Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
From the momentary contemplation of these trophies, your eyes
instinctively revert to the course of the victors, whom you now
perceive in the middle distance of the view--a broken Line of daring
horsemen, rushing up the opposite Heights. Their intoxicating
triumph admits of no restraint. They heed not the trumpet's call to
halt and rally; but plunging wildly amidst the formidable Line of
Batteries ranged along the French position, they commence sabring the
Gunners, stabbing the horses, and seem to clear the ground of every
living being. But physical efforts, however powerfully developed and
sustained, have their limit: exhausted nature yields at length; and
their fiery steeds, subdued, not by force but by exhaustion, retire
with lagging faltering pace. You look in vain for a Support--there
is none--but your eye is suddenly caught by the fluttering lance
flags of a Column of the Enemy's Cavalry, approaching from the left,
and you become nervously alive to the danger that awaits the valiant
band of heroes, who are only now made sensible of the necessity
of retiring to collect and rally their scattered numbers. Seeing
no Support ready to receive them, and becoming aware of the near
approach of hostile Cavalry, they make a last and desperate effort.
Those who are best mounted, and whose horses are least blown, succeed
in regaining the Allied position unmolested; but a very considerable
number are overtaken by the Lancers, with whom they now contend under
a fearful disadvantage in point of speed and order.
But mark! a rescue is at hand--a gallant line of friendly Cavalry
throws itself against the Right Flank of the Lancers, the further
portion, or Left, of that Line first dashing through and scattering
an unsteady mass of Infantry, the sole remaining Column out of the
entire attacking force that has yet kept together. The tide of
destruction now sets in strongly against the Lancers. Their pursuit
is checked. The Heavy Dragoons are relieved from the pressure. A
_mêlée_ ensues; but you are not kept long in suspense; for in another
moment this newly arrived force, making good its way, succeeds in
driving the Lancers in confusion down to the foot of the valley. The
arena in your front is speedily cleared of both friends and foes--the
discharge of rockets, which now attracts your attention, appears like
a display of fireworks in celebration of the glorious triumph--the
affair has terminated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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