HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE ['285 



fantry, supported by the fire of artillery, to force our left cen- 

 tre near the farm of La Haye Sainte, which after a severe contest 

 was defeated ; and having observed that the troops retired from this 

 attack in great confusion, and that the. march of General Bulow's 

 corps by Frichermont upon Planchenoite and La Belle Alliance, 

 had begun to take effect, and as I could perceive the fire of his 

 cannon, and as Marshal Prince Blucher had joined in person, with 

 a corps of his army to the left of our line by Ohaim, I determined 

 to attack the enemy, and immediately advanced the whole line 

 of infantry, supported by the cavalry and artillery. The attack 

 succeeded in every point ; the enemy was forced from his position on 

 the heights, and jied in the utmost confusion, leaving behind him as 

 far as I could judge ONE HUNDRED AND FIFT\ PIECES OF CANNON, 

 with their ammunition, which fell into our hands. I continued the 

 pursuit till long after dark, and then discontinued it only on ac- 

 count of the fatigue of our troops, who had been engaged during 

 twelve hours, and because I found myself on the same road with 

 Marshal Blucner, who assured me of his intention to follow the 

 enemy throughout the night ; he has sent me word this morning 

 that he had taken 60 pieces of cannon belonging to the Imperial 

 Guard, and several carriages, baggage, &c. belonging to Buona- 

 parte, in Genappe. The Earl of UXBRIDGE, after having succes- 

 fully got through this arduous day, received a wound, by almost 

 the last shot fired, which will, I am afraid, deprive his Majesty for 

 some time of his services." The illustrious Wellington's fears 

 were but too fatally realized. The Earl of Uxbridge's wound was 

 so severe as to require the almost immediate amputation of his 

 right leg* and thus his country was deprived of his active services 

 for ever ! His Lordship underwent a tedious and painful operation 

 with great composure ; and expressed his gratitude to God for 

 having brought him through that dreadful day in comparative 

 safety. What a noble struggle ! What an incalculable victory ! that 

 at once averted the dreadful calamities which threatened Europe, 



* Lord Uxbridge's leg is buried in a garden opposite to the inn, or rather 

 public-house, at Waterloo. The owner of the house in which the amputation 

 was performed considers it as a relic which has fallen to his share. He had de- 

 posited it at first behind the house, but as he intended to plant a Iree upon the 

 spot, he considered, that as the ground there was not his own property, the 

 boys might injure or destroy the tree, and therefore he removed the leg into his 

 own garden, where it lies in a proper sort of coffin, under a mound of earth 

 about three or four feet in diameter. A tuft of Michaelmas daisies was in blos- 

 som upon this mound when we were at Waterloo ; but this was a temporary or- 



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