The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-06-28
Charges at Waterloo.

one who was in The fight, Captain Gfonow,
ofIhe British Royal Guards, thus describes
the charge of the French cavalry upon the
British squsre:-
About four P. VI. the enemy's artillery in
\ front OF US ceased firing all Of sudden, and
we saw large masses OF cavalry advance /;
| not a man present who survived could have
forgotten in after life the awful grandure Of
the charge. You discovered al a distance
wha: appeared TO be an overwhelming,
long moving line, which, ever advancing,
giiered like a stormy wave OF the sea when
il catches the sunlight. On they came nm
til they got near enough, whilst The very
earth seemed to vibrate beneath the thun-
dering tramp of the mounted host. One
might suppose that nothing could have re
sisted the shock OF this terrible moving
mass. They were the famous cui,assiers,
! almost all old soldiers, who had Distinguish
ed themselves on most of the battle fields
OF Europe. In an almost incredibly short
period they were within twenty yards OF us,
shouting TIUep Emperor r' The word Of
command, "Prepare 10 receive cavalry"
had been given, every man in the front
ranke kneli, and wall OF brlstling steel,
held together by steady hands, presented
itself TO the infnraied curassiers.
should observe that inst before This
charge The Duke entered by one of the an
giles OF the square, accompanied only by one
aide -de-camp, all The res, o! his staff being
either killed or wounded. Oar commander
in chief, as far as 1 could Judge, appeared
perfectly composed, but looked very
thoughtful and pale. He was dressed in a
grey great-coat with cape, white cravat,
leather panlaoons, Hessian boots, and
large cooked hat ala Russe.
The charge OF the French cavalry was
gallanily executed; but our well-Girected
FIRE brough, men and horses down, and ere
long the utmost confusion arose in their
ranks. The officers were exceedingly brave,
and by their gestures and fearless bearing
did all in their power TO encourage their
men 10 form again and renew their attack.
The Duke sat unmovd, mounted on his IA
vorite charger. | recoIect his asking the
n on Lieut. colonel Slanhope what O'Clock
it was, upon which Sianhope took out his
watch, and said il was twenty minutes past
four. The Dake replied, "The battle is
mine and if The Prussians arrive coon there
will be an end OF the war"
The Dukes famous, "Gsards, up and al
lhem,n is restored, or almost restored, by
Captain Gronow's rec election Of the Incl
dents of the last charge al Waterloo -
1t was about FIVE O'Clock on that memoir
able day, that we suddenly received orders
tn retire behind an elevation in our rear
The enemy's artillery had came up en- mGs'e
within hundred yards of US. BY the
time they began TO discharge their guns,
however, we were lying down behind the
rising ground, and protected by the ridge
before referred to. The eneny's cavalry
was III the rear of their artillery, in order 10
be ready 10 protect it if attacked F.; but no
| attempt was msce on our part 10 do So
After they had pounded away al US for
about a half an hour IN ey deployed, and up
came the whole mass Of their infantry of the
Imperial Guard led or by the Empirur 10
person. We had now before Us probably
about 20 900 of the best soldiers in France,
the heroes of many memorable victories -
We saw the bear skin caps rise higher and
higher as they ascended the ridge which
separated US, and advanced nearer and
nearer TO our lines. Ii was at this moment
the Duke OF Wellington gave his famous
order fore our bayonet charge, as he rode
along the line; these are the precise words
he used of-"Gu ards, get no and charge ~
We were instantly on our legs, and after
so many hours Of insc,ion and irritation al
maintaining purely defensive altitude
all The time suffering The loss OF comrades
and friend She spirit which anima ated
officers and men may be easily imagined.
After firing volley as soon as the enemy
were within shot, we rushed on fixed bayo-
nets, and that hearty hur rah peculiar 10 the
British soldiers.
II appeared that our men, deliberately
and with calculation, singled out their VIC
Tins; for as they came upon the Imperial
guard our line broke, aad the fighting be-
came irregular. The impetues,y of our
men seemed almost 10 paraIyze their enc
mics. | witnessed several of the lmpe-
rial Guard who were ron through the body,
apparently without any resistance on their
part. | observed big welshmau, of the
name of Hughes, who vas six ieel seven
inches in hight run through with his bayo-
net and knock down with his frelock,
should think, al least dozen of his oppo.
nents. This terrible contest did not last
more than ten minutes, for the imperial
Guard was soon in full retreat, leaving all
their guns and many prisoners in our
hands.