Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-06-27
their way to the scene of action.


was supported on both sides and in
the rear by infantry and cavalry.
The cavalry commenced the attack.
They pressed forward with impetu-
osity, intent upon capturing the guns
of the English by storm, but we're
received with destructive fire. At
once the English cavalry, concealed
in the rear of the army, burst forth
like mighty cyclone. and fell upon
the enemy, capturing Is guns. The
combat was now in earnest and rag
ed with terrible flerceness. Marshal
Ney now led the Infantry to the at
tack, and both sides fought with I'M
exampled yalor. Three times the
French were on the point of over
towering the English and driving
them from their position, but as Of
ten were repulsed. Ney had sue
ceeded, by the aid of the French
guard, in taking La Hayn SaiDte,
and capturing some cannon of the
English. but an English battery APP
peared suddenly, and dealt death
and destruction among tue enemy.
They fed while the English pepper
ed them with grape-shot.
Maddened by his failure thus far.
to crush the enemy, Napoleon now
threw his cuirassiers upon the Eng
lish line between the chatteaux. This
was the hour and the occasion when
the English general showed his ex-
cellent tactics, as well as his person
al courage and composure. He cast
his eyes over the field and surveyed
the dreadful scene of carnage. He
knew what was going on at every
point, and was ready every moment to
send help where it was needed. He
ventured personally to points where
the danger was great, to animate
and encourage his soldiers. He
would inspirit them with such words
as these. "Children, we must be
brave; we must not yield we must
not be defeated what would they
say in England if we allowed our
selves to be conquered?' He re-
| garded not his life, but his honor
and that of his country. And when
bis ranks were fearfully thinned, and
the dreadful carnage still continued
with uncertainty as to the final is
sue--to show his men his fixed reso-
luton and immovable determination,
be raised his sword heavenward and
exclaimed: $50 help me God, will
never surrender-we will conquer or
die!'
Napoleon had fixed his headquart-
ers upon an eminence called Belle
| Alliance, whence he had a view Of
the battlefield ; and when he saw
the result of the initiatory move
ment, he was furious, and with COM
pressed lips and stolid countenance
endeavored to conceal his rage.
That such comparatively inferior
number of the enemy should so sue
cessfully repulse greater force, and
! French soldiers at that, he had not
calculated upon. He could not think
| it possible, and his stern command
was simply, "Foracard! Foracard"
He had calculated, with certainty,
on an easy victory. So sure had he
been, that he had already dispatched
a messenger to Paris with the news
of a victory. And, in truth, SO ex-
hausted was the English army by
this time, that, If re-inforcements
would not soon come, the day would
be lost, and the dark spirit of usur-
| patton would exult in victory and
control the destinies of Europe.
And now Wellington was obliged
to call forward his reserve under
Lord Hill. and to- weaken his left
wing by drawing from it to support
the center. Already 10000 of his
soldiers lay dead or wounded upon
the field, and the survivors had ex-
hausted their strength In an action,
having already lasted for hours.
Wellington, in the anguish of his
heart, exclaimed 30, God /
wish it was night, or Butcher would
come" Scarcely had he uttered
these words, when, as if in answer
to his prayer, be heard the booming
of the Prussian cannon, in the rear
of the enemy. "Thank God |" ex-
claimed Wellington, There is old
Blucher," and he wept for Joy. Who
can imagine the feelings of the great
British hero? 1t was to him the
sweetest music that ever greeted his
ear, for he realized that the destiny
of Europe hung upon the issue, and
that the opportune arrival of Bluch-
er with his forces would decide her
fate.
1t was nov o'clock. The Prus-
SLAMS halted in the woods of FRS
lamont to get in proper position,
and this was done so orderly and
quietly that neither the English nor
the French we're aware of their prox-
unity until the thunder of their guns
announced it.
The decisive moment had now
come. General Bulow, with the ad-
vance corps first emerged from the
woods, down the incline, in the rear
of the enemy's right wing, and the
whole Prussian army followed. It