In March 1815 Europe was astounded by the return of Napoleon to Paris. The allied powers, however, refused to recognize his sovereignty, and determined on his dethronement. A large army proceeded to Flanders under Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, and Major-General Sir Denis Pack was placed in command of a brigade. The campaign was as brief as it was glorious. On the 16th of June, Napoleon, after having made one of his rapid movements, attacked the Anglo-Belgian troops at Quatre Bras, in which the fifth division under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Picton, of which Major-General Sir Denis Pack’s brigade formed part, was engaged. Then followed the movement on the 17th to Waterloo, where, on the 18th of June, was fought that memorable battle in which the sun of Napoleon set for ever, and the result of which gave to Europe a lengthened period of tranquillity. These arduous conflicts afforded Major-General Sir Denis Pack several opportunities for distinguishing himself, and adding to his former honors.
Sir Denis Pack had the honor to receive the thanks of both Houses of Parliament on six different occasions; namely, for his conduct in the battles of Roleia and Vimiera; for the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo; and for the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, and Waterloo.
On the 8th of January 1816 Major-General Sir Denis Pack was appointed colonel of the York chasseurs, which corps was subsequently disbanded. On the 12th of August 1819 he was appointed lieut.-governor of Plymouth, and to the command of the troops in the western district, and on the 9th of September 1822 he was appointed colonel of the eighty-fourth regiment. The decease of Major-General Sir Denis Pack occurred on the 24th of July 1823, at which period he held the command of the troops in the western district of Great Britain, and the lieut.-governorship of Plymouth.
The following letter to Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty contains a full and satisfactory explanation of the motives by which Lieut.-Colonel Pack was actuated in effecting his escape, as alluded to in the foregoing memoir.
“Monte Video, 27th February 1807.
“Sir,
“Anxious to be immediately employed in the service of my country, I take the liberty of stating the circumstances which led me to make my escape from the enemy, trusting my conduct on the occasion will meet with your sanction, and that you will be pleased to take my wishes into consideration.
“The following, I believe, will be found a correct statement of the transaction.
“Immediately after the surrender of the fort of Buenos Ayres, on the 12th of August last, I understood from Brigadier-General Beresford that the conditions verbally agreed to between him and Colonel Liniers were, that the British troops were to be considered as prisoners of war, but to be immediately embarked for England or the Cape and to be exchanged for those Spanish prisoners made on the British possessing themselves of Buenos Ayres. On the 13th, in the morning, Colonel Liniers despatched a Spanish officer to Sir Home Popham, with a letter from General Beresford, to send the British transports back for the purpose of immediately carrying the treaty into execution, and a few days afterwards I was present when Colonel Liniers unequivocally affixed his name to the capitulation containing the above condition.