This movement of the Prussian commander rendered a corresponding one
necessary on the part of the British, who retired from the farm of
Quatre Bras upon Genappe, and thence on Waterloo on the morning of the
17th., at ten o’clock. No effort was made by the enemy to pursue Marshal
Blucher, neither was there any attempt to molest the march of the
British to the rear, although made in the middle of the day, excepting
by following with a large body of cavalry, brought from the French
right, the cavalry under the Earl of Uxbridge, who had taken up a
position to cover the retrograde movement. The rear of the infantry and
artillery having proceeded some miles along the great road from Quatre
Bras through Genappe, the cavalry were withdrawn by brigades in
succession, each brigade re-forming as soon as it arrived at a suitable
position in the rear of the column. The enemy’s cavalry advanced in
great force; the main body of his army moved on Quatre Bras, and his
advance guard began to press on the rear of the retiring troops. To
check this movement, the 7th. hussars charged a corps of French lancers
in the town of Genappe; the lancers, however, having their flanks
secure, presented an almost impenetrable row of pikes, and they were
enabled to repel the charge. The attack was repeated by the hussars, but
without making any impression; the French cavalry pressing forward,
passed the ground occupied by the 7th., when the 1st. Life Guards were
directed by the Earl of Uxbridge to charge the French lancers. Wheeling
about, the Life Guards advanced to the attack, which proved
irresistible, and the lancers were pursued through the streets of
Genappe. After this repulse the retreat was continued with cannonading
and skirmishing, until the cavalry arrived at the position of Mont. St.
Jean, in front of the forest of Soignies, and near to the village of
Waterloo.
About five in the afternoon the allies had taken up their prescribed
position, and during the wet and disagreeable night, violent showers
having fallen during the afternoon, and the rain continuing throughout
the night, accompanied by cold and strong gusts of wind, so frequently a
prelude to the Duke’s victories, awaited the dawn of the memorable 18th.
of June.
BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
18TH. JUNE, 1815.
The position which was taken up in front of Waterloo, crossed the
high-roads from Charleroi and Nivelles, its right being thrown back to a
ravine near Merke Braine, which was occupied; its left extended to a
height above the hamlet of Ter la Haye, which was also occupied. In
front of the right centre, and near the Nivelles road, the house and
garden of Hougomont, which covered the return of that flank, was made
available for defence, and in front of the left centre the farm of La
Haye Sainte was put to a similar use. By the left a communication was
maintained with Marshal Prince Blucher, at Wavre, through Ohain, who had
promised that in case of an attack, he would advance in support, not
with one or more corps, but with his whole army.
On a range of heights in front of the British, were collected during the
night the whole of Napoleon’s army, with the exception of the third
corps, under Marshal Grouchy, who had been detached to watch the
movements of the Prussians. At about half-past ten on the morning of the
18th., a furious attack was made upon the post at Hougomont, occupied by
a detachment from Major-General Byng’s brigade of Guards, which was in
position in its rear, and it was for some time under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Sir James) Macdonell, and subsequently
under Colonel Home. It was maintained throughout the day with the utmost
gallantry by these brave troops, although repeated efforts of large
bodies vainly endeavoured to obtain possession of the place.
“About one o’clock a cart of ammunition, which had been sent for early
in the day, was brought into the farm-yard of Hougomont, and proved most
seasonable. The men had only time to fill their pouches, when a
discharge of artillery suddenly burst upon them, mingled with the shouts
of a column rushing on to a fresh attack. A cloud of tirailleurs pushed
through the wood and cornfields: they were aimed at with fatal certainty
from the loopholes, windows, and summit of the building. But the enemy
eventually compelled the few men that remained outside to withdraw into
the chateau by the rear gate. In the meantime the French redoubled their
efforts against it, and the fire of the immediate defenders of that
point for a moment ceased. The gate was then forced. At this critical
moment Macdonell rushed to the spot with the officers and men nearest at
hand, and not only expelled the assailants, but re-closed the gate. The
enemy, from their overwhelming numbers, again entered the yard, when the
guards retired to the house, and kept up from the windows such a
destructive fire, that the French were driven out, and the gate once
more was closed.” Such is the description given by Colonel MacKinnon, in
his valuable “Record of the Origin and Services of the Coldstream
Guards.” Captain Siborne thus narrates the circumstances “The French,
however, succeeded in forcing the gate; but the defenders betook
themselves to the nearest cover, whence they poured a fire upon the
intruders, and then rushing forward, a struggle ensued, which was
distinguished by the most intrepid courage on both sides. At length
Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, Captain Wyndham, Ensigns Gooch and Hervey,
and Sergeant Graham, of the Coldstream Guards, by dint of great personal
strength and exertions, combined with extraordinary bravery and
perseverance, succeeded in closing the gate against their assailants.
Those of the latter who had entered the courtyard fell a sacrifice to
their undaunted and conspicuous gallantry.”
Alluding to Sergeant Graham, he adds, “This individual deserves
honourable mention, having greatly distinguished himself during the
memorable defence of Hougomont. At a later period of the day, when in
the ranks along the garden wall facing the wood, and when the struggle
was most severe in that quarter, he asked Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell’s
permission to fall out. The Colonel, knowing the character of the man,
expressed his surprise at the request made at such a moment. Graham
explained that his brother lay wounded in one of the buildings then on
fire, that he wished to remove him to a place of safety, and that he
would then lose no time in rejoining the ranks. The request was granted:
Graham succeeded in snatching his brother from the horrible fate which
menaced him, laid him in a ditch in rear of the enclosures, and, true to
his word, was again at his post.”
Finding Hougomont so stubbornly defended, the French artillery opened
upon the house, which was quickly in a blaze. The Guards however, about
2000 men, with 1100 German troops, maintained the post to the end of the
day, against the repeated attacks of nearly 30,000 men. The loss of the
enemy was fearful, the killed and wounded lying in heaps round the
chateau, in the woods, and in every avenue leading to it. The division
of General Foy alone lost 3000 men, and the total loss of the French in
their attacks upon this position, was not far short of 10,000 killed and
wounded.
This attack upon the right of the British centre was accompanied by a
heavy cannonade upon the whole line, which was destined to support the
repeated attacks of cavalry and infantry, occasionally mixed, but
sometimes separate, that were made upon it. In one of these the French
carried the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte, as the detachment of the light
battalion of the German Legion, which held it, had expended all its
ammunition, and the enemy occupied the only communication there was with
them. Repeated charges were made by the French cavalry upon the
infantry, but these attacks were uniformly unsuccessful, and they
afforded opportunities to the British cavalry to charge, in one of which
Lord Edward Somerset’s brigade, consisting of the Life Guards, Royal
Horse Guards, and 1st. Dragoon Guards, highly distinguished itself, with
that of Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, having taken many prisoners
and an eagle.
Soon after four o’clock a grand onslaught was made on the British front
by the whole of the French cavalry; cuirassiers, lancers, and chasseurs
à cheval of the Imperial Guard, consisting of about forty squadrons,
supported by a tremendous fire of artillery. As they advanced, every
discharge of the British guns, double shotted, fearfully shattered their
ranks; but they rushed on, with shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!” to the very
faces of the infantry squares, inside of which the gunners were lying
down for shelter, and swept round the flanks, till they recoiled in
disorder and confusion before the close and destructive fire under which
men and horses fell in heaps.
These attacks continued to be repeated until about seven o’clock in the
evening, and the Prussians were fast approaching Planchenoit, on the
right rear of the enemy, with about 30,000 men and sixty-four guns, when
Napoleon made a last desperate effort with his Imperial Guard in two
columns, supported by the fire of artillery, to force the left centre,
near the farm of La Haye Sainte. Led by Ney, the veterans of Jena and
Wagram, in spite of a decimating fire of case and grape shot, advanced
to within fifty yards of Halkett’s brigade, and the Foot Guards, who
were lying down to avoid the cannonade which covered the onset of
Napoleon’s chosen troops. On the word being given, the Guards in a line
four deep, sprang to their feet, and poured in such a destructive volley
that the front of the column of the Imperial Guard seemed to melt away.
Their officers vainly strove to rally them, when the British with a
ringing cheer charged, and the enemy were driven down the hill in wild
confusion. The second column of the Imperial Guard, rent and torn by
close discharges of case shot, and assailed with volleys of musketry in
front and flank, also broke, turned, and fled, only two rear battalions
retaining their ranks.
Having observed that the enemy retired from this attack in great
confusion, and that the march of General Bulow’s corps upon Planchenoit
and La Belle Alliance had begun to take effect, the fire of his cannon
being perceived, and as Marshal Prince Blucher had joined in person with
a corps of his army to the left of the British line by Ohain, the Duke
immediately advanced the whole line of infantry, supported by the
cavalry and artillery. The Anglo-allied army formed line, and with one
impetuous charge decided the fortune of the day. The enemy was forced
from his position on the heights, and fled in the utmost confusion. The
pursuit was continued until long after dark, and then, in consequence of
the fatigue of the British troops, which had been engaged during twelve
hours, Marshal Blucher was left to follow the enemy, from whom he
captured sixty pieces of cannon, belonging to the Imperial Guard,
together with several carriages, baggage, etc., belonging to Napoleon.
About one hundred and fifty pieces of cannon, with their ammunition, had
been taken by the British, together with two eagles.
Sir Thomas Picton,[67] the hero of so many Peninsula actions, fell, and
Major-General the Honourable Sir William Ponsonby. The Earl of Uxbridge,
after having passed unscathed throughout the day, lost his right leg by
nearly the last shot fired, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange
was wounded. Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Baron Alten, Major-Generals
Sir Colin Halkett, Sir Edward Barnes, (Adjutant-General,) Fred: Adam,
Sir James Kempt, and Cooke, and Colonel Sir William De Lancey[68]
(Deputy-Quartermaster-General,) were wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Lord
Fitz Roy Somerset (the late Lord Raglan) had his right arm amputated.
Vain would it be to select regiments on this glorious occasion. “It
gives me the greatest satisfaction (so wrote the Duke to Earl Bathurst,)
to assure your Lordship, that the army, never, upon any occasion,
conducted itself better. The division of Guards, under Major-General
Cooke, who is severely wounded; Major-General Maitland, and
Major-General Byng, set an example which was followed by all; and there
is no officer nor description of troops, that did not behave well.”
At Waterloo the Anglo-allied army consisted of sixty-seven thousand six
hundred and sixty-one men, and one hundred and fifty-six guns;[69] and
the French had seventy-one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven men,
and two hundred and forty-six guns, composed of fifteen thousand seven
hundred and sixty-five cavalry, seven thousand two hundred and
thirty-two artillery, and forty-eight thousand nine hundred and fifty
infantry.
Both Houses of Parliament voted their thanks to the army with the
greatest enthusiasm, “for its distinguished valour at Waterloo;” and the
following regiments engaged, also the battalions to which they are now
linked, but which took no part in the battle, bear the word “WATERLOO”
on their colours and appointments, in commemoration of their
distinguished services on the 18th. of June, 1815, namely, 1st. and 2nd.
Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards, 1st. Dragoon Guards, 1st., 2nd., 6th.,
7th., 10th., 11th., 12th., 13th., 15th., and 16th. Light Dragoons,
Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Fusilier Guards, 1st., 4th.,
14th., 23rd., 27th., 28th., 30th., 32nd., 33rd., 40th., 42nd., 44th.,
51st., 52nd., 69th., 71st., 73rd., 79th., and 92nd., Foot, Rifle
Brigade, and Royal Artillery. Every subaltern officer and soldier
present in this battle, or in either of the actions immediately
preceding it, received permission to count two years additional service.
The oft-mooted question as to the share taken in this momentous contest
by the Prussians, and to their presence on the field in gaining the
victory, must be met by the Duke’s opinion, as expressed in his
despatch:—“I should not do justice to my own feelings, or to Marshal
Blucher and the Prussian army, if I did not attribute the successful
result of this arduous day to the cordial and timely assistance I
received from them. The operation of General Bulow upon the enemy’s
flank was a most decisive one; and, even if I had not found myself in a
situation to make the attack which produced the final result, it would
have forced the enemy to retire if his attacks should have failed, and
would have prevented him from taking advantage of them if they should
unfortunately have succeeded.” There are, however, even now, some
prejudiced people, who exclaim, like Solomon Probity, in “The Chimney
Corner,” “Don’t tell me! it was Blucher as won Waterloo.”
The meeting of the Duke and Blucher at La Belle Alliance after the
battle is apocryphal. In the concluding volume of the Wellington
Dispatches, (page 332,) there is a letter to Mr. Mudford, in which
occurs the following passage in reference to this and other
mis-statements:—“Of these a remarkable instance is to be found in the
report of a meeting between Marshal Blucher and me at La Belle Alliance;
and some have gone so far as to have seen the chair on which I sat down
in that farmhouse. It happens that the meeting took place after ten at
night, at the village of Genappe; and anybody who attempts to describe
with truth the operations of the different armies will see that it could
not be otherwise. In truth, I was not off my horse till I returned to
Waterloo, between eleven and twelve at night.”
The following anecdote is illustrative of the effect produced by the
irresistible attack of the Life Guards:[70]—Immediately after the first
charge, while the Life Guards were pursuing the French, three of their
cuirassiers turned down a narrow lane, with a view of escaping that way,
and they were pursued by Private John Johnson, of the 2nd. regiment.
There proved to be no thoroughfare at the end of the road, when Johnson,
though alone, attacked the three, and, after a slight resistance, they
surrendered themselves prisoners. Several instances of distinguished
bravery displayed by individuals of the Life Guards, have been recorded;
amongst others, Corporal Shaw and Private Godley, of the 2nd. regiment.
The former for his great prowess, and the number of cuirassiers he slew;
and the latter for a distinguished act of bravery, namely, when his
horse was killed, himself wounded, and his helmet knocked off,
bareheaded as he was, he attacked a cuirassier, slew him, and mounted
his horse. Shaw was killed in the first charge. Godley lived several
years after, and a stone was erected to his memory by his comrades in
the burial ground of St. John’s Wood, London, with appropriate devices
and inscription. During the engagement the Duke of Wellington came to
the head of the 1st. regiment of Life Guards, and thanked the squadrons
for their gallant behaviour.
Colonel Ferrier, of the 1st. Life Guards, before he fell had eleven
times led his regiment to the charge. Several of these charges were made
after his head was laid open by a sabre cut, and his body had been
pierced by a lance.
During the heat of the conflict Captain Alexander Kennedy Clark (now
Lieutenant-General A. K. Clark Kennedy, C.B.) commanding the centre
squadron of the 1st. Royal Dragoons, having led his men about two
hundred yards beyond the second hedge on the British left, perceived, in
the midst of a crowd of infantry, the eagle of the French 105th.
regiment, with which the bearer was endeavouring to escape to the rear.
Against this body of men Captain Clark instantly led his squadron at
full speed, and, plunging into the midst of the crowd, overtook, and
slew the French officer who carried the eagle. Several men of the Royal
Dragoons coming up at the moment of its capture, Captain Clark gave the
eagle to Corporal Stiles, and ordered him to carry it to the rear. The
corporal was afterwards rewarded with an ensigncy in the 6th. West India
Regiment.
Another eagle, that of the French 45th. regiment, was captured by
Sergeant Charles Ewart, of the 2nd. Royal North British Dragoons. This
gained for the gallant sergeant an ensigncy in the 3rd. Royal Veteran
Battalion.
The following is a remarkable instance of preservation:—Lieutenant
George Doherty, of the 13th. Light Dragoons, besides being severely
wounded in the head, was struck by a ball, which was stopped and
flattened by the interposition of his watch. He had taken out his watch
to remark the time, when the regiment was ordered to advance, and not
being able to return it, he put it into the breast of his jacket, and
thus, providentially, his life was saved.
In one of the charges made by the 28th. regiment at Waterloo, a flag
belonging to the 25th. French regiment was taken by Private John
O’Brien, of the eighth company, who the moment after received a severe
wound, which ultimately occasioned the loss of his leg. The trophy,
however, was preserved, and sent to Major-General Sir James Kempt, who
commanded the division, when the regiment arrived at Paris.
In the “Letters of Colonel Sir Augustus Simon Frazer, K.C.B.,”
commanding the Royal Horse Artillery in the army under the Duke of
Wellington, edited by Major-General Edward Sabine, from which the above
has been extracted, is this allusion to Waterloo:—“Never was there a
more bloody affair, never so hot a fire. Bonaparte put in practice every
device of war. He tried us with artillery, with cavalry, and, last of
all, with infantry. The efforts of each were gigantic, but the admirable
talents of our Duke, seconded by such troops as he commands, baffled
every attempt.”
There is some difference of opinion as to the exact time the battle
commenced. In the “Life of Lord Hill,” by the Rev. Edwin Sidney, A.M.,
occurs the following:—“In reading the various accounts of this battle,
it is curious to observe the discrepancies as to the time it commenced.
Lord Hill has, however, settled this point. On arriving in London the
autumn after the conflict, he passed his first evening at the house of
his friend Lord Teignmouth. ‘Can you tell me,’ said Lord Teignmouth, ‘at
what time the action commenced?’ Lord Hill replied, ‘I took two watches
into action with me. On consulting my stop-watch after the battle was
over, I found that the first gun was fired at ten minutes before
twelve.’”
Captain Moorsom, in his “History of the 52nd. Light Infantry,” gives the
following characteristic account of the commencement of the action:—“The
night was wet and disagreeable, as usual before—the Duke of Wellington’s
battles. As the morning broke, between four and five o’clock, Captain
Diggle’s company of the 52nd., and two or three companies of the 95th.
Rifles, were sent into the enclosures of the village of Merbe Braine,
with their front towards Braine-le-Leud. At twenty minutes past eleven a
cannon-shot was fired. Diggle, a cool old officer of the Peninsula, took
out his watch, turned to his subaltern Gawler, who was another of the
same Peninsula mould, and quietly remarked, ‘There it goes.’ The
leaders, in fact, had then opened the ball.”
In the “Life of Lord Hill,” before quoted, occurs the following account
of the final struggle:—“Sir Digby Mackworth, who was on the staff of
Lord Hill, has kindly communicated what he witnessed of his General’s
efforts at the grand crisis of the day. ‘He placed himself,’ Sir Digby
states, ‘at the head of his Light Brigade, 52nd., 71st., and 95th., and
charged the flank of the Imperial Guard, as they were advancing against
our Guards. The Light Brigade was lying under the brow of the hill, and
gave and received volleys within half-pistol-shot distance. Here Lord
Hill’s horse was shot under him, and, as he ascertained the next
morning, was shot in five places. The general was rolled over and
severely bruised, but in the _mêlée_ this was unknown to us for about
half an hour. We knew not what was become of him; we feared he had been
killed; and none can tell you the heart-felt joy which we felt when he
rejoined us, not seriously hurt.’ When the tremendous day was over, Lord
Hill and his staff again re-occupied the little cottage they left in the
morning. His two gallant brothers, Sir Robert Hill and Colonel Clement
Hill, had been removed wounded to Brussels; the party was, nevertheless,
nine in number. A soup made by Lord Hill’s servant, from two fowls, was
all their refreshment, after hours of desperate fighting without a
morsel of food. Lord Hill himself was bruised and full of pain. All
night long, the groans and shrieks of sufferers were the chief sounds
that met their ears. It was to them all a night of the greatest misery.
The men whom the nations of Europe were about to welcome with
acclamations, and to entertain in palaces, could only exchange sigh for
sigh with each other in a wretched cottage. Such is war even to the
winners. May a gracious God soon make it to cease in all the earth!”
[Illustration:
The Waterloo Medal
]
The casualties amongst the officers of the British army, (including the
King’s German Legion,) amounted to one hundred and thirty-nine killed,
five hundred and eighty-five wounded, and fifteen missing. The
Hanoverian troops had twenty officers, and three hundred and eight men
killed, seventy-seven officers and one thousand two hundred and
forty-four men wounded. The Brunswick troops had seven officers and one
hundred and forty-seven men killed, and twenty-six officers and four
hundred and thirty men wounded. The Nassau contingent had five officers
and two hundred and forty-nine men killed, and nineteen officers and
three hundred and seventy men wounded. Numerous as these casualties
were, those of the French far exceeded them, amounting, according to the
most correct calculations, to about thirty thousand.