j>84] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



of rain. Sunday the 18th arrived : this was the day, " the great 

 the important day." We shall content ourselves with giving the 

 Duke of Wellington's account of this awful battle the " grave of 

 France, the deadly Waterloo." It would be an endless task to 

 point out individual traits of heroism; but we must advert 

 to the cool and steady manner in which the Earl of Uxbridge 

 conducted himself on this never-to-be-forgotten occasion. Where- 

 ever danger appeared, he was to be found, euspiriting his troops, 

 and alluring them to victory by his courageous and intrepid ex- 

 ample in the hottest of the fight. His Lordship headed every 

 squadron that was ordered forward. His division was literally 

 annihilated ! Some accounts say that he had formed the determi- 

 nation of taking Buonaparte in person, and that he was nearly 

 accomplishing his purpose, when he received the unfortunate 

 wound which compelled him reluctantly to quit the field but the 

 work of Victory was complete ! " The position which I took up, 

 in front of Waterloo, (we use the words of the dispatches from Wel- 

 lington) crossed the high roads from Charleroi and Nivelles, and 

 had its right thrown back to a ravine near Merke Braine, which 

 was occupied, and its left extended to a height above the hamlet 

 Ter-la-Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right 

 centre, and near the Nivelles road, we occupied the house and 

 garden of Hougoumont, which covered the return of that flank ; 

 and, in front of the left centre, we occupied the farm of La Haye 

 Sainte. By our left we communicated with Marshal Prince Blucher, 

 at Wavre, through Ohain ; and the Marshal had promised me, that 

 in case we should be attacked, he would support me with one or 

 more corps, as might be necessary. The enemy collected his army, 

 with the exception of the third corps, which had been sent to ob- 

 serve Marshal Blucher, on a range of heights in our front, in the 

 course of the night of the 17th and yesterday morning ; and at 

 about ten o'clock he commenced a furious attack upon our post at 

 Hougoumont. I had occupied that post with a detachment from 

 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 Macdonald, and afterwards of Colonel Home ; and I am 

 happy to add, that it was maintained throughout the day, with the 

 utmost gallantry by these brave troops, notwithstanding the re- 

 peated efforts of large bodies of the enemy to obtain possession of 

 it. These attacks were repeated till about seven in the evening, 

 when the enemy made a desperate effort with the cavalry and in- 





