Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-10-25

rns LAST HOURS OF THE FIGHT.

field Of Waterloo, on the anniversary day of
that great battle. The fields were waving
with the ripening grain, just as they were on
that memorable morning, before being trod-
den down by the charging sauadrons. AsI
stood where Wellington had stood, on the
ridge occupied by the English lines, and sur
veycd tho entire field, and looked down on
the narrow valley where the fate Of Europe
was once put up and battied for, world of
conflicting emotions struggled for mastery
within me. The magniiicence and pomp Of
that stern array was before me, and my ear
seemed distinctly to catch the first cannon
shot that opened the conflict. Far on the
right comes down, on the Hougoumohs,
Jerome Bonaparte, with twelve thousand
men. n sheet of fire runs along the walls
of the chateau, and gap opens up in the
advancing columns of the foe It's mangled
head melts like frostwork before the destruc-
tive fire. The smoke of battle covers them
from sight, and rolls up the valley, and 10 !
see nothing bat the melee of horses and
riders, the tossing of banners and the soar
ing of the French eagle amid the clouds of
war, and hear naught but the roar of ar
tillery, the braying Of trumpcts, the blast of
the bugle sounding. the charge, and the heavy
shock of cavalry. .... ... .. ~
The great battle OF Europe was 20 be fought.
All its kings stood looking on with breath,
less interest, for their thrones were at tha
stake. The feelings of these two great mill
tary chicitains themselves, as they they thus
For the first time stood face to face and bats
tied for a continent were stirred. The Brit,
ish veteran wiping the sweat from his brow
exclaimed, 90, that Blucher or night would
come ~ The next moment an immense
LODI, Of i, Al.
down on one Of the English squares 1t had
whole ranks which the French anti lely had
moved down, but withstood the desperate
shock with true bravery. TIE French
cafne down at plnnging trot, then breaking
into galop, fell like rock hurled back
from the mountain, and recoiled from tho
shock. Driven to desperation by their re-
pcately foiled attempts, they stopped their
horses, and cody walked them around that
brave square, and whenever man fell, dash
ed in. Such desperate resolution, such
recklessncss of life, began at length to tell
on the conflict. The square began 10 shake
and wavcr, when Wellington came dashing
up with his guard-they opened, and he
was in its bosom. The chief was in their
kc.png-his fate voluntarily thrown into
their hands, those British hearts could not
yield. Rank after rank fell, but not n man
stirred his footsteps. The French mt length
gave it up and retired to their Positions
Again, on separate squares were those ter
rifle charges made, and again, as they wat-
cred, did Wellington fling himself in their
midst. Thus from II in the morning until
4 in the evening bad the battle ragged, when
dark object was seen to emerge from dis
tant wood. Larger and larger it grew, till
whole column stood revealed, with banners
waving in the breeze. Blucher and his P-us-
slams had come Both armies saw that the
hour had arrived fora final issue. Bonapartc
then rode up to his old and well-tricd lmpc-
rial Guard that had not been in battle all day.
Placing himself at their head, he led them
half way down the slope, when he halted and
addressed them in his impetuous and fiery
manner. He told them that the fate Of the
battle and of France was in their hands,
lie was answered by those devoted hearts,
1.-the emperor forever!' ~ with shout that
rang over the storm of battle, and was heard
all along the British lines. Then he placed
them under Ney, with orders to force the
British centre aud prevent the junction of
Bluchcr with the allied forces. That hitherto
invincible guard came down in beautiful or
der and array. and with hearts burning with
higl, hopes. They knew that the emperor
and the civilized world were looking on
They carried kings and thrones as they went.
They needed nothing to fire their steady coaf-
age. No drum, Or trumpet, or martial strain
checrcd them on. No buglc sounded the
charge. In perfect order and dead silence
they moved over the plain. Above them
scared the French caglo no power had ever
yet wrested from their grasp, and on them
was the eye Of Ionaparte. The allied army
saw, with awe and dread, the approach Of
that unconquerable legion. The terror Of
Europe was on the march. For amoment
the firing ceased along the lines. The bat.
tie was hushed The muficd tread of that
magnificent legion alone was heard The
sudden calm was but momentary. The ar
tillery again opened like volcano on the foe.
Whole ranks went down before the destruc-
tive fire, yet they faltcred not for moment,
Over their fallen comrades, with the same
steady front, they moved on, across the val
ley and up the slope. Before their cool re-
sisiless charge the English lines melted like
| frostwork. They took the last fire Of The ars
tillery full on theil bosoms, then walked over
the cannon, artillery ineh and all On, on
like a resistless wave they swept carrying
everything down at their passage, till they
approached within a few rods Of where Wei.
| llngt0n StOGa. All seemed lOSt When, rank
of men who had lain fiat on their faces be-
hind a low ridge Of earth, suddenly heard
the ringing order, f" Up, Guards, and at 'cm!''
They started up as from the bowels of the
earth, and poured in their destrustive fire
in the very faces Of that manglcd guard
They rocoled from the shock as If sn,ttcii
with sudden blow. A second and third
followed. They rceled and staggered mo.
ment, and then turned and fed The battle
was over. The thunder Of the first cannon
came at intervals on tho night air, telling
where Bluchcr trod down the foes Welling-
ton had left to him the pursuit, and was lead.
ing back his weary and bleeding army over
the battlefield. The full round moon was
riding the quiet heavens, lighting up the
manged masses of human flesh that weigh.
ed down the field. Here an epaulettc--
there shiYered sword flashed back in its
beams. Groans loaded the air, while death
shrek came at intervals on the ear. We'll
lngton wept. The excitement and rage of
battle was over, and his heart siekened at
the awful scene before him.
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