Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-03-17
From Simm's Magazine
AN INCIDENT OF WATERLOO.
BY J. t. HEAnLEY

the field of Waterloo, on the anniversary
Of that great battle The fields were wav-
ing with the ripening grain, jus; as they
were on that memorable morning. before
lrodden down by the charging squadrons.
As | stood where Wellington stood, on the
ridge occupied 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 battled for, a
world Of conflicting emotions struggled for
mastery within me. The magnticence
and pomp of TINT stern AIRY were before
me. and my ear seemed distinctly to catch
the first cannon shot that opened the con-
flct. Far on the right comes down on
Hougoument, Jerome Bonapari, with his
twelve thousand men. A seeet of fire runs
opens in the advancing columns Of Of the
foe. Its manged head mells like frost
work before the destructive fire. The
smoke of battle covers them from sight.
and rolls up the valley, and 10, see moth
ing blu, the melee Of horses and riders, the
tossing Of banners, the soaring Of the
French eagle amid the cloud Of war, and
hear nought bu, 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 charac-
ter, or incident, and gather uround it all
~ IT. Of 10 r~kt Il L..
with diners, but find it true OF myself in
all circumstances. | remember, when
standing on the top of the colonade Of ST.
Peters and looking down OF the tens of
thousands that were waiting the blessings
of the Pope. forgot all in poor pilgrim
beggar and his boy, tina, reclIned on the
ample steps. Their distant home among
the Italian hills, their weary aspect as they
starting up as the blast Of solitary trum
pc, announced the approach Of his "Holi-
ness" formed the ground work of scene
more touching than the one before me-
So it was here. In tho churco Of the little
hamler of Waterloo, lying on tina edge Of
this field, are multitude OF tablets. placed
above officers who fell in this battle
Among them is one recording The death Of
a mere boy, who formed one Of Yelling
toms suite. The epitaph closes with she
,ras eighteen gears oil, and this ras his
Twentieth battle" gazed on i, with feel
ings of the proroundest melancholy. So
young and yet so tried tried. Trained
amid The smoke and thunder of battle, &c
customed almost from infancy TO scenes Of
carnage ane cruelty, what a moral effect it
must have had upon his character. An
angel could no, abide such discipline.
walked over the field with on English Of
ticer OF rank. AMI cleaned from him the
following incidents of his life, which have
filled up,
Young Gordon (my memory may be
wrong here respecting the name. it having
become illegible in my note book was the
second son of distinguished English fami
ly. lie had obtained place IN Yelling
tons suite, though mere boy, aud had
been with him though all the Peninsular
campaign. He was fitted by nature for
soldier. Enthusiastic. bold and strangely
ambitious, the excitement of battle and the
occasions it gave for distinguishing himself
were his delight. Around his frank and
open counlenance clustered ringlets Of
chestnut hair. while his blue Saxon eve
spoke a, once the generosity and fire ofhis
ardent ncture. He had one only sister.
the very reverse Of him in everything bet
her strong and generous feelings. Frai
as the flower that is born aud maiured in q
single night, her very face reminded one
of an early grave. 1t was Of that delicacy
and almost spiritual transparency, which
make you shrink as you think Of the first
shock Of life. You look around in vain
FOR some shelter for such a flower. Her
eye was large. and the very soul OF tender
ness, telling without disguise, and painfully
distinct, that affection was her life. Next
in birth 10 the young soldier, all her ex-
travgant feelings and yearning affection
had cen,ered in him. His bold and often
reckless conduct had caused her many n
pang as they played together in childhood,
while his generous love as he would come
and fling his arms around her neck and
kiss away her tears, had bound her 10 him
with cords of iron. She him loved with
that utter abandonment of heart, being
constituted she was. always loves; and
he returned it with all the strength of his
brade young heart. Sac vas all faith and
iimdity; he all hope and courage. Thus
had they passed their childhood together,
and when they came 10 part. her hear,
sank like m'tien bloss ON 10 the blow
AS he gldnced over his rich uniform and
sword flashinfi by his side, deeper flush
mantled his cheek. and prouder feeling
heamed in mis- eye, while all oqer her spirit
ual features, came the hue OF mortal fear
and mu;terabe dread. Her head sunk on
her bosom, and the big tear drops fell unre-
strained and fas, at her feet. Al first, he
attempted to laugh away her fears, bu,
seeing that. his railery Jared painfully
upon her heart, he too burst into tears. and
folded her 20 his bosom with all the holi.
ness and strength Of brothers. love.
They parted, and her sweet but rarc
laugh was sill less frequently heard,
will not follow him through his evcntfu
career in Spain. Like all soldiers, hi
learned to like his employment, and will
the love OF il came the loss of those sen
Esi,ve feelings tina, lad been the beauty o
his early character. Being bold and en-
| arcetic fe How he was of,op ao,-,a,ol M, Il