The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-14
SAW WATERLOO.

Death of Probably the Last Witness Of
NapoleOn's Defeat.
james X. Gleene's Graphic Account of the
Greatest Conflict of History Given IN 4
Reporter just before His Death-An
&, Admirer of Napoleon, Although an
Englishman.
(ot. Louis Globe Democrat
warren, O.. September Bottle battle of
waterloo Was fought eighty-two years ago
yet man who saw that great conflict,
ana whoswas probably the last of the wit
nesses OF Napoleons final defeat, died
only few days ago. His name was
James Il. Greene, and he lived at the
llttie town of Ellsworth, sixteen miles
south of this place. A few weeks ago l
saw and interviewed this relic of a past
age, When I approached his humble cot
tage he was sitting on his little stoop or
porch enjoying the. warm August sum
shine, and pulling off one by one the
caves from peach twig he held in his
hand. He greeted me with hospitality
and welcome that savored Of the old
South, and his meditation reminded one
of the old school of planters. Though
English by birth he was an American by
adoption and loyal, though anxious about
his country. He was born in England,
at Bolton, on the London road, near
Liverpool, July 25. 1898. And strange it
was to talk to a man who began life just
as Washington was retiring from the
Presidency of the United States, now dis
coursing intelligently about Mckinley and
present political parties, and then pictur-
ing with all the vividness of history the
events of terrible day eight-two years
ago. Without prompting, without hest
tation or solicitation, after a few prelimi-
naries as to his birthplace, ..'Upcle
jimmy. as his neighbors called him,
found himself on the field of Waterloo.
His whole life seemed to grayi5ate around
| the 18th of june 1885, and venturesome
and romantic as has been his career,
| Waterloo, day on the field with the
compared with which all others paled
into insignifcance.
mo. was not engaged in the battle, -
he said. "a brother was member of
the 45th Regiment, and had uncles and
cousins in other regiments. / WAS lad
of II years old and doing service on The
British ship, the Royal George. ALI
Europe was looking for the great battle
between the French Emperor and the
English Duke. In fact, Wellington had
selected Waterloo as a fitting place fer a
pitched battle more than q year before
| got leave to go and look after my friends
and relatives in the approaching conflict.
| The captain amidships, cousin, and
others got leave, also.
| 1.-THE two great armies had been DELHI
erately planning for the fight Napoleon,
you remember, said when he left Paris,
7 go to measure myself with Wellington
The French crossed the frontier on thu
10Th and advanced SO rapidly that the
battle of Ligny was fought on the 10th.
command, met the Prussians under old
Marshal Forwards (Blucher) In this
first battle, which lasted five hours, the
French were victorious.
ION the 18th Wellington engaged 10000
of the Emperor's troops at Quartre Bras.
Marshal Ney was in command, but the
English had a little the best of this Sec
ond days fighting, although history says
the honors of war were about equally
divided. Wellington, you know, to whom
was the glory OF crushing in many re-
spects the most remarkable man in his
tory, was himself a marvel of GOODNESS,
bravery and calculation. Imagine any
other man in the world on the eve of q
battle with the hero of Austerlitz, whose
very name brought fear to every court of
Europe, calmly donnlng dress suit and
attending the Duchess of Richmond
ball at Brussels. Yet this very thing
Wellington did, and remained until 8
Ir5o ind ho yr1ap I'M IN, no irt,f In
fore the battle OF L1gny. Baron Muffling
says he was looking very cheerful, and
at 5 O'Clock was In the saddle riding
toward Quartre Bras.
"But, my young friend, will not
live long enough to tell you all. Let s
on to Waterloo. Ligny and Quartre Bras,
though great battles, were but the skirm-
ish line of Waterloo. Though defeated the
first day, the old Field Marshal Butcher
retreated in good order. Wellington had
communicated to the Prussian that be
would retire north from Quartre Bras
and accept pitched battle in front of
: Mont St. Jean, provided he (Blucher)
| old Marshal promised. and history
records, Ell? that he kept his word. But
Grouchy, Grouchy, the traitor, the scoun-
drel, who was ordered to pursue Blucher
after his defeat at Ligny and keep him
from joining Wellington, he was bought
by British gold.
"Oh, can see the field just as if it
were this morning. The thick forest OF
Sougnes north of Mont St. Jean and in
front the plain of Waterloo, a valley be.
tween two ridges. On the northern and
southern ridges were the English and
French respectively. There was an awful
storm Oh the night of the 18th and the
rain was falling on the morning of the
great battle. Between s and tho sun
broke through the clouds, the rain ceased
and active preparations began for the
greatest duel in bistory-Europe's bap.
tism in blood. OH it was maRnifi.
cent sight to look upon those old soldiers
of France, and English infantry under
Kempt and Vivian's light cavalry, to-
gether with the rest of the bright uni
formed men taking their positions or
either side of the Valley of the Shadow
of Death
cit was about IL O'Clock when Napoleon
ordered an attack on Hougomont, the
farm house. Time after time did the
French troops charge, and as often were
| thau foroad bacE RefOra 1Oro the fr1p