The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-13
C4PT4Ty GRONOWS MbHofhs.
a Fascinating work From the zen OF u"
Officer OF the English Guards.

lust published in this country this fasci-
mating work. The writer was an oihcer 10
that famous body Of troops, tAe Ehghsr
Guards. and though not properly an oircer o,
the battalion of the guards that participated
| in the battle of Waterloo. he was with IL ana
did duty with il on that memorable day as
though he had properly belonged 10 1t. On
leaving Elton At the age OF sixteen
no was presented with commission
in the Guards and joined ms req
ment, then serving (l5l3) under the Duke Oh
| Wellington in Spain. lie participated IN al
the glorious battles fought by the Duke after
that date. In 1915. when Bonaparte escspeu
| from Elba and prepared TO plunge FnrQpe
into new confagration. Gronow anu LIS
regiment were in England. some OF the
| Guards were TO 90 10 Belgium. but the battal-
ion g. which he was attached was 10 remain
| at home GrOnOw desired most ardently 10
| 90 along with those who were gong 10
| Waterloo and he thus describes how chance
! threw an opportunity in his way: .
Early in June had the honor OF dining
with Colonel Darling. the deputy ad iutant-gen-
! eral. and was then introduced 70 Sir Thomas
| pcton as a countryman and neignCof or his
! brother. Mr. Iunbervllie, OF Lyening ADDey.
! in Glamorganshire. lie was very gracious
and as his two aide MAJOR LIVER
and my friend Chambers, OF the GUARDS
| lamenting that | was obliged TO remain at
| home sir Thomas said: Is the lad really
anYious to 90 out| Chambers answered that
II was the height OF my ambition. Sir
Thomas inquired if all the appointments to
| his staff were filed up, and then added, with
| Grim smile. If Tyler Is killed, which Is not at
ali unlikely. do not know why should not
take my young countryman. lie may 80
over with me II he can get leave.
The upshOt was he borrowed goo from
Jew money lender on all the securities no
could raise. went to gambling house ana
had the luck TO increase II AbOO. bought MINI
tlar lfII a "
days afterwards for Ostend IN Sir Thomas
Pictons suite. He adds:
Il had not got leave: but thought should
get back alter the great battle that appeared
imminent in time to mount guard IN 81.
James,"
Sir Thomas got to Brussels just in time to
be hurried off by the Duke 10 Suatre Bras.
where he arrived late in the evening, at once
taking command of his division, which was IN
action and driving the French of the field OF
battle. GronOw describes him thus:
"Sir Thomas Picton was a stern-looking.
strong built man, about the middle height
and considered very like the Hetman
PlatOh He generally wore blue trock
coat very tightly buttoned up TO the throat. n
very large black silk neckclOth. showing little
or no shirt collar, dark trousers. boots and
round hat. Ii was IN this very dress that he
was attired at Quatre Bras as he hurried on
10 the scene of action before his uniform
arrived
This heroic soldier had two ribs broken by
musket ball in the action at Quatre Bras.
But knowing that the final and decisive battle
was to come of III "a very lew days, ana rear
ing that he might be ordered 10 give up his
command and retire II his injury was known.
he concealed IL from every one but his valet
and fell dead two days afterwards with
musket ball in his forehead in the hottest
part of Waterloo. GronOw tells that he WAS
invited by his friend Chambers 70 supper at
Picton's headquarters the night before Water
loo. and adds:
Il accompanied him thither. and after
eroping our way into the house. for 1t was
dark we passed the door of room IN which
Sir Thomas himself was lying. ] heard HIM
grOan from the pains of the wound he had re-
ceived AZ Quatre Bras. but did not OF course
venture to disturb HIM"
England honored herself by bringing the
remains Of this hero home and OurYing MN
under the dome OF 1T. Paul's.
On the morning Of Waterloo his friend
Chambers said TO GrOnow. Now. Gronow.
the loss has been very severe in the Guards,
and think you ought to 60 and see whether
you are wanted; for as you have really moth
ing TO do with PlctOn you had better JOIN
your regiment or you may get into scrape.'
He continues: Taking this advice 1 rode
of TO where the Guards were stationed. The
! officer exclaimed What the deuce are you do
! ing herey Why are YOU not with your battal-
i
dismounted and put in charge OF a company.
Many of the details of what he witnessed
during the battle Of Waterloo are OF absorb
ing interest. He says:
The day on which the battle Of Waterloo
was fought seemed 10 have been chosen by
some providential accident for which human
wisdom is unable 10 account. On the morn
ing of the 18th the sun shone most glOriOusly.
and so clear was the atmosphere that we
could see the long imposing lines OF the
enemy most distinctly. Immediately In front
OF the division to which ] belonged, and. l
should imagine. about a half mile from US.
were posted cavalry and artillery. and 10 the
right and left the French had already en-
gagged US. attacking Huguemont and La Haye
Salnte. We heard necessarily the measured
boom Of artillery. accompanied by the inces-
SAINT rafting echoes of musketry.
The whole of the British infantry not actu-
ally engaged We're at that time formed into
squares. and as you looked along our lines IL
seemed as If we formed continuous wall of
human beings / recollect distinctly being
able TO see BOnaparte and his staff. and some
of my brother officers using the glass ex-
claimed: There he is on his white horse
Il should not forget 10 state that when The
enemy artillery began TO play on US we had
orders to lie down. We could hear the shot
and shell whistllng around Us, killing and
wOundng great numbers. then again we
were ordered on our knees to receive cavalry.
The French artillery. which consisted OF three
hundred guns-we did not muster more than
half that number committed terrible havoc
during the early part of the battle, whilst we
were acting on the defensive
We would be glad il space permitted us to
make further extracts from this charming
book. If nothing diverts our attention we
shall Ia "a enltr4qt pqVf Sunday