The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-07-09
A VETERAN WHO SAW NAPOLEON

. !. u,Gy iouGht nc the battle of Waterlo
ana saw Napoleon after the fight. Tha
IL, however, the claim of John IIenr,
Deart, who for 65 years lived ut Rich
m0nd' Me., and for the last year and
nan mas been resident of Lynn, Mass
He will be the special guest of the ENG
llsnmen OF Boston at their celebration
bilee. " y"
Of course his nearly o. year,-for be
Is Two months older than the country
nave left their marks upon him, bu,
aik 10 him of Wellington and Napo.
leon, and he is again one of the thin red
lne that ~ years ago Napoleon's Old
Guards last desperate charge could not
Did ever see Napoleon Yes, lie
stood just this way"
| Anu John Beard rose from his seat
throwing back the shoulders rounded and
Deht by the weight of 81 years and
placing one hand in the breast of his
co1t, with his other hanging at his side.
lic delights in talking about the
waterloo campaign and related his ex-
leriences in the English army, and he
uaiiy fights his battles DER again and
c"ats with any one who cares to listen.
""' oiy ~, Ic DcSlIlS Ill answer
10 Il question about his army life, .whcn
enlisted. 1t was in my fathers regi-
ment the first royal regiment of lis
hha!eStyS service, and better lot of
soldiers never wore the British uniform
had to take my share of the rouohness
Tor my father being colonel didn't help
me one bit.
''If l forget anything else in the world
DpSlffpS ~ nnfltinnn<1 l,n IL
ing to his talk, 81 will rememl or fhe
days from June u to ~. 1915. FOR
four days before the battle of Waterloo
we were advancing and retrcatnp and
weren't out of hearing distance of the
French cannon that were firing some
where all tho time.
After Napoleon had whpped the
Prussians at Ligny and Quatre bras, two
days before the great hattie, we began
our march to Waterloo. The rain fairly |
poured, Off and on, for 4S hours, and
when we got to our position, Just before
the night of June II. remember tIe
mud came to my shoe tops in the road
and my clothes were soaked.
THAT was an awful night for us
had nothing to eat but few crusts of
bread, 10 fire to warm hy and had to
sleep with (y arms ON the drencl,ed
l.oul!9; ..r, .-..,. -...
would beat, and we would rush into
ranks.
'With just bite of hrpakm., we
formed for battle. Ny regiment was OH
the extreme left wing in Pricton's brigade
We were drawn up in Il hollow square,
and just as this had been done the ranks
opened and Wellington walked to the
center Of the square.
81 can sec him yet said Mr.. Beard.
Here the old veterans voice failed him,
and tears ran down his cheeks. 1t WIS
some time before he could continue.
Rising from the clnir and removing his
l,at, lie iegan once more!
Yes, can see him yet just us he
prayed there in that hollow square. lie
stood with his hat off, his hands clasped
in front of him and his kind, good, soldier
face bent little forward.
II never saw Il man pray us he did.
Not man of the thousands around him
moved muscle during the three OF four
minutes he stood praying. When he
stopped, we pretty near ali had tears in !
our eyes. lie seemed almost father to |
us. |
"The time saw Napoleon Wa atteN
he had surrendered himself and was i'll
CHARGE at tEe ati'cels OF the ship Beller-
ol,l.on. We were Oh parade. lie watch
el us rs we passed. lie didn't move Il
muscle while saw him, but his face was
one you don't forget.
''lIe was short, rather thickset AMI
square slouldered, with a big head and
dark eye that seemed to take IL every.
thing. llc looked iika tlIe pictures you
aea 0t him. This was the only time
I ever saw him, but l'llncver forget just
how he stool there in his uniform watch
ing us pass
In speaking of Waterloo aud the night
following he said that he had no clear
idea of any part of what wiG going on.
NO" he sAiI |nur regiment was
fYer, Whele. We were hero and there:
The smoke was so thick that it concealed
everything ut Il distance. After the
French were routed and in full retreat
the last thing 1 remember was lying down
from sheer hunger and fatigue and fait-
ing asleep in the tAq ,Assst at the dad
and woun,IGa un the Rttleilell!.':
ANel Napoleon lm,. ,.een sent to st.
Helena Mr.. !..earyls regiment was in
service in England for six years. 1t was
/ then transferred to Quebec. There he
| hecame acquainted with the Yankee
captain of Il gang of lumbermen, who
induced him to leave the English army
and make his home thereafter in the
| United States.
His mind is clear and his memory fair.
Ills father lived to Ike nearly lOG years
old, and he says he intends to live longer.
AS he !a recorded as Il dcseiter from
che English army "a years ago, mon.
ster petition has been prepared asking
Queen Victoria to grant him an honorable
discharge. Embassador Pauncefote has
promised TO do all he can in this matter