Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-08

general. Near by the PruSSlan mOnu-
ment, IN the shape Of an obelisk, stood
like huge sentinel in the midst of the
landscape and pointed the moral to all
human greatness There were other
monuments and villages and dingy tav-
erns In front of us in almost endless sue
cesslon; there was scarcely u road or by
way which had not once been strewn
with human gore; there was scarcely
foot OF soil which did not boast of its gal
liant dead. But La Haye Sainte and
Hougomont, which are now proverbial
IN the history of the battles of the world,
loomed up, silent and deserted-like, near
the mound upon which we stood, and to
the study OF their position our attention
was dire La Haye Sainte at pres
ent is dllapidated farmhouse, which is
memorable as having been occupied dur
ing the battle by the German legion I'M
der Maj. Won Barring, and which, after
AN EXTRAORDINARY DEFENCE,
was finally captured by the French. 1t
is estimated that fully 10000 men were
engaged in the assault, and these COM
prised the whole of Erlon's corps, with
division of Kellerman's cavalry. The
spectacle was magnificent; but terrible.
Ney was at Papillotte; Jerome Bonaparte
was at Hougom0nt, but the carnage at
La Haye Sainte was under the guidance
OF Napoleon. His object was to storm
this stronghold, break through the CEN
tire OF the allied army, and attack the left
wing in the rear. Then there was furi-
GUS cannonading, reiterated attacks by
overwhelming numbers of French trail
leurs, an exhaustion of the ammunition of
the defenders, a scaling of the walls,
slaughter of the unfortunate, firing of
the buildings and retreat. But history
adds with heroic bravery Maj. Won Bar
ing and his gallant officers renamed at
their posts until the French had actually
entered the house, and only when further
resistance would have been certain
death did they finally yield and retreat
to the line of the allies. An idea of the
intensity Of the struggle which ragged
upon this spot now before us
may be gathered from passage of the
majors own account, as follows: "Many
OF my men, although covered with wounds
could not be induced to keep back. AS
long as our officers can fight and we Can
stand, was their invariable answer, I'VE
won't move from the spot In proper
ton as our tusillade diminished our en-
barrassment was increased. The enemy
soon perceived our defencless condition
and broke open one OF the doors. AS but
few could enter at q time, all who crossed
the threshold were bayoneted, and those
behind hes1tated to encounter the same
fate. They therefore, clambered over
tine walls and roofs, whence they could
shoot down my poor fellows with impun-
ity. At the same time they thronged in
through the open barn, which could no
longer be defended. Indescribably hard
as it was for me to yield, yet feelings of
humanity now prevailed over those of
honor. therefore ordered my men to
retire to the garden at the back. The
effort with which these words were
wrung from me, can only be understood
by those who have been in a similar posi-
ton" To this day traces of French bull
lets are everywhere visible about the
premises, and the ancient windows are
still secured by the iron bars which rem
dered impossible the escape of many an
unfortunate defender. If
LA HAVE sAINTE
attracted my attention in an uncommon
degree, then there was attached to Hougo-
mont an interest and reverence almost
bordering on worship. 1t was situated
little to the southwest of the mound, and
was directly in front of the allied centre
during the progress of the battle. Around
this spot the struggle ragged with fright
full fury. 1t was the focus of the fight.
1t was the spot where human blood once
ran like water in a stream. To capture
this apparently insignificant fortress was
once the grandest dream OF Napoleon; to
defend it required courage almost akin
to despair. The Hanoverlan and Nssso-
Wan rlflemen were like rocks immOvable,
and without fear. The French tirallleu1s
piled the ground with their gallant slain,
and 1900 men dropped dead In the little
orchard within an hour. During the
massacre the chateau itself was fired, and
the flames were only arrested before the
doorway where crucifix was hung.
This sacred image was injured, but not
destroyed, and to its miraculous influence,
to this day, IS attributed the result by
certain devout Belgians. To the guide
and myself, gazing from the top OF the
Belgian mound, Hougomont was a
rlckety farmhouse, surrounded by a
wall which still showed the loopholes
and scars of former years, which shone
in the sunlight like huge gem on the
landscape; but Hougomont In the history
of Waterloo was the scene of one of the
most deadly conflicts on record, and for
its possession were sacrificed the precious
lives of thousands of noble men. Here
Jerome Bonaparte and Wellington HIM
self were the commanders; here guns
were spiked and squares annihilated;
here cannons reared and musketry rat
tied and sabres flashed; here the heart of
foe was reached with fury that SEEM
ed superhuman, horses reared and snort
cd the fires of death blazed forth, gaps
were made and gaps were filled; life
blood ebbed away; the silver cords were
loosed and the golden bowls were brok-
en-; it was storm Of thunder, and hight
ming, and smoke, and blood. without a
parallel in the world. There may have
been greater and grander battles than
Il u 81. &c A