"LA GARDE MEURT."

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1915, Page 12

"LA GARDE MEURT."

NEW. CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OP WATERLOO. We print below what wo believe to ,be a hithertoo unpublished account of tho Battle of Waterloo, written at 11 p.m. of tho evening of the fighting by Captain Digby Mackworth, of the 7th Fusiliers, who was A.D.C. to General Hill, Tho writer, who was 20 years old at the time, afterwards succeeded to the Mackworth baronetcy and died in 1852. The letter is remarkable as containing by far the earliest notice of the phrase "La Garde meurt mais ne se rend pas," which is generally supposed to have been invented by a French journalist some time after the fight and to have been attributed wrongly to General Cam-, bronne, who really uttered a much less polite phrase. Occuring in a letter of June 18, it puts a new light to an old controversy, and shows that the epigram WHS absolutely contemporary. The following is the text of the letter, which has been lent to the London Times by the Rev. H. Mackworth-Drake, rector of Skelton in Cleveland:—

June 18th, 11 p.m., Waterloo. Harassed and fatigued as I am, it requires a strong effort and a powerful incentive to sit down and write an account of the dreadful battle in which we have this day been engaged. But while the great events are yet so fresh in my memory, I should not like to miss the opportunity of committing them to paper. Indeed, they have been so very extraordinary that the hand of ProViilfiice alone could have brought them to bear; it is well for us that we were engaged in a good cause. We retired yesterday from Quatre Bras to this place without any serious loss, and took up a moderately strong position across the two high roads from Nivelles and Genappe to Brussels, about two miles from Waterloo where these roads unite. Our right flank rested on Braine la Leud, which was occupied by a Flemish battalion, and the ground between it and the*Nivelle road was held by Mitchell's Brigade of the 4th Division. Close to the high road in front our right was a small road and chateau called Hougoumont, which were at tie foot of Mont St. Jean, the height on which we were posted, and were occupied by a strong detachment from the Guards. Along the summit of Mont. St. Jean to the high road from Genappe was placed the greater part of our artillery supported by the infantry of the 2nd Division; the Guards, some Dutch and Belgian troops, the Brunswick Oels contingent, and the greater part of our light cavalry were in the rear of these and in reserve. The remainder of the Ist Corps, supported by the heavy Cavalry, extended on still farther to the left, and a little beyond the high road to Genappe; in this front and close to the road was the little farm of La Haie Sainte. Our infantry was concealed from the view of the enemy, being posted a little behind the summit of the ridge, and was formed in small squares of battalions, having only the Artillery and a few small parties of Cavalry visible. Our troops remained in this situation with but little variation during nearly the whole of this bloody day. The French Cavalry frequently charged in masses under cover of a tremendous fire from 240 pieces of Artillery. Four times were our guns in possession of their Cavalry, and as often did the bayonets of our Infantry rescue them. For upwards of an hour our little squares were surrounded by the "elite" of the French cavaliers; they they gallantly stood within 40 paces of us, unable to leap over the bristling lino of bayonets, unwilling to retire, and determined never to surrender; hundreds of them were dropping in all directions from our murderous fire, yet as fast as they dropped others came up to supply their place; finding at last that it was in vain to attempt to break our determined ranks, they swept round our rear and, rushing into the Nivelle road, attempted to cut their way back to their own lines. But the whole road was lined with our infantry on both sides, and at the advanced part of it was an almost impassable barricade of felled trees. Here fell the remainder of these brave Cuirassiers, of whom not one was taken without a wound.

The cannonade continued without intermission, and about 0 o'clock we saw heavy columns of Infantry supported by Dragoons forming for a fresh attack, it was evident it would be a desperate and, we thought, probably a decisive one; everyone felt how much depended on this terrible moment. A black mass of the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard with music playing and the great Napoleon at their head came rolling onwards from the farm of "La Belle Alliance;" with rapid pace they descended the opposite heights, all scattered firing ceased on both sides, our little army seemed to collect within itself, the Infantry deployed into line, and the Artillery, charged to the muzzle with grape and cannister, waited for the moment when the enemy's columns should commence, the ascent-of our heights; those spaces in our lines which death had opened and left vacant were covered in appearance by bodies of Cavalry. j

The point at which the enemy aimed was now evident; it was a re-entering anile formed bv a Brigade of Guards, and the light brigade of Lord Hill's corps. Lord Hill was there in person. The French moved 011 with arms sloped "au pas de charge;" they began to ascend the hill, ill a few seconds they were within a hundred pace' of us, anil as yet not a shot had been fired. The awful moment was now at hand, a' peal of ten thousand thunders burst at once on their devoted heads, the storm swept them down as a whirlwind which mOies over the ripe corn, they paused, their advance ceased, they commenced firing from tho head of their columns and attempted io extend their front; but death had already caused too much confusion among them, they crowded instinctively behind eaeli other to avoid a fire which was intolerably dreadful; still they stood firm,. "La Garde meui't mais ne se rend pas." For half an hour this horrible butchery continued, at last seeing all their efforts vain, all their courage useless, deserted by their Emperor, who had already flown, unsupported by their comrades, who were alreadv beaten, the hitherto invincible Old Guard gave way and fled in every direction. One spontaneous and almost painfull v animated '•llnrra" burst from the victorious ranks of England, the line at once advanced; general officers, soldiers all partaking of one common enthusiasm. The battle wivs over. Guns, prisoners, ammunition waggons, baggage, horses successfully fell into our hands; night and fatigue compelled us to halt, we had [word missing, command?! of the Genappe road, and in a short time we saw numerous columns of Prussians advancing along in pursuit of the enemy, each column cheered us in passing, the officers saluted, and many embraced us; never was witnessed a more enthusiastic moment; we felt amply rewarded for the exertion of the day. We retired to take a little most welcome repose while the Prussians continued the pursuit without intermission, and thus ended this ever, memorable dag,

Lord Hill and Staff returned to a small cottage, where we now are; we have but one room between nine of us, including him; all but myself sre now asleep. Good night.