Frasers of Philorth > Volume 1

THE FRASERS OF PHILORTH, LORDS SALTOUN. 265
when the command of the 3rd Battalion devolved upon Lord Saltoun, who
had lately joined from Hougomont, and that of the second upon Lieutenant-
Colonel Eeeve. The two wounded Colonels were carried off the field, and
Colonel Stables died the following morning, to the great regret of all his
brother officers."
1 " The Prussians at length began to make their appearance on the field
near Planchenoit, to the right and right rear of the French, and Napoleon
was now pressed by them on that flank. In vain had he endeavoured with
his cavalry to shake the British squares ; in vain had he stormed again and
again the stronghold of Hougomont on the British right; in vain had he
attempted to force Picton on their left. Most of his troops had been baffled,
but there still remained to him one more chance of retrieving the fortunes of
the day ; he still fondly hoped that the hour of his triumph was at hand, and
that he should be able once more to grasp as firmly as ever the sceptre of
Imperial France. He resolved to organise the columns of Grenadiers and
Chasseurs of his Imperial Guards, and hurl them against the centre of the
allied position, where stood firmly as a rock Maitland's 1st brigade of British
Guards.
" The following anecdote, referring to this period, is recorded of Lord
Saltoun by an intimate friend, and his former Adjutant, During a lull, just
after the repulse of one attack, and before the final one, the Duke was on his
horse close to the 1st Brigade, and after looking carefully with his glass along
the whole of the French position, turned to those of his staff near him, saying,
' Well, I think they are pretty well told out now.' Saltoun immediately said
to one of the staff officers, ' I don't know ; when I was outside the wood at
Hougomont, this morning, before the action began, I watched a column of
men, as far as I can guess about 5000 or 6000, go into a hollow opposite ;
I have kept my eye on this spot all day, and have never seen them come
out yet.' Upon this being repeated to the Duke, he turned his glass in that
direction, and after a moment's pause exclaimed, ' By God, he is right !
they are coming out now ;' and it is said that the Duke was so much struck
with the coolness and power of observation exhibited by Lord Saltoun under
such circumstances, that he ever afterwards spoke of him as a thorough soldier."
1 History of the Grenadier Guards, vol. iii. p. 39.
2 L