Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-20
Waterloo before and after
eIae Battle.

and running up and down stairs.
listened attentivcly, but heard no
sound ofvoices. and soon all was quiet.
then concluded the persons who re-
sided in the apartments on the second
floor, over my head, had returned
home late, and tried to fall asleep
again. succeeded but | was again
awakened at about o'clock in the
morning Friday, 18th of June) by the
sound of bugle horn in the Marche
aux Bots; started up, and opened the
window, but | only perceived some
Struggling soldiers, hurrying in different
directions, and saw lights cleaning
from some of the chambers in the
neighborhood. All again was soon
still, and my own dwelling in pro-
found silence, and therefore | conclu-
ded there had been some disturbance
in exchanging sentinels, at the various
posts, which was already appeased;
and / retired once more to my pillow,
and remained till my usual hour. I
was finishing, however, letter for
my best friend, when my breakfast was
brought in, at my then customary time
Of eight O'Clock; and as mistakes and
delays and miscarriages of letters had
caused me much unnecessary misery,
determined to put what was then
writing in the post myself, and set of
with it the moment it was sealed. In
my way back from the post Office, my
ears were alarmed BY the sound OF
military music, and my eyes equally
struck with the sight Of a body of
troops marching to its measured time.
But soon found that what had sup
posed to be an occasionally passing
troop was a complete corps-iniantry,
cavalry, artillery, bag and baggage,
with all IFS officers in full uniform, and
that uniform was black. This gloomy
hue gave an air SO mournful to the
procession. that knowing its destina-
ton for battle. | contemplated it with
an aching heart. On enquiry, | learn
ed it was the army of Brunswick
How much deeper yet had been my
heartache had foreEnown that nearly
all those brave men, thus marching on
in gallant though dark array, with
their valiant royal chief at their
head, the nephew of my own king,
George III, were amongst the first des-
tined victims TO this dreadful contest,
that neither their chief nor the greater
part of his wsrliie associates would,
within few short hours, breathe again
the vital air! My cations were
answered with brevty. yet curiosity
was all awake and all abroad; for the
procession lasted some hours. Not a
Door hut was open; not threshold but
was crowded, and not window of the
many Widowed Gothic, modern,
frightful, handsome, quaint, difigured,
or lofty mansions that diversity the
large market-place Of Brussels, but
was occupied by lookers-on. Placid
ly, indeed, they saw the warriors pass;
10 kind greeting welcomed their ar
rival; no warm wishes followed them
to combat. Neither. on the other
hand, was there the slightest symptom
of dissatisfaction; yet even while stand
ing thus in the midst Of them, an IN
needed, yet observant stranger, it was
not possible for ne TO discern, with my
solidity of conviction, whether the
Belgians were at heart, Bourbonists or
Bonapartists. The Bonapartists, how
ever, were in general the most open,
for the opinion on both sides, alike
with good will and with III, was nearly
universal that Bonaparte was invinci-
BILE. Still, knew not. dreamt not.
that the campaign was already opened;
that Bonsparte had broken into La
Beigique on the 18Th, and taken Char
leroi; though it was news undoubtedly
spread all over Brussels except to my
lonely self. My own disposition. at
this period, to silence and retirement,
was too congenial with the taciturn
habits of my hosts to be by them coun-
teraeted, and they suffered me, there
fore, to return 10 my home az ! had
quilted it, with a mere usual and civil
SALVATION; while themselves and their
house were evidently continuing their
common avocaii0ns with their COM
mon composure. Surely our colloqui-
al use of the word phlegm must be
derived from the character Of the
Flemings. The important tidings,
now, however, burst upon me in sun
dry directions. The princes d'Henin,
Colonel de Beaufort, Madam de Maur-