As the French right gradually receded, the Allied line, converging from its extreme points at Merke Braine and Braine la Leud, became compressed in extent, and assumed rather the appearance of a crescent. The marked impression of Blücher's attack; the debouche of Ziethen by the Ohain road; and the bloody repulse inflicted on the Imperial Guard;-all told Wellington that the hour was come, and that to strike boldly was to secure a victory. The word was given to advance. The infantry, in one long and splendid line, moved forward with a thrilling cheer; the horse artillery galloped up, and opened with case shot on the disordered masses, which, but a brief space before, had advanced with such imposing resolution. Instantly, the Allied cavalry were let loose; and, charging headlong into the enemy's columns, they turned retreat into rout, and closed the history of one of the bloodiest struggles upon record.

For a short time, four battalions of the Old Guard, comprising the only reserve which Napoleon had left unemployed, formed square, and checked the movements of the cavalry. But, panic-stricken and disorganized, the French resistance was short and feeble. The Prussian cannon thundered in their rear; the British bayonet was flashing in their front; and unable to stand the terror of the charge, they broke and fled. A dreadful and indiscriminate carnage ensued. The great road was choked with the equipage, and cumbered with the dead and dying; while the fields, as far as the eye could reach, were covered with a host of helpless fugitives. Courage and discipline were forgotten. Napoleon's army of yesterday was now a splendid wreck. His own words best describe it-" It was a total rout!"

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Night came but it brought no respite to the shattered army of Napoleon; and the moon rose upon the 'broken host' to light the victors to their prey. The British, forgetting their fatigue, pressed on the rear of their flying

"When the Imperial Guards, led on by Marshal Ney, about half-past seven o'clock, made their appearance from a corn-field, in close columns of grand divisions, nearly opposite, and within a distance of fifty yards from the muzzles of the guns, orders were given to load with canister shot, and literally five rounds from each gun were fired with this species of shot, before they showed the least symptom of retiring. At the twentyninth round, their left gave way."-Letters of an Artillery Officer.

The

enemy; and the roads, covered with the dead and dying, and obstructed by broken equipages and deserted guns, became almost impassable to the fugitives--and hence the slaughter from Waterloo to Genappe was frightful. But, wearied with blood, (for the French, throwing away their arms to expedite their flight, offered no resistance,) and exhausted with hunger and fatigue, the British pursuit relaxed, and between Rossomme and Genappe it ceased altogether. infantry bivouacked for the night around the farm-houses of Caillou and Belle Alliance, and the light cavalry halted one mile further on, abandoning the work of death to their fresher and more sanguinary Allies. Nothing, indeed, could surpass the desperate and unrelenting animosity of the Prussians towards the French. Repose and plunder were sacrificed to revenge; the of former defeat, insult, and oppresmemory sion now produced a dreadful retaliation, and overpowered every feeling of humanity. The va victis! was pronounced, and thousands beside those who perished in the field fell that night beneath the Prussian lance and sabre. In vain a feeble effort was made by the French to barricade the streets of Genappe, and interrupt the progress of the conquerors. Blücher forced the passage with his cannon; and so entirely had the defeat of Waterloo extinguished the spirit, and destroyed the discipline, of the remnant of Napoleon's army, that the wild hurrah of the pursuers, or the very blast of a Prussian trumpet, became the signal for flight and terror.”*

It was a singular accident, that near La Belle Alliance the victorious generals met; for thither, Blücher, on forcing the French right, had urged forward his columns in pursuit. Comparatively fresh, the Prussians engaged to follow up the victory; and the Allies left the great road open, and bivouacked on the field.

By moonlight, Wellington recrossed the battle-ground, and arrived for supper at Brussels-an honour which Napoleon had promised to confer upon that ancient city. The excited feelings which such a victory must have produced, are said to have suffered a reaction, and given way to deep despondency, as he rode past "the dying and the dead." God knows, it was a sorry sight;" for on a surface not exceeding two square miles, 50,000 dead or disabled men and horses were extended.

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* Stories of Waterloo.

WELLINGTON'S TACTICS AT WATERLOO.

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CHAPTER XXIII.

Remarks on the Battle of Waterloo.

MANY of Wellington's victories were as decisive, but he had never inflicted a defeat so terrible, as that of Waterloo. At Salamanca, after the dispersion of Marmont's rear-guard. on the heights of La Serna, scarcely a prisoner was made; but in a few days, every French soldier, save those left upon the battle-field, had returned to their colours; and the army, re-organized anew, was ready for immediate service. At Vittoria, the enemy were utterly dérouted, and not a gun or equipage was saved; but the men and horses, which constitute the most valuable portion of a parc, escaped-the scattered soldiers rallied in the rear; and Soult's subsequent operations gave a convincing proof how rapidly his losses had been replaced, and his army had been made effective. But at Waterloo, the disaster went beyond a remedy. That matchless corps,* whose prowess had decided many a doubtful day, was almost annihilated-the cavalry completely ruined the artillery abandoned; † and if the number be computed, including those left upon the battle-ground, sabred in the pursuit, captured on the field, or made prisoners by the Prussians, with the still greater portion of

"What Napoleon's feelings were when he witnessed the overthrow of his Guard-the failure of his last hope-the death-blow to his political existence, cannot be described, but may be easily imagined. Turning to an aide-de-camp, with a face livid with rage and despair, he muttered, in a tremulous voice- A present c'est fini!-sauvons-nous;' and turning his horse, rode hastily off towards Charleroi."

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+ Artillery taken at Waterloo, 18th June, 1815.