The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-20
JOHN HENRY BEARD

Guards last desperate charge could not
| break.
did I ever see Napoleon? Yes, he
stood Just this way"
| And John Beard rose from his seat.
throwing back the shoulders rounded
and bent by the weight of 81 years and
placing one hand in the breast OF his
| coat. with the other hanging at his side.
He delights in talking about the Wa
terloo campaign and relating his expe-
riences in the English army. and he
daily fights his battles Ger again and
chats with any one who cares 10 listen.
Il was only IL" he began In answer
70 question about his army life. when
enlisted. II was in my fathers regi-
ment. the First Royal regiment of his
majesty's service. and a better lot o.
soldiers never wore the British uniform.
had 10 take my share of the rough
ness. for my fathers being colonel didn't
help me a bit.
If forget anything else in the
world besides" continued the old man.
warming To his talk. II will remember
the days from June IL 20 20. ISIS For
four days before the battle OF Water
loo We were advancing and rstreatinx
the French cannon that were firing
somewhere all the time
After Napoleon had whipped the
Prussians at Ligny and Qua,re Bras.
two days before the great battle. We
began our march Cor Waterloo. The
rain fairly poured. of and on. for a
hours. and when we got TO our posi-
ton. just before the night OF June L.
remember the mud came 70 my shoe
tops in the road. and my clothes were
soaked.
That was an awful night for u.s.
had nothing 20 eat but a few crusts %
bread. no fire 20 warm by and had 90
sleep with my arms on the drcnchsc
ground.
But there wasn't much sleep. Every
little while there would be an alarm
that the French had come up. and the
drums would beat. and we would rush
into ranks.
With jus. bite OF breakfast W.
formed for battle. Ny regiment was on
the extreme left wing in Pictons bri-
gade- We were drawn up in a hollow
square. and Just al this had been done
the ranks opened. and Wellington walk
ed 10 the center OF the square.
Il can see him yet" said Mr.. Beard.
Here the old veterans voice failed him.
and tears ran down his cheeks. n was
some time before he could continue
Rising from the chair and removing
his hat. he began once more:
Yes. can see him yet just as he
prayed Their. IN that hollow square Hs
stood with his hat or. hts hands clasp
ed In front ~ him and his kind. good.
soldier face bent a little forward
II never saw a man pray ss he dls.
Not a man ~ the thousands around
him moved a muscle during The three
or four minutes he stood praying When
he stopped. We pretty near all had tears
in our eyes. He seemed almost a ia
Their 20 Us.
The time 7 saw Napoleon was after
be had surrendered himself and ~ss IN
charge % the officers ~ the ship Keller
1phcn. We were on parade. He watch
ID US a. We parsed He didn't move .
muscle while 7 saw him. but his face
was one you dent forget
He vag short. rather 'hirhsst and
sousre shoulderee. ytth Q b'g bead and
A dark eye that seemed - iats In ev-
srythinz He ioessd ike TIE pictures
you r@s of him. This sSs ths only
Iirns ever saw him. bat ia never for.
get Just nov ~ s'fsgg tssE~ "a D. AA't-
IOrrn watching Us PASS
In speaking % Waterloo and the nirnt
following ne said that Re had no clear
dea OF any part % what gas going On
NO" ne Esld. our regiment vas -
.rywhere We x.rs here and theirs. TIE
suok~ vas 40 fh3lt that u concsaiss
.-srytnirR az = distance Afssr the
French acre routed ard n suIi gssr~a;
he last ihlnx ! remember ~as lying
Town from sheer hunger zn3 fargss
nd falling asleep In the midst % iss
Lad and zouasssd or TIE hsttlssssd
After Napoleon ha3 len ssnt % -.
Ieiena NJ Boards regiment vas n
ervlce in Enxisnc for gfx years Y va
hen .rzazferred % Qslsbsc. Tsers -
.~czrre acquainted Win ire Tsrk~e
apsagn % a gang 81 iurnb~rrnen- who
aGvee>s hirn 20 icsgs ne Englisb army
nd make RS bSrrs ;hsrssfi~f ~ TIE
-nl:es states
His mind - cissr anf bis rzsrr0rT
air lis father I've: e ~ s@z-3y -
ears old. and ~ ssys he ifsts1z~ -
We longer.
AZ he j. fscoTssS IS a sss~fifF fro.
Re English army q year sx1. rSso-
ter Petition hss b~Sn PTvpsrsf sskiag
.ueen Victoria 90 grant alss an hsno~
Sic asnosaszz. F-raSaxsxeoE ps=rc~foss
a. PROMISED &C 60 All - c&c - tss
aati~r.