Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-08
STRIVING WATERLOO VETERANS.

1 I
The surviving officers and soldiers of
the famous campaign which brought the
greatest soldier of modern times to mls
cradle exile in the far Atlantic, aud lone
v grave five years later iD the valley of
fewer every year. A few years hence and not
one will remain to tell from personal obscrva-
ton OF the desperate assault and defence which
decided not the destiny ofFraoce alone, but of
Europe. The chief actors on that bloodyf field
have long since passed away-the Iron Duke
the grutf Prussian Field Marshal, the Man Of
Destiny, aud the Bravest OF the Brave.
Not many years ago the English officers who
took port in the memorable battle of Waterloo
could be counted by the hundred. The follow
ing comprise all that now are left: One field
marshall. nine generals, five lieutenant gener-
ais, three major generals five cooncls, seven
lieutenant coonels, five majors, seven cap
tans, twelve lieutenants, two paymas,ers
one uuartermaster, one surgeon major, two sur
gcous aud two assistant surgeons, making
u total OF sixty.two. 1t must be borne IN
mind however, that most or all of those who
now hold high rank in the above enumeration
have attained it by subsequent service and pro-
motion. Sir William Gomm, for example, now
field marshal, served at Waterloo as quarter
master to GeneraP Picton's division. Oi these,
TWO coonels, five lieutenant coloDels and four
majors have retired from the army at different
tunes by the sale of their commissions. Of
those who actually remain i'll the service, and
of those on half pay, seven are still captains
and twelve lieuteDants. Field Marshal Sir Wm.
Comm, late Com anderin- Chief OF the East
India Company's forces, and now Constable Of
the Tower, is in his ninety-frst year. General
Sir George Bowles Lieutenant of the Tower,
was born 10 l7S7--the year the Federal Con
stltutiou was adupted--aDd General Sir William
Rowan late commander of the forces 10 Canada,
was born in 1889. Marshal Gomm and Gen.
Buwlcs we're at the bombardment of Copeuha-
gen in 1907 Marshal Comm, General Rowan,
and Captaio Payne were present aud partlcl
pated in the battle Of Corunna, where Sir John
Moore fell in 1909. These three are old COM
radcs They all participated 10 the unfortu.
ate Walchereau expedition, and the former
were at Flushing. Lieutenant General Smith,
born in 1892 served IN the navy before enter
Dg the army. General Sir Thomas Reed was
wounded at Ferozeshah, and is the only one
Of the sixty-two survivors who aided in qucll-
ing the Indian mutiuy in 1857: Genera
Lord Rokcby, colonel of the 77th foot,
born in 1898, is the only surviving Wa
tcrloo officer who fought side by side
u the Crimea with the Toe whom he assisted
to vauquish a, Waterloo. Sir William Comm
is the only survivor of Roleca fought in 1908.
Lieutenant Colonel Drought and Paymaster
Ilard are the only survivors of Albuera, one
of the hardest fought fields of the Penlnsular
war At the close Of the battle, when the roll
was called, three privates and a drummer we're
NIL who answered of the Bluffs. Sir William
Comm and Sir Charles York we're at Vimera
and Sir Charles Bowles was ut Talavera.
Three were at Busaco, four at Fuentes Onor,
five at Cuidad Rodrigo, seven at the siege and
slorming Of Badajos, eleven at Salamanca, and
twelve at the famous battle of Vittoria, where
1.-The English rose was neer SO red,
The shamrock shook in CORY bed;
But the Scottish thistle reared its b cad
And smiled upon Vittoria."
-Four were at the passage of the Bidassoa, four
teen ut NiveIle, eleven at Nive, eleven at
Orthcs, and thirteen at Toulouse Fourteen
were at Quatre Bras and five at the capltula-
ton OF Paris. These old veterans assemble, as
many OF them as can get together, every year
on the anniversary OF Waterloo. The roll is
shortening, and ere many more years pass the
roll Gull will cease. No distinction, however
great, can exempt from the fate which awaits
all.
THE boast of herald-y the pomp of power,
And I'll that beauty, all that wealth ser gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour
The path of glory leads but to the grave"
Louisville Courier. =