An angel could not
abide such discipline. walked over the
field with an English officer of rank, and
CLEANED from him the following incidents OF
his life which / have filled up
Young Gordon, (my memory may be wrong
here respecting the name, il having become
/ lllegbe IN my note book,) was the second
son OF distinguished English family. He
had detained place in WeIington's suite.
though mere boy, and had been with him
through all the Peuinsular campaign. He was
fitted by nature for soldier. Enthusiastic,
bold and strangely ambitious, the excitement
of battle and the occasions it gave for distln-
| gushing himself were his delight Around
MS frank and open countenance clustered
ringlets of chesnut hair, while his blue Saxon
eye spoke at once the generosity and fire OF
nus ardent nature. fIe had one only sister.
'he very reverse Of him in everything but her
strong and generous feelings. FraiI as the
mower that is born and nurtured in single
night her very face reminded one Of an earlv
grave 1t was Of that delieacv and almos,