“This gave lord Uxbridge an opportunity of charging them with the 1st life-guards, upon their _débouché_ from the village of Genappe; upon which occasion his Lordship has declared himself to be well satisfied with that regiment. “The position which I took up in front of Waterloo crossed the high-roads from Charleroi and Nivelles, and had its right thrown back to a ravine near Merbe-Braine, which was occupied and its left extended to a height above the hamlet Ter-la-Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right centre, and near the Nivelles road, we occupied the house and gardens of Hougoumont, which covered the return of that flank; and in front of the left centre we occupied the farm of La Haye-Sainte. By our left we communicated with marshal prince Blücher at Wavre, through Ohain; and the marshal had promised me that, in case we should be attacked, he would support me with one or more corps, as might be necessary. “The enemy collected his army, with the exception of the 3d corps, which had been sent to observe marshal Blücher, on a range of heights in our front, in the course of the night of the 17th and yesterday morning; and at about ten o’clock he commenced a furious attack upon our post at Hougoumont. I had occupied that post with a detachment from general Byng’s brigade of guards, which was in position in its rear; and it was for some time under the command of lieutenant-colonel Macdonell, and afterwards of colonel Home; and I am happy to add, that it was maintained throughout the day with the utmost gallantry by these brave troops, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of large bodies of the enemy to obtain possession of it. “The attack upon the right of our centre was accompanied by a very heavy cannonade upon our whole line, which was destined to support the repeated attacks of cavalry and infantry, occasionally mixed, but sometimes separate, which were made upon it. In one of these the enemy carried the farm-house of La Haye-Sainte, as the detachment of the light battalion of the German legion, which occupied it, had expended all its ammunition; and the enemy occupied the only communication there was with them. “The enemy repeatedly charged our infantry with his cavalry, but these attacks were uniformly unsuccessful; and they afforded opportunities to our cavalry to charge, in one of which lord Edward Somerset’s brigade, consisting of the life-guards, the Royal horse-guards and 1st dragoon guards, highly distinguished themselves, as did that of major-general sir William Ponsonby, having taken many prisoners and an eagle.