Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-13
NO. 242.
THE BALL BEFORE WATERLOO.

| We reached Mons at s O'Clock on Thurs.
day. l resolved to consult the command
ant of the place whether there was any
thing in the citadel much worth looking
at; from which incident some curious re-
suits followed. He was Dutch officer
of much distinction, and at first received
my inquiries with considerable reserve.
On showing him. however. the outside of
my letter for Marshal Bluchcr. he at once
relaxed. and ON my saying that we were
proceeding Immediately to Namur he ex-
claimed: "Oh must prevent your fall
ing into such a scrape. You will. within
two leagues, be in the hands of French
patrol" He then informed me of the
battle [of Ligny] which had occurred on
the preceding days between the French
and Prussians. and of the defeat of the
latter with great loss. said that nothing
remained tor us to do but TO go to the
Duchess's ball at Brussels, from which we
had before excused ourselves.
The Dutch commandant then communi-
Gated all the details which had reached
him of the recent battles. with the pur-
pose of my telling them TO General Baron
Alten, through whose quarters we were
to pass. He enioyed our not disclosing
the circumstance in the town of Mons. as
he was then engaged in letting out the in
undation, andsthe people were extremely
disatiected. On our arrival nj his house.
Gen. Altcn was engaged but after some
time joined us, On my communicating
the intelligence he warmly expressed his
thanks and said ho had been until that
moment engaged with an officer who had
Just brought him intelligence 10 the same
general effect from the Prince of Orange,
but that our information was much more
particular. We also made known the
circumstance TO Colonel Abercrembe on
passing through his quarters. but 10 no
one else, not even TO the general officers
| and others, our friends. whom we met on
our arrival at Brussels. | went immedi-
| ately to headquarters and saw Sir Colin
| Campbell, who went in to the Duke Of
| Wellington To mention our return from
| Mons he said that the Duke would see
me at once, but he was engaged in writing
general orders for the army. and wished
me TO dine with him ut o'clock. | said
! was engaged 10 Sir Denis Pack, whom I
had Just met The Duke then sent ont
that he would talk to me at the ball
What" said |, 'is the ball 10 90 on ~
Yes" replied Sir Colin. ''it was first re-
solved not. but the breaking il Off would
excite more alarm in BRUSSELS, where
there is already sufficient disailection: IL
is therefore arranged that the general
officers shall all go to the ball, and take
their departure she one at time, without
any eclat, and Join their divisions on the
march" Orders were despatched to
break up all the cantonments, and move
the army to the left. said. "You must
have been some time aware of the news I
bring YOU from Mons ?'' he said. "No.
about an hour and half before. two ofli-
GERS arrived by different routes from Mar
shal Blucher with the intelligence"
| We dined with Gen. Pack and went 10
| the ball. The case had in the meantime
transpired among the officers, and the
troops were ordered to break up and
march after midnight This ball was n
scene of great interest. We could not.
without emotion, see so many fine fellows.
our intimate friends, who were to PASS
from tnat scene of gayety, probably within
few hours. into action. As il approached
| 10, the general officers separated. and
/ quietly Withdrew. | remember being par
ticularly struck with the interesting man
ner of William Ponsonby and the Prince
of Orange. both of whom were killed.
covered with glory. The women were
greatly affected, especially Lady Sarah
| Lennox.
The Duke. on his arrival at the ball.
Immediately spoke 10 me as To what had
heard at Mons. and laughed, saving: at
would have been very comical il YOU had
been caught by the French" lie said
Blucher had certainly suffered very Sc
we're loss he said that there was certainly
a movement toward his left. that he sus-
pected it was strong reconnaissance of
some 10000 men: he concluded bv saw
ing 81 shall move tomorrow morning
the whole army is in movement, and will
be up TO our extreme left ut Quartz Bras
by II o'clock Tomorrow night" We sat
down to supper about II o'clock. The
Duke sat on the Duchess of Richmopd,s
right hand; 10 one in the room was more
disengaged and cheerful. Gen. Alaya
gave. The Duke Of Wellington and sue.
cess to the Allied Armies. - The ladies
waved their handkerchiefs. His Grace nc.
knowledged it. In about ten minutes he
was called out by despatch which had
arrived from the Prince Of Orange. The
Duke retired, saluting the company gra.
ciouslv. During the ball Sir Pulteney
Malcolm, the admiral attached to the
army. talked to me great deal about
what had heard as to the Prussian defeat
We broke up at about / 80 O'Clock, and
found the rifle brigade under arms on the
Grandee Place, and remained with the
officers until they shortly after marched.