[57] I met this French officer on the field in 1844: he was a captain in the 2d carabineers, or brass-clad cuirassiers; the reason he gave for not coming over to us till the eleventh hour, was, that he expected a number of his regiment to desert with him.
[58] See colonel Hunter Blair’s letter, Appendix, [No. VII.]
CHAPTER VII.
Napoleon advances his Imperial guard; gives it up to Ney.—The Emperor addresses his men for the last time.—Blücher’s guns blazing away, the enemy replies.—Napoleon circulates a false report.—The French guards about to attack men who, like themselves, had never been beaten.—Tremendous roar of artillery.—Vandersmissen’s brigade of guns arrives.—The right or leading column of the Imperial guard, on ascending the tongue of ground, suffers dreadfully from our double-charged guns, which it appears to disregard.—Ney’s horse killed.—The attacking column crowns the ridge, well supported.—“Up, guards, make ready!”—The British guards, Halkett’s brigade, with Bolton’s and Vandersmissen’s batteries, open fire upon the head of the assailing column, which it returns.—Gallantry of sir Colin Halkett.—The enemy in confusion, charged by our guards and Halkett’s 30th and 73d regiments.—The first French column, after displaying the most heroic courage, gives way in disorder.—The second attacking column approaching, suffers from our batteries.—Our guards, ordered to retire, get into disorder, which soon sets to right again.—Halkett’s brigade in great confusion, but soon recovers.—D’Aubremé’s Netherlanders in the greatest disorder.—Our batteries, with the guards, open fire upon the head of the left attacking column, whilst the 52d and rifles assail its front and left flank; the French return the fire with vigour.—The crisis.—The enemy in confusion, charged in flank, gives way.—Pursued by Adam’s brigade.—Vivian’s hussars launched forward upon the enemy’s reserves; their disposition.—General disposition of the Prussian and French armies.
Vivian came to this part of the line about a quarter before eight P.M. The enemy’s skirmishers in crowds had again pressed on to our front, which, from its reduced state, was once more giving way. A battalion of the Brunswickers was retiring, having expended all its ammunition. The Nassau-men were falling back in mass upon the horses’ heads of the 10th hussars, and, as sir Hussey Vivian has since told me, had the 10th not been there, they would have retreated. Captain Shakspeare of the 10th was with sir Hussey, and they both did their utmost to encourage them. Vivian says that, in justice to many of their officers, he must state, that these endeavoured to stop the men; he saw one take a drummer by the collar, and make him beat the rally. The left of the division now pressed on, led by Kielmansegge. Those on the right took it up, as well as the Brunswick and Nassau-men, their drums beating, Vivian, his aide-de-camp and many of his officers cheering them on, whilst the hussars followed in support; the French and their artillery falling back before them.
“One crowded hour of glorious strife
Is worth an age of peaceful life;
’Tis thus the soldier hastes along,
And faces death amidst the throng.”