British, with their allies, piled arms, lighted their camp fires, and
laid down to rest upon the field which they had so hardly held. The
Prussians, after an intensely obstinate struggle, had been forced to
retire to Ligny, when Blucher determined to unite with his 4th Corps
and concentrate on Wavre. Wellington, recognising the importance of
keeping in communication with the Prussian General, decided to fall
back upon a position fronting the village of Waterloo, which, by the
way, had already been selected by the British commanders as a suitable
battleground. In retiring from Quatre Bras, the British cavalry were
attacked by the French, and the 7th Hussars and squadrons of the 11th
and 23rd Light Dragoons charged without success. The Life Guards,
however, under Lord Uxbridge, compelled the enemy to retreat, and
the British were allowed to quietly take up their position, which
they did in decidedly inclement weather, rain falling heavily most of
the day, and the night closing wild and stormy. Violent winds, heavy
rain, thunder and lightning added to the discomfort of the cheerless
bivouac of the allies. The Duke of Wellington and his staff occupied
the village of Waterloo, while Napoleon with his brother Jerome and his
generals passed the night of the 17th in a farm-house half a league
from the Château de Hougomont, which, in advance of the right centre
of the British, was held by detachments of the Brigade of Guards and
about 300 Nassau Riflemen. This was considered by Wellington to be the
key to the position, and how well the Guards maintained it is a matter
of glorious history. It is estimated that the allied forces numbered
74,400, and the French 90,000, when just before noon Joseph Bonaparte
directed the 2nd Corps to advance against Hougomont. "The British
batteries opened on the French masses as they debouched--their own guns
covered their advance--and under the crashing fire of 200 pieces of
artillery--a fitting overture for such a field--Waterloo opened, as it
closed, magnificently."
=The Guards at Hougomont.=--The Nassau light troops were soon forced
from the wood surrounding the Château by overwhelming numbers, and the
enemy pressed on to the Château, but the vigorous and disconcerting
fire of the Foot Guards arrested them while daring charges compelled
the French to give up possession of part of the wood. They were
not, however, to be denied, and with great determination repeatedly
assaulted the Château. During one of these attacks so closely did they
press that the Guards not only lost their position in the garden, but
falling back rapidly on the main building could not securely close
the gate of the yard, and a number of daring French soldiers entered;
the fire of the defenders, however, followed by a courageous sortie
from the Château forced the French from the yard, but only after a
most gallant struggle between the combatants. Then Lieutenant-Colonel
(afterwards Sir James) Macdonnell, with the assistance of Captain
Wyndham, Ensigns Gooch and Hervey and Sergeant Graham of the Coldstream
Guards, closed the gate, but not until, as Captain Siborne relates,
the French soldiers had fallen "a sacrifice to their undaunted and
conspicuous gallantry." Failing to take the Château by assault, the
French artillery was turned upon the old building; soon the tower
was in a blaze, and, the fire reaching the chapel, a number of
wounded--friend and foe--perished in the flames, which strangely enough
are stated to have ceased at the feet of a wooden image of Christ.
But when the shades of evening fell, the Coldstreams and Scots Guards
still held Hougomont, despite the repeated attacks of 30,000 men, and
when the day had been decided it was found that in the sanguinary
conflict which had raged so long around this advanced position 6,000
men had been killed. 1,500 were killed within half an hour in the
four-acre orchard; 600 French fell in the attack on the Château and
farm; 1,100 British were killed in the orchard and meadow; 400 near
the farm-garden; 25 in the garden; and 2,000 of both armies behind the
great orchard. Opposite the gate of the Château 300 British soldiers
lie buried.
=The Death of Picton.=--The second attack was made by D'Erlon, with
the whole of his corps, against the left and centre; fortune favoured
them temporarily when they obtained possession of Papelotte and La
Haye Sainte. In repelling this attack the gallant Picton fell. The 5th
division, waiting until the heads of the enemy's columns were within
40 yards, delivered a terrible volley, which annihilated the leading
sections and put the main body into confusion. Picton, seizing the
opportunity, called upon the men to "Charge!" but the word had hardly
thundered from his lips ere a bullet pierced his forehead, and he fell
from his saddle mortally wounded. The loss of a commander frequently
means defeat, but "as he fell he heard the Highland lament answered by
the deep execrations of Erin, and while the Scotch slogan was returned
by the Irish hurrah his fading sight saw his favourite division rush
on with irresistible fury. The French column was annihilated, and
2,000 dead enemies told how desperately he had been avenged. This
was probably the bloodiest struggle of the day; when the attack
commenced--and it lasted not an hour--the 5th division exceeded 5,000
men; when it ended they reckoned scarcely 1,000!"
=Charge of the Union Brigade.=--Following this affair, the famous
charge of the Union Brigade took place. Lord Anglesea, observing that
the French lancers and cuirassiers were preparing to make a flank
attack upon the British infantry, wheeled the Royals, Royal North
British Dragoons (Scots Greys), and Enniskilleners into line, charged
and overwhelmed the French cavalry, and falling upon the disorganised
infantry completed the brilliant work of the 5th division. It was in
this charge that Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured the Eagle
of the 45th Regiment. The Eagle of the 105th Regiment was captured by
Captain Clarke of the Royal Dragoons--securing the right for these
regiments to wear the Eagle badge--and 2,000 men were taken prisoners.
The impetuosity of the British Dragoons carried them into the rear
of the French position, and they were driven back by the French
horsemen, their brave leader, Sir William Ponsonby, being killed in the
retirement. Meanwhile the incessant attacks which Napoleon commanded
had played havoc with several of the British regiments, necessitating
the bringing into action of Wellington's reserves--indeed, the position
had become so serious that the left wing of the army, though only
partially engaged, had suffered so severely that it could not afford to
send assistance to the right or centre.
=Great Regimental Losses.=--The loss in individual regiments was awful.
Four hundred men of the 27th were mowed down in square without drawing
a trigger (their medals in fine condition have fetched as many pounds
as the number of the regiment represents). The 92nd, reduced to 200
men, made a daring attack upon a French column 2,000 strong, and with
the aid of their countrymen, the Scots Greys, routed it. The 33rd,
reduced to a skeleton, asked for support, and the commanding officer
was told to "stand or fall where he was," and of the 28th and 73rd
it is related that Wellington asked, pointing to a mass of killed
and wounded men of these regiments, "What square is that so far in
advance!" But the impoverishment of the regiments by incessant attacks
and murderous artillery could not break the indomitable tenacity
of the British; in vain had Milhaud's Cuirassiers, forty squadrons
strong, thrice attacked the British squares. In vain did the remnants
of these valorous squadrons, assisted by Kellerman and Guyot--making
a total of seventy-seven squadrons, make a desperate effort to pierce
those stubborn and thinning squares of British infantry. In vain did
Ney repeat his attack upon the centre, even though he annihilated
what remained of the German Legion, which had with such admirable
courage held the farm of La Haye Sainte, and broke the formation of
the British troops, causing Wellington to ask the question relating
to the 28th and 73rd. In vain did the ten battalions of the Imperial
Guard, led by Marshal Ney, push their way up the slopes between
Hougomont and La Haye Sainte, for the Foot Guards--with the 52nd,
71st, and 92nd Regiments--offered such a murderous reception that "the
Guard turned and fled." No wonder Napoleon ejaculated, "_A present
c'est fini--sauvons nous!_" for, Wellington ordering the whole line to
advance, the weary, hungry, and even wounded soldiers rushed forward
with a joyous cheer and forced the retreat, which, as the British
leader, with the 42nd and 95th, threw himself on Ney's flank, and the
allied cavalry charged the enemy's columns, became an utter rout.
=The Price of Victory.=--But the Old Guard, true to their traditions,
made a last desperate stand in square against the British cavalry;
it was desperate and grand, but ineffectual, and again they turned
and fled, and "the finest army, for its numbers, that France had ever
embattled in a field was utterly defeated, and the dynasty of that
proud spirit for whom Europe was too little was ended." Over the
terrible carnage which followed I must draw a veil, for the unrelenting
animosity of the Prussians to the French led them to retaliate in
a most vindictive manner, and thousands who had bravely fought and
survived the day lived only to fall ignominiously under the revengeful
sabre or thrust of Prussian lance. When Wellington recrossed the
battlefield, where the destiny of Europe had been changed by the defeat
of the greatest of the world's generals, he could have had little
stomach for supper, for he had to pass over that 2 square miles of
Belgian territory where 50,000 dead or wounded men and horses lay--the
terrible price of victory.
The following British regiments were represented at Waterloo: 2
squadrons 1st and 2nd Life Guards; 2 squadrons Royal Horse Guards
(Blue); 1st Dragoon Guards; 1st Royals,* 2nd Royal North British
Dragoons* (Scots Greys); 6th Inniskilling Dragoons*; 12th, 13th,
16th Queen's and 23rd Light Dragoons; 7th, 10th Royal; 15th King's;
18th Hussars; 2nd and 3rd Batts. 1st Foot Guards (Grenadiers); 2nd
Batt. 2nd Foot Guards (Coldstreams); 3rd Batt. 3rd Foot Guards (Scots
Guards); 3rd Batt. 1st Royal Scots; 1st Batt. 4th; 3rd Batt. 14th;
1st Batt. 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 1st Batt. 27th Inniskilling;*
1st Batt. 28th (Gloucesters); 2nd Batt. 30th; 1st 32nd; 33rd; 1st
Batt. 40th; 1st Batt. 42nd Black Watch*; 2nd Batt. 44th; 51st; 1st
Batt. 52nd; 2nd Batt. 69th; 1st Batt. 71st Highland Light Infantry;
2nd Batt. 73rd Perthshires (2nd Batt. Black Watch); 1st Batt. 79th
Cameron Highlanders; 1st Batt. 92nd Gordon Highlanders; 1st, 2nd, and
Prov. Batts. 95th; 8 Troops Royal Horse Artillery; 6 Brigades Royal
Artillery; Corps of Royal Artillery Drivers; Royal Foot Artillery;
Royal Engineers; Royal Sappers and Miners; Royal Waggon Train; Field
Train Department of the Ordnance; Royal Staff Corps; Commissariat
Department; Ordnance Medical Department, and the following units of the
King's German Legion: 1st and 2nd Light Dragoons; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Hussars; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th Line Battalions, and 1st and
2nd Light Battalions: the total present being about 2,308 officers and
42,120 non-commissioned officers and men.
[Illustration: PISTRUCCI'S WATERLOO MEDAL.
(See page 373.)]
The medals of those regiments marked * are particularly sought after
by collectors. The Dragoons lost heavily in their brilliant charge,
the Scots Greys having 106 officers and men killed and 97 wounded,
and the "Enniskilleners" 86 officers and men killed, their Colonel,
Lieutenant-Colonel, 4 subordinate officers and 101 sergeants and rank
and file wounded. The 27th went into battle with 698 men, and of these
480 were placed _hors de combat_, while the 28th was reduced to four
companies. The 42nd lost at Quatre Bras and Waterloo 51 killed and
247 wounded, the former including their Colonel and a Major who was
mortally wounded, and the latter a Lieutenant-Colonel and a Major.
The 92nd was reduced to less than 300 before 4 o'clock. The following
regiments composing Sir Charles Colville's division, which was located
at Halle owing to Wellington's belief that he might be attacked on his
right flank, also received the medal, although not actually engaged in
the conflict; 2nd Batt. 35th; 1st Batt. 54th; 2nd 59th and 1st Batt.
91st (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders); likewise two Brigades of
Artillery and the 6th Hanoverian Brigade.
=The British Waterloo Medal.=--When, on March 10th, 1816, it was
decided to bestow upon every soldier, from Commander-in-Chief to
drummer boy, the same type and quality of medal as a reward for
services at Waterloo, the custom was established to grant a medal to
all, irrespective of rank or occupation, who had given war service
to his or her country. It was ten months after that auspicious day
that there appeared in the _London Gazette_ the notification that "a
medal shall be conferred upon every officer, non-commissioned officer,
and soldier present on that memorable occasion," but be it noted "the
ribbon issued with the medal shall never be worn but with the medal
suspended to it."
=First Official War Medal.=--The first general official medal issued
at the suggestion of the Duke of Wellington--who, however, strenuously
opposed the grant of one for the Peninsular--was of silver, 1⅖ in.
in diameter, bearing on the obverse the laureated head of the Prince
Regent facing to the left, with the inscription GEORGE P. REGENT on
either side of the head, and on the reverse a seated figure of Victory
with wings outspread, holding in her right hand a palm branch, and in
the left a sprig of olive; on a plain tablet is WATERLOO, and in the
exergue JUNE 18. 1815, while above is the name of Wellington in Roman
letters. As originally issued it had a large steel ring 1 in. wide,
run through a steel clip, for suspension by a dark-crimson blue-edged
ribbon 1½ in. wide (sometimes found 2 in. wide), as illustrated facing
page 56. The clip, however, was not always secure, and as a result the
possessors of the medal frequently had silver suspenders made according
to their own taste, or that of the local jobbing jeweller, who did not
always do justice to Wyon's classic medal, slight differences in which
may be observed upon comparison, as the medals were not all struck from
one die, and the die-sinker's art was not then mechanical. The names
and regiments of the recipients were indented in large capital letters
on the edge of the medal, the tops and bottoms of the letters almost
touching the rims of the medal.
=Second General Award.=--This was the first general award of medals
for 166 years, when Simon's medal was given to those engaged at Dunbar
in 1650. However, the official war medal for all ranks is now an
established institution, and, it is said, sometimes given with too
free a hand. But the soldier has a substantial record of his services
on the field of battle--not even now, to my mind, satisfactorily
complete--and but a small recognition of his country's appreciation;
while those interested in the traditions of our race, those who
recognise that in the grim and terrible business of war the better part
of man is frequently called forth, will find the means of collecting an
interesting record of great deeds, and incidentally materialising the
history of the epoch-making nineteenth century, and these dawning days
of the twentieth, when we had hoped that the dark spectre of war might
have been replaced by the radiating figure of peace. But the war drums
still throb, the battle flags are still unfurled; and it is good, when
duty has called, in the nerve-wracking suspense and in the loud clamour
of war, that fortitude, loyalty, honour, and the love of fatherland
have shone above the horrors, and made us proud of the men who wear on
their breasts the badges of the brave.
=Continental Waterloo Medals.=--Several other medals were issued for
Waterloo, notably the Hanover, Nassau, Saxe-Gotha, Altenburg, and
Brunswick medals, also the Belgian silver star.
=Nassau Medal.=--Fredrich Duke of Nassau was the first to issue a medal
for Waterloo--that was on December 23rd, 1815. It is a small silver
medal 1⅒ in. in diameter, with a lug stamped with the medal, through
which ribbon could be run for suspension. On the obverse is the bust
of the Duke, and the inscription FRIEDRICH AUGUST HERZOG ZU NASSAU.
Underneath the truncation are the letters I.L. On the reverse, to the
left, is a standing figure of Victory, holding in her right hand a
palm branch, while with the left she is represented placing a laurel
wreath upon the brow of a Roman soldier; in the exergue is DEN 18 JUNI
1815, and round the figures DEN NASSAUISCHEN STREITERN BEY WATERLOO.
The medal, issued unnamed, was suspended from a dark-blue ribbon with
orange edges.
=Hanover Medal.=--The Hanover medal was struck by command of the Prince
Regent of Great Britain. The order was given in December 1817, and was
to the effect that surviving soldiers of his German dominions and the
relatives of those who had fallen at Waterloo were eligible for the
award. The medal is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and bears on the obverse the
laureated head of the Prince Regent facing to the right, the truncation
draped, and surrounded by the inscription GEORG. PRINZ. REGENT 1815.
The reverse bears in the centre WATERLOO JUN. XVIII, flanked by laurel
wreaths, with a small trophy consisting of a cuirass and flags above,
and the whole encircled by the inscription HANOVERISCHER TAPFERKEIT.
The medal was suspended from a steel clip and ring by means of a
crimson and blue-edged ribbon, like that used for the British Waterloo.
=Brunswick Medal.=--The Prince Regent (as guardian of the minor Princes
of Brunswick) was also responsible for the issue of a medal to the
soldiers of Brunswick who were present in the engagements of June 16th,
17th and 18th, 1815. The order for the striking was given on June
11th, 1818, and the medals were struck from captured French cannon.
On the obverse is the head of Duke Fredrich Wilhelm of Brunswick, who
fell at Quatre Bras, and the inscription in German lettering FRIEDRICH
WILHELM HERZOG; on the truncation of the bust is C. Häseler in script.
On the reverse is a wreath of oak and laurel, encircling 1815, and the
inscription in German lettering arranged round and divided by rosettes,
Braunschweig Seinen Kriegern. Quatrebras und Waterloo (Brunswick to her
Warriors. Quatre Bras and Waterloo). The medal, 1⁷⁄₂₀ in. in diameter,
was suspended from a steel clip and ring by a 1½ in. yellow ribbon,
with broad blue stripes equal to one quarter the width near the edge.
The officers' medals were gilt, with the names indented on the edge.
=Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg Medal.=--In 1816 Duke Emilius Leopold Augustus
decided to have a medal struck for presentation to the members of the
Foreign Legion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg who had taken
part in the campaigns of 1814-15. The medals were of bronze; those
awarded to the officers were 1⅗ in. in diameter, gilt all over, and
those given to the private soldiers 1¹³⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, parti-gilt,
the Altenburg rose and ornamental border on the obverse being gilt,
likewise the ducal crown and lettering on the reverse, which bears, in
old German characters, IM KAMPFE FUER DAS RECHT (In the struggle for
right), and round the edge, where the name of the recipient is usually
placed, HERZOGTH GOTHA-VND-ALTENBVRG MDCCCXIV : MDCCCXV. The medal has
a ball-shaped loop and ring for suspension from a dark-green ribbon
1 in. wide, with a border of black, through which gold is braided at
intervals (see facing page 72).
=Belgian Star.=--A five-pointed star, with ring for suspension, was
granted to the Belgian troops who were present at the battle of
Waterloo. Like many continental medals of the period, it is very
simple, having on the obverse 1813, and on the reverse 1815. It is not
very coveted, owing to the uncertain conduct of the Belgian troops.
=Hanoverian Jubilee Medal.=--On the fiftieth anniversary of the battle
of Waterloo the inhabitants of Hanover presented a bronze medal to
the survivors of the Hanoverian troops. On the obverse is the arms of
Hanover, encircled with the inscription STADT HANOVER DEN SIEGERN VON
WATERLOO 18 JUNI 1815, and on the reverse, within a laurel wreath, ZUR
50 JÄHRIGEN JUBELFEIER AM 18 JUNI 1865.
=French or St. Helena Medal.=--It was not until August 12th, 1857,
that the survivors of that magnificent army of Frenchmen who followed
_le petit Caporal_ in his campaigns from 1792 to 1815 received a medal
commemorative of their devotion and gallantry. It was due to the
Emperor Napoleon III that the old military and naval warriors received,
what their great General and Emperor would wish for them, "marks of
merit." The St. Helena medal is oval and of bronze, 1⅕ in. across. On
the obverse is a beaded circle within laurel leaves, which frame the
whole medal (see facing page 64), the laureated head of Napoleon facing
to the right with the legend NAPOLEON I EMPEREUR. On the reverse,
within a beaded circle, is the inscription A SES COMPAGNONS DE GLOIRE
SA DERNIERE PENSEE STE. HELENE 5 MAI 1821 (To his companions in glory
his last thought St. Helena 5 May 1821), and around CAMPAGNES DE 1792
A 1815, with a small five-pointed star beneath. As part of the medal,
but standing above the oval, is the French Imperial Crown, through the
terminal of which a ring runs for suspension from a green ribbon, 1½
in. wide, with narrow stripes of red.
NEPAUL
While the attention of Britain was necessarily riveted upon the
Peninsula, both East and West, as we have seen, compelled her to
keep the torch of battle burning, and I must therefore mention the
campaign in Nepaul, for which the Honourable East India Company
awarded a special medal. The order dated Fort William, March 20th,
1816, stated that the Government had decided to present silver medals
to every native officer who had served within the hills, and to as
many non-commissioned officers and privates as might be recommended
for distinguished zeal or gallantry. The campaign was brought about
owing to the Goorka tribes having adopted an aggressive policy, and
refusing to vacate the districts of Bootwal and Sheoraj belonging to
the H.E.I. Co., that had to be retaken by an armed force, and by an
attack upon the British outposts at Rourah, which had been left in
possession when the rainy season commenced. The operations, which
followed the declaration of war made on November 1st, 1814, covered
a frontier stretching 600 miles. In the early part of the campaign
General Gillespie was killed while leading a body of 100 dismounted
men of the 8th Dragoons against the small but well-defended fort of
Kalunga. The back of the war was broken when, in March 1815, General
Sir David Ochterlony resisted a furious assault of the Gōrkālis for two
hours and then, boldly charging, forced them to fly in confusion. For
his brilliant services General Ochterlony was made G.C.B., the first
officer in the Indian Army to receive the honour. Ummur Singh, Rajah
of Nepaul, after the surrender of his officers and men was compelled
to submit, but a year elapsed before the treaty was ratified at Fort
William. The regiments occupied in the campaign were: H.M.'s 14th (the
14th did not, however, receive the medal, as they had not served in
the field), 17th, 24th, 66th, a wing of the 67th, and 87th Royal Irish
Fusiliers; a detachment of the 8th Light Dragoons, and the 20th and
25th Native Infantry.
=The H.E.I. Co.'s Nepaul Medal.=--The medal awarded by the Honourable
East India Company was silver, 1¹⁹⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, and given to all
ranks. On the obverse troops with fixed bayonets and colours flying
are represented marching through a hilly country, the heights crowned
with forts and stockades; in the foreground to the left is a field gun.
On the reverse is a Persian inscription, "This medal is conferred by
the Nawab Governor-General Bahadar in testimony of the energy, good
service, skill, and intrepidity displayed during the campaign in the
hills, in the years of the Hegira 1229 and 1230." It was worn suspended
from a yellow silk cord, and, as it was only given to native soldiers
for particularly distinguished conduct, is very uncommon.