The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
NOT ALL DEAD IET.
A soldier who Fought Mt waterloo stu Alive
at Lynn.
From the Boston Globe.

From the Boston Gtobs.
Living in the busy city OF Lynn. spending the
last days OF IA dramatic life. honored by all who
know him, is John Henry Beard. one Of the few
survivors OF the battle of Waterloo.
This man. nearing the century mark in life, is
still in possession of all his faculties, and is look
ing forward with much pleasure to June 81. when
he viii be the special guest OF the Englishmen
of this Commonwealth at the celebration OF the
anniversary OF the coronation OF Queen Victoria.
Having taken part in this battle. fighting on
the side of the ~victors. is OF itself a great distinc-
ton, but being among the last survivors Of this
battle, in which over go, 900 men took part, is TO
have honor thrust upon him, Mr.. Beard thinks.
Few men have lived n more dramatic life than
Mr.. Beard, and he delights in telling to the
younger generation OF the exciting times when
Napoleon WAS spreading CONSERVATION through
out Europe. and England was almost at his
mercy. Ii is, with a keen eye. a ready smile.
and a steady hand that he grects his friends and
story about any particular time In the history of
the century. He can recount and picture events
and scenes in the carly parts of the nineteenth
century with AS much accuracy ass man who
was a participant in a stirring event in 1870 can
tell OF it nov; II is Ike reading history to
only vastly more real. for You talk with n man
who has taken part in the events.
At the age of II the need Of soldiers was so
great that he and other boys were notified that
they must enlist in the regular army. Being the
son OF a Colonel. be was given the extra priv
ANEN va J'LAaAhAN "As 80 ~. ''f az
~sclectef that commanded by his father and a few
days after he had celebrated his birthday he WAS
n regular soldier in the service OF England and IA
member OF the SiNty-siNth Regiment.
II was but IA boy" Mr.. Hoard said, when
asked about his first experiences in the army.
There were many men in the regimen who
had taken part in battles, been wounded, and
who had stood for hours ON a battlefield. Some
OF the men had but lately returned from Amer
lea, where they fought in the war of 1872. There
were but very few green hands, or recruits, in
the regiment, but l was one of them. My father
was very strict, and immediately after enlist
mcnt / was compelled to give up my residence
under the officers roof in the fort and 30 and
live with the soldiers in the barracks
For four days before the battle OF Waterloo
he says that his regiment marched back and
forth from one place to another, and were al
most always within hearing distance Of the
French guns. They wore not called upon to en-
ter the conflict until the decisive day, when or
ders came early in the morning TO march to the
front. Young Beard was in the front ranks OF
his fathers command, and remembers, as Il II
were YESTERDAY. the squares formed, by the Eng
lish soldiers, whore the French cavalry "foamed
itself away
Heard was wounded three times in the hip.
being struck by two bullets at nearly the same
instant. and being hit again as he lay wounded
on the ground. He WAS carried TO the rear, and
There saw Napoleon AS the latter was on his re-
treat toward Paris. A number of English sol
dicrs were lying on the ground when Napoleon
passed. He saw them, and approached within "A
short distance and then rode a way, surrounded
by n number OF his men.
Shortly after The battle Of Waterloo young
Boards regiment was ordered 10 Quebec. and
he accompanied il there. Ii was soon after he
reached the ago OF 81 that he secured a leave of
absence for n few days, Ostcnslbly 10 enjoy hunt
ing in the woods. lie had heard stories OF tho
fabulous wealth to I've secured in the States. -
and resolved that his experience in the army
should cease. With this intention he left Canada
ried and has since resided. except when in Lynn
with his daughter.