[78] A number of poor fellows who were carried to the houses of the neighbouring villages, met with the most humane treatment: many there breathed their last, under circumstances somewhat less appalling than on the battle field. There still lives at Waterloo a most respectable old lady, at whose house several of our officers were quartered before the battle. Madame Boucqueau (the lady in question) saw these gallant men go forth in the morning; they did not all return at the close of the day. She remembers well that an officer, who appeared to her to hold superior rank, came back to her house in the evening, and said to her exultingly, “_Me voici encore, madame; c’est fini: ils sont à nous_.” (“Here I am again; it is over: we have won the day.”) The worthy dame has in her possession a silver cup, presented to her late husband by British gratitude. As it does honour to all parties concerned, and is a sample, no doubt, of many an interchange of kindly feelings amidst the horrors of war, I have great pleasure in recording here the inscription which is on this cup: “A small mark of grateful respect from Colonel Sir W. Robe, of the British Royal Artillery, knight commander of the Bath, and knight of the Tower and Sword: To Sieur Maximilian Boucqueau, of Waterloo, for kindness in the last moments, and attention to the remains of a beloved son, Lieutenant W. L. Robe, of the British horse artillery, who nobly fell at Waterloo.” [79] _See_ the original in French, in GURWOOD, vol. XII, p. 494-495. [80] Those curious of historical coincidences will observe that Napoleon opened the campaign on the 15th of June. CHAPTER X. English, Prussian and French official accounts of the battle.—Marshal Grouchy’s report of the battle of Wavre.—Returns of the different armies.—Position of the allied artillery.—Artillery, etc., taken at Waterloo.—Questions connected with the campaign: Wellington’s position at Waterloo.—Opinion of general Jomini.—The Duke’s plans and expectations.—His letter to lord Castlereagh.—Resolution of the allied powers, on receiving the intelligence of Napoleon’s flight from Elba.—Wellington’s letter to general Kleist.—The Duke’s decision.—His anticipations.—Obstacles which his Grace met with.—Conduct of the Saxon troops.—Blücher forced by them to quit Liège.—Wellington’s resolution concerning these troops. OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. The dispatch of the duke of Wellington, written immediately after the battle, cannot fail to interest every one. It is a document which has fixed the attention of statesmen and soldiers, not more on account of the importance of the event it describes, than for the noble simplicity, perfect calmness and exemplary modesty which characterize the great man who penned it: it stands in honourable contrast with the hurried, inflated, untrue accounts of military achievements not unfrequently given by commanders of no small renown.