Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-07-20
last charge Of the "old Guard"

A new Essnch work gives the following
grand pen picture of the las. desperate
charge Of Nagolcn,s "old Guard" at wa
terioos
During the day the artillery Of the Guard,
Snder prouet, maintained its old renown,
and the Guard itsaf had trsquestly been
used to resiaae rhe battle In various parts
Of the field and always with success. The
English were fast beccming exhas ssd, sua
in an hour more would have been forced
in diaas.Gsus defeat, bpt fer the timely ar.
of Boucher But when thcy sew Adm
with 10000 Prussians approaching, their
courage revived, While Napoleon was filed
with amazement. A beaten enemy about
to form n junction with the allies, while
Grouchy who had been sent 70 sseep them !
in check was no where to be seen! Alas
what great plans single inefficient Com
mander can overthrow
I'm amoment Aspo1eop saw that he could.
not sustain the attact of 50 many fresh
troops, If once allowed to form Junction
wsth the allied iercsss and he Determined
10 stabe sys fate on oEe bold cast, and en-.
deavo- TO piercethe allied centre with
grand charge Of the Old Guard, and thus
throw ssimsef between the two armies
For this purpose the Imperial Guard was
'csLlad up, and divided into t~o immense
columns, which were 10 1itcet In the British
centre That under Belle no sooner entered
the fire than II disappeared iAeem mist. The
other was placed under Nsy, 4" the bravest
of the brave" and rhe cr6er to advance gir.
en-. Napoleon accompanied them part Of
the way down the slepe, and halting few
moment in the hollow, addressed them a
few words. He told them that the battle
rested with them, that he relied on their
valor, tried in SO many fields. Wee D
Emperor" answered Hfm with shout that
was heard above the thunder of the artille-
ry.
The whole continental struggle
no sublimer spectacle than the last effort Of
Napoleon to save his sinking empire. The
greatest military skill and energy the world
ever possessed had been taxed 10 the etsrest
during the day. Thrones were totterimg
on the turbulent field, and the shadows of
fugitive kings fitting through the smoke Of
the 6eld of battle. Bonapart's star trem-
bling in the 9eneth--now blazing out in its
ancient splendcr, now paling before his
anxious eye. The intense anxiety with
umn. and the TERRIBLE suspense be endured
: from his sight, and Tire ptter &isp.ir Of bis
: great heart when the curtain Eaed over a
fugitive army, and the disparins shriek
rang out; /" The Guard reeoils the Guard
3 recoilsl" makes us for rcment forget all
, the carnage in sympathy for his distress.
Tire Old Guard felt the presence of the
: immense responsibility, and resolved not to
prove unworthy Of tire great trust commit
ted to il. Nothing could be more imposing
T than its movement to the assault. 1t had
: never recoiled before haman foe, and the
allied forces beheld with awe its firm and
, steady advance to the final charge For q
a moment the batteries stcps,ed playing ant
and the firing ceased sions the British line
as without the beating of drum or bu
t gae note to cheer their courage, they moved
O in dead silence over the field. Their tread
was like mufiled thunder, white the dazzling
a helmets of the cuirassiers flashed long linei
), of light upon the dark and terrible mas
that swept in one strong wave along. Th'
stern Drouet was then amid his guns, ant
on every brow was writ. the uualterabl'
resolution to conquer or die. The mex
n moment the artillery opened, and the head o
l. that gsllent column seemed TO sink into tn
q earth. Rank after rank went down, ye
: ! they never stopped nor faltered. Dissoly
n ing squadrons and whole battalions disap
l. peared one after another in the destructiv
Y. fire, affected not their courage. The rank
y closed up as before and each tresding owe
"a his fallen comrade, passed uufnchiugly or
70 The horse which Ney rode sank unde
ls him, and scarcely had he mounted anothe
I'd before II also sank TO the earth, and s.
another and another, till five in succession
i had been shot under him. Then with hi
3: saber he marched sternly at the head {
to his column. In vain did the artillery bul
II its storm Of iron upon that living mas
:. " Up to the very muzzle they pressed, dri'
,e ing the artillery men from their pieces an
ct pushed on through the English lines. Bu
I'd just as the victory seemed won, ile Of So
'e diers, who lay fiat on the ground, behind
= ridge of earth, suddenly rose and poured
at volley in their very faces. Another an
e. another followed till one broad sheet @
4 flame rolled on their bosoms, and in sue
!, !, fierce and unexpected flow that they stag
sered before it. Before the Guard ha
time to rally again and advance, heav
D. column Of infantry fell on its left flank j
d close and deadly volley, causing it, in il
!, unsettleled state, to swerve to the righI
70 At that instant whole brigade Of cavalr