Litchfield enquirer., 1845-05-22
ny r. ) IIEAnLy.

A FEW MONTHS since, was standing on the field
Of Waterloo, on the anniversary othat great battle
The fields waving with the ripening grain, just a.
they were on that memorable morning, before trod.
den down by the charging squadrons. Az / stood
where Wellington stood, on the ridge occupied by
the English lines, and surveyed the entire Geld and
looked down upon the narrow valley where the fate
of all Europe was once put up and battled for, a
world Of conflicting emotions struggled for mastery
| within me. The magnifcence and pomp OF that
stern array were before me, and my ear seemed dis.
tnctly to catch the first cannon shot that opened
the conflict. Far on the right comes down the Hou.
gemont. Jerome Bonaparte, with his IL, 900 men.
end gap opens in the advancing columns Of the foe.
Its mangled head melts like frostwofk before the
| destructive fire. The smoke OF battle covers them
from sight, and rolls up the valley, and To- see moth
ing but the melee Of horses and riders, the tossing
banners, and the soaring Of the French eagle, a.
mid the clouds of war, and heard nought but the
roar Of artillery, the braying Of trumpes, the blast
Of the bugle sounding the charge, and the heavy
shock Of the cavalry.
Amid the confusion and terror of scene like this
which the Imagination will call up on such bat.
tle6eld, how naturally does the mind rest on some
single character or incident, and gather around it
all the interest Of the fight. II may not be % with
others. but find ittrue Of myselfn all circumsan.
| ces. remember, when standing on the top Of the
! colorado at st. Peters, and looking down at the
tens Of thousands. that were waiting the blessing
of the Pope, forgot all in poor pilgrim beggar
and his boy, that reclined on the ample steps,
Their distant home among the Indian hills, their
| weary aspect AZ they slumbered there in the sun.
light, and their sudden starting up the blast Of
solitary trumpet announced the approach Of his
"Holiness," formed the groundwork Of scene
more touching than the one before me. So it was
here.
In the church Of the little hamlet of Waterloo,
lying on the edge Of this Geld, are multitude Of ia
bles, placed above officers who fell IN this battle
Among them Is one recording the death of a mere
boy, who formed one Of Wellugton's suite. The
and this scas his f,rentiekh battle" gazed on
i with feelings Of the profoundest melancholy
So young. and yet 20 tried. Trained. amid the
smoke and thunder Of battle, accustomed almost
from infancy to scenes Of carnage and cruelty what
moral effect il must have had upon his character!
An angel could not abide such Discipline. walk
ed over the field with an English officer drank, and
Cleaned from him the following incidents of his
life, which have filed up.
Young Gordon Tiny memory may be wrong here
respecting the name, it having become :Hegible IN
my note book) was the second son Of distinguish
ed English family. He had obtained a place in
Wellingtons suite, though mere boy, and had been
with him through the Peninsular campaign. He
was fitted by nature for soldier Enthusiastic,
Votos esA SstaukcAy atADItlOu9s ttS excitement OF
battle and the occasions il gave for distinguishing
himself. were his delight. Around his frank and
opsn countenance clustered ringlefs Of chestnut
hair. while his blue Saxon eye spoke at once the
generosity and FIRE of his ardent nature. He had
one only sister, the very reverse Of him in every
thing but her strong and generous feelings. Frail
as the flower that Is born and matured Ia single
night, her very face reminded Of an early grave
II was Of that delicacy and almost spiritual trans
parency. which made you shrink a. you thought Of
the first shock of life You look around in vain for
some shelter for such flower. Her eye was large,
and the very soul Of tenderness, telling, without
disguise, and painfully distinct, that affection was
her life. Next IN birth to the young soldier. all her
him. His bold and reckless conduct had caused
her many pang. as they played together in child
hood. while his generous 1--we. o. he would come
and fling his arms around her neck and kiss away
her tears. had bound her to him with cords Of iTon