Chapter IV: The Retreat to Waterloo

Mercer's battery formed part of the British rearguard in the retreat from Quatre Bras to Waterloo, and his gunners had some very breathless and exciting experiences on the road, with the thunder rolling over their heads and the French cavalry charging furiously on their rear. Mercer tells the story with great vividness and spirit:--

"On the Charleroi road and in the plain was a small village
(Frasnes), with its church, just beyond which the road ascended the
heights, on the open part of which, between the road and the wood
towards the left, was the bivouac of the French army opposed to us.
Its advanced posts were in the valley near Frasnes, and ours opposite
to them--our main body occupying the ground between Quatre Bras and
the wood on the left. A smart skirmish was going on amongst the
hedges, &c., already mentioned, and this was the firing we had heard
all the morning. Our infantry were lying about, cleaning their arms,
cooking, or amusing themselves, totally regardless of the skirmish.
This, however, from our position, was a very interesting sight to
me, for the slope of the ground enabled me to see distinctly all the
manœuvres of both parties, as on a plan. After much firing from
the edge of the wood, opposite which our riflemen occupied all the
hedges, I saw the French chasseurs suddenly make a rush forward in
all directions, whilst the fire of our people became thicker and
faster than ever. Many of the former scampered across the open fields
until they reached the nearest hedges, whilst others ran crouching
under cover of those perpendicular to their front, and the whole
succeeded in establishing themselves--thus forcing back and gaining
ground on our men.

"The fire then again became sharper than ever--sometimes the French
were driven back; and this alternation I watched with great interest
until summoned to Major M'Donald, who brought us orders for the day.
From him I first learned the result of the action of yesterday--the
retreat of the Prussians, and that we were to do so too. His
directions to me were that I should follow some corps of infantry,
or something of the sort; for what followed caused me to forget it
all: 'Major Ramsay's troop,' he said, 'will remain in the rear with
the cavalry to cover the retreat; but I will not conceal from you
that it falls to your turn to do this, if you choose it.' The major
looked rather conscience-stricken as he made this avowal, so, to
relieve him, I begged he would give the devil his due and me mine.
Accordingly all the others marched off, and as nothing was likely to
take place immediately, we amused ourselves by looking on at what was
doing.

"Just at this moment an amazing outcry arose amongst the infantry at
the farm, who were running towards us in a confused mass, shouting
and bellowing, jostling and pushing each other. I made sure the
enemy's cavalry had made a dash amongst them, especially as the fire
of the skirmishers became thicker and apparently nearer, when the
thing was explained by a large pig, squealing as if already stuck,
bursting from the throng by which he was beset in all directions.
Some struck at him with axes, others with the butts of their muskets,
others stabbed at him with bayonets. The chase would have been
amusing had it not been so brutal; and I have seldom experienced
greater horror than I did on this occasion, when the poor brute,
staggering from the repeated blows he received, was at last brought
to the ground by at least half-a-dozen bayonets plunged into him at
once.

"All this time our retreat was going on very quietly. The corps at
Quatre Bras had retired early in the morning, and been replaced by
others from the left, and this continued constantly--every corps
halting for a time on the ground near Quatre Bras until another from
the left arrived, these moving off on the great road to Brussels,
ceding the ground to the new-comers.

"At first every one, exulting in the success of yesterday--they
having repulsed the enemy with a handful of men, as it were,
unsupported by cavalry and with very little artillery--anticipated,
now our army was united nothing less than an immediate attack on the
French position. We were sadly knocked down, then, when the certainty
of our retreat became known. It was in vain we were told the retreat
was only a manœuvre of concentration; the most gloomy anticipations
pervaded every breast. About this time Sir Alexander Dickson paid me
a visit, having just arrived from New Orleans, where he commanded the
artillery, to be our deputy-quartermaster-general. He only stayed a
few minutes.

"As the infantry corps on the plateau became fewer, the fire of the
skirmishers amongst the hedges gradually relaxed, and at length
ceased--the Rifles, &c., being drawn, and following the line of
retreat. At last, about noon, I found myself left with my troop,
quite alone, on the brow of the position, just by the farm of Quatre
Bras--the only troops in sight being a small picket of hussars, near
the village of Frasnes, in the plain below; a few more in our rear,
but at some little distance, amongst the houses; and a brigade of
hussars far away to the left (about two miles), close to the wood
in that quarter. Thus solitary, as it were, I had ample leisure
to contemplate the scene of desolation around me, so strangely at
variance with the otherwise smiling landscape. Everywhere mementoes
of yesterday's bloody struggle met the eye--the corn trampled down,
and the ground, particularly in the plain, plentifully besprinkled
with bodies of the slain. Just in front of the farm of Quatre Bras
there was a fearful scene of slaughter--Highlanders and cuirassiers
lying thickly strewn about; the latter appeared to have charged up
the Charleroi road, on which, and immediately bordering it, they lay
most numerously.

"In communicating to me the orders of our retreat, Major M'Donald had
reiterated that to join Lord Edward Somerset's brigade without delay,
but still he could not tell me where this brigade was to be found.
Meantime Sir Ormsby Vandeleur's brigade of light dragoons having
formed up in front of the houses, and supposing from this that all
the cavalry must be nigh, as one step towards finding Lord Edward I
crossed the road to the right of these dragoons, and rode towards
the part where, as before stated, the light was intercepted by trees
and bushes. On passing through these I had an uninterrupted view of
the country for miles, but not a soldier or living being was to be
seen in that direction. As I pushed on through the thickets my horse,
suddenly coming to a stand, began to snort, and showed unequivocal
symptoms of fear. I drove him on, however, but started myself when
I saw, lying under the bush, the body of a man stripped naked. This
victim of war was a youth of fair form, skin delicately white, and
face but little darker; an embryo moustache decorated the upper lip,
and his countenance, even in death, was beautiful. That he was French
I conjectured, but neither on himself nor his horse was there a
particle of clothing that could indicate to what nation he belonged.
If French, how came he here to die alone so far in the rear of our
lines?

"I know not why, but the _rencontre_ with this solitary corpse had
a wonderful effect on my spirits--far different from what I felt
when gazing on the heaps that encumbered the field beyond. Seldom
have I experienced such despondency--such heart-sinking--as when
standing over this handsome form thus despoiled, neglected, and
about to become a prey to wolves and carrion crows--the darling of
some fond mother, the adored of some fair maid. His horse, stripped
like himself, lay by--they had met their fate at once. Returning
to my troop, I found Sir Augustus Frazer, who had come to order my
ammunition waggons to the rear that the retreat might be as little
encumbered as possible, and to tell me that what ammunition was used
during the day would be supplied by my sending for it to Langeveldt,
on the road to Brussels, where that to Wavre branches from it.

"Thus divested of our ammunition, it was evident that our retreat
must be a rapid one, since with only fifty rounds a gun (the number
in the limbers), it could not be expected that we could occupy any
position longer than a few minutes. In the end, this measure nearly
led to very disagreeable results, as will be seen anon."

Lord Uxbridge--afterwards the Marquis of Anglesey--was a very fine cavalry leader, a sort of English Murat, with all the dash, activity, and resource of that famous soldier. But he had too much fire in his temper for cool generalship. The tumult and shock of battle had the effect of champagne upon him. It kindled in his brain a sort of intoxication. So he took risks a cooler-headed soldier would have avoided. Uxbridge's fiery and audacious daring is vividly reflected in Mercer's account of how he covered the retreat to Waterloo:--

"It was now about one o'clock. My battery stood in position on the
brow of the declivity, with its right near the wall of the farm,
all alone, the only troops in sight being, as before mentioned, the
picket and a few scattered hussars in the direction of Frasnes,
Sir O. Vandeleur's light dragoons two or three hundred yards in our
rear, and Sir H. Vivian's hussars far away to the left. Still the
French army made no demonstration of an advance. This inactivity was
unaccountable. Lord Uxbridge and an aide-de-camp came to the front
of my battery, and dismounting, seated himself on the ground; so did
I and the aide-de-camp. His lordship with his glass was watching
the French position; and we were all three wondering at their want
of observation and inactivity, which had not only permitted our
infantry to retire unmolested, but also still retained them in their
bivouac. 'It will not be long now before they are on us,' said the
aide-de-camp, 'for they always dine before they move; and those
smokes seem to indicate that they are cooking now.'

"He was right; for not long afterwards another aide-de-camp, scouring
along the valley, came to report that a heavy column of cavalry was
advancing through the opening between the woods to the left from the
direction of Gembloux. At the same moment we saw them distinctly;
and Lord Uxbridge having reconnoitred them a moment through his
glass, started up, exclaiming, in a joyful tone, 'By the Lord, they
are Prussians!' jumped on his horse, and, followed by the two aides,
dashed off like a whirlwind to meet them. For a moment I stood
looking after them as they swept down the slope, and could not help
wondering how the Prussians came there. I was, however, not left long
in my perplexity, for, turning my eyes towards the French position, I
saw their whole army descending from it in three or four dark masses,
whilst their advanced cavalry picket was already skirmishing with and
driving back our hussars. The truth instantly flashed on my mind, and
I became exceedingly uneasy for the safety of Lord Uxbridge and his
companions, now far advanced on their way down the valley, and likely
to be irretrievably cut off.

"My situation now appeared somewhat awkward; left without orders
and entirely alone on the brow of our position--the hussar pickets
galloping in and hurrying past as fast as they could--the whole
French army advancing, and already at no great distance. In this
dilemma, I determined to retire across the little dip that separated
me from Sir O. Vandeleur, and take up a position in front of his
squadrons, whence, after giving a round to the French advance as
soon as they stood on our present ground, I thought I could retire
in sufficient time through his intervals to leave the ground clear
for him to charge. This movement was immediately executed; but the
guns were scarcely unlimbered ere Sir Ormsby came furiously up,
exclaiming, 'What are you doing here, sir? You encumber my front, and
we shall not be able to charge. Take your guns away, sir; instantly,
I say--take them away!' It was in vain that I endeavoured to explain
my intentions, and that our fire would allow his charge to be made
with more effect. 'No, no; take them out of my way, sir!' was all the
answer I could get; and accordingly, I was preparing to obey, when up
came Lord Uxbridge, and the scene changed in a twinkling. 'Captain
Mercer, are you loaded?' 'Yes, my lord.' 'Then give them a round
as they rise the hill, and retire as quickly as possible.' 'Light
dragoons, threes right; at a trot, march!' and then some orders to
Sir Ormsby, of whom I saw no more that day. 'They are just coming up
the hill,' said Lord Uxbridge. 'Let them get well up before you fire.
Do you think you can retire quick enough afterwards?' 'I am sure of
it, my lord.' 'Very well, then, keep a good lookout, and point your
guns well.'

"I had often longed to see Napoleon, that mighty man of war--that
astonishing genius who had filled the world with his renown. Now
I saw him, and there was a degree of sublimity in the interview
rarely equalled. The sky had become overcast since the morning, and
at this moment presented a most extraordinary appearance. Large
isolated masses of thunder-cloud, of the deepest, almost inky black,
their lower edges hard and strongly defined, lagging down, as if
momentarily about to burst, hung suspended over us, involving our
position and everything on it in deep and gloomy obscurity; whilst
the distant hill lately occupied by the French army still lay bathed
in brilliant sunshine. Lord Uxbridge was yet speaking when a single
horseman,[6] immediately followed by several others, mounted the
plateau I had left at a gallop, their dark figures thrown forward in
strong relief from the illuminated distance, making them appear much
nearer to us than they really were.

"For an instant they pulled up and regarded us, when several
squadrons coming rapidly on the plateau, Lord Uxbridge cried out,
'Fire!--fire!' and, giving them a general discharge, we quickly
limbered up to retire, as they dashed forward supported by some
horse artillery guns, which opened upon us ere we could complete the
manœuvre, but without much effect, for the only one touched was
the servant of Major Whinyates, who was wounded in the leg by the
splinter of a howitzer shell.

"It was now for the first time that I discovered the major and his
rocket-troop, who, annoyed at my having the rear, had disobeyed
the order to retreat, and remained somewhere in the neighbourhood
until this moment, hoping to share whatever might be going on. The
first gun that was fired seemed to burst the clouds overhead, for
its report was instantly followed by an awful clap of thunder, and
lightning that almost blinded us, whilst the rain came down as if
a waterspout had broken over us. The sublimity of the scene was
inconceivable. Flash succeeded flash, and the peals of thunder were
long and tremendous; whilst, as if in mockery of the elements, the
French guns still sent forth their feebler glare and now scarcely
audible reports--their cavalry dashing on at a headlong pace, adding
their shouts to the uproar. We galloped for our lives through the
storm, striving to gain the enclosures about the houses of the
hamlets, Lord Uxbridge urging us on, crying, 'Make haste!--make
haste! for God's sake, gallop, or you will be taken!' We did make
haste, and succeeded in getting amongst the houses and gardens, but
with the French advance close on our heels. Here, however, observing
the _chaussée_ full of hussars, they pulled up. Had they continued
their charge we were gone, for these hussars were scattered about the
road in the utmost confusion, some in little squads, others singly,
and, moreover, so crowded together that we had no room whatever to
act with any effect--either they or us.

"Meantime the enemy's detachments began to envelop the gardens,
which Lord Uxbridge observing, called to me, 'Here, follow me with
two of your guns,' and immediately himself led the way into one
of the narrow lanes between the gardens. What he intended doing,
God knows, but I obeyed. The lane was very little broader than our
carriages--there was not room for a horse to have passed them!
The distance from the _chaussée_ to the end of the lane, where it
debouched on the open fields, could scarcely have been above one or
two hundred yards at most. His lordship and I were in front, the
guns and mounted detachments following. What he meant to do I was at
a loss to conceive; we could hardly come to action in the lane; to
enter on the open was certain destruction. Thus we had arrived at
about fifty yards from its termination when a body of chasseurs or
hussars appeared there as if waiting for us. These we might have seen
from the first, for nothing but a few elder bushes intercepted the
view from the _chaussée_.

"The whole transaction appears to me so wild and confused that at
times I can hardly believe it to have been more than a confused
dream--yet true it was--the general-in-chief of the cavalry exposing
himself amongst the skirmishers of his rearguard, and literally
doing the duty of a cornet! 'By God! we are all prisoners' (or some
such words), exclaimed Lord Uxbridge, dashing his horse at one of
the garden-banks, which he cleared, and away he went, leaving us
to get out of the scrape as best we could. There was no time for
hesitation--one manœuvre alone could extricate us if allowed time,
and it I ordered. 'Reverse by unlimbering' was the order. To do this
the gun was to be unlimbered, then turned round, and one wheel run up
the bank, which just left space for the limber to pass it. The gun is
then limbered up again and ready to move to the rear. The execution,
however, was not easy, for the very reversing of the limber itself
in so narrow a lane, with a team of eight horses, was sufficiently
difficult, and required first-rate driving.

"Nothing could exceed the coolness and activity of our men; the thing
was done quickly and well, and we returned to the _chaussée_ without
let or hindrance. How we were permitted to do so, I am at a loss to
imagine; for although I gave the order to reverse, I certainly never
expected to have seen it executed. Meantime my own situation was
anything but a pleasant one, as I sat with my back to the gentlemen
at the end of the lane, whose interference I momentarily expected,
casting an eye from time to time over my shoulder to ascertain
whether they still kept their position. There they sat motionless,
and although thankful for their inactivity, I could not but wonder
at their stupidity. It seemed, however, all of a piece that day--all
blunder and confusion; and this last I found pretty considerable
on regaining the _chaussée_. His lordship we found collecting the
scattered hussars together into a squadron for our rescue, for which
purpose it was he had so unceremoniously left us. Heavy as the rain
was and thick the weather, yet the French could not but have seen the
confusion we were in, as they had closed up to the entrance of the
enclosure; and yet they did not at once take advantage of it.

"Things could not remain long in this state. A heavy column of
cavalry approached us by the _chaussée_, whilst another skirting
the enclosures, appeared pushing forward to cut us off. Retreat
now became imperative. The order was given, and away we went,
helter-skelter--guns, gun-detachments, and hussars all mixed
_pêle-mêle_, going like mad, and covering each other with mud, to be
washed off by the rain, which, before sufficiently heavy, now came
down again as it had done at first, in splashes instead of drops,
soaking us anew to the skin, and, what was worse, extinguishing every
slow match in the brigade. The obscurity caused by the splashing
of the rain was such, that at one period I could not distinguish
objects more than a few yards distant. Of course we lost sight of our
pursuers altogether, and the shouts and halloos, and even laughter,
they had at first sent forth were either silenced or drowned in the
uproar of the elements and the noise of our too rapid retreat; for
in addition to everything else the crashing and rattling of the
thunder were most awful, and the glare of the lightning blinding.
In this state we gained the bridge of Genappe at the moment when
the thunder-cloud, having passed over, left us in comparative fine
weather, although still raining heavily.

"For the last mile or so we had neither seen nor heard anything of
our lively French friends, and now silently wound our way up the
deserted street, nothing disturbing its death-like stillness save the
iron sound of horses' feet, the rumbling of the carriages, and the
splashing of water as it fell from the eaves--all this was stillness
compared with the hurly-burly and din from which we had just emerged.

"On gaining the high ground beyond the town, we suddenly came in
sight of the main body of our cavalry drawn up across the _chaussée_
in two lines, and extending away far to the right and left of it.
It would have been an imposing spectacle at any time, but just now
appeared to me magnificent, and I hailed it with complacency, for
here I thought our fox-chase must end. 'Those superb Life Guards
and Blues will soon teach our pursuers a little modesty.' Such
fellows!--surely nothing can withstand them. Scarcely had these
thoughts passed through my mind ere an order from his lordship
recalled us to the rear. The enemy's horse artillery, having taken
up a position in the meadows near the bridge, were annoying our
dragoons as they debouched from the town. The ground was heavy from
the rain, and very steep, so that it was only by great exertion that
we succeeded at last in getting our guns into the adjoining field.

"The moment we appeared the French battery bestowed on us its
undivided attention, which we quickly acknowledged by an uncommonly
well-directed fire of spherical case. Whilst so employed, Major
M'Donald came up and put me through a regular catechism as to length
of fuse, whether out of bag A or B, &c., &c. Although much vexed at
such a schooling just now, yet the major appeared so seriously in
earnest that I could not but be amused; however, to convince him that
we knew what we were about, I directed his attention to our excellent
practice, so superior to that of our antagonist, who was sending all
his shot far over our heads. The French seemed pretty well convinced
of this too, for after standing a few rounds they quitted the field,
and left us again without occupation. The major vanishing at the same
time, I sent my guns, &c., to the rear, and set off to join Lord
Uxbridge, who was still fighting in the street. Our ammunition was
expended the waggons having been taken away by Sir Augustus Frazer
at Quatre Bras.

"On regaining my troop I found Major M'Donald and the rockets with
it. They were in position on a gentle elevation, on which likewise
were formed the lines of cavalry stretching across the _chaussée_.
Immediately on our left, encased in the hollow road, the Blues were
formed in close column of half-squadrons, and it was not long ere
Lord Uxbridge, with those he had retained at Genappe, came sweeping
over the hill and joined us. They were closely followed by the
French light cavalry, who, descending into the hollow, commenced a
sharp skirmish with our advance-posts. Soon squadron after squadron
appeared on the hill we had passed, and took up their positions,
forming a long line parallel to ours, whilst a battery of horse
artillery, forming across the _chaussée_, just on the brow of the
declivity, opened its fire on us, though without much effect. To this
we responded, though very slowly, having no more ammunition than what
remained in our limbers.

"In order to amuse the enemy and our own cavalry, as well as to
prevent the former noticing the slackness of our fire, I proposed to
Major M'Donald making use of the rockets, which had hitherto done
nothing. There was a little hesitation about this, and one of the
officers (Strangways) whispered me, 'No, no--it's too far!' This I
immediately told the Major, proposing as a remedy that they should go
closer. Still there was demur; but at last my proposition was agreed
to, and down they marched into the thick of the skirmishers in the
bottom. Of course, having proposed the measure myself, I could do no
less than accompany them.

"Whilst they prepared their machinery, I had time to notice what was
going on to the right and left of us. Two double lines of skirmishers
extended all along the bottom--the foremost of each line were within
a few yards of each other--constantly in motion, riding backwards
and forwards, firing their carbines or pistols, and then reloading,
still on the move. This fire seemed to me more dangerous for those on
the hills above than for us below; for all, both French and English,
generally stuck out their carbines or pistols as they continued to
move backwards and forwards, and discharged them without taking any
particular aim, and mostly in the air. I did not see a man fall on
either side. The thing appeared quite ridiculous, and but for hearing
the bullets whizzing overhead, one might have fancied it no more than
a sham-fight.

"Meanwhile the rocketeers had placed a little iron triangle in the
road with a rocket lying on it. The order to fire is given, portfire
applied; the fidgety missile begins to sputter out sparks and wriggle
its tail for a second or so, and then darts forth straight up the
_chaussée_. A gun stands right in its way, between the wheels of
which the shell in the head of the rocket bursts; the gunners fall
right and left; and those of the other guns, taking to their heels,
the battery is deserted in an instant. Strange; but so it was. I saw
them run, and for some minutes afterwards I saw the guns standing
mute and unmanned, whilst our rocketeers kept shooting off rockets,
none of which ever followed the course of the first; most of them, on
arriving about the middle of the ascent, took a vertical direction,
whilst some actually turned back upon ourselves; and one of these,
following me like a squib until its shell exploded, actually put me
in more danger than all the fire of the enemy throughout the day.
Meanwhile the French artillerymen, seeing how the land lay, returned
to their guns and opened a fire of case-shot on us, but without
effect, for we retreated to our ridge without the loss of a man, or
even any wounded, though the range could not have been above 200
yards.

"As we had overtaken the rear of our infantry, it became necessary
to make a stand here to enable them to gain ground. Major M'Donald
therefore sent me in pursuit of my ammunition waggons, since all in
our limbers was expended. Having before sent for these, we calculated
that they could not now be very far off. In going to the rear, I
passed along the top of the bank, under which, as I have said, the
Blues were encased in the hollow road. Shot and shells were flying
pretty thickly about just then, and sometimes striking the top of the
bank would send down a shower of mud and clods upon them.

"The ammunition waggons I found coming up, and was returning with
them when I met my whole troop again retiring by the road, whilst
the cavalry did so by alternate regiments across the fields. The
ground offering no feature for another stand, we continued thus along
the road. The infantry had made so little progress that we again
overtook the rear of their column, composed of Brunswickers--some of
those same boys I used to see practising at Schapdale in my rides to
Brussels. These poor lads were pushing on at a great rate. As soon
as their rear divisions heard the sound of our horses' feet, without
once looking behind them, they began to crowd and press on those in
front, until at last, hearing us close up to them, and finding it
impossible to push forward in the road, many of them broke off into
the fields; and such was their panic that, in order to run lighter,
away went arms and knapsacks in all directions, and a general race
ensued, the whole corps being in the most horrid confusion. It was
to no purpose that I exerted my little stock of German to make them
understand we were their English friends. A frightened glance and
away, was all the effect of my interference, which drove many of them
off."

The retreat came to an end here. The rearguard, without knowing it, had reached the low ridge running east and west across the Brussels road, where Wellington had resolved to make his final stand, and where the greatest battle in modern history was on the morrow to be fought:--

"We did not long remain idle, for the guns were scarcely loaded ere
the rear of our cavalry came crowding upon the infantry corps we had
passed, and which were then only crossing the valley, the French
advance skirmishing with these, whilst their squadrons occupied the
heights. We waited a little until some of their larger masses were
assembled, and then opened our fire with a range across the valley of
about 1200 yards. The echo of our first gun had not ceased when, to
my astonishment, a heavy cannonade, commencing in a most startling
manner from behind our hedge, rolled along the rising ground, on part
of which we were posted. The truth now flashed on me; we had rejoined
the army, and it is impossible to describe the pleasing sense of
security I felt at having now the support of something more staunch
than cavalry.

"The French now brought up battery after battery, and a tremendous
cannonading was kept up by both sides for some time. The effect was
grand and exciting. Our position was a happy one, for all their shot
which grazed short came and struck in the perpendicular bank of our
gravel-pit, and only one struck amongst us, breaking the traversing
handspike at one of the guns, but injuring neither man nor horse. Our
fire was principally directed against their masses as we could see
them, which was not always the case from the smoke that, for want
of wind, hung over them; then against their smaller parties that
had advanced into the valley to skirmish with the rearguard of our
cavalry.

"Here, for the second and last time, I saw Napoleon, though
infinitely more distant than in the morning. Some of my
non-commissioned officers pointed their guns at the numerous cortège
accompanying him as they stood near the road by Belle Alliance; and
one, pointed by old Quarter-master Hall, fell in the midst of them.
At the moment we saw some little confusion amongst the group, but it
did not hinder them from continuing the reconnaissance.

"Whilst we were thus engaged, a man of no very prepossessing
appearance came rambling amongst our guns, and entered into
conversation with me on the occurrences of the day. He was dressed in
a shabby old drab greatcoat and a rusty round hat. I took him at the
time for some amateur from Brussels (of whom we had heard there were
several hovering about), and thinking many of his questions rather
impertinent, was somewhat short in answering him, and he soon left
us. How great was my astonishment on learning soon after that this
was Sir Thomas Picton! The enemy, finding us obstinate in maintaining
our position, soon slackened, and then ceased firing altogether; and
we were immediately ordered to do the same, and establish ourselves
in bivouac for the night.

"Thoroughly wet--cloaks, blankets, and all--comfort was out of
the question, so we prepared to make the best of it. Our first
care was, of course, the horses, and these we had ample means of
providing for, since, in addition to what corn we had left, one of
our men had picked up and brought forward on an ammunition waggon
a large sackful, which he found in the road near Genappe. Thus
they, at least, had plenty to eat, and having been so well drenched
all day, were not much in need of water. For ourselves we had
nothing!--absolutely nothing!--and looked forward to rest alone to
restore our exhausted strength. Rather a bore going supperless to bed
after such a day, yet was there no help for it.

"Our gunners, &c., soon stowed themselves away beneath the carriages,
using the painted covers as additional shelter against the rain,
which now set in again as heavy as ever. We set up a small tent, into
which (after vain attempts at procuring food or lodgings in the farm
or its out buildings, all of which were crammed to suffocation with
officers and soldiers of all arms and nations) we crept, and rolling
ourselves in our wet blankets, huddled close together, in hope, wet
as we were, and wet as the ground was, of keeping each other warm.
I know not how my bedfellows got on, as we all lay for a long while
perfectly still and silent--the old Peninsular hands disdaining to
complain before their Johnny Newcome comrades, and these fearing to
do so lest they should provoke such remarks, as 'Lord have mercy
on your poor tender carcass! what would such as you have done in
the Pyrenees?' or 'Oho, my boy! this is but child's play to what we
saw in Spain.' So all who did not sleep (I believe the majority)
pretended to do so, and bore their suffering with admirable heroism.

"For my part, I once or twice, from sheer fatigue, got into something
like a doze; yet it would not do. There was no possibility of
sleeping, for, besides being already so wet, the tent proved no
shelter, the water pouring through the canvas in streams; so up I
got, and to my infinite joy, found that some of the men had managed
to make a couple of fires, round which they were sitting smoking
their short pipes in something like comfort. The hint was a good
one, and at that moment my second captain joining me, we borrowed
from them a few sticks, and choosing the best spot under the hedge,
proceeded to make a fire for ourselves. In a short time we succeeded
in raising a cheerful blaze, which materially bettered our situation.
My companion had an umbrella (which, by the way, had afforded some
merriment to our people on the march); this we planted against
the sloping bank of the hedge, and seating ourselves under it, he
on one side of the stick, I on the other, we lighted cigars and
became--comfortable. Dear weed! what comfort, what consolation dost
thou not impart to the wretched!--with thee a hovel becomes a palace.
What a stock of patience is there not enveloped in one of thy brown
leaves!

"And thus we sat enjoying ourselves, puffing forth into the damp
night air streams of fragrant smoke, being able now deliberately to
converse on what had been and probably would be. All this time a most
infernal clatter of musketry was going on, which, but for the many
quiet dark figures seated round the innumerable fires all along the
position, might have been construed into a night attack. But as these
gentlemen were between us and the enemy we felt assured of timely
warning, and ere long learned that all this proceeded as before from
the infantry discharging and cleaning their pieces.

"Whilst so employed, a rustling in the hedge behind attracted our
attention, and in a few minutes a poor fellow belonging to some
Hanoverian regiment, wet through like everybody else, and shivering
with cold, made his appearance, and modestly begged permission to
remain a short time and warm himself by our fire. He had somehow or
other wandered from his colours, and had passed the greater part
of the night searching for them, but in vain. At first he appeared
quite exhausted, but the warmth reinvigorating him, he pulled out his
pipe and began to smoke. Having finished his modicum and carefully
disposed of the ashes, he rose from his wet seat to renew his search,
hoping to find his corps before daylight, he said, lest it should be
engaged. Many thanks he offered for our hospitality; but what was
our surprise when, after fumbling in his haversack for some time,
he pulled out a poor half-starved chicken, presented it to us, and
marched off. This was a Godsend, in good truth, to people famished as
we were; so calling for a camp-kettle, our prize was on the fire in a
twinkling.

"Our comrades in the tent did not sleep so soundly but that they
heard what was going on, and the kettle was hardly on the fire ere
my gentlemen were assembled round it, a wet and shivering group, but
all eager to partake of our good fortune--and so eager that after
various betrayals of impatience, the miserable chicken was at last
snatched from the kettle ere it was half-boiled, pulled to pieces
and speedily devoured. I got a leg for my share, but it was not one
mouthful, and this was the only food I tasted since the night before."

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 6: That this was Napoleon we have the authority of General Gourgaud, who states that, irritated at the delay of Marshal Ney, he put himself at the head of the chasseurs (I think), and dashed forward in the hope of yet being able to catch our rearguard.]