Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 4, 1896

32
THE OELTIO MONTHLY.
mail, at the command of their great ami grand
chief. The last rays of the setting sun glanced
on the arms of the surviving thousands, who
with loud cheers streamed over the crest of the
hill they so gallantly held during the long hours
of mortal strife.
It was now 8-30 p.m. The scene was closing,
and the curtain was about to fall on the
terrible drama played on the field of Waterloo.
The French were thunderstruck when they
beheld the whole British line majestically
advancing, and driving before it the last column
of the Impel ial Guard. They had been told,
and believed, that the British infantry were
destroyed, and now seeing them advancing in
such strength, despair seized them, and at once
concluded all was lost. Horse, foot, and
artillery breaking their ranks, began to flee
tumultuously towards the rear. The British
cavalry, still four thousand strong, poured in
every du-ection down the slope, cutting down
every one who resisted, and driving before
them the mass of fugitives who strove to keep
their ranks, or arrest their impetuous progress.
The "Old Guard," nevertheless, still stood
firm. The two battalions who formed the rear
of the last attacking column, had not suffered
much from the terrific tire which had proved so
fatal to those in front and flank, and instead of
moving away in disorder to the right before the
3t^%
WELLINUTO.V OKDEKED THE WHOLE LINE TO ADVANCE.
fire of Adam's brigade, they detached them-
selves, and retii'ed in good order to their com-
rades in the rear. The battalions of the Guard
left in reserve, in perfect array of squares, un
scathed and fresh, supported by a strong body
of Cuirassiers on both flanks, with artillery in
the insterstices, presented not only a formidable
body to cover the rallying of the defeated
Guard, but formed the head of a column that
might have succeeded in restoring the battle.
Wellington was near at hand, his men, and
especially at this moment, his cavalry, flushed
and animated with the dawn of victory, re-
doubled their eftbrts. The admirable presci-
ence of their Chief was now conspicuously seen
in having ordered forward his two brigades of
light cavalry at the time of Adam's attack on
the flank of" the "Guard." Vivian reached the
hollow of the valley at the tnnc the "Guard"
was falling back in disorder down the slope,
and Napoleon, after personally rallying the
broken battalions of the Guard who formed the
first column of attack, arranged them in squares
on rising ground commanding the Charleroi
road. At the same time he pushed forwai'd
some light horse to check Vivian, but they were
quickly overthrown. Upon this the fearless
Cuirassiers advanced and formed in front of