Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-27
WATERLOO.
NapoIeon's Old and Middle Guard Fought In
till Only Handful Remaiaed-Stead.
mess of the English.

Before the combined armies of yelling
ton and Butcher the French could not
stand but, in spite of inferior numbers
and the manifest signs of defeat, General
Bonaparte might have conducted an or
derby retreat. The case was different
with Napoleon, the emperor, even though
he were now liberator to retreat would
have been merely postponement of the
day of reckoning. Against this army
Napoleon dispatched what was left of
that force which was the peculiar product
of his life and genius, the old and middle
guard. Most of its members were the
children of peasants and had been born
in ante-reVolution days. Neither intelli-
gent in appearance nor graceful III bear
ing, they nevertheless had the look of
perfect fighting machines. Their huge
bearskin caps and long mustaches did
not diminish the fierceness of their as
pect. They had been selected for size,
doclity and strength; they had been well
paid, well fed and well drilled; they had,
therefore, no ties but those to their en-
peror, no homes but their barracks and
no enthusiasm but their passion for i'm
perial France. They would have followed
no leader unless he were distinguished in
their system of life; accordingly, Ney
was selected for that honor, and, as they
came in proud confidence up the Char
leroi road, their emperor passed them In
review Like every other division, they
had been told that the distant roar was
from Grouchys guns. when infoNhed
that all was ready for the finishing stroke
that there was to be a general advance
along the whole line, and that no man
was to be denied his share IN certain vic
tory-even the sick, 1t is said rose up and
hurried into the ranks, The air seemed
rent with their hoarse cheers as their col
umns swung in measured tread diagonal
ly across the northern spur of the cross
line elevation which cut the surface OF
the valley.
Wellington. informed of the French
movement as it is thought by a de-
serter, issued hurried orders to the cen
ter, ordered Maltlands brigade to where
the charge must be met, and posted him
SELF with Napier's battery, somewhat to
its right. While yet his words of warn
ing were scarcely uttered, the head or
the French column appeared. The Eng
lish batteries belched forth a welcome,
but, although Ney's horse. the fifth that
day. was shot, the men he led suffered lit
tie, and, with him on foot at their side,
they. came steadily onward. The British
guards were lying behind the hill-crest,
and the French could discern no foe
only few mounted officers, of whom
wellington was one. Astonished and in
credulous, the assailants pressed steadi-
iy on until within 20 yards of the Eng
fish line. Up, guards. make ready!
rang out the dukes we'll known call. The
British jumped and fired. about 300 of
Neys gallant soldiers fell. But there
was no confusion; on both sides volley
succeeded volley, and this lasted until
the British charged. Then, and then
only, the French withdrew. Simultane-
ously Donzelot had fallen upon Aliens
division; but he was leading a forlorn
hope, and making no impression. AS
Ney fell back. a body of French cuiras-
siers advanced pom the English batteries.
Their success was partial, and behind
them second column of the guard was
formed. Again the assault was renewed;
but the second attempt Jared worse than
the first To the right of Maitland Ad
ANS brigade, with the Fifty-second regi-
ment had taken stand; wheeling now
these poured deadly flank fire into the
advancing French, while the others
poured in a devastating hail of bullets
from the front. The front ranks of the
French replied with spirit. but when the
British had completed their maneuver,
Colborne gave the order, his men cheered
in response, and the counterchange be-
gan. "Vive TEmpereur!' came the re-
sponsive cheer from the thinning ranks
of the assalants, and still they came on.
But in the awful crash they reeled con-
fusion followed, and almost in the twink
ling of an eye the rout began. Two bat
talions of the old guard, under Cam
bronze, retreated in fair order to the CEN
ter of the valley, where they made their
last gallant stand against the over
whelming number of Halkett's German
brigade. They fought until but $50 sur
vived. From all sides the despairing cry
of "Sauve qui peut!' rang on their ears.
To the final summons Of surrender the
leader assented, and they filed in de-
lection to the rear. This occurrence has
passed into tradition as an epic even;
what Cambronne might well have said,
1.-THE guard dies, but never surrenders.'
was not uttered, but it epitomizes their
character and in the phrase they and
their leader have found Immortality
1.-THE Eclipse of Napoleon's Glory" by
William M: Sloane, in the October Cen
fury.