our lively French friends, and now silently wound our way up the
deserted street, nothing disturbing its death-like stillness save the
iron sound of horses' feet, the rumbling of the carriages, and the
splashing of water as it fell from the eaves--all this was stillness
compared with the hurly-burly and din from which we had just emerged.
"On gaining the high ground beyond the town, we suddenly came in
sight of the main body of our cavalry drawn up across the _chaussée_
in two lines, and extending away far to the right and left of it.
It would have been an imposing spectacle at any time, but just now
appeared to me magnificent, and I hailed it with complacency, for
here I thought our fox-chase must end. 'Those superb Life Guards
and Blues will soon teach our pursuers a little modesty.' Such
fellows!--surely nothing can withstand them. Scarcely had these
thoughts passed through my mind ere an order from his lordship
recalled us to the rear. The enemy's horse artillery, having taken
up a position in the meadows near the bridge, were annoying our
dragoons as they debouched from the town. The ground was heavy from
the rain, and very steep, so that it was only by great exertion that
we succeeded at last in getting our guns into the adjoining field.
"The moment we appeared the French battery bestowed on us its
undivided attention, which we quickly acknowledged by an uncommonly
well-directed fire of spherical case. Whilst so employed, Major
M'Donald came up and put me through a regular catechism as to length
of fuse, whether out of bag A or B, &c., &c. Although much vexed at
such a schooling just now, yet the major appeared so seriously in
earnest that I could not but be amused; however, to convince him that
we knew what we were about, I directed his attention to our excellent
practice, so superior to that of our antagonist, who was sending all
his shot far over our heads. The French seemed pretty well convinced
of this too, for after standing a few rounds they quitted the field,
and left us again without occupation. The major vanishing at the same
time, I sent my guns, &c., to the rear, and set off to join Lord
Uxbridge, who was still fighting in the street. Our ammunition was
expended the waggons having been taken away by Sir Augustus Frazer
at Quatre Bras.
"On regaining my troop I found Major M'Donald and the rockets with
it. They were in position on a gentle elevation, on which likewise
were formed the lines of cavalry stretching across the _chaussée_.
Immediately on our left, encased in the hollow road, the Blues were
formed in close column of half-squadrons, and it was not long ere
Lord Uxbridge, with those he had retained at Genappe, came sweeping
over the hill and joined us. They were closely followed by the
French light cavalry, who, descending into the hollow, commenced a
sharp skirmish with our advance-posts. Soon squadron after squadron
appeared on the hill we had passed, and took up their positions,
forming a long line parallel to ours, whilst a battery of horse
artillery, forming across the _chaussée_, just on the brow of the
declivity, opened its fire on us, though without much effect. To this
we responded, though very slowly, having no more ammunition than what
remained in our limbers.
"In order to amuse the enemy and our own cavalry, as well as to
prevent the former noticing the slackness of our fire, I proposed to
Major M'Donald making use of the rockets, which had hitherto done
nothing. There was a little hesitation about this, and one of the
officers (Strangways) whispered me, 'No, no--it's too far!' This I
immediately told the Major, proposing as a remedy that they should go
closer. Still there was demur; but at last my proposition was agreed
to, and down they marched into the thick of the skirmishers in the
bottom. Of course, having proposed the measure myself, I could do no
less than accompany them.
"Whilst they prepared their machinery, I had time to notice what was
going on to the right and left of us. Two double lines of skirmishers
extended all along the bottom--the foremost of each line were within
a few yards of each other--constantly in motion, riding backwards
and forwards, firing their carbines or pistols, and then reloading,
still on the move. This fire seemed to me more dangerous for those on
the hills above than for us below; for all, both French and English,
generally stuck out their carbines or pistols as they continued to
move backwards and forwards, and discharged them without taking any
particular aim, and mostly in the air. I did not see a man fall on
either side. The thing appeared quite ridiculous, and but for hearing
the bullets whizzing overhead, one might have fancied it no more than
a sham-fight.
"Meanwhile the rocketeers had placed a little iron triangle in the
road with a rocket lying on it. The order to fire is given, portfire
applied; the fidgety missile begins to sputter out sparks and wriggle
its tail for a second or so, and then darts forth straight up the
_chaussée_. A gun stands right in its way, between the wheels of
which the shell in the head of the rocket bursts; the gunners fall
right and left; and those of the other guns, taking to their heels,
the battery is deserted in an instant. Strange; but so it was. I saw
them run, and for some minutes afterwards I saw the guns standing
mute and unmanned, whilst our rocketeers kept shooting off rockets,
none of which ever followed the course of the first; most of them, on
arriving about the middle of the ascent, took a vertical direction,
whilst some actually turned back upon ourselves; and one of these,
following me like a squib until its shell exploded, actually put me
in more danger than all the fire of the enemy throughout the day.
Meanwhile the French artillerymen, seeing how the land lay, returned
to their guns and opened a fire of case-shot on us, but without
effect, for we retreated to our ridge without the loss of a man, or
even any wounded, though the range could not have been above 200
yards.
"As we had overtaken the rear of our infantry, it became necessary
to make a stand here to enable them to gain ground. Major M'Donald
therefore sent me in pursuit of my ammunition waggons, since all in
our limbers was expended. Having before sent for these, we calculated
that they could not now be very far off. In going to the rear, I
passed along the top of the bank, under which, as I have said, the
Blues were encased in the hollow road. Shot and shells were flying
pretty thickly about just then, and sometimes striking the top of the
bank would send down a shower of mud and clods upon them.
"The ammunition waggons I found coming up, and was returning with
them when I met my whole troop again retiring by the road, whilst
the cavalry did so by alternate regiments across the fields. The
ground offering no feature for another stand, we continued thus along
the road. The infantry had made so little progress that we again
overtook the rear of their column, composed of Brunswickers--some of
those same boys I used to see practising at Schapdale in my rides to
Brussels. These poor lads were pushing on at a great rate. As soon
as their rear divisions heard the sound of our horses' feet, without
once looking behind them, they began to crowd and press on those in
front, until at last, hearing us close up to them, and finding it
impossible to push forward in the road, many of them broke off into
the fields; and such was their panic that, in order to run lighter,
away went arms and knapsacks in all directions, and a general race
ensued, the whole corps being in the most horrid confusion. It was
to no purpose that I exerted my little stock of German to make them
understand we were their English friends. A frightened glance and
away, was all the effect of my interference, which drove many of them
off."
The retreat came to an end here. The rearguard, without knowing it, had
reached the low ridge running east and west across the Brussels road,
where Wellington had resolved to make his final stand, and where the
greatest battle in modern history was on the morrow to be fought:--
"We did not long remain idle, for the guns were scarcely loaded ere
the rear of our cavalry came crowding upon the infantry corps we had
passed, and which were then only crossing the valley, the French
advance skirmishing with these, whilst their squadrons occupied the
heights. We waited a little until some of their larger masses were
assembled, and then opened our fire with a range across the valley of
about 1200 yards. The echo of our first gun had not ceased when, to
my astonishment, a heavy cannonade, commencing in a most startling
manner from behind our hedge, rolled along the rising ground, on part
of which we were posted. The truth now flashed on me; we had rejoined
the army, and it is impossible to describe the pleasing sense of
security I felt at having now the support of something more staunch
than cavalry.
"The French now brought up battery after battery, and a tremendous
cannonading was kept up by both sides for some time. The effect was
grand and exciting. Our position was a happy one, for all their shot
which grazed short came and struck in the perpendicular bank of our
gravel-pit, and only one struck amongst us, breaking the traversing
handspike at one of the guns, but injuring neither man nor horse. Our
fire was principally directed against their masses as we could see
them, which was not always the case from the smoke that, for want
of wind, hung over them; then against their smaller parties that
had advanced into the valley to skirmish with the rearguard of our
cavalry.
"Here, for the second and last time, I saw Napoleon, though
infinitely more distant than in the morning. Some of my
non-commissioned officers pointed their guns at the numerous cortège
accompanying him as they stood near the road by Belle Alliance; and
one, pointed by old Quarter-master Hall, fell in the midst of them.
At the moment we saw some little confusion amongst the group, but it
did not hinder them from continuing the reconnaissance.
"Whilst we were thus engaged, a man of no very prepossessing
appearance came rambling amongst our guns, and entered into
conversation with me on the occurrences of the day. He was dressed in
a shabby old drab greatcoat and a rusty round hat. I took him at the
time for some amateur from Brussels (of whom we had heard there were
several hovering about), and thinking many of his questions rather
impertinent, was somewhat short in answering him, and he soon left
us. How great was my astonishment on learning soon after that this
was Sir Thomas Picton! The enemy, finding us obstinate in maintaining
our position, soon slackened, and then ceased firing altogether; and
we were immediately ordered to do the same, and establish ourselves
in bivouac for the night.
"Thoroughly wet--cloaks, blankets, and all--comfort was out of
the question, so we prepared to make the best of it. Our first
care was, of course, the horses, and these we had ample means of
providing for, since, in addition to what corn we had left, one of
our men had picked up and brought forward on an ammunition waggon
a large sackful, which he found in the road near Genappe. Thus
they, at least, had plenty to eat, and having been so well drenched
all day, were not much in need of water. For ourselves we had
nothing!--absolutely nothing!--and looked forward to rest alone to
restore our exhausted strength. Rather a bore going supperless to bed
after such a day, yet was there no help for it.
"Our gunners, &c., soon stowed themselves away beneath the carriages,
using the painted covers as additional shelter against the rain,
which now set in again as heavy as ever. We set up a small tent, into
which (after vain attempts at procuring food or lodgings in the farm
or its out buildings, all of which were crammed to suffocation with
officers and soldiers of all arms and nations) we crept, and rolling
ourselves in our wet blankets, huddled close together, in hope, wet
as we were, and wet as the ground was, of keeping each other warm.
I know not how my bedfellows got on, as we all lay for a long while
perfectly still and silent--the old Peninsular hands disdaining to
complain before their Johnny Newcome comrades, and these fearing to
do so lest they should provoke such remarks, as 'Lord have mercy
on your poor tender carcass! what would such as you have done in
the Pyrenees?' or 'Oho, my boy! this is but child's play to what we
saw in Spain.' So all who did not sleep (I believe the majority)
pretended to do so, and bore their suffering with admirable heroism.
"For my part, I once or twice, from sheer fatigue, got into something
like a doze; yet it would not do. There was no possibility of
sleeping, for, besides being already so wet, the tent proved no
shelter, the water pouring through the canvas in streams; so up I
got, and to my infinite joy, found that some of the men had managed
to make a couple of fires, round which they were sitting smoking
their short pipes in something like comfort. The hint was a good
one, and at that moment my second captain joining me, we borrowed
from them a few sticks, and choosing the best spot under the hedge,
proceeded to make a fire for ourselves. In a short time we succeeded
in raising a cheerful blaze, which materially bettered our situation.
My companion had an umbrella (which, by the way, had afforded some
merriment to our people on the march); this we planted against
the sloping bank of the hedge, and seating ourselves under it, he
on one side of the stick, I on the other, we lighted cigars and
became--comfortable. Dear weed! what comfort, what consolation dost
thou not impart to the wretched!--with thee a hovel becomes a palace.
What a stock of patience is there not enveloped in one of thy brown
leaves!
"And thus we sat enjoying ourselves, puffing forth into the damp
night air streams of fragrant smoke, being able now deliberately to
converse on what had been and probably would be. All this time a most
infernal clatter of musketry was going on, which, but for the many
quiet dark figures seated round the innumerable fires all along the
position, might have been construed into a night attack. But as these
gentlemen were between us and the enemy we felt assured of timely
warning, and ere long learned that all this proceeded as before from
the infantry discharging and cleaning their pieces.
"Whilst so employed, a rustling in the hedge behind attracted our
attention, and in a few minutes a poor fellow belonging to some
Hanoverian regiment, wet through like everybody else, and shivering
with cold, made his appearance, and modestly begged permission to
remain a short time and warm himself by our fire. He had somehow or
other wandered from his colours, and had passed the greater part
of the night searching for them, but in vain. At first he appeared
quite exhausted, but the warmth reinvigorating him, he pulled out his
pipe and began to smoke. Having finished his modicum and carefully
disposed of the ashes, he rose from his wet seat to renew his search,
hoping to find his corps before daylight, he said, lest it should be
engaged. Many thanks he offered for our hospitality; but what was
our surprise when, after fumbling in his haversack for some time,
he pulled out a poor half-starved chicken, presented it to us, and
marched off. This was a Godsend, in good truth, to people famished as
we were; so calling for a camp-kettle, our prize was on the fire in a
twinkling.
"Our comrades in the tent did not sleep so soundly but that they
heard what was going on, and the kettle was hardly on the fire ere
my gentlemen were assembled round it, a wet and shivering group, but
all eager to partake of our good fortune--and so eager that after
various betrayals of impatience, the miserable chicken was at last
snatched from the kettle ere it was half-boiled, pulled to pieces
and speedily devoured. I got a leg for my share, but it was not one
mouthful, and this was the only food I tasted since the night before."
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 6: That this was Napoleon we have the authority of General
Gourgaud, who states that, irritated at the delay of Marshal Ney, he
put himself at the head of the chasseurs (I think), and dashed forward
in the hope of yet being able to catch our rearguard.]
CHAPTER V
WATERLOO
Mercer's account of Waterloo has much less of literary art and skill
in it than other parts of his book. He plunges the reader, without
warning and without explanation, into the roar of the great fight. His
description of the ground and of the position of the army is thrust,
as a sort of parenthesis, into the middle of the story of the actual
struggle. Mercer's troop was stationed till long past noon in reserve
on the British right. The battle to Mercer was nothing but an incessant
and deep-voiced roar of guns, a vision of drifting smoke, in which
would appear at times dim figures of charging horsemen, or outlines of
infantry squares, edged with steel and flame, and out of which flowed
tiny processions of wounded, trickling backwards over the ridge in
front. About three o'clock, however, the troop was suddenly brought
up to the battle-line, at a point where it was in imminent peril of
giving way. From that moment Mercer was in the smoky, tormented,
thunder-shaken vortex of the great fight, and his description of it is
graphic and impressive in the highest degree.
This is how the morning of Waterloo dawned for Mercer and his gunners:--
"_June 18._--Memorable day! Some time before daybreak the bombardier
who had been despatched to Langeveldt returned with a supply of
ammunition.
"With the providence of an old soldier, he had picked up and
brought on a considerable quantity of beef, biscuit, and oatmeal,
of which there was abundance scattered about everywhere. Casks of
rum, &c., there were, and having broached one of these--he and his
drivers--every one filled his canteen--a most considerate act, and
one for which the whole troop was sincerely thankful. Nor must I omit
to remark that, amidst such temptations, his men had behaved with
the most perfect regularity, and returned to us quite sober! The
rum was divided on the spot; and surely if ardent spirits are ever
beneficial, it must be to men situated as ours were; it therefore
came most providentially. The oatmeal was converted speedily into
stirabout, and afforded our people a hearty meal, after which all
hands set to work to prepare the beef, make soup, &c. Unfortunately,
we preferred waiting for this, and passed the stirabout, by which
piece of folly we were doomed to a very protracted fast, as will be
seen.
"Whilst our soup was cooking, it being now broad daylight, I mounted
my horse to reconnoitre our situation. During the night another troop
(I think Major Ramsay's) had established itself in our orchard, and
just outside the hedge I found Major Bean's, which had also arrived
during the night, direct from England. Ascending from the farm
towards the ground we had left yesterday evening, the face of the
slope, as far as I could see, to the right and left, was covered
with troops _en bivouac_--here, I think, principally cavalry. Of
these some were cleaning their arms, some cooking, some sitting
round fires smoking, and a few, generally officers, walking about or
standing in groups conversing. Many of the latter eagerly inquired
where I was going, and appeared very anxious for intelligence, all
expecting nothing less than to recommence our retreat. I continued
on to the position we had occupied last, and thence clearly saw the
French army on the opposite hill, where everything appeared perfectly
quiet--people moving about individually, and no formation whatever.
Their advanced-posts and vedettes in the valley, just beyond La Haye
Sainte, were also quiet.
"Having satisfied my curiosity I returned the way I came,
communicating my observations to the many eager inquirers I met with.
Various were the speculations in consequence. Some thought the French
were afraid to attack us, others that they would do so soon, others
that the Duke would not wait for it, others that he would, as he
certainly would not allow them to go to Brussels; and so they went on
speculating, whilst I returned to my people. Here, finding the mess
not yet ready, and nothing to be done, I strolled into the garden
of the farm, where several Life Guardsmen were very busy digging
potatoes--a fortunate discovery, which I determined to profit by.
Therefore, calling up some of my men, to work we went without loss of
time."
It is amusing to notice that Mercer was so busy digging potatoes that
he quite failed to observe that the battle had actually commenced! His
senses were buried in the potato-hillocks! So the regiments fell into
line, the batteries moved off to their assigned places, the French guns
began to speak, and Waterloo had begun; and though Mercer stood on the
very edge of the field, he took no notice of the rise of the curtain on
the great tragedy. He says:--
"Whilst thus employed I noticed a very heavy firing going on in
front, but this did not make us quit our work. Shortly after, to my
great astonishment, I observed that all the bivouacs on the hillside
were deserted, and that even Ramsay's troop had left the orchard
without my being aware of it, and my own was left quite alone, not a
soul being visible from where I stood in any direction, the ground
they had quitted presenting one unbroken muddy solitude. The firing
became heavier and heavier. Alarmed at being thus left alone, when
it was evident something serious was going on, I hastened back and
ordered the horses to be put to immediately.
"Away went our mess untasted. One of the servants was desired to hang
the kettle with its contents under an ammunition waggon. The stupid
fellow hung the kettle as desired, but first emptied it. Without
orders, and all alone, the battle (for now there was no mistaking it)
going on at the other side of the hill, I remained for a few minutes
undecided what to do. It appeared to me we had been forgotten. All,
except only ourselves, were evidently engaged, and labouring under
this delusion, I thought we had better get into the affair at once.
As soon, therefore, as the troop was ready I led them up the hill on
the high-road, hoping to meet some one who could give me directions
what to do."
The tragedy of the battle soon made itself visible, in very dramatic
shape, to Mercer:--
"We had not proceeded a hundred yards, when an artillery officer
came furiously galloping down towards us. It was Major M'Lloyd, in
a dreadful state of agitation--such, indeed, that he could hardly
answer my questions. I learned, however, that the battle was very
serious and bloody. Their first attack had been on that part of our
position where his battery stood; but now the principal efforts
were making against our right. All this was told in so hurried
and anxious a manner, that one could hardly understand him. 'But
where are you going?' he added. I told him my plan. 'Have you no
orders?' 'None whatever; I have not seen a soul.' 'Then, for God's
sake, come and assist me, or I shall be ruined. My brigade is cut
to pieces, ammunition expended, and, unless reinforced, we shall be
destroyed.' He was dreadfully agitated, and when I took his hand
and promised to be with him directly, seemed transported with joy;
so, bidding me make haste, he darted up the hill again, and went
to receive that death-stroke which, ere long, was to terminate his
earthly career. I trust before that termination he heard the reason
why I never fulfilled that promise; for weeks elapsed ere he died,
no doubt--otherwise he must have set me down for a base poltroon. My
destiny led me elsewhere. My tutelary spirit was at hand: the eternal
Major M'Donald made his appearance, and, giving me a sharp reprimand
for having quitted my bivouac, desired me instantly to return to the
foot of the hill, and there wait for orders.
"Sulkily and slowly we descended, and forming in line on the ground
opposite the farm of Mont St. Jean, with our left to the road, I
dismounted the men that they might be a little less liable to be hit
by shot and shells which, coming over the hill, were continually
plunging into the muddy soil all around us. This was a peculiarly
dismal situation--without honour or glory, to be knocked on the head
in such a solitude, for not a living being was in sight.
"It was while thus standing idle that a fine, tall, upright old
gentleman, in plain clothes, followed by two young ones, came across
our front at a gallop from the Brussels road, and continued on
towards where we supposed the right of our army to be. I certainly
stared at seeing three unarmed civilians pressing forward into so
hot a fight. These were the Duke of Richmond and his two sons. How
long we had been in this position, I know not, when at length we
were relieved from it by our adjutant (Lieutenant Bell), who brought
orders for our removal to the right of the second line. Moving,
therefore, to our right, along the hollow, we soon began a very
gentle ascent, and at the same time became aware of several corps
of infantry, which had not been very far from us, but remained
invisible, as they were all lying down. Although in this move we may
be said to have been always under a heavy fire, from the number of
missiles flying over us, yet were we still so fortunate as to arrive
in our new position without losing man or horse."
Now Mercer at last got a glimpse of the whole landscape of the great
fight. But even when looking at Waterloo, and to an accompaniment of
flying lead, Mercer has an eye for the picturesque, not to say the
pastoral:--
"In point of seeing, our situation was much improved; but for danger
and inactivity, it was much worse, since we were now fired directly
at, and positively ordered not to return the compliment--the object
in bringing us here being to watch a most formidable-looking line of
lancers drawn up opposite to us, and threatening the right flank of
our army.
"To the right we looked over a fine open country, covered with crops
and interspersed with thickets or small woods. There all was peaceful
and smiling, not a living soul being in sight. To our left, the main
ridge terminated rather abruptly just over Hougoumont, the back of
it towards us being broken ground, with a few old trees on it just
where the Nivelle road descended between high banks into the ravine.
Thus we were formed _en potence_ with the first line, from which we
(my battery) were separated by some hundred yards. In our rear the
14th Regiment of infantry (in square, I think) lay on the ground. In
our front were some light dragoons of the German Legion, who from
time to time detached small parties across the ravine. These pushed
cautiously up the slope towards the line of lancers to reconnoitre.
"The corn, down to the edge of the ravine nearer the Nivelle road
and beyond it, was full of French riflemen; and these were warmly
attacked by others from our side of the ravine, whom we saw
crossing and gradually working their way up through the high corn,
the French as gradually retiring. On the right of the lancers, two
or three batteries kept up a continued fire at our position; but
their shot, which could have been only 4-pounders, fell short--many
not even reaching across the ravine. Some, however, did reach their
destination; and we were particularly plagued by their howitzer
shells with long fuses, which were continually falling about us, and
lay spitting and spluttering several seconds before they exploded,
to the no small annoyance of man and horse. Still, however, nobody
was hurt; but a round-shot, striking the ammunition boxes on the body
of one of our waggons, penetrated through both and lodged in the
back of the rear one, with nearly half its surface to be seen from
without--a singular circumstance! In addition to this front fire, we
were exposed to another on our left flank--the shot that passed over
the main ridge terminating their career with us.
"Having little to occupy us here, we had ample leisure to observe
what was passing there. We could see some corps at the end near us
in squares--dark masses, having guns between them, relieved from a
background of grey smoke, which seemed to fill the valley beyond,
and rose high in the air above the hill. Every now and then torrents
of French cavalry of all arms came sweeping over the ridge, as if
carrying all before them. But, after their passage, the squares were
still to be seen in the same places; and these gentry, who we feared
would next fall on us, would evaporate, nobody could well say how.
The firing still increased in intensity, so that we were at a loss to
conjecture what all this could mean.
"About this time, being impatient of standing idle, and annoyed by
the batteries on the Nivelle road, I ventured to commit a folly, for
which I should have paid dearly, had our Duke chanced to be in our
part of the field. I ventured to disobey orders, and open a slow
deliberate fire at the battery, thinking with my 9-pounders soon to
silence his 4-pounders. My astonishment was great, however, when our
very first gun was responded to by at least half-a-dozen gentlemen
of very superior calibre, whose presence I had not even suspected,
and whose superiority we immediately recognised by their rushing
noise and long reach, for they flew far beyond us. I instantly saw my
folly, and ceased firing, and they did the same--the 4-pounders alone
continuing the cannonade as before. But this was not all. The first
man of my troop touched was by one of these confounded long shots. I
shall never forget the scream the poor lad gave when struck. It was
one of the last they fired, and shattered his left arm to pieces as
he stood between the waggons. That scream went to my very soul, for
I accused myself as having caused his misfortune. I was, however,
obliged to conceal my emotion from the men, who had turned to look at
him; so, bidding them 'stand to their front,' I continued my walk up
and down, whilst Hitchins ran to his assistance.
"Amidst such stirring scenes, emotions of this kind are but of short
duration; what occurred immediately afterwards completely banished
Gunner Hunt from my recollection. As a counterbalance to this
tragical event, our firing produced one so comic as to excite all
our risibility. Two or three officers had lounged up to our guns to
see the effect. One of them was a medico, and he (a shower having
just come on) carried an umbrella overhead. No sooner did the heavy
answers begin to arrive amongst us, than these gentlemen, fancying
they should be safer with their own corps, although only a few yards
in the rear, scampered off in double-quick, doctor and all, he still
carrying his umbrella aloft. Scarcely, however, had he made two
paces, when a shot, as he thought, passing rather too close, down he
dropped on his hands and knees--or, I should rather say, hand and
knees, for the one was employed in holding the silken cover most
pertinaciously over him--and away he scrambled like a great baboon,
his head turned fearfully over his shoulder, as if watching the
coming shot, whilst our fellows made the field resound with their
shouts and laughter."
At this point Mercer indulges in some reflections which illustrate, in
a striking fashion, the confusion of a great battle, and the difficulty
with which even those who are actors in it can describe what took
place. It is not merely that a battle-field, by its area, and the
fashion in which the all-obscuring smoke drifts over it, evades clear
vision and description. The actors in the fight are themselves in such
a mood of excitement, and are so passionately preoccupied by their own
part in the combat and the scenes immediately about them, that no brain
remains sufficiently cool and detached to take in the battle-field as a
whole:--
"I think I have already mentioned that it was not until some days
afterwards that I was able to resume my regular journal, consequently
that everything relative to these three days is written from
memory. In trying to recollect scenes of this nature, some little
confusion is inevitable; and here I confess myself somewhat puzzled
to account for certain facts of which I am positive. For instance,
I remember perfectly Captain Bolton's brigade of 9-pounders being
stationed to the left of us, somewhat in advance, and facing as we
did, consequently not far from the Nivelle road. Bolton came and
conversed with me some time, and was called hastily away by his
battery commencing a heavy fire. Query--Who, and what was he firing
at? That he was himself under a heavy fire there is equally no doubt,
for whilst we were not losing a man, we saw many, both of his men
and horses, fall, and but a few minutes after leaving me, he was
killed himself--this is a puzzle. I have no recollection of any
troops attempting to cross the ravine, and yet his fire was in that
direction, and I think must have been toward the Nivelle road.
"A distressing circumstance connected with this (shall I confess it?)
made even more impression on my spirits than the misfortune of Gunner
Hunt. Bolton's people had not been long engaged when we saw the men
of the gun next to us unharness one of the horses and chase it away,
wounded, I supposed; yet the beast stood and moved with firmness,
going from one carriage to the other, whence I noticed he was always
eagerly driven away. At last two or three gunners drove him before
them to a considerable distance, and then returned to their guns.
I took little notice of this at the time and was surprised by an
exclamation of horror from some of my people in the rear. A sickening
sensation came over me, mixed with a deep feeling of pity, when
within a few paces of me stood the poor horse in question, side by
side with the leaders of one of our ammunition waggons, against which
he pressed his panting sides, as though eager to identify himself as
of their society--the driver, with horror depicted on every feature,
endeavouring by words and gestures (for the kind-hearted lad could
not strike) to drive from him so hideous a spectacle.
"A cannon-shot had completely carried away the lower part of the
animal's head, immediately below the eyes. Still he lived, and seemed
fully conscious of all around, whilst his full, clear eye seemed
to implore us not to chase him from his companions. I ordered the
farrier (Price) to put him out of misery, which, in a few minutes he
reported having accomplished, by running his sabre into the animal's
heart. Even he evinced feeling on this occasion.
"Meantime the roar of cannon and musketry in the main position never
slackened; it was intense, as was the smoke arising from it. Amidst
this, from time to time, was to be seen still more dense columns
of smoke rising straight into the air like a great pillar, then
spreading out a mushroom head. These arose from the explosions of
ammunition waggons, which were continually taking place, although the
noise which filled the whole atmosphere was too overpowering to allow
them to be heard."
By this time the great French cavalry charges were in full course.
Some 10,000 of the finest cavalry in the world were being flung on the
stubborn British squares, which, as the French horsemen swept round
them, seemed swallowed up in a tossing sea of helmets and gleaming
swords and heads of galloping horses. The spray, so to speak, of that
fierce human sea, was flung on the spot where Mercer and his gunners
stood:--
"Amongst the multitudes of French cavalry continually pouring over
the front ridge, one corps came sweeping down the slope entire, and
was directing its course straight for us, when suddenly a regiment
of light dragoons (I believe of the German Legion) came up from the
ravine at a brisk trot on their flank. The French had barely time to
wheel up to the left and push their horses into a gallop when the
two bodies came into collision. They were at a very short distance
from us, so that we saw the charge perfectly. There was no check,
no hesitation on either side; both parties seemed to dash on in a
most reckless manner, and we fully expected to have seen a horrid
crash--no such thing! Each, as if by mutual consent, opened their
files on coming near, and passed rapidly through each other, cutting
and pointing, much in the same manner one might pass the fingers of
the right hand through those of the left. We saw but few fall. The
two corps re-formed afterwards, and in a twinkling both disappeared,
I know not how or where.
"It might have been about two o'clock when Colonel Gould, R.A., came
to me--perhaps a little later. Be that as it may, we were conversing
on the subject of our situation, which appeared to him rather
desperate. He remarked that in the event of a retreat there was but
one road, which no doubt would be instantly choked up, and asked my
opinion. My answer was, 'It does indeed look very bad; but I trust in
the Duke, who, I am sure, will get us out of it somehow or other.'
Meantime gloomy reflections arose in my mind, for though I did not
choose to betray myself (as we spoke before the men), yet I could
not help thinking that our affairs were rather desperate, and that
some unfortunate catastrophe was at hand. In this case I made up my
mind to spike my guns and retreat over the fields, draught-horses and
all, in the best manner I could, steering well from the high-road and
general line of retreat.
"We were still talking on this subject when suddenly a dark mass of
cavalry appeared for an instant on the main ridge, and then came
sweeping down the slope in swarms, reminding me of an enormous surf
bursting over the prostrate hull of a stranded vessel, and then
running, hissing and foaming up the beach. The hollow space became
in a twinkling covered with horsemen, crossing, turning, and riding
about in all directions, apparently without any object. Sometimes
they came pretty near us, then would retire a little. There were
lancers amongst them, hussars, and dragoons--it was a complete
_mêlée_. On the main ridge no squares were to be seen; the only
objects were a few guns standing in a confused manner, with muzzles
in the air, and not one artilleryman. After caracoling about for a
few minutes, the crowd began to separate and draw together in small
bodies, which continually increased; and now we really apprehended
being overwhelmed, as the first line had apparently been. For a
moment an awful silence pervaded that part of the position to which
we anxiously turned our eyes. 'I fear all is over,' said Colonel
Gould, who still remained with me. The thing seemed but too likely,
and this time I could not withhold my assent to his remark, for it
did indeed appear so.
"Meantime the 14th, springing from the earth, had formed their
square, whilst we, throwing back the guns of our right and left
divisions, stood waiting in momentary expectation of being enveloped
and attacked. Still they lingered in the hollow, when suddenly loud
and repeated shouts (not English hurrahs) drew our attention to
the other side. There we saw two dense columns of infantry pushing
forward at a quick pace towards us, crossing the fields, as if they
had come from Merke Braine. Every one both of the 14th and ourselves
pronounced them French, yet still we delayed opening fire on them.
Shouting, yelling, singing, on they came right for us; and being now
not above 800 or 1000 yards distant, it seemed folly allowing them
to come nearer unmolested. The commanding officer of the 14th to
end our doubts rode forwards and endeavoured to ascertain who they
were, but soon returned assuring us they were French. The order was
already given to fire, when luckily Colonel Gould recognised them as
Belgians. Meantime, whilst my attention was occupied by these people,
the cavalry had all vanished, nobody could say how or where.
"We breathed again. Such was the agitated state in which we were kept
in our second position. A third act was about to commence of a much
more stirring and active nature."
Now came, and in a dramatic fashion, the summons which brought troop G
into the very front of the fight; and from this point Mercer's story is
clear, sustained, and vivid:--
"It might have been, as nearly as I can recollect, about 3 P.M. when
Sir Augustus Frazer galloped up, crying out, 'Left limber up, and
as fast as you can.' The words were scarcely uttered when my gallant
troop stood as desired in column of sub-divisions, left in front,
pointing towards the main ridge. 'At a gallop, march!' and away we
flew, as steadily and compactly as if at a review.
"I rode with Frazer, whose face was as black as a chimney-sweep's
from the smoke, and the jacket-sleeve of his right arm torn open by
a musket-ball or case-shot, which had merely grazed his flesh. As we
went along he told me that the enemy had assembled an enormous mass
of heavy cavalry in front of the point to which he was leading us
(about one-third of the distance between Hougoumont and the Charleroi
road), and that in all probability we should immediately be charged
on gaining our position. 'The Duke's orders, however, are positive,'
he added, 'that in the event of their persevering and charging home,
you do not expose your men, but retire with them into the adjacent
squares of infantry.' As he spoke we were ascending the reverse
slope of the main position. We breathed a new atmosphere--the air
was suffocatingly hot, resembling that issuing from an oven. We were
enveloped in thick smoke, and, _malgré_ the incessant roar of cannon
and musketry, could distinctly hear around us a mysterious humming
noise, like that which one hears of a summer's evening proceeding
from myriads of black beetles; cannon-shot, too, ploughed the ground
in all directions, and so thick was the hail of balls and bullets
that it seemed dangerous to extend the arm lest it should be torn off.
"In spite of the serious situation in which we were, I could not
help being somewhat amused at the astonishment expressed by our
kind-hearted surgeon (Hitchins), who heard for the first time this
sort of music. He was close to me as we ascended the slope, and
hearing this infernal carillon about his ears, began staring round
in the wildest and most comic manner imaginable, twisting himself
from side to side, exclaiming, 'My God, Mercer, what is that? What
is all this noise? How curious!--how very curious!' And then when a
cannon-shot rushed hissing past, 'There!--there! What is it all!'
It was with great difficulty that I persuaded him to retire; for a
time he insisted on remaining near me, and it was only by pointing
out how important it was to us, in case of being wounded, that he
should keep himself safe to be able to assist us, that I prevailed
on him to withdraw. Amidst this storm we gained the summit of the
ridge, strange to say, without a casualty; and Sir Augustus, pointing
out our position between two squares of Brunswick infantry, left us
with injunctions to remember the Duke's order, and to economise our
ammunition.
"The Brunswickers were falling fast--the shot every moment making
great gaps in their squares, which the officers and sergeants were
actively employed in filling up by pushing their men together, and
sometimes thumping them ere they could make them move. These were the
very boys whom I had but yesterday seen throwing away their arms, and
fleeing, panic-stricken, from the very sound of our horses' feet.
To-day they fled not bodily, to be sure, but spiritually, for their
senses seemed to have left them. There they stood, with recovered
arms, like so many logs, or rather like the very wooden figures which
I had seen them practising at in their cantonments. Every moment I
feared they would again throw down their arms and flee; but their
officers and sergeants behaved nobly, not only keeping them together,
but managing to keep their squares close in spite of the carnage
made amongst them. To have sought refuge amongst men in such a state
were madness--the very moment our men ran from their guns, I was
convinced, would be the signal for their disbanding. We had better,
then, fall at our posts than in such a situation.
"Our coming up seemed to re-animate them, and all their eyes
were directed to us--indeed, it was providential, for, had we not
arrived as we did, I scarcely think there is a doubt of what would
have been their fate. That the Duke was ignorant of their danger
I have from Captain Baynes, our brigade-major, who told me that
after Sir Augustus Frazer had been sent for us, his Grace exhibited
considerable anxiety for our coming up; and that when he saw us
crossing the fields at a gallop, and in so compact a body, he
actually cried out, 'Ah! that's the way I like to see horse artillery
move.'"
Then follows perhaps the most spirited description of a duel betwixt
guns and horsemen--from the gunner's point of view--to be found in
English literature:--
"Our first gun had scarcely gained the interval between their
squares, when I saw through the smoke the leading squadrons of the
advancing column coming on at a brisk trot, and already not more than
one hundred yards distant, if so much, for I don't think we could
have seen so far. I immediately ordered the line to be formed for
action--case-shot! and the leading gun was unlimbered and commenced
firing almost as soon as the word was given; for activity and
intelligence our men were unrivalled.
"The very first round, I saw, brought down several men and horses.
They continued, however, to advance. I glanced at the Brunswickers,
and that glance told me it would not do; they had opened a fire
from their front faces, but both squares appeared too unsteady,
and I resolved to say nothing about the Duke's order, and take
our chance--a resolve that was strengthened by the effect of the
remaining guns as they rapidly succeeded in coming to action, making
terrible slaughter, and in an instant covering the ground with men
and horses. Still they persevered in approaching us (the first round
had brought them to a walk), though slowly, and it did seem they
would ride over us. We were a little below the level of the ground
on which they moved, having in front of us a bank of about a foot
and a half or two feet high, along the top of which ran a narrow
road--and this gave more effect to our case-shot, all of which almost
must have taken effect, for the carnage was frightful. The following
extract, from a related account of a conscript, translated from the
French and published by Murray, is so true and exact as to need
no comment: 'Through the smoke I saw the English gunners abandon
their pieces, all but six guns stationed under the road, and almost
immediately our cuirassiers were upon the squares, whose fire was
drawn in zigzags. Now, I thought, those gunners would be cut to
pieces; but no, the devils kept firing with grape, which mowed them
down like grass.'
"I suppose this state of things occupied but a few seconds, when I
observed symptoms of hesitation, and in a twinkling, at the instant
I thought it was all over with us, they turned to either flank and
filed away rapidly to the rear. Retreat of the mass, however, was
not so easy. Many facing about and trying to force their way through
the body of the column, that part next to us became a complete
mob, into which we kept a steady fire of case-shot from our six
pieces. The effect is hardly conceivable, and to paint this scene
of slaughter and confusion impossible. Every discharge was followed
by the fall of numbers, whilst the survivors struggled with each
other, and I actually saw them using the pommels of their swords
to fight their way out of the _mêlée_. Some, rendered desperate at
finding themselves thus pent up at the muzzles of our guns, as it
were, and others carried away by their horses, maddened with wounds,
dashed through our intervals--few thinking of using their swords, but
pushing furiously onward, intent only on saving themselves. At last
the rear of the column, wheeling about, opened a passage, and the
whole swept away at a much more rapid pace than they had advanced,
nor stopped until the swell of the ground covered them from our
fire. We then ceased firing; but as they were still not far off, for
we saw the tops of their caps, having reloaded, we stood ready to
receive them should they renew the attack.
"One of, if not the first man who fell on our side was wounded by his
own gun. Gunner Butterworth was one of the greatest pickles in the
troop, but at the same time a most daring, active soldier; he was No.
7 (the man who sponged, &c.) at his gun. He had just finished ramming
down the shot, and was stepping back outside the wheel when his foot
stuck in the miry soil, pulling him forward at the moment the gun was
fired. As a man naturally does when falling, he threw out both his
arms before him, and they were blown off at the elbows. He raised
himself a little on his two stumps, and looked up most piteously in
my face. To assist him was impossible--the safety of all, everything,
depended upon not slackening our fire, and I was obliged to turn from
him. The state of anxious activity in which we were kept all day,
and the numbers who fell almost immediately afterwards, caused me to
lose sight of poor Butterworth; and I afterwards learned that he had
succeeded in rising, and was gone to the rear; but on inquiring for
him next day, some of my people who had been sent to Waterloo told me
that they saw his body lying by the roadside near the farm of Mont
St. Jean--bled to death. The retreat of the cavalry was succeeded by
a shower of shot and shells, which must have annihilated us had not
the little bank covered and threw most of them over us. Still some
reached us and knocked down men and horses.
"At the first charge the French column was composed of grenadiers _à
cheval_[7] and cuirassiers, the former in front. I forget whether
they had or had not changed this disposition, but think, from the
number of cuirasses we found afterwards, that the cuirassiers led
the second attack. Be this as it may, their column reassembled. They
prepared for a second attempt, sending up a cloud of skirmishers,
who galled us terribly by a fire of carbines and pistols at scarcely
forty yards from our front."
Betwixt the cavalry rushes came little intervals of waiting, while the
broken squadrons re-formed in the valley below, and the breathless
gunners on the ridge renewed their ammunition. These pauses gave the
French skirmishers--who had crept close up to the guns--their chance,
and which were more trying to the British gunners than even the wild
onfall of the horsemen:--
"We were obliged to stand with port-fires lighted, so that it was
not without a little difficulty that I succeeded in restraining the
people from firing, for they grew impatient under such fatal results.
Seeing some exertion beyond words necessary for this purpose, I
leaped my horse up the little bank, and began a promenade (by no
means agreeable) up and down our front, without even drawing my
sword, though these fellows were within speaking distance of me.
This quieted my men; but the tall blue gentlemen, seeing me thus
dare them, immediately made a target of me, and commenced a very
deliberate practice, to show us what very bad shots they were, and
verify the old artillery proverb, 'The nearer the target, the safer
you are.' One fellow certainly made me flinch, but it was a miss;
so I shook my finger at him and called him _coquin_, &c. The rogue
grinned as he reloaded, and again took aim. I certainly felt rather
foolish at that moment, but was ashamed after such bravado to let him
see it, and therefore continued my promenade. As if to prolong my
torment, he was a terrible time about it. To me it seemed an age.
Whenever I turned, the muzzle of his infernal carbine still followed
me. At length bang it went, and whiz came the ball close to the back
of my neck, and at the same instant down dropped the leading driver
of one of my guns (Miller), into whose forehead the cursed missile
had penetrated.
"The column now once more mounted the plateau, and these popping
gentry wheeled off right and left to clear the ground for their
charge. The spectacle was imposing, and if ever the word sublime
was appropriately applied, it might surely be to it. On they came
in compact squadrons, one behind the other, so numerous that those
of the rear were still below the brow when the head of the column
was but at some sixty or seventy yards from our guns. Their pace
was a slow but steady trot. None of your furious galloping charges
was this, but a deliberate advance at a deliberate pace, as of men
resolved to carry their point. They moved in profound silence, and
the only sound that could be heard from them amidst the incessant
roar of battle was the low, thunder-like reverberation of the ground
beneath the simultaneous tread of so many horses.
"On our part was equal deliberation. Every man stood steadily at his
post, the guns ready, loaded with a round-shot first and a case over
it; the tubes were in the vents; the port-fires glared and spluttered
behind the wheels; and my word alone was wanting to hurl destruction
on that goodly show of gallant men and noble horses. I delayed this,
for experience had given me confidence. The Brunswickers partook
of this feeling, and with their squares--much reduced in point of
size--well closed, stood firmly with arms at the recover, and eyes
fixed on us, ready to commence their fire with our first discharge.
It was indeed a grand and imposing spectacle. The column was led on
this time by an officer in a rich uniform, his breast covered with
decorations, whose earnest gesticulations were strangely contrasted
with the solemn demeanour of those to whom they were addressed. I
thus allowed them to advance unmolested until the head of the column
might have been about fifty or sixty yards from us, and then gave the
word 'Fire!' The effect was terrible, nearly the whole leading rank
fell at once; and the round-shot, penetrating the column, carried
confusion throughout its extent. The ground, already encumbered with
victims of the first struggle, became now almost impassable. Still,
however, these devoted warriors struggled on, intent only on reaching
us. The thing was impossible.
"Our guns were served with astonishing activity, whilst the running
fire of the two squares was maintained with spirit. Those who pushed
forward over the heap of carcasses of men and horses gained but a
few paces in advance, there to fall in their turn and add to the
difficulties of those succeeding them. The discharge of every gun was
followed by a fall of men and horses like that of grass before the
mower's scythe. When the horse alone was killed, we could see the
cuirassiers divesting themselves of the encumbrance and making their
escape on foot. Still, for a moment the confused mass (for all order
was at an end) stood before us, vainly trying to urge their horses
over the obstacles presented by their fallen comrades, in obedience
to the now loud and rapid vociferations of him who had led them on
and remained unhurt.
"As before, many cleared everything and rode through us; many came
plunging forward only to fall, man and horse, close to the muzzles of
our guns; but the majority again turned at the very moment when, from
having less ground to go over, it was safer to advance than retire,
and sought a passage to the rear. Of course the same confusion,
struggle amongst themselves, and slaughter prevailed as before, until
gradually they disappeared over the brow of the hill. We ceased
firing, glad to take breath. Their retreat exposed us, as before, to
a shower of shot and shells: these last, falling amongst us, with
very long fuses, kept burning and hissing a long time before they
burst, and were a considerable annoyance to man and horse. The bank
in front, however, again stood our friend, and sent many over us
innocuous."
Here is a picture of what may be called the human atmosphere of the
battle in its later stages, the high-strung nerves, the weariness, the
exhaustion of passion, the carelessness of close-pressing death, the
fast-following alternation of deadly peril and of miraculous escape:--
"Lieutenant Breton, who had already lost two horses, and had mounted
a troop-horse, was conversing with me during this our leisure moment.
As his horse stood at right angles to mine, the poor jaded animal
dozingly rested his muzzle on my thigh; whilst I, the better to hear
amidst the infernal din, leant forward, resting my arm between his
ears. In this attitude a cannon-shot smashed the horse's head to
atoms. The headless trunk sank to the ground--Breton looking pale
as death, expecting, as he afterwards told me, that I was cut in
two. What was passing to the right and left of us I know no more
about than the man in the moon--not even what corps were beyond the
Brunswickers. The smoke confined our vision to a very small compass,
so that my battle was restricted to the two squares and my own
battery; and, as long as we maintained our ground, I thought it a
matter of course that others did so too.
"It was just after this accident that our worthy commanding officer
of artillery, Sir George Adam Wood, made his appearance through the
smoke a little way from our left flank. As I said, we were doing
nothing, for the cavalry were under the brow re-forming for a third
attack, and we were being pelted by their artillery. 'D--n it,
Mercer,' said the old man, blinking as a man does when facing a gale
of wind, 'you have hot work of it here,' 'Yes, sir, pretty hot;' and
I was proceeding with an account of the two charges we had already
discomfited, and the prospect of a third, when, glancing that way,
I perceived their leading squadron already on the plateau. 'There
they are again,' I exclaimed; and, darting from Sir George _sans
cérémonie_, was just in time to meet them with the same destruction
as before. This time, indeed, it was child's play. They could not
even approach us in any decent order, and we fired most deliberately;
it was folly having attempted the thing.
"I was sitting on my horse near the right of my battery as they
turned and began to retire once more. Intoxicated with success, I was
singing out, 'Beautiful!--beautiful!' and my right arm was nourishing
about, when some one from behind, seizing it, said quietly, 'Take
care, or you'll strike the Duke;' and in effect our noble chief,
with a serious air, and apparently much fatigued, passed close by me
to the front, without seeming to take the slightest notice of the
remnant of the French cavalry still lingering on the ground. This
obliged us to cease firing; and at the same moment I--perceiving a
line of infantry ascending from the rear, slowly, with ported arms,
and uttering a sort of feeble, suppressed hurrah, ankle-deep in a
thick, tenacious mud, and threading their way amongst or stepping
over the numerous corpses covering the ground, out of breath from
their exertions, and hardly preserving a line, broken everywhere into
large gaps the breadth of several files--could not but meditate on
the probable results of the last charge had I, in obedience to the
Duke's order, retired my men into the squares and allowed the daring
and formidable squadrons a passage to our rear, where they must have
gone thundering down on this disjointed line. The summit gained,
the line was amended, files closed in, and the whole, including our
Brunswickers, advanced down the slope towards the plain.
"Although the infantry lost several men as they passed us, yet on
the whole the cannonade began to slacken on both sides (why, I know
not), and, the smoke clearing away a little, I had now, for the first
time, a good view of the field. On the ridge opposite to us dark
masses of troops were stationary, or moving down into the intervening
plain. Our own advancing infantry were hid from view by the ground.
We therefore recommenced firing at the enemy's masses, and the
cannonade, spreading, soon became general again along the line."
Mercer, so far, had been fighting sabres with 12-pounders, and all the
advantage had been on his side. He had inflicted enormous damage on the
enemy, and suffered little himself. But now the enemy's guns began to
speak, and Mercer's battery was smitten by a cruel and continuous flank
fire, which practically destroyed it:--
"Whilst thus occupied with our front, we suddenly became sensible of
a most destructive flanking fire from a battery which had come, the
Lord knows how, and established itself on a knoll somewhat higher
than the ground we stood on, and only about 400 or 500 yards a little
in advance of our left flank. The rapidity and precision of this fire
were quite appalling. Every shot almost took effect, and I certainly
expected we should all be annihilated. Our horses and limbers being
a little retired down the slope, had hitherto been somewhat under
cover from the direct fire in front; but this plunged right amongst
them, knocking them down by pairs, and creating horrible confusion.
The drivers could hardly extricate themselves from one dead horse
ere another fell, or perhaps themselves. The saddle-bags, in many
instances, were torn from the horses' backs, and their contents
scattered over the field. One shell I saw explode under the two
finest wheel-horses in the troop--down they dropped. In some
instances the horses of a gun or ammunition waggon remained, and all
their drivers were killed.[8]
"The whole livelong day had cost us nothing like this. Our gunners,
too--the few left fit for duty of them--were so exhausted that they
were unable to run the guns up after firing, consequently at every
round they retreated nearer to the limbers; and as we had pointed our
two left guns towards the people who were annoying us so terribly,
they soon came altogether in a confused heap, the trails crossing
each other, and the whole dangerously near the limbers and ammunition
waggons, some of which were totally unhorsed, and others in sad
confusion from the loss of their drivers and horses, many of them
lying dead in their harness attached to their carriages. I sighed for
my poor troop--it was already but a wreck.
"I had dismounted, and was assisting at one of the guns to encourage
my poor exhausted men, when through the smoke a black speck caught my
eye, and I instantly knew what it was. The conviction that one never
sees a shot coming towards you unless directly in its line flashed
across my mind, together with the certainty that my doom was sealed.
I had barely time to exclaim 'Here it is, then!'--much in that
gasping sort of way one does when going into very cold water, takes
away the breath--'whush' it went past my face, striking the point of
my pelisse collar, which was lying open, and smash into a horse close
behind me. I breathed freely again.
"Under such a fire, one may be said to have had a thousand narrow
escapes; and, in good truth, I frequently experienced that
displacement of air against my face, caused by the passing of shot
close to me; but the two above recorded, and a third, which I shall
mention, were remarkable ones, and made me feel in full force the
goodness of Him who protected me among so many dangers. Whilst in
position on the right of the second line, I had reproved some of my
men for lying down when shells fell near them until they burst. Now
my turn came. A shell, with a long fuse, came slop into the mud at my
feet, and there lay fizzing and flaring to my infinite discomfiture.
After what I had said on the subject, I felt that I must act up to
my own words, and, accordingly, there I stood, endeavouring to look
quite composed until the cursed thing burst--and, strange to say,
without injuring me, though so near. The effect on my men was good."
But was it really a French battery which was wrecking Mercer's guns?
Or, in the mad inevitable distraction of a great battle were the Allied
gunners destroying each other? Mercer's story leaves this point in a
state of very disquieting doubt:--
"We had scarcely fired many rounds at the enfilading battery, when
a tall man in the black Brunswick uniform came galloping up to me
from the rear, exclaiming, 'Ah! mine Gott!--mine Gott! vat is it you
doos, sare? Dat is your friends de Proosiens; an you kills dem! Ah!
mine Gott!--mine Gott; vil you no stop, sare?--vil you no stop? Ah!
mine Gott!--mine Gott! vat for is dis? De Inglish kills dere friends
de Proosiens! Vere is de Dook von Vellington? vere is de Dook von
Vellington? Ah! mine Gott!--mine Gott!' &c., &c., and so he went on
raving like one demented. I observed that if these were our friends
the Prussians, they were treating us very uncivilly; and that it
was not without sufficient provocation we had turned our guns on
them, pointing out to him at the same time the bloody proofs of my
assertion.
"Apparently not noticing what I said, he continued his lamentations,
and, 'Vil you no stop, sare, I say?' Wherefore, thinking he might
be right, to pacify him I ordered the whole to cease firing,
desiring him to remark the consequences. Psieu, psieu, psieu, came
our 'friends'' shots, one after another; and our friend himself had
a narrow escape from one of them. 'Now, sir,' I said, 'you will be
convinced; and we will continue our firing, whilst you can ride round
the way you came, and tell them they kill their friends the English;
the moment their fire ceases, so shall mine,' Still he lingered,
exclaiming, 'Oh, dis is terreeble to see de Proosien and de Inglish
kill von anoder!'
"At last, darting off, I saw no more of him. The fire continued on
both sides, mine becoming slacker and slacker, for we were reduced
to the last extremity, and must have been annihilated but for the
opportune arrival of a battery of Belgic artillery a little on our
left, which, taking the others in flank nearly at point blank, soon
silenced and drove them off. We were so reduced that all our strength
was barely sufficient to load and fire three guns out of our six.
"These Belgians were all beastly drunk, and, when they first came up,
not at all particular as to which way they fired; and it was only
by keeping an eye on them that they were prevented treating us, and
even one another. The wretches had probably already done mischief
elsewhere--who knows?"
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 7: These grenadiers _à cheval_ were very fine troops, clothed
in blue uniforms without facings, cuffs, or collars. Broad--very
broad--buff belts, and huge muff caps, made them appear gigantic
fellows.]
[Footnote 8: "The field was so much covered with blood, that it
appeared as if it had been flooded with it," &c.--Simpson's "Paris
after Waterloo," &c., p. 21.]
CHAPTER VI
AFTER THE FIGHT
Mercer could hardly tell when and how Waterloo began, and he can almost
as little tell when and how it ended! So wild is the confusion, so
overwhelming the excitement of a great battle for the actors in it:--
"My recollections of the later part of this day are rather confused;
I was fatigued and almost deaf. I recollect clearly, however,
that we had ceased firing, the plain below being covered with
masses of troops, which we could not distinguish from each other.
Captain Walcot of the Horse Artillery, had come to us, and we
were all looking out anxiously at the movements below and on the
opposite ridge, when he suddenly shouted out, 'Victory!--victory!
they fly!--they fly!' and sure enough we saw some of the masses
dissolving, as it were, and those composing them streaming away in
confused crowds over the field, whilst the already desultory fire of
their artillery ceased altogether.
"I shall never forget this joyful moment!--this moment of exultation!
On looking round, I found we were left almost alone. Cavalry and
infantry had all moved forward, and only a few guns here and there
were to be seen on the position. A little to our right were the
remains of Major M'Donald's troop under Lieutenant Sandilands, which
had suffered much, but nothing like us. We were congratulating
ourselves on the happy results of the day when an aide-de-camp rode
up, crying, 'Forward, sir! forward! It is of the utmost importance
that this movement should be supported by artillery!' at the same
time waving his hat much in the manner of a huntsman laying on his
dogs. I smiled at his energy, and, pointing to the remains of my poor
troop, quietly asked, 'How, sir?' A glance was sufficient to show him
the impossibility, and away he went.
"Our situation was indeed terrible. Of 200 fine horses with which we
had entered the battle, upwards of 140 lay dead, dying, or severely
wounded. Of the men, scarcely two-thirds of those necessary for four
guns remained, and these so completely exhausted as to be totally
incapable of further exertion. Lieutenant Breton had three horses
killed under him; Lieutenant Hincks was wounded in the breast by a
spent ball; Lieutenant Leathes on the hip by a splinter; and although
untouched myself, my horse had no less than eight wounds, one of
which, a graze on the fetlock joint, lamed him for ever. Our guns and
carriages were, as before mentioned, altogether in a confused heap,
intermingled with dead and wounded horses, which it had not been
possible to disengage from them.
"My poor men, such at least as were untouched, fairly worn out,
their clothes, faces, &c., blackened by the smoke and spattered
over with mud and blood, had seated themselves on the trails of the
carriages, or had thrown themselves on the wet and polluted soil, too
fatigued to think of anything but gaining a little rest. Such was
our situation when called upon to advance. It was impossible, and we
remained where we were. For myself, I was also excessively tired,
hoarse to making speech painful, and deaf from the infernal uproar of
the last eleven hours. Moreover, I was devoured by a burning thirst,
not a drop of liquid having passed my lips since the evening of the
16th; but although, with the exception of the chicken's leg last
night, I may be said to have eaten nothing for two whole days, yet
did I not feel the least desire for food."
When the battle was over, Mercer's artistic sensibilities--his eye
for landscape, his sense of sky-effects and of natural beauty--awoke.
He was perhaps the only man in Wellington's army who could study
cloud-effects in the night-sky, which looked down on the slain of
Waterloo, or contemplate, with botanical discrimination and approval,
the plants in the garden at Hougoumont the next morning:--
"The evening had become fine, and but for an occasional groan or
lament from some poor sufferer, and the repeated piteous neighing of
wounded horses, tranquility might be said to reign over the field. As
it got dusk, a large body of Prussian artillery arrived, and formed
their bivouac near us. There was not light to see more of them than
that their brass guns were kept bright, and that their carriages were
encumbered with baggage, and, besides, appeared but clumsy machines
when compared with ours. All wore their greatcoats, which apparently
they had marched in. As they looked at us rather scowlingly, and did
not seem inclined to hold any communication with us, I soon returned
to my own people, whom I found preparing to go supperless to bed--the
two remaining officers, the non-commissioned officers, and men
having all got together in a heap, with some painted covers spread
under, and others drawn over them--at a distance from our guns, &c.,
the neighbourhood of which they said, was too horrible to think of
sleeping there.
"For my part, after standing all day amongst all these horrors, I
felt no squeamishness about sleeping amongst them; so pulling down
the painted cover of a limber over the footboard in the manner of a
tent roof, I crept under it and endeavoured to sleep. The cramped
situation in which I lay, and the feverish excitement of my mind,
forbade, however, my obtaining that sound and refreshing sleep so
much needed; I only dozed. From one of these dozes I awoke about
midnight, chilled and cramped to death from the awkward doubled-up
position imposed upon me by my short and narrow bed. So up I got to
look around and contemplate a battle-field by the pale moonlight.
"The night was serene and pretty clear; a few light clouds
occasionally passing across the moon's disc, and throwing objects
into transient obscurity, added considerably to the solemnity of
the scene. Oh, it was a thrilling sensation thus to stand in the
silent hour of the night and contemplate that field--all day long
the theatre of noise and strife, now so calm and still--the actors
prostrate on the bloody soil, their pale wan faces upturned to the
moon's cold beams, which caps and breastplates, and a thousand
other things, reflected back in brilliant pencils of light from as
many different points! Here and there some poor wretch, sitting up
amidst the countless dead, busied himself in endeavours to stanch
the flowing stream with which his life was fast ebbing away. Many
whom I saw so employed that night were, when morning dawned, lying
stiff and tranquil as those who had departed earlier. From time to
time a figure would half raise itself from the ground, and then, with
a despairing groan, fall back again. Others, slowly and painfully
rising, stronger, or having less deadly hurt, would stagger away with
uncertain steps across the field in search of succour.
"Many of these I followed with my gaze until lost in the obscurity of
distance; but many, alas! after staggering a few paces, would sink
again on the ground with their entrails hanging out--and yet I gazed!
Horses, too, there were to claim our pity--mild, patient, enduring.
Some lay on the ground with their entrails hanging out, and yet they
lived. These would occasionally attempt to rise, but like their
human bedfellows, quickly falling back again, would lift their poor
heads, and, turning a wistful gaze at their side, lie quietly down
again, to repeat the same until strength no longer remained, and
then, their eyes gently closing, one short convulsive struggle closed
their sufferings. One poor animal excited painful interest--he had
lost, I believe, both his hind-legs; and there he sat the long night
through on his tail, looking about, as if in expectation of coming
aid, sending forth, from time to time, long and protracted melancholy
neighing. Although I knew that killing him at once would be mercy, I
could not muster courage even to give the order. Blood enough I had
seen shed during the last six-and-thirty hours, and sickened at the
thought of shedding more. There, then, he still sat when we left the
ground, neighing after us, as if reproaching our desertion of him in
the hour of need."
After the storm of a great battle has rolled away it leaves behind a
wreckage--human and animal--of a very amazing sort; and of the wreckage
of Waterloo Mercer gives a grimly vivid description. The effect is that
of one of Vereschagin's pictures translated into literary terms:--
"_June 19._--The cool air of the morning lasted not long; the rising
sun soon burst in all his glory over our bloody bivouac, and all
nature arose into renewed life, except the victims of ambition which
lay unconscious of his presence. I had not been up many minutes when
one of my sergeants came to ask if they might bury Driver Crammond.
'And why particularly Driver Crammond?' 'Because he looks frightful,
sir; many of us have not had a wink of sleep for him.' Curious! I
walked to the spot where he lay, and certainly a more hideous sight
cannot be imagined. A cannon-shot had carried away the whole head
except barely the visage, which still remained attached to the torn
and bloody neck. The men said they had been prevented sleeping by
seeing his eyes fixed on them all night; and thus this one dreadful
object had superseded all the other horrors by which they were
surrounded. He was of course immediately buried, and as immediately
forgotten.
"Our first care after this was to muster the remaining force, to
disentangle our carriages from each other, and from the dead and
dying animals with which they were encumbered. Many sound or only
slightly wounded horses, belonging to different corps of both armies,
were wandering about the field. Of these we caught several in the
course of the morning, and thus collected, with what remained of our
own fit for work, sufficient to horse four guns, three ammunition
waggons, and the forge. Of men we had nearly enough for these at
reduced numbers, so we set to work equipping ourselves without
delay. Although supplies of ammunition had been sent to us during
the action, yet little remained. The expenditure had been enormous.
A return had been called for yesterday evening just as we were lying
down to rest, but, fatigued as we all were it was impossible to give
this correctly. As near as I could ascertain, we must have fired
nearly 700 rounds per gun. Our harness, &c., was so cut to pieces,
that but for the vast magazines around us from which we could pick
and choose we should never have got off the field.
"Soon after daybreak an officer came from headquarters to desire
me to send all my superfluous carriages to Lillois, where a park
was forming, and to inform me that a supply of ammunition would be
found in the village of Waterloo. Accordingly the carriages were
sent without delay; but this requiring all the horses, they were
obliged to make a second trip for the ammunition. Whilst this was
doing I had leisure to examine the ground in our immediate vicinity.
Books and papers, &c., covered it in all directions. The books at
first surprised me, but upon examination the thing was explained.
Each French soldier, it appeared, carried a little accompt-book of
his pay, clothing, &c., &c. The scene was now far from solitary;
for numerous groups of peasants were moving about busily employed
stripping the dead, and perhaps finishing those not quite so. Some of
these men I met fairly staggered under the enormous load of clothes,
&c., they had collected. Some had firearms, swords, &c., and many had
large bunches of crosses and decorations; all seemed in high glee,
and professed unbounded hatred of the French.
"I had fancied we were almost alone on the field, seeing only the
remains of Major Bull's troop of horse artillery not far from us
(the Prussians had gone forward about or a little before daybreak);
but in wandering towards the Charleroi road I stumbled on a whole
regiment of British infantry fast asleep, in columns of divisions,
wrapped in their blankets, with their knapsacks for pillows. Not a
man was awake. There they lay in regular ranks, with the officers and
sergeants in their places, just as they would stand when awake. Not
far from these, in a little hollow beneath a white thorn, lay two
Irish light-infantry men sending forth such howlings and wailings
and oaths and execrations as were shocking to hear. One of them had
his leg shot off, the other a thigh smashed by a cannon-shot. They
were certainly pitiable objects, but their vehement exclamations,
&c., were so strongly contrasted with the quiet, resolute bearing of
hundreds both French and English around them, that it blunted one's
feelings considerably.
"I tried in vain to pacify them; so walked away amidst a volley of
abuse as a hard-hearted wretch who could thus leave two poor fellows
to die like dogs. What could I do? All, however, though in more
modest terms, craved assistance; and every poor wretch begged most
earnestly for water. Some of my men had discovered a good well of
uncontaminated water at Hougoumont and filled their canteens, so I
made several of them accompany me and administer to the most craving
in our immediate vicinity. Nothing could exceed their gratitude,
or the fervent blessings they implored on us for this momentary
relief. The French were in general particularly grateful; and those
who were strong enough entered into conversation with us on the
events of yesterday, and the probable fate awaiting themselves. All
the non-commissioned officers and privates agreed in asserting that
they had been deceived by their officers and betrayed; and, to my
surprise, almost all of them reviled Bonaparte as the cause of their
misery.
"Many begged me to kill them at once, since they would a thousand
times rather die by the hand of a soldier than be left at the
mercy of those villainous Belgic peasants. Whilst we stood by them
several would appear consoled and become tranquil; but the moment we
attempted to leave, they invariably renewed the cry, 'Ah, Monsieur,
tuez moi donc! Tuez moi, pour l'amour de Dieu!' &c., &c. It was in
vain I assured them carts would be sent to pick them all up. Nothing
could reconcile them to the idea of being left. They looked on us as
brother soldiers, and knew we were too honourable to harm them: 'But
the moment you go, those vile peasants will first insult and then
cruelly murder us.' This, alas! I knew, was but too true.
"One Frenchman I found in a far different humour--an officer of
lancers, and desperately wounded; a strong, square-built man, with
reddish hair and speckled complexion. When I approached him he
appeared suffering horribly--rolling on his back, uttering loud
groans. My first impulse was to raise and place him in a sitting
posture; but, the moment he was touched, opening his eyes and seeing
me, he became perfectly furious. Supposing he mistook my intention,
I addressed him in a soothing tone, begging he would allow me to
render him what little assistance was in my power. This only seemed
to irritate him the more; and on my presenting him the canteen with
water, he dashed it from him with such a passionate gesture and
emphatic 'Non!' that I saw there was no use in teasing, and therefore
reluctantly left him.
"Returning towards our position, I was forcibly struck by the
immense heap of bodies of men and horses which distinguished it
even at a distance; indeed, Sir Augustus Frazer told me the other
day, at Nivelles, that in riding over the field, 'he could plainly
distinguish the position of G troop from the opposite height by the
dark mass which, even from that distance, formed a remarkable feature
in the field.' These were his very words. One interesting sufferer I
had nearly forgotten. He was a fine young man of the grenadiers _à
cheval_, who had lain groaning near us all night--indeed, scarcely
five paces from my bed; therefore was the first person I visited
as soon as daylight came. He was a most interesting person--tall,
handsome, and a perfect gentleman in manners and speech; yet his
costume was that of a private soldier. We conversed with him some
time, and were exceedingly pleased with his mild and amiable address.
Amongst other things he told us that Marshal Ney had led the charges
against us.
"I now began to feel somewhat the effects of my long fast in a
most unpleasant sense of weakness and an inordinate craving for
food, which there was no means of satisfying. My joy, then, may be
imagined when, returning to our bivouac, I found our people returned
from Lillois, and, better still, that they had brought with them a
quarter of veal, which they had found in a muddy ditch, of course in
appearance then filthy enough. What was this to a parcel of men who
had scarcely eaten a morsel for three days? In a trice it was cut up,
the mud having been scraped off with a sabre, a fire kindled and fed
with lance-shafts and musket-stocks; and old Quarter-master Hall,
undertaking the cooking, proceeded to fry the dirty lumps in the
lid of a camp-kettle. How we enjoyed the savoury smell! and, having
made ourselves seats of cuirasses[9] piled upon each other, we soon
had that most agreeable of animal gratifications--the filling our
empty stomachs. Never was a meal more perfectly military, nor more
perfectly enjoyed."
By this time the artillery officer in Mercer was exhausted, the
botanist and artist began to emerge, and he strolls off to visit, as
a sort of country gentleman at leisure, the garden at Hougoumont! He
says:--
"Having despatched our meal and then the ammunition waggons to
Waterloo, and leaving the people employed equipping as best they
could, I set off to visit the château likewise; for the struggle that
had taken place there yesterday rendered it an object of interest.
The same scene of carnage as elsewhere characterised that part of the
field over which I now bent my steps. The immediate neighbourhood
of Hougoumont was more thickly strewn with corpses than most other
parts of the field--the very ditches were full of them. The trees
all about were most woefully cut and splintered both by cannon shot
and musketry. The courts of the château presented a spectacle more
terrible even than any I had yet seen. A large barn had been set on
fire, and the conflagration had spread to the offices and even to the
main building. Here numbers, both of French and English, had perished
in the flames, and their blackened swollen remains lay scattered
about in all directions. Amongst this heap of ruins and misery many
poor devils yet remained alive, and were sitting up endeavouring to
bandage their wounds. Such a scene of horror, and one so sickening,
was surely never witnessed.
"Two or three German dragoons were wandering among the ruins, and
many peasants. One of the former was speaking to me when two of the
latter, after rifling the pockets, &c., of a dead Frenchman, seized
the body by the shoulders, and raising it from the ground, dashed it
down again with all their force, uttering the grossest abuse, and
kicking it about the head and face--revolting spectacle!--doing this,
no doubt, to court favour with us. It had a contrary effect, which
they soon learned. I had scarcely uttered an exclamation of disgust,
when the dragoon's sabre was flashing over the miscreants' heads,
and in a moment descended on their backs and shoulders with such
vigour that they roared again, and were but too happy to make their
escape. I turned from such scenes and entered the garden. How shall I
describe the delicious sensation I experienced!
"The garden was an ordinary one, but pretty--long straight walks
of turf overshadowed by fruit-trees, and between these beds of
vegetables, the whole enclosed by a tolerably high brick wall. Is
it necessary to define my sensations? Is it possible that I am not
understood at once? Listen, then. For the last three days I have
been in a constant state of excitement--in a perfect fever. My eyes
have beheld nought but war in all its horrors--my ears have been
assailed by a continued roar of cannon and cracking of musketry, the
shouts of multitudes and the lamentations of war's victims. Suddenly
and unexpectedly I find myself in solitude, pacing a green avenue,
my eyes refreshed by the cool verdure of trees and shrubs; my ears
soothed by the melody of feathered songsters--yea, of sweet Philomel
herself--and the pleasing hum of insects sporting in the genial
sunshine. Is there nothing in this to excite emotion? Nature in
repose is always lovely: here, and under such circumstances, she was
delicious. Long I rambled in this garden, up one walk, down another,
and thought I could dwell here contented for ever.
"Nothing recalled the presence of war except the loop-holed wall
and two or three dead Guardsmen[10]; but the first caused no
interruption, and these last lay so concealed amongst the exuberant
vegetation of turnips and cabbages, &c., that, after coming from
the field of death without, their pale and silent forms but little
deteriorated my enjoyment. The leaves were green, roses and other
flowers bloomed forth in all their sweetness, and the very turf when
crushed by my feet smelt fresh and pleasant. There was but little of
disorder visible to tell of what had been enacted here. I imagine it
must have been assailed by infantry alone; and the havoc amongst the
trees without made by our artillery posted on the hill above to cover
the approach to it--principally, perhaps, by Bull's howitzer battery.
"I had satisfied my curiosity at Hougoumont, and was retracing my
steps up the hill when my attention was called to a group of wounded
Frenchmen by the calm, dignified, and soldier-like oration addressed
by one of them to the rest. I cannot, like Livy, compose a fine
harangue for my hero, and, of course, I could not retain the precise
words, but the import of them was to exhort them to bear their
sufferings with fortitude; not to repine, like women or children,
at what every soldier should have made up his mind to suffer as the
fortune of war, but above all, to remember that they were surrounded
by Englishmen, before whom they ought to be doubly careful not to
disgrace themselves by displaying such an unsoldier-like want of
fortitude.
"The speaker was sitting on the ground, with his lance stuck upright
beside him--an old veteran, with a thick, bushy, grizzly beard,
countenance like a lion--a lancer of the Old Guard, and no doubt had
fought in many a field. One hand was flourished in the air as he
spoke, the other, severed at the wrist, lay on the earth beside him;
one ball (case-shot, probably) had entered his body, another had
broken his leg. His suffering, after a night of exposure so mangled,
must have been great; yet he betrayed it not. His bearing was that
of a Roman, or perhaps of an Indian warrior, and I could fancy him
concluding appropriately his speech in the words of the Mexican king,
'And I too; am I on a bed of roses?'
"In passing Bull's bivouac it was my fate to witness another very
interesting scene. A wounded hussar had somehow or other found his
way there from another part of the field, and exhausted by the
exertion, had just fainted. Some of those collected round him cried
out for water, and a young driver, who, being outside the throng,
had not yet seen the sufferer, seized a canteen and ran away to fill
it. Whilst he was absent the hussar so far recovered as to be able
to sit up. The driver returned at this moment, and pushing aside
his comrades, knelt down to enable the hussar to drink, holding the
canteen to his lips, and in so doing recognised a brother whom he not
seen for years. His emotion was extreme, as may be supposed."
From the narrative of the march to Paris which followed Waterloo, we
take only one incident. Mercer is at Nivelles, watching the crowds and
the excitement in the streets:--
"Suddenly a loud shout announces something extraordinary even on
this day of excitement. Every one hurries to the spot, pushing each
other, jumping, shouting. 'What can it mean?' I inquired. 'Monsieur
l'Officier, c'est un convoi des prisonniers que vient d'arriver,'
replied my man, doffing at the same time his _bonnet de nuit_ and
making a most respectful salaam. I stopped to see the convoy pass.
The prisoners, dressed in grey _capotes_ and _bonnets de fourrage_,
marched steadily on. Some _vieux moustaches_ look very grave, and
cast about furious glances at the noisy crowd which follows them with
the perseverance of a swarm of mosquitoes, _sacré_-ing and venting
all kind of illiberal abuse on them and the b-- of an Emperor. Many,
however, younger men, laugh, joke, and return their abuse with
interest, whilst the soldiers of the escort (English) march doggedly
along, pushing aside the more forward of the throng, and apparently
as if only marching round a relief.
"At noon arrived in the neighbourhood of Mons, where we overtook
the Greys, Inniskillings, Ross's troop of horse artillery, and
several other corps, both of cavalry and infantry. We had, in
short, now rejoined the army. The Greys and the Inniskillings were
mere wrecks--the former, I think, did not muster 200 men, and the
latter, with no greater strength, presented a sad spectacle of
disorganisation and bad discipline; they had lost more than half
their appointments. Some had helmets, some had none; many had the
skull-cap, but with the crest cut or broken off; some were on their
own large horses, others on little ones they had picked up; belts
there were on some; many were without, not only belts, but also
canteens and haversacks. The enemy surely had not effected in a
single day so complete a disorganisation, and I shrewdly suspect
these rollicking Paddies of having mainly spoilt themselves. The
other corps all looked remarkably well, although they, too, had
partaken in the fight.
"We crossed after the Greys, and came with them on the main road to
Maubeuge at the moment a Highland regiment (perhaps the 92nd), which
had come through Mons, was passing. The moment the Highlanders saw
the Greys an electrifying cheer burst spontaneously from the column,
which was answered as heartily; and on reaching the road the two
columns became blended for a few minutes--the Highlanders running
to shake hands with their brave associates in the late battle. This
little burst of feeling was delightful--everybody felt it; and
although two or three general officers were present, none interfered
to prevent or to censure this breach of discipline."
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 9: "Here were more cuirasses than men, for the wounded (who
could move), divesting themselves of its encumbrance, had made their
escape, leaving their armour on the ground where they had fallen."]
[Footnote 10: In some accounts of the battle and visits to the field,
&c., it has been stated that this garden was a scene of slaughter.
Totally untrue! As I have stated in the text, I did not see above two
or three altogether. There certainly might have been more concealed
amongst the vegetation, but they could not have been many.]
INDEX
Adams, General, 126, 136
---- Sergeant-Major, 230
Adour, river, 253, 254
---- valley of the, 264, 269
_Adventure_, transport, 316
Agueda, river, 88
Ainhoe, the heights of, 260, 261
Alba de Tormes, 55
Albuera, battle of, 41;
Beresford at, 277
Alexander, Emperor, 314
Allenquer, town, 34, 37
Alost, 327
Alton, General Count, 57, 114, 115;
at Salamanca, 71;
at Quatre Bras, 122, 123;
at Waterloo, 128
Andover, 149, 150
Anglesey, Marquis of, _see_ under Uxbridge, Lord
Arenas, 59
Arinez, 75
Armstrong, ----, 219
Arruda, 35
Ascot Heath, 344
Assche, 330
Astorga, 179
Atalya, 52
Auchmuty, General, 147
Austrian Emperor, 314
Badajos, 5, 41, 86, 104, 225;
the great breach at, 11, 25, 215;
the siege of, 95 _sqq._
Baker, ----, 211, 213
Barnard, Sir Andrew, at Quatre Bras, 120, 121, 124;
at Waterloo, 125, 127, 132;
in Spain, 232
---- Colonel, 82;
at Vittoria, 75, 76;
at Ciudad Rodrigo, 93;
at Badajos, 98, 99, 102;
in the Pyrenees, 108, 110
Barnes, Sir Edward, 20
Barossa, battle of, 223
Bath, 149
Bathala, convent of, 34
Bawdsey, 317
Bay of Biscay, 111, 265
Baynes, Captain, 385
Bayonne, 109, 111, 266;
the fighting before, 113, 263, 264
Bean, Major, 371
Beckwith, Sir Sidney at Sabugal, 63, 64, 65
Belgian skirmishers, 291;
allies, 120, 300, 302, 322;
horse artillery, 330
Bell, ----, 230
---- Lieutenant, 374
Benevento, 188
Bengal Horse Artillery, 16
Bera, village of, 105, 106, 107
Beresford, Marshal, at Salamanca, 71;
sketch of, 210-213;
at Orthez, 266;
at Toulouse, 276 _sqq._
Berri, Duc de, 331
Bidassoa, river, 105;
passage of the, 81, 107, 108
Blandford Downs, 143, 144
Blucher, Prince, interviewed by Wellington at Ligny, 120;
his defeat at Ligny, 123, 336;
retreats to Wavre, 124;
at Waterloo, 311;
at Quatre Bras, 335 _sqq._
Bock, General, 74
Boer and Highlander in South Africa, 12
Bolton, Captain, 378, 379
"Boney's Invincibles," 168
Braine le Comte, 341
Brander, Lieutenant, 263
Breton, Lieutenant, 391, 398
Brooks, James, 197 _sqq._
Brotherwood, ----, 168,171
Brunswick, Duke of, 117, 119
Brunswick allies at Quatre Bras, 292;
at Waterloo, 364, 384 _sqq._
Brussels, 116, 117, 287 _sqq._, 298, 305, 315, 330, 364, 366, 372;
Duchess of Richmond's ball at, 118, 287
Buenos Ayres, the fiasco at, 142, 147, 309
Bull, Major, 341, 403
Bunbury, Lieutenant, 156
Burgos, the retreat from, 18, 41, 54, 55
Burrard, Sir Harry, supersedes Sir Arthur Wellesley, 153, 154, 163;
at Vimiero, 215
Busaco, battle of, 31
Butterworth, Gunner, 387
Cadiz, 153
Cameron, Colonel, at Ciudad Rodrigo, 89, 93, 98;
at Badajos, 102;
at Waterloo, 132
Campbell, Sir Colin, 102
---- Captain, at Toulouse, 281, 282;
at Quatre Bras (Brevet-Major), 293, 294
Cardo, ----, 177
Caridad, convent of, 58
Cashel, 148, 149
Castanos, General, 70
Castre, 339
Ceira, passage of the, 49
Charleroi road, 335, 349, 350, 383, 403
Chatham, Earl of, 28
Chelsea, 212
Chichester, 145, 147
Ciudad Rodrigo, 5, 25, 41, 52, 58, 98;
leader of the forlorn hope at, 6, 10;
Marmont marches to the relief of, 53;
the storming of, 86 _sqq._
Clichy, 312
Clinton, Sir Henry, 309
Clonmel, 149
Coa, 51;
river, 63
Coates, ----, 337, 338, 349
Cochan, Mrs., 161, 162
Coimbra, 30, 33
Colborne, Colonel, 87
Colchester Barracks, 311
Cole, Sir Lowry, 113, 115
Combermere, Lord, 72
Condacia, 33, 48
Cooke, Colonel, 84
Copenhagen, expedition to, 151, 228
Cork, 154, 228, 287
Corunna, Moore's retreat to, 6, 142, 178 _sqq._, 223, 227, 228, 313;
sufferings of the retreat, 194 _sqq._
Cowel, Major, 268
Cox, Lieutenant, 152, 200, 206
Crammond, Driver, 401
Craufurd, General, 141 _sqq._;
in Buenos Ayres, 147;
in the retreat to Corunna, 179 _sqq._, 230;
described by a private who served under him, 215 _sqq._
Crosby, Sergeant-Major, 230
Cuesta, General, 83
Cunningham, Corporal, 255, 256
Czar, Wellington's despatch to the, 335
Dalheath, near Falkirk, 25
Dalrymple, Sir Hew, 154, 215
Dance, Captain, 339
Davidson, Brevet-Major, 293
Deben, river, 317
Demon, ----, 230 _sqq._
Denburn, river, 239
Dendermonde, 329
D'Erlon, General, at Waterloo, 129, 299, 300
Devine, ----, 225, 226
Dick, Colonel, 293
Dickson, Captain, 147
---- Sir Alexander, 352
Doury, -----, 271, 272
Downs, the, 28
Drummond, Major, 320
Dundas, Sir David, 47
Dutch troops at Waterloo, 300
Ebro, valley of the, 59
Echelar, mountain, 107
Elba, 116, 143, 311
Eleder, Captain, 147
Elvas, 96, 102
Enghien, 337, 339, 341, 343
Epsom, 344
Ers, river, 277
Erskine, Sir William, 63, 64
Essling, Prince of, 36
Fane, General, 164, 168
Farquharson, Lieut. D., 248, 284
Fermoy, 226
Fez d'Aronce, 49
Figuera, Bay of, 29
Flinn, Rifleman, 65
Flushing, 226, 227
Fontainebleau, 116
Franklin, ----, 189, 190
Fraser, Sergeant, 158, 159
Fraser, ----, 248
Frasnes, village of, 350, 352
Frazer, Sir Augustus, 21, 354, 362, 382;
at Waterloo, 383, 384, 385, 405
Freire, General, 82, 276
Fuentes d'Onore, battle of, 25, 41, 52, 66
Fyfe, Smith, 295
Garges, 314
Gave, river, 265
Gembloux, 355
Genappe, 119, 124, 360, 362, 366
German Legion, 189;
at Waterloo, 375, 380
Ghent, 242, 320, 327
Ghystelle, 320
Gibraltar, 230
Gosport, 145
Gould, Colonel, 381, 382
Gourgaud, General (quoted), 357
Graham, Sir Thomas, at Vittoria, 79, 81;
at Ciudad Rodrigo, 88;
at San Sebastian, 106, 230
Gramont, 311
Great Rhune, 81
Gregory, Lieut.-Colonel, 320
Grouchy, General, 336
Guarda, 51
Guardiana, river, 96, 102
Guards at Quatre Bras, 289 _sqq._
Hall, Quarter-master, 348, 366, 405
Hart, Captain, 225, 226
Hart, the brothers John, Mike, and Peter, 226, 227, 228
Harwich, 315, 316
Hautain le Val, 347
Henderson, ----, 271, 272
Higgins, Thomas, 187, 223, 224
Hill, Sir Dudley, 199
---- Sir Rowland, 75-78, 115
---- General (afterwards Lord Hill), at Roliça, 158;
"Farmer" Hill described, 209, 210;
at Orthez, 269;
at Toulouse, 276
---- Lieutenant, 184, 185, 191
---- Captain, 318, 319
Hilsea barracks, 145, 146
Hincks, Lieutenant, 398
Hitchins, Surgeon, 342, 347, 377, 383
Holland, expedition to, 28
Hope, Sir John, 81
Hopewood, ----, 114
Hopwood, Lieutenant, 171
Hougoumont, 128, 300 _sqq._, 375, 383, 403;
the garden of, 14, 399, 406, 408;
the attack on, 129
Houssaye (quoted), 15, 336
Howans, Dan, 216 _sqq._
Huerta, 74
Hunt, Gunner, 377, 379
_Hussar_, frigate, 28
Hythe, 29, 224, 225, 229, 232
---- barracks, 28
Innes, Lieutenant, 269
Inniskilling Dragoons at Waterloo, 129, 299 _sqq._, 410
Isle of Wight, 145
Jackman, ----, 226
Jagger, Ben, 216
Janca, 107
Jenkinson, Captain, 71
Junot, General, 40, 163
Kellerman, General, 169
Kempt, Sir James, 80, 114, 115;
at Waterloo, 131, 300
Knight, ----, 65
La Belle Alliance, 15, 136, 300, 365
La Haye Sainte, 125, 126, 133, 300 _sqq._, 372
La Rhune, 111, 112
Ladysmith, 104
Lake, Colonel, 157
Lambert, Sir John, 132, 135
Landguard fort, 316
Langeveldt, 354, 371
Latta, Ensign, 284
Le Secca, 106
Leathes, Lieutenant, 333, 398
Lebbeke, 330
Leech, Captain, 152, 161, 164, 165
Lefebvre, General, 186, 189
Leith, 95, 116
Leria, 34
Life Guards at Quatre Bras, 124;
at Waterloo, 129, 131, 299, 361, 372, 410
Light Division, the (Craufurd's), 6, 7, 25, 215;
the light regiment of the, 32;
at Sabugal, 63;
at Fuentes d'Onore, 66;
at Orthez, 266
Ligny, 120;
the battle of, 123, 336
Lillois, 402, 405
Lisbon, 29, 39, 40, 232, 233
Liston, Corporal Robert, 211, 212
Little Rhune, 82
Livy, 408
Loison, General, 50
Louis XVIII., flees from Paris, 116;
holds court at Ghent, 327, 328
Low, John, 167
Macara, Sir Robert, 293
M'Donald, Major, at Quatre Bras,
337 _sqq._;
in the retreat to Waterloo, 351 _sqq._;
at Waterloo, 374 _sqq._, 397
M'Dougall, Lieut. Kenneth, 261
M'Guire, Mrs., 193
M'Kenzie, Lieutenant, 284
Mackenzie, General, 231
McLauchlan, Patrick, 184, 185
M'Lloyd, Major, 373
M'Namara, ----, 268
M'Pherson, Captain Mungo, 261
Mahone, Patrick, 171
Maine, boundary line dispute, 310
Manningtree, 316
Marmont, General, 52, 86, 329;
at Salamanca, 70, 72
Massena, Marshal, 25, 30, 46, 63;
before Torres Vedras, 33;
pursued by Wellington, 37;
retreats from Torres Vedras, 62
Maubeuge, 410
Maya, Pass of, 106
Mayberry, Sergeant Thomas, 224, 225, 226
Medley, ----, 222, 223, 224
Mendoza, bridge of, 75
Menzies, Major, 292
Merke Braine, 300, 382
Militia, North York, 25
Miller, Driver, 389
Milward, ----, 338
Mittelkerke, 317
Molly, Lieutenant, 227
Mondego, 154
Mons, 410
Mont Rave, 82, 276, 277
Mont St. Jean, the heights of, 299, 300, 302, 374, 387
Moore, Sir John, 6, 142, 147;
at Corunna, 178 _sqq._
Morrisson, ----, 225, 226
Mullins, ----, 172
Musselburgh, 239
Namur, 28
Napier, Sir William, 4 (quoted), 66
---- Major, 167, 213, 214
Napoleon, allusions, 15, 16, 49, 178, 183, 328, 404;
his abdication, 84;
escapes from Elba, 116, 143, 311;
at Quatre Bras, 117, 121, 122, 335 _sqq._;
at Waterloo, 129, 130, 302 _sqq._;
transfers the Spanish crown to his brother Joseph, 153;
overtakes the rearguard in the retreat to Waterloo, 356, 357, 365
Nassau troops, 349
New Orleans, 352
Ney, Marshal, defeated by Wellington at the passage of the Ceira, 49;
in the retreat from Torres Vedras, 62;
at Quatre Bras, 288, 292, 336 _sqq._;
leads the cavalry charges at Waterloo, 405
Nieuport, 317
Ninove, 338, 341
Nivelle, river, 258, 259;
passage of the, 81, 250, 259;
town, 344, 345, 347, 349, 405, 409;
road, 375 _sqq._
Nova Scotia, 310
O'Hara, Major, 95
Old Guard, the, 16, 408
Orange, Prince of, 120
Orr, ----, 177
Orthez, battle of, 265 _sqq._
Ostend, 242, 315, 317, 320, 324;
harbour, 318
Pack, General Sir Denis, 254, 264, 269, 271;
at Toulouse, 278;
his brigade at Quatre Bras, 289 _sqq._;
at Waterloo, 299 _sqq._
Paget, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Edward, 56
Pakenham, Sir Edward, 74
---- Captain, 164
Pampeluna, 79, 106
Paris, 116, 138, 409;
grand review after Waterloo, 312
Passages, 257
Pau, river, 265, 266, 267, 269
Peninsula, 241, 257;
British soldier of the, 11, 27;
the Rifles in the, 25, 29;
campaign of 1811-12, 41;
fights of the, 62;
sieges of the, 86;
experiences in the, 153
Petite la Rhune, 81, 112
Peyrehorade, 266
_Philarea_, transport, 316
Phillipon, General, 95
Picton, Sir Thomas, 77, 82, 116;
at Toulouse, 83, 276;
at Ciudad Rodrigo, 93;
at Badajos, 95;
at Quatre Bras, 122, 289;
at Waterloo, 129, 131, 299, 366;
at Orthez, 266 _sqq._
Plymouth, 229
Ponton, James, 159
Portsdown Hill, 147;
execution at, 145
Portsmouth, 228
Portugal, 30, 34, 142
---- King John of, 34
Price, farrier, 379
Prussia, King of, 314
Prussian troops, 351, 355;
at Quatre Bras, 123;
at Waterloo, 395, 399, 403
Pullen, Richard, 228 _sqq._
Pyrenees, 25, 80;
marches and fights in the, 105 _sqq._, 246, 257
Pyrnes, 42
Quatre Bras, 14, 25, 309;
the battle of, 116 _sqq._, 288 _sqq._, 335 _sqq._;
the village of, 119;
the Prussians at, 123;
the retreat to Waterloo from, 297 _sqq._
Quentin, Colonel, 334