|
Sale 24
|
|
press UP arrow key to increase the zoom ratio.
press DOWN arrow key to decrease the zoom ratio.
press RIGHT arrow key to increase the zoom window size.
press LEFT arrow key to decrease the zoom window size.
|
|
Lot 373
Waterloo - A Description of the Battle. A superb nine-page account (retained draft) of the battle of Waterloo, written by an unnamed English officer to his father from Le Cateau, June 24, 1815, eight days after the battle. Even as he describes the carnage, the officer cannot help but express his admiration for Bonaparte's military genius. In part: "….At night, Buonaparte made one of the most extraordinary and brilliant movements ever heard of. He collected the whole of his cavalry in one great charge thro the centre of the Prussian Army…the Prussian loss was 15,000 men….The following day (17) in consequence of the retreat of the Prussians, we retired to the position of Waterloo….a position quite on nearly flat wide open country…In the right centre a small woods with an old convent in it….Wellington sent the Guards into it with orders to defend it….On the morning of the 18th…we perceived the Enemy's columns collecting in our front for the attack…." A 3-page description follows of the battle that took place between 11 AM and 6 PM, when the French retired to regroup. Then: "Under cover of this cannodade advanced Buonaparte at the head of his Imperial Guard. Cavalry in a column on the left flank, then Grenadiers of the guard on their right flank. They advanced quite steadily up to our line in one great mass. They halted and commenced firing. Our troops were literally mowed down. The fire was so great nothing could stand….Lord Hill moved a brigade (our elite) round the flank. I brought up Six Squadrons of Cavalry and we made a general charge. The Cuirassiers of the Imperial Guards had their ranks crushed, thinned by our Artillery. They went about. We with the Cavalry pursued them. leaving the French Infantry steady on our flank. Marshall Ney was with this Cavalry and I was within 20 paces of him. He was alone with about six orderlys….the French Cuirassiers came clear into us. I was on my old brown horse, a grape shot went thro his body, and a round shot struck my hat at the same moment. He fell dead. I was a good deal stunned and could not get from under him…." He tells of having another horse killed from under him and another shot in the leg, then, "The Enemy were now beat back. Buonaparte had led his own guard and been beaten….Lord Wellington called it the battle of the Giants, and he says there is no Hell for any fellow that escaped that cannodade. I believe in the whole Army, Lord Wellington was the individual who fought the hardest and the only individual not touched….Colonels Canning and Gordon killeld, Fitzroy Somerset lost an arm, Delancy badly wounded….the admiration of the whole Army was the gallantry and determination of the French Cavalry, and the steadiness of our Infantry….I had rather have fallen that day as a British Infantry Man or as a French Cuirassier, than die ten years hence in my bed!…We saw Buonapartes carriage, his hat, cloak, coat and his orders taken in it--his hat fits me exactly! Would that I had such a head under it!…. Lord Hill has begged Lord Wellington to give me my Lt. Colonelcy…. " A few archival repairs, else Fine. A complete transcription is available for those seriously interested.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
|
| |
| Realized $5,175 |
|
