Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-11-07
The Stsvy Of Waterloo
THE LAST HOURS OF THE FIGHT

A few months since l was standing on
the Geld Of Waterloo, on the anniversary
of the great battle. The fields were wav-
ing with the ripeniug grain, just as they
were on that memorable morning, before
being tcoddea down by charging squadrons.
AS l stood where Wellington bad STOOD
on the ridge occupied by the English lines,
and surveyed the entire field, and looked
down upon the marrow valley where The fate
of all Europe was once put up and battled
for, world of conflicting emotions strug-
gled for the mastery within nae. The mag
nidcence ard pcmp OF that stern army was
before nae, and nay ear seemed distinctly to
catch the Grst csnaon shot that opened the
conflict. Far on the right comes down
Jerome Bonaparte, with his twelve thou
sand men. A sheet of fire runs along the
wall of the chateau, aud a gap opens up
in ,s,e advancing column of the foe. Its
mangled head mel,s like frost work befoie
the destructive lire. The smoke Of the bat
tie covers hem from sight, and rolls up the
valley, and 10! SEE no;hing but the me-
lee of horses and riders, the tossing of ban
ner, and the soaring of the French Eagle
amid the cloud Of war, and hear naught
but the roar of the artillery, the braying of
the trumpets, the blast of the bugle sound
ing the charge, and the heavy shock Of the
cavalry. rssr
The great battle Of Europe was to be
fought. All its kings stood looking On with
breathIess silence, for their thrones were al
stake. The feelings of these two great mill
i,ary chieftains themselves, as they thus for
the iirst time stood face to face and battled
for a continent, were stirred. The British
veteran, wiping the sweat from his brow.
exclaimed, 80. that Blucher or night would
comel" The next moment an immense
body of French cavalry came laundering
down on one of the English squares. 1t
had already become weakened by the loss
of whole ranks which the French artillery
had moved down, but withstood the des-
perate shock with true bravery. The
French came down on pluusiug trot, then
breaking into a galop, fell like rock
hurled back from the mountain, they re-
coiled from the shock. Driven to despera-
lion by their repeatedly foiled attempts,
they stopped their horses and coolly walked
them around that brave square, and when
ever man fell dashed in. Such desperate
resolution, such reckessness of life, began
at ler 9Th to tell on the coufict. The
square began to shake and waver, when
Wellington came dashing up with his guard
they opened and he was in its bosom
The chief was in their keeping-his fate
voluntarily thrown into their hands, those
British hearts could not yield. Rank after
rank fell, but not a man stirred from his
footsteps. The French at length gave it
up--retired to their position. Again on
separate squares were those terrible charges
made, and again as they wavered, did We'll
lington fling himself in their midst. Thus,
from eleven in the morning until four
O'Clock in the evening had the battle ragged
when dark Object was seen to emerge
from distant wood. Larger and larger it
grew, till whole column stood revealed,
with banners waving in the breeze-Blu-
cher and his Prussians had come Both
armies saw that the hour had arrived for a
final issue.
Bonapsrt then rode up to his old and
well tried Imperial Guard that had not
been in battle all day. Placing himself at
! heir head, he half led them away down
/ the sioop, 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. He was
answered by those devoted hearts, /" EN-
peror ioreveri" 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 of BIucher
with the allied forces. That hitherto in-
vincble guard came down in beautiful or
der and array, and with hearts burning with
high hopes. They needed nothing to fire
their steady courage. No drum or trumpet
or martial strain cheered them on. No bu-
gle sounded the charge. In perfect order
and dead silence they moved over The plain.
Above them scared the French Eagle no
power had ever yet wrested from their
grasp, and on them was the eye of Bona
parte. The allied army saw with awe and
dread, the approach of that unconqaerable
legion. The terror of Europe was on the
march. For moment the firing ceased
along the lines. The battle was hushed.
The muffled tread Of the magnificent legion
was heard. The sudden calm was bat mo-
mentsry. The artillery again opened like
volcano on the foe. Whole ranks wen,
down before the destructive fire, yet they
faltered not for moment Over :heir
fallen comrades with the same steady front.
they moved on across the valley and up the
slope