Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-08-16

Ihe sm ill town OF w ate1lJo lies nearly ten
miles to the southeast Of the capital Of Belgium.
| on the high road which passes through it and
the plain on TO NAnur. The forest of Sognes.
which eommeooes some miles from Brussels, is
| nine miles long by seven broad, and extends
| round three sides of the field of fight The
litlls village Of Mont ST. Jean-a short strag-
Cling street of cottages, with their cabaret-is
nearer the field. Hence the French name the
battle not that of Waterloo but Of Mont St.
Jean. Some distance in advance of this hamlet
the srouod swels geutly into long, low ridge,
running right and lefi, VIII ch bounds one side
of the gently slopiug plain.
At the tims of tie battle q large hedge ran
along the ridge 10 the direction OF Ohan. 1t is
Just mile between this slope 1.-THE British posi-
tion) and those at the opposite side of the plaiu,
which are covered With wood and higher-es.
peoislly 10 the direction of Parchenos. This
slopipg interval was the scene of the contest.
The ground to the right front Of Mont St. Jean
is much changed sioce the 18th OF June, 1915.
Thus Oh portion of the srns occupied By the
allied armies DOW rises the Belgian monument
a hugh pyramid cal mound of earth. $50 feet
high, with colossal on foimsd of captured
csnuon, on the summit, looking toward France;
and there are other minor alterations.
lu the woody country to the left OF the British
position it Wavre, whence the Prussisns ed.
varc.d. Looking from the ridge 10 front of
Mont st. Jean. down the road which ruus
through the plain, on the right side is seen the
large farmhouse La Hsye Sainte; and three.
quarters of mile 10 advance on the same side is
The Chateau Of Hougemoot. with its little patch
of wood orchard and gard o. The large gate
Of the farmhouse lofg bore marks of the grape.
shot once imbedded 10 it.
ln lis rear was small orclrd, which was the
scJne of several desperate struggles-as that
between the Lite Guards and the French. and
where Shaw, the Life Guardsmau, who had
been q pugilist-s man of great stature and
strength-cut down eight Frenohmea through
their helmets, and 6oalIy fell. pierced through
the back BY q French laooAr. At the opposite
side of the road WAS place ko wo ss the Sand.
pit5-a place from whioh ssud had been dug
TO sone depth. Wnch was occupied by sharp.
shooters, thro9p out 10 advance aud where later
the German Legion ~as almost annibiated.
To the left, std little in advauos near the
point where lutte country road crossed the
high road, is the spot where Wellington is said
to have stood; but he was of course, much
about the field during the battle. The Allied
Armies. forming long curve w.rs positioued
nearly three quarters of mile 10 the rear of the
farmhouse OF La Haye Saiute and Hougemout.
The o.g, wooded ridges aud slopes opposite to
them formed he French posit,oo.
After the fighting at Liguy and Quatre Bras
Bucher conce trsted his forces near Wayre, and
Wellington fell back on Waterloo The Eng.
lish general occupied the farm house. La Haye
Ssinte and Hougem mt as advanced positions,
and had the walls OF the latter crenuia.ed for
muiketry, wlich dealt such destruction IN on the
advancing French thst in half al hour fifteen
hundred nen were killed in the orchard. The
posts were thus turned into forts to engage and
break the impe.uous onset of French chlvalry.
At the time of the battle the place was GOV.
cred with standing corn, on which many poor
horses, the frieads and servants of man, and
| which have baen forced to share tho miseries,
pains and ruin of war, made their last meal
Heavy rains had fallen on the night Of the 17th
| and morning of the 18th, and, were it not that
the harvest was standing, the cavalry might
have had an impairment 10 charging on &C ,unt
of the nature of the soil of part of the plain Of
Wsterloo, which is stiff yellow losm, like put.
| IT, into which, when saturated with rain, they
| would have sunk to the fstlocks. 1t was in soil
of this sort that Ponsonby. bans un able to extri.
cate his charger, was spesred b. Polish lancer.
| In other places the trampled corn formed sor!
of cSrput.