AN ANE DOTE OF WATERLOO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3157, 10 August 1881, Page 4

AN ANE DOTE OF WATERLOO.

Many are the aneodotes, many the daring deeds, many the acts of chivalry which have n<»ver found a place in books— oarent quia v-tesnero. .Amongst the facts not mude public is the conduct of the uVe of Wellington before the buttle of Waterloo. It is generally supposed that during the preceding night (tune 17), Wellington qiretly supped and slept in the village of Waterloo, some miles distant from the field of battle ; the real fact is that, after the British Army had bivouacked on the ground, the destined scene of the next day's fight, Wellington, unattended, rode to Bluchers head quarters, and had an interview with him. His object was to secure the junction of the Prussians and the British as early as possible next day. Union was most "important to the Allies ; while attack before this union should be effected was most important to Napoleon. Wellington and Blucher calculated that they could meet on the next day upon the field of Waterloo at twelve o'clock. After this interview Wellington rode back to the village of Waterloo, where he obtained a short repose. Unfortunately, subsequent heavy rains rendered the road so nearly impassable that the junction was not accomplished until six in the evening of June 18. luring those six hours of deep anxiety endured by the British chief, how often did ho look at his watch ! and when at length the Prussian guns were heard, he involuntarily exclaimed, "There goes old Blucher at last !" The two officers who alone knew of the midnight interview between Wellington and Blucher where Sir Augustus Eraser, R.A., and Captain (afterward General) William Bell, R.A., both of whom rode into the field with their ohief, and both of whom have now departed this life.—-Broad Arrow.