Chapter XII (2)

That he had reason to apprehend something of this kind, was subsequently proved; for Colonel HAKE, on finding the shot flying about him a little, took himself and his Regiment out of the Field: on discovering which, Lord UXBRIDGE despatched his Aide de Camp, Captain HORACE SEYMOUR, with an Order for his return. When Captain SEYMOUR delivered this Order, the Colonel remarked that he had no confidence in his men, that they were Volunteers, and that their horses were their own property. The Regiment continued moving to the rear; notwithstanding Captain SEYMOUR's repeating the Order to halt, and asking the Second in Command to save the honour and character of the Corps, by placing himself at its head and fronting the men. Finding his remonstrances produced no effect, he laid hold of the bridle of the Colonel's horse, and commented upon his conduct in terms such as no man of honour could have been expected to listen to unmoved. This Officer, however, appeared perfectly callous to any sense of shame; and far more disposed to submit to those attacks upon his honour than he had been to receive those of the Enemy upon his person and his Regiment. Upon rejoining the Earl of UXBRIDGE and relating what had passed; Captain SEYMOUR was again directed to proceed to the Commanding Officer, and to desire that, if he persevered in refusing to resume his position in the Line, he would, at least, form the Regiment across the high road, _out_ of fire. But even this Order was disregarded, and the Corps went altogether to the rear, spreading alarm and confusion all the way to Brussels.

In front of the Right of the Anglo-Allied Line, the French Column of Horse Grenadiers and _Cuirassiers_, which had met with so disastrous a repulse from Major MERCER's Horse Battery, was reformed for another attack; to meet which the British Gunners were fully prepared: for the French horsemen had not retired so far down the hill but that the high caps of the Horse Grenadiers of the leading Squadrons, were visible above the brow of the exterior slope. The second attempt was preluded by a cloud of Skirmishers, who, advancing to within a very short distance of the front of the Battery, did considerable mischief to the Gunners with their carbines and pistols; but their intention being evidently to draw forth their fire, no notice was taken of them.

Then the Column again ascended the ridge, and advanced to attack the Battery; but on this occasion their pace scarcely exceeded a walk, or at most a gentle trot, too many obstacles lying in their way to admit of more rapid movement without confusion. Experience having shown the Gunners the destructive effects of a close fire, they allowed the leading Squadrons to attain about half the distance between the brow of the slope and the narrow road in their front before they commenced. The result, as may be readily imagined, was precisely similar to that of the former attack, which has already been detailed. Again the French horsemen fell into confusion, and again for several minutes were they exposed to a deliberate and an unerring fire of case shot, within a distance of not more than twenty yards, so that the pile of killed and wounded, left on the ground immediately in front of the Battery, before great, was now enormous.

Other Batteries along this part of the position were equally successful in repelling the attacks of the Enemy's _Cuirassiers_, who were assembling in considerable numbers at the foot of the exterior slope, close to the Hougomont inclosures, apparently with the object of cutting off the direct communication with that Post, and forcing the Right of the Allied Front Line. The moment seemed favourable for such a project. Several of the Allied guns had by this time become completely disabled; the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd British Guards, awfully reduced, had been driven into the hollow way in rear of the Orchards of Hougomont; the young Brunswick Infantry had suffered severe losses; and the supporting Cavalry had become greatly exhausted by its repeated charges.

But WELLINGTON, foreseeing the probability of a serious attempt upon this weakened point of his Line, and perceiving the approach of CHASSÉ's Division (see page 458), supplied the required remedy by desiring Lord HILL to bring forward troops from the Second Line. The zeal, intelligence, and activity which had ever characterized the Hero of Almaraz and Arroyo del Molino when carrying out the designs of the Chief under whom he had acquired a lasting fame, seemed but to wait this summons to the more immediate scene of action, to appear again in all their accustomed vigour. He immediately put in motion DU PLAT's Infantry Brigade of the King's German Legion. As the latter advanced across the Nivelles road, from its left, the 2nd Line Battalion became the leading Column. It was followed by the 4th, then by the 3rd, and lastly by the 1st Line Battalion. As the 2nd approached the crest of the ridge, several Gunners ran in upon it for shelter from the Enemy's _Cuirassiers_, whose main body was now advancing against this Battalion. The four Light Companies of the Brigade, however, had just posted themselves close to the three small trees near this part of the crest of the ridge; and being armed with rifles, they delivered so destructive a fire into the Cavalry as to compel it to withdraw.

Some of the Allied Cavalry then moved forward in pursuit, and DU PLAT's Brigade continued its advance until the 2nd Line Battalion had approached close to the hedge of the Great Orchard of Hougomont, whence a dropping fire was opened upon the Germans by the French Skirmishers. The Dragoons made a sudden and rapid retreat through the intervals of the Columns, in left front of which a fresh Line of hostile Cavalry now presented itself. Captain SYMPHER, who, with his Horse Battery of the Legion, had accompanied DU PLAT's advance, instantly unlimbered; and poured round shot through the intervals of the Columns, the latter maintaining, at the same time, a very effective independent file fire. The _Cuirassiers_ gallantly advanced, notwithstanding this formidable resistance. They first became exposed to a flank fire from the left face of the 4th Line Battalion Square, and then again to that from the left face of the 3rd Line Battalion: nevertheless, they resolutely attacked the Battery, the Gunners of which either flew to the last mentioned Square for protection, or sought shelter under the carriages. At length, after having suffered severe losses by the unremitting fire from the nearest Squares, the French Cavalry retired in disorder; receiving a renewed discharge from the Battery, which was again in full play.

When DU PLAT's Brigade moved down the slope, the 2nd and 3rd Light, and 2nd Line, Battalions of the Brunswickers, advanced a short distance over the crest of the ridge, in left rear of the former. Here they became exposed to a destructive fire of both artillery and musketry, the latter from the French Skirmishers that had crept from along the eastern hedge of Hougomont, close under the brow of that part of the Anglo-Allied position. They withstood this heavy fire, as also the subsequent charges of Cavalry, with great steadiness and courage; but as soon as the French horsemen were driven back by a portion of the Allied Cavalry (consisting of the 23rd British Light Dragoons, the 1st Light Dragoons of the King's German Legion, and the Brunswick Hussars and Lancers), the above mentioned Battalions withdrew from their exposed situation to the interior slope.

The French Skirmishers, who had, during this last attack by their Cavalry, pushed forward a very considerable force through the Great Orchard of Hougomont, and along its eastern boundary, now concentrated a most galling fire upon the Squares of the Legionary Brigade, whose Commander, DU PLAT, was mortally wounded; several Officers fell, and all those that were mounted had their horses shot under them. The fire ceased; and in the next moment the _Cuirassiers_, having rallied, renewed their charge: but with no greater success than before; and a third charge proved equally ineffectual against the determined bravery and patient endurance of the soldiers of the Legion.

About the time that DU PLAT's Brigade moved into the First Line, a considerable body of French _Cuirassiers_, which still remained in the hollow westward of La Haye Sainte, exposed to a fire from one or two of the Allied Batteries, advanced at a walk, to make another effort to break the Right Centre of WELLINGTON's Line. This proved as unsuccessful as the previous attacks. The Squares, reserving their fire until the close approach of the hostile Cavalry, and then directing it against the latter in the most cool and deliberate manner, which the absence of all impetus in an attack at a walk enabled them to do with unerring effect, soon compelled the shattered Squadrons once more to withdraw from a contest which the unexampled steadiness of the Allied Infantry had rendered almost hopeless on their part.

The French Cavalry that attacked the Squares of DU PLAT's Brigade, immediately in rear of Hougomont, had no sooner been driven off by the gallant resistance of the Germans, than the Skirmishers, who, as before observed, had advanced in such numbers along the eastern inclosures of that Post, crept close up under the brow of that part of the ridge on the interior slope of which was posted the main body of the Brunswick Infantry.

At this time, however, Lord HILL was bringing forward ADAM's British Light Infantry Brigade, having directed it to cross the Nivelles road, and to advance in Columns up the slope, in rear of the Brunswickers. (The Brigade had, some time before, been moved from the plateau on the right, close to the edge of the Nivelles road, in which position it had continued in immediate reserve.) Suddenly the summit in its front was crowded with the French Skirmishers, who were almost as quickly concealed by the smoke from the rattling fire which they opened upon the Allied Artillery and the Squares. The Gunners, whose numbers were fearfully diminished, were speedily driven back from their crippled Batteries upon the nearest Infantry; upon which the concentration of this galling fire threatened the most serious consequences.

But succour was at hand. WELLINGTON, in the midst of the shower of bullets, had galloped to the front of ADAM's Brigade, ordered it to form Line, four deep; and then, pointing to the daring Skirmishers on the Height, called out, with perfect coolness and unaffected assurance, "Drive those fellows away!" With loud cheers, the Brigade moved rapidly up the slope, eager to obey the Duke's command. From the want of sufficient space, the 52nd Regiment was not formed in Line with, but in rear of, the 71st and 2nd Battalion of the 95th Regiment, to which it consequently served as a Support. The French Skirmishers began to give way as the firm and intrepid front of the Brigade presented itself to their view. ADAM continued his advance, driving the French Infantry before him. On crossing the ridge, the Brigade brought forward its right shoulders, and, when halted, it stood in a slight hollow; which, commencing in front of the right of the position occupied by MAITLAND's Brigade of Guards, descends towards the north-east angle of the Great Orchard of Hougomont. At the former point the 2nd Battalion of the 95th Regiment formed the Left; and at the latter, the 71st Regiment with the two Companies of the 3rd Battalion of the 95th Regiment formed the Right, of this Line. The Enemy's Cavalry having been perceived preparing for attack, the Battalions of the Brigade formed Squares: and as the interval between the 71st and the 2nd Battalion 95th Regiment, in this new position, was larger than was desirable; Colonel Sir JOHN COLBORNE moved down the 52nd Regiment, in Squares of Wings of Battalions, to fill up the space; which he reached just in time to throw a most effective oblique fire upon the Cavalry which was in the act of attacking the 71st Regiment.

The French Carabiniers and Horse Grenadiers of the Guard made some gallant attacks upon the Brigade. They generally advanced by _their_ right of the Hougomont inclosures, then fell upon the 71st Regiment, by which their charge was invariably broken; when such portions of them as continued in any degree of order, rushed onward in apparent infatuation upon the Right Wing Square of the 52nd Regiment; from the front and right faces of which they received a close, well directed fire, which completed their disorder and confusion.

In one of these attacks, Major EELES, whose Company of the 3rd Battalion 95th Rifles was attached to the 71st Regiment, upon observing the approach of the Carabiniers towards the right angle of the front face of the Square, moved his Company to the right, in line with the rear face, and, placing himself in its front, prevented his men from firing until the Carabiniers approached within thirty or forty yards of the Square; when he ordered a volley, which, combined with a cross fire from the 71st, brought down so many horses and men to the ground, at the same moment, that the further progress of the charge was most effectually frustrated. In an instant, one half of the attacking force was on the ground; some few men and horses were killed; more were wounded; but by far the greater part were thrown down over the dead, the dying, and the wounded. These, after a short interval, began to extricate themselves from the mass, and made the best of their way back to their Supports; some on horseback but most of them on foot.

ADAM's Brigade, by means of the advanced position which it thus occupied, along the space between the Hougomont inclosures and the right front of MAITLAND's Brigade, presented an effectual barrier to the advance of the French Cavalry against that portion of the Allied Front Line which was situated upon the right of the latter point. In the intervals between the charges of Cavalry, it suffered severely from the Enemy's Artillery; more particularly the 71st Regiment, and 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles, the position of these Regiments being somewhat more exposed than that of the 52nd.

HALKETT's Hanoverian Brigade had moved from its present position, near Merbe Braine, into the space within the angle formed by the Nivelles road and the hollow way which leads from the Right of the Front Line down into the low ground below Hougomont; and it was shortly after ADAM moved into his forward position, that HALKETT advanced, with the Landwehr Battalions Osnabrück and Salzgitter, and took post on the exterior slope of the main ridge, in rear of DU PLAT's Brigade.

* * * * *

It was now about six o'clock. The formidable attacks made by the French along the entire Line of the Anglo-Allied Army had been productive of no positive advantage; the Advanced Posts of Hougomont and La Haye Sainte had successfully resisted the furious assaults which had hitherto been directed against them: and the forward position taken up by ADAM's British Brigade, made it manifest to the French Emperor that, notwithstanding the gallantry, enthusiasm, and devotion displayed in those attacks by the finest troops he had ever assembled together, headed, too, by Generals of the highest celebrity; still greater efforts, and still greater sacrifices must be made if he hoped to drive the British lion from the position which it yet proudly retained with so firm a footing, before the Prussian eagle, which for some time past had hovered over, and was at this moment darting at, his extreme Right, should alight, in the plenitude of its force, to satiate its thirst for vengeance in the fierce and sanguinary struggle.

NAPOLEON sent an Order to NEY to renew the attack upon the Centre. To execute this with effect, however, fresh Infantry was requisite; and the Marshal had none at his disposal. He therefore despatched his first Aide de Camp, Colonel HEYMÈS, to represent to the Emperor the exhausted condition of his troops: half of which were placed _hors de combat_, and the other half overcome by fatigue, and failing in ammunition; and to request he would send him reinforcements. At this moment, however, LOBAU's Corps and the Young Guard were required for the security of the French Right Flank against the offensive operations of the Prussians; consequently, the Battalions of the Old Guard, which constituted the only remaining Reserve of Infantry, could not be spared. To NEY's demand for fresh troops, NAPOLEON therefore replied,--"_Ou voulez vous que j'en prenne? Voulez vous que j'en fusse?_"

NEY, on being made acquainted with the manner in which his request had been received, saw very plainly that the Battle was far from being gained: and darted off to animate, by his presence, the attack which was now renewed upon La Haye Sainte; and which was covered by a vigorous fire from the French Artillery against that portion of the Anglo-Allied Line immediately in rear of this Post, in order to disturb any attempt to relieve or assist its defenders.

The united remains of SOMERSET's and PONSONBY's Brigades, which were on the reverse slope, behind OMPTEDA's Brigade of the King's German Legion, and which were extended in Single File for the purpose of making a _show_ of force, suffered much from this cannonade. On perceiving its effects, Lord UXBRIDGE sent an Aide de Camp to recommend Lord EDWARD SOMERSET to withdraw his men from the range of the Enemy's guns. The latter sent back word that, were he to do so, the Dutch-Belgian Cavalry, who were in support, would immediately move off the Field! SOMERSET retained his position until the end of the Battle.

Shortly before the Columns from DONZELOT's Division advanced to this attack of La Haye Sainte, a party of Horse Artillery, which had been detached from WHINYATES's Rocket Battery, proceeded, under Captain DANSEY, along the Charleroi road, to the front of the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line, and came into action with rockets, near that Farm, leaving its two guns in the rear, under Lieutenant WRIGHT.

Captain DANSEY very soon received a severe wound, which obliged him to retire; and the party, after firing a few rockets, fell back a little, to where its horses were standing. It was then commanded by a Serjeant (DANIEL DUNNETT), who, on perceiving the advance of the nearest French Column towards the Farm, dismounted his men as coolly and deliberately as if exercising on Woolwich Common, though without any Support whatever; laid rockets on the ground, and discharged them in succession into the mass--every one of them appearing to take effect. The advance of the Column was checked, and was not resumed until Sergeant DUNNETT, having expended all his rockets, retired with his party to rejoin the guns in rear.

Major BARING's Detachment, after its extraordinary and successful exertions in repelling the previous assaults, was fearfully reduced in numbers; but its excellent spirit and conspicuous bravery remained unshaken. One circumstance, however, could not fail to render unavailing all their efforts, their courage, and their endurance. Notwithstanding Major BARING's urgently repeated applications for a supply of ammunition, his men were still left without the means of adequately defending their Post against the host of enemies by which they were successively assailed.[12] They cheerfully repaired, as far as practicable, the gaps made in the walls by the French Artillery, and betrayed no despondency as they looked upon the sad and numerous proofs that lay around them of the immense sacrifices they had already made. But when, upon counting the cartridges, they discovered that they had not, upon an average, more than from three to four each, their consciousness of the desperate situation to which they were reduced, and of the impossibility of holding out under such circumstances, led to remonstrances, which their gallant Commander could not but admit to be reasonable. Yet no sooner did the latter, upon perceiving two French Columns again advancing towards the Farm, exhort them to renewed courage, and also to a careful economy of the ammunition, than he received the unanimous reply,--"No man will desert you,--we will fight and die with you!"

The French, exasperated by the protracted resistance of this handful of brave defenders, now came on with redoubled fury. The open end of the Great Barn was first assailed. Again they succeeded in setting the building on fire; but the Germans, having recourse to the same expedient as on the previous occasion, again contrived to extinguish the flames. BARING's anxiety and uneasiness increased with every shot that was fired by his men; and he again sent to the rear for ammunition, coupling his demand with a distinct report, that he must and would abandon the place should no supply be forthcoming. This message, however, proved equally ineffectual. The fire of the garrison was gradually diminishing: perplexity was depicted in every countenance: many of the men now called out urgently for ammunition,--"We will readily stand by you, but we must have the means of defending ourselves!" Even their Officers, who during the whole day had displayed the greatest courage, represented to their Commander the impossibility of retaining the Post under such circumstances.

The French, who failed not to observe the distressing situation to which the defenders were reduced, now boldly broke in the door at that end of the long western building which is nearest to the entrance of the Great Barn, already so frequently assailed. The passage from the door through the building into the Farm yard having been barricaded, but few of the Enemy could enter at a time. These were instantly bayoneted, and the rear hesitated to follow. They now climbed up the outer wall of the long building, and mounted the roof, from which they easily picked off the defenders; who, not possessing the means of retaliation, were completely at their mercy. At the same time, they pressed in through the open Barn, which it was impossible to defend any longer. BARING was now reduced to the painful necessity of abandoning the place, and gave the Order to retire through the Dwelling House into the Garden. Many of the men were overtaken in the narrow passage through the House by the victors, who vented their fury upon them in the lowest abuse and most brutal treatment.

BARING having satisfied himself that the possession of the Dwelling House by the Enemy must render the Garden quite untenable; and finding that his Officers fully agreed with him on this point, he made the men retire, singly, to the main position. The greater part of them, accompanied by their brave but disconsolate Commander, descended into the high road by an opening in the bank adjoining the north-east angle of the Garden, and retired along the opposite side of the _chaussée_.

BARING sent back to their respective Regiments the remains of the reinforcements he had received; and, with the few men that were left of his own Battalion, he attached himself to two Companies of the 1st Light Battalion of the King's German Legion, which were then posted in the hollow way close to the right of the high road.

The surrender of La Haye Sainte, under the circumstances which have been described, was as purely honourable, as its defence against an overwhelming and furious host had been heroically brave. A thorough conviction that further resistance must have been marked by the sacrifice of the entire remnant of his courageous band at once suggested to the mind of a Commander like BARING, gifted with the requisite discernment and forethought of a true soldier, the reservation of such gallant spirits for some other part of the great contest; in which they might yet face their enemies, if not on equal terms, at least in a manner that would render their bravery and devotion not altogether unavailable in the general struggle for victory.

* * * * *

Loud and reiterated shouts of triumph having announced to the French Emperor the capture of La Haye Sainte; he immediately ordered it to be followed up by a vigorous attack upon the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line, and by a simultaneous renewal of the assault upon Hougomont.

It was quite evident to NEY, that without an additional force of Infantry, it would be impossible for him to follow up, with effect, the advantage which he anticipated from the capture of La Haye Sainte. The Cavalry, which NAPOLEON had placed at his disposal, had been nearly annihilated in the course of its numerous attacks upon the Anglo-Allied Line,--attacks executed throughout with the greatest gallantry, but unproductive of any solid or decisive result upon a single point of that Line. If this Arm, comprising the flower of the chivalric Cavalry of France, had failed him when it sallied forth, gaily exulting in the freshness of its vigour, proudly conscious of the imposing attitude of its masses, and unrestrainedly impatient for the onslaught which was to exalt still more its already high renown; how could he calculate upon its efficacy, now that it was comparatively paralyzed?

The state to which his Infantry was reduced presented a prospect almost as cheerless. D'ERLON's Corps, severely crippled by its signally unsuccessful attack upon the Anglo-Allied Left Wing and Centre, had still further exhausted its force by repeated assaults against La Haye Sainte, on its left; and, since the arrival of BÜLOW, it had been compelled to resort to active precautionary measures on its right. On the other hand, REILLE's Corps had suffered immense losses in its incessant, yet unavailing, efforts to gain possession of the important Post of Hougomont.

But NEY, _le plus brave des braves_, in whose character resolution and perseverance were pre-eminent, was not to be deterred by this discouraging aspect, from fulfilling, to the best of his abilities, the task imposed upon him by his Imperial Master. There can be but little doubt that at the time he made his urgent demand upon the Emperor for a fresh supply of Infantry, he had projected an assault upon the Anglo-Allied Right Wing, in accordance with that prominent feature in the tactics of the Empire,--the Column of Attack in mass of Battalions--to be supported by his Cavalry, whilst this Arm still continued vigorous and effective. Now, however, his exhausted means precluded the execution of such a plan of attack; and he therefore had recourse, as far as was practicable with his reduced extent of force, to another system, which had been attended with so much success in the time of the Republic, and which had always found great favour with the French soldiery--the grand attack _en Tirailleurs_. In this way he would be better enabled to conceal the weakened condition of his troops; and he might also succeed in making such an impression upon some important point of the Allied Line, as would induce the Emperor to seize upon the advantage gained, and, launching forth his Reserve, strike the decisive blow.

The whole of DONZELOT's Division, supported by a part of ALIX's Division, as also a considerable body of _Cuirassiers_, forming the gallant remnants of entire Regiments, were put in motion against the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line; whilst fresh reinforcements were poured down from REILLE's Corps into the Hougomont inclosures.

The first disposition made by the captors of La Haye Sainte, was to avail themselves of the advantage which the possession of the Farm House, the Garden, and the adjacent high bank, afforded them for pouring a commanding fire upon the two Companies of the 95th British Rifles which occupied the Knoll by the Sand Pit on the opposite side of the road; when these, being at the same time pressed in front, finding their Post no longer tenable, retreated upon their main body in the Wavre road.

The French at the same time contrived to push two guns round by the Garden hedge to the bank of the high road, and immediately opened a fire of grape upon KEMPT's Brigade posted along, and in rear of, the Wavre road, on the opposite side of the _chaussée_; but this was speedily silenced by the 1st Battalion of the 95th British Rifles, who, taking a deliberate aim at the Artillerymen, destroyed them before they could discharge a second round.

There then issued from under cover of the Farm, a large body of Infantry, which, as it ascended the main ridge, spread out into a very close Line of Skirmishers, who pressed boldly forward against the Left of ALTEN's Division. Their concentrated fire was telling fearfully upon the devoted Squares. ALTEN sent an Order to OMPTEDA to deploy one of his Battalions, if practicable, and advance against the Enemy.

OMPTEDA, as brave and high minded a soldier as ever graced the profession of arms, was quite prepared to execute the Order: but being fully aware, from previous observation, that in the hollow behind the curtain formed by the _Tirailleurs_ there lay in wait a body of the Enemy's Cavalry; he felt it his duty to represent the imminent risk which was likely to attend such a movement.

At this moment of hesitation, the Prince of ORANGE rode up to OMPTEDA and ordered him to deploy. The latter respectfully submitted the same opinion he had before expressed to ALTEN's messenger; whereupon his Royal Highness became impatient, repeated the Order, and forbade further reply. OMPTEDA, with the true spirit of a soldier, instantly deployed the 5th Line Battalion, placed himself at its head, and gallantly led it against the mass of _Tirailleurs_, who had continued to crowd forward; and under whose teazing fire the Germans displayed the greatest steadiness and bravery. The French gave way as the Line advanced at the charge; and as it approached the Garden of La Haye Sainte, they suddenly and rapidly sought shelter along the hedges. In the next moment, the Battalion was furiously assailed by a Regiment of _Cuirassiers_; who, taking the Line in its Right Flank, fairly rolled it up. This Cavalry charge, preconcerted with great skill, and executed with amazing rapidity, proved awfully destructive to the courageous but unfortunate Germans; and fully, and fatally, confirmed the truth of the unheeded prediction of their intrepid Commander. So severe was the loss sustained, that out of the whole Battalion, not more than about thirty men with a few Officers were gradually collected in the hollow way that lay along the front of the Left of the Brigade. Amongst the slain was OMPTEDA himself, who with his followers, thus fell a sacrifice to the absence of that precaution, the necessity for which he had vainly endeavoured to impress upon his superior Officer.

Whilst the French _Cuirassiers_ were cutting and stabbing in all directions, and completing their work of destruction amidst the unfortunate Germans; the 95th British Rifles, who, from the other side of the high road, had been attentive observers of the scene, had already taken aim at the _Cuirassiers_, but had refrained from firing, fearing to injure their friends, at length poured in amongst them a terrific volley, just at the very moment when the 3rd Hussars of the King's German Legion advanced to the rescue of their compatriots: which sent both sides flying, and completely cleared the front of OMPTEDA's Brigade.

Shortly afterwards the 3rd Hussars again advanced: but the Support of the _Cuirassiers_ having, in the mean time, ascended the slope: the former, so inferior in numbers, were brought to a stand; and, after a brief struggle, were compelled to withdraw.

A mass of _Tirailleurs_ now ascended by their left, from the hollow westward of La Haye Sainte (in which hollow they could assemble in comparative security since the capture of that Post by the French), and pushed forward with great boldness against the Advanced Square of MAITLAND's British Brigade, formed by the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Foot Guards. Their fire, concentrated upon the Square and maintained with astonishing rapidity and vigour, was most galling to the British Guards. Also upon their left, another portion of their numbers poured a destructive fire upon the Left Square of ADAM's Brigade, formed by the 2nd Battalion of the 95th Rifles.

MAITLAND, perceiving the serious annoyance which his 3rd Battalion experienced from the fire of the French Skirmishers, directed Lieutenant Colonel D'OYLEY, who commanded it, to advance for the purpose of dislodging them; and being well aware that some of the Enemy's Cavalry were drawn up near the foot of the slope, he threw the flank faces of the Square into sections, in which order the Battalion moved forward, being thus prepared to reform Square with the greatest expedition. Under a tremendous fire from the opposite French Batteries, which had perceived this movement, the Guards gallantly drove the Skirmishers down the slope; and so marked was their steadiness on this occasion, that a body of French Cavalry, which was now observed approaching, struck with the promptitude and precision with which the gaps caused in their ranks by the round shot were closed, neither assaulted them in their advance nor molested them in their retreat to their position on the brow of the hill, which was effected in perfect order. The Cavalry, though it refrained from attacking, received the fire of the Guards; and then, dashing along the front of the 52nd Regiment, it exposed itself to another vigorous fire by which it was nearly destroyed.

Of all the troops comprising the Anglo-Allied Army at Waterloo, the most exposed to the fierce onslaught of the French Cavalry and to the continuous cannonade of their Artillery, were the two British Squares posted, during a very great portion of the Battle, in advance--at times, considerably so--of the narrow road which ran along the crest of the Duke's position. They consisted of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Guards, belonging to MAITLAND's Brigade; and of the 30th and 73rd Regiments acting together as one Corps, belonging to HALKETT's Brigade. It was upon these troops that fell the first burst of the grand Cavalry attacks; and it was upon these troops, also, that the French Gunners seldom neglected to pour their destructive missiles, so long as they continued to constitute, by their exposed position, such prominent marks for their fire.

An attack upon the Square of the Guards by Skirmishers has just been described; and it was not long after this that the Square of the 30th and 73rd was attacked by some French Artillery, which trotted boldly up the slope directly in front of those Regiments, and having approached within a fearfully short distance, unlimbered two of its guns, from which several rounds of grape were discharged in rapid succession, into the very heart of the Square. Awful gaps were made in its devoted ranks; but the readiness and alacrity with which they were filled up, at the commands of their Officers, by men prepared to share the same fate as that which had befallen their predecessors, was truly heroic. That an occasional murmur broke forth, cannot be denied--not, however, at their exposed situation, but at the stern refusal to allow them to charge the guns; near which the French Cavalry was hovering, ready to take advantage of any such attempt.

The Duke was frequently an eye witness of this devotedness of his soldiers; but when asked for support, his reply was that there was none to spare; or, if for permission to attack, that this could not be granted; and, if any intimation were made to him that it might become necessary to fall back a little out of fire, it was met, in a cool and decided tone, that every man must stand his ground, and that there must not even be a semblance of retreat.

* * * * *

The reinforcements from REILLE's Corps having moved to Hougomont, the Skirmishers in and around this Post were relieved upon all points. The Wood, as also the fences on either flank, soon swarmed with _Tirailleurs_; and the brisk rattle of musketry that followed, intermingled with shouts of "_En avant!_", seemed to betoken a determination on the part of the French that the capture of La Haye Sainte should not be their only triumph achieved in front of the Anglo-Allied Army. Everywhere the assault was bravely met by the gallant defenders of the Post. The Flank Companies of the Guards, within the walls and buildings, held at defiance every attempt of their assailants to dislodge them from their cover. By this time, all the outhouses were on fire, with the exception of those that fronted the Wood. The roof and upper storey of the Château had fallen in, and flames continued bursting forth on all sides with the greatest fury. The heat had become so intense as to produce upon the men whose duty brought them within its influence, a feeling of suffocation; while the frequently emitted volumes of thick smoke gave an indistinctness to every object around them. Yet so admirable was the system of defence, so perfect were the discipline and the order, maintained throughout this trying scene by the devoted garrison, that the Enemy completely failed in forcing an opening at any one point. The well maintained fire from the walls was such as to deter the French from attempting an escalade.

Whilst the central portion of the TIRAILLEURS kept up an incessant fire from behind the hedge and trees facing the south buildings and the Gardens, the remainder pressed on in crowds against the inclosures by which the Post was flanked. On the right, the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, lining the hedge that bordered the main approach to the Château, successfully withstood this furious onset. On the left, the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Guards, in the Orchard, having suffered such frightful losses, found it impossible to stem the overwhelming torrent, and speedily fell back upon its friendly hollow way. The French _Tirailleurs_, pushing forward in pursuit, were staggered by the sudden and vigorous fire opened upon them by the troops within the eastern Garden Wall; and the 3rd Guards having, in the mean time, been reinforced by the 2nd Line Battalion and the Light Companies of du Plat's Brigade, drove the Enemy back to the front hedge of the Orchard; whence they were shortly, in their turn, compelled to retire.

Again the flank fire from the eastern Garden Wall, combined with that in front from the defenders of the Orchard, as they reached the rear hedge, compelled the Enemy to fall back. The 3rd Guards once more lined the front hedge; and also, in conjunction with the Light Troops of DU PLAT's Brigade, and the remains of both the Brunswick Advanced Guard Battalion, and the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Nassau, forced the entrance into the Wood near the south-east angle of the Garden Wall, and firmly established themselves in that quarter.

At the commencement of this last mentioned attack upon Hougomont, the Right of ADAM's Brigade was considered too near the inclosures of that Post, and exposed to be taken from thence in flank. It was therefore withdrawn further up the slope, towards the crest of the main position; and after a brief interval, it retired to the reverse slope in order to be covered from the Enemy's cannonade which had been directed against it.

* * * * *

It was now nearly seven o'clock. The troops defending Hougomont and its inclosures had succeeded in repelling the last assault; and the contest in and around this Post again degenerated into a _tiraillade_ kept up with more or less vigour on all points. Along the front of the extreme Right of the Anglo-Allied Line, the Skirmishers from MITCHELL's British Infantry Brigade maintained their ground with great steadiness and gallantry. The main body of the Brunswick Infantry stood on the interior slope, in rear of ADAM's Brigade; and CHASSÉ's Dutch-Belgian Infantry Division, which had arrived from Braine l'Alleud, was deployed along, and in rear of, the Nivelles road, its Centre intersected by the narrow road leading from the _chaussée_ to the Village of Merbe Braine, which position it had taken up on the advance of ADAM's Brigade to the general Front Line. In front of the Anglo-Allied Left, the Skirmishers of both Armies were continually engaged; and upon the extreme Left the troops in Smohain, La Haye, Papelotte, and adjacent inclosures, successfully resisted all attempts of the Enemy to dislodge them.

The attack upon the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line had been incessant from the moment La Haye Sainte fell into the possession of the French. On their left of the Charleroi road, they debouched from that Farm and ascended the position in clouds of Skirmishers. One portion of them crowded upon the artificial mound which abutted upon the high bank of the road, and was situated about sixty yards only in front of the hollow way occupied by OMPTEDA's Brigade. On the opposite side of the Charleroi road, the fire from the French troops on the Knoll above the Sand Pit was maintained with remarkable rapidity and perseverance. They continued, as before, to conceal themselves as much as possible under the brow of the Knoll, exposing only so much of their bodies as was necessary to enable them to fire over its crest in a kneeling position. This fire was replied to with the greatest spirit and determination on the part of KEMPT's and LAMBERT's Brigades. On the Allied right of the high road, the exhausted remnant of OMPTEDA's Brigade was no longer a match for the daring _Tirailleurs_ that crowded together in its front. Its stock of ammunition had begun to fail; many who had not a cartridge left fell to the rear, and more than the usual number assisted the wounded out of action.

Exposed as ALTEN's Division had been to the most furious assaults of Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry; the British and German Brigades of which it was composed had become awfully diminished; and the facility which the possession of La Haye Sainte now afforded the French for continuing their desperate endeavours to force that part of the Allied Line, rendered the situation of these troops extremely critical. ALTEN, who had throughout the day displayed the same coolness, intrepidity, and skill, which had characterised his career in the Peninsular War; and who, by his presence and example, had so powerfully sustained the energies of his men, was not permitted to witness the closing scene of their glorious exertions: for about this time he was wounded, and compelled to quit the Field; leaving the command of the Division to his gallant countryman KIELMANSEGGE.

At a short distance in rear of LAMBERT's Brigade stood that of PACK (with the exception of the 1st Royal Scots, then in Front Line), in Contiguous Columns at quarter distance, its Right resting on the high road; while further to the rear, as a Reserve, was posted VINCKE's Hanoverian Brigade, having two of its Battalions, Hameln and Gifhorn, in contiguous Close Columns on the left of the road, and the other Battalions, Piene and Hildesheim, in a similar formation, on the right of the road, near the Farm of Mont St Jean.

The pertinacity and zeal displayed by the French in their attacks upon the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line, and the indications now manifested of following them up with increased force, were in accordance with NAPOLEON's great object of breaking that Centre, and overthrowing the Right Wing of the Duke's Army: and for the execution of this latter part of his plan, he was preparing to strike another formidable blow; even now that the Prussians were fairly _aux prises_ with the troops constituting the extreme Right of his Army in and around Planchenoit.

But previously to entering into the subject of the concluding scene of the struggle between the Anglo-Allied and French Armies, it will be necessary to revert to the operations of the Prussian Forces, in order to arrive at a full and comprehensive development and due interconnection of all the leading features and various bearings of the great Battle, the result of which was to determine the issue of the Campaign in Belgium.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 12: Two different causes have been assigned for the non-compliance with Major BARING's requisitions for ammunition; namely, the interception of the communication between the Post and the main Line and the difficulty in procuring _rifle_ ammunition. The first appears scarcely tenable; for, although the communication was frequently cut off by the French, as they passed by the Farm when attacking the main position, it was as frequently open and available. This is sufficiently proved by the different reinforcements that were sent into the Farm: ammunition might have been escorted thither with equal facility; and yet BARING had made three distinct applications for a supply _before_ the Nassau Detachment was added to his force. The difficulty of procuring _rifle_ ammunition certainly appears a more probable cause; but, even in this case, it is impossible to overlook the circumstance that the Post in question was immediately in front of the Brigade to which its defenders belonged, and of which two out of the four Battalions composing it were armed with rifles.

Since the above was written it has been communicated to me from Hanover, upon excellent authority, that the cause of Major BARING not having been supplied with ammunition arose from the circumstance, that there existed only one cart with rifle ammunition for the two Light Battalions of the King's German Legion; and that this cart was involved in the precipitate retreat of a great part of the baggage, &c., and thrown into a ditch.]