Charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo
R. Caton Woodville
Six battalions of the Middle Guard and two battalions of the Old Guard were at last sent forward.[101] As they crossed the open ground between Hougoumont and the high road the artillery played sad havoc with some of them, but behind the crest of the ridge was Maitland’s brigade of the Foot Guards, led by Wellington, himself. “Up, Guards, and make ready!” he shouted, and ere the first column was upon them the British infantry had dealt a deadly fire into its ranks which made it pause. The second column was caught in flank by Adam’s Brigade. Then two brigades of British cavalry charged, and although the celebrated Imperial Guards endeavoured to hold their own they were forced back. Blücher, who had arrived at a most opportune moment, carried the position occupied by the French right at Papelotte and La Haye with Ziethen’s corps. The whole Allied line then advanced, the heights were carried, and Napoleon’s last army, on the victory of which he had staked his all, was scattered. The battle of Waterloo was won. “My plan,” said the Commander-in-Chief, “was to keep my ground until the Prussians appeared, and then to attack the French position; and I executed my plan.”
Throughout the night the Prussians followed up the defeated legions, which got across the Sambre on the 19th. Some 30,000 of Napoleon’s men were killed or wounded, and 13,000 of the Allied army, more than half of whom were British. On the 22nd June 1815, the fallen Emperor abdicated in favour of his son; on the 7th July the Allies entered Paris in triumph, and eight days later Napoleon surrendered to Captain Maitland, of H.M.S. Bellerophon.
The Desolator desolate!
The Victor overthrown!
The Arbiter of others fate
A Suppliant for his own!
Byron.