Déposé selon la loi. Entered at Stationers’ Hall. BRUSSELS: J. H. Briard, Printer, 4, Rue aux Laines....

TO THE SIXTH EDITION. “A Voice from Waterloo” is the unassuming tale of an old soldier who was an eyewitness of and actor in many of the scenes he attempts to describe. My having resided more than fourteen years on the field, as Guide, and Describer of the battle, may be considered as the parent of the present memoirs. No one can be more convinced than I am, of my inability to do justice to the subject: but I have had great advantages in communicating personally on the spot with “Waterloo men” o

Napoleon leaves Elba; lands in France.—Louis XVIII quits Paris.—Napoleon, joined by the army, arrives in Paris.—Hostile declaration of the great powers of Europe against Napoleon, which he treats with contempt, and prepares for war.—France soon appears one vast camp.—Allied armies assemble in Belgium.—The duke of Wellington arrives and takes the command; adopts precautionary measures.—In consequence of rumours, his Grace issues a secret memorandum, and draws the army together.—Strength, composit

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 co

(The Marshal’s account of the battle of Ligny is omitted, as, however interesting, it does not strictly belong to this work.) ... “On the 17th, in the evening, the Prussian army concentrated itself in the environs of Wavre. Napoleon put himself in motion against lord Wellington upon the great road leading from Charleroi to Brussels. An English division maintained, on the same day, (16th,) near Quatre-Bras, a very severe contest with the enemy. Lord Wellington had taken a position on the road to

“ Paris , June 21st, 1815. “ Battle of Mont-St.-Jean. “At nine in the morning, the rain having somewhat abated, the 1st corps put itself in motion, and placed itself with the left, on the road to Brussels, and opposite the village of Mont-St.-Jean, which appeared the centre of the enemy’s position. The 2d corps leaned its right upon the road to Brussels, and its left upon a small wood, within cannon-shot of the English army. The cuirassiers were in reserve behind, and the guard in reserve upon t

“ Dinant , June 20th, 1815. “It was not till after seven in the evening of the 18th of June, that I received the letter of the duke of Dalmatia, (Soult,) which directed me to march on St.-Lambert, and to attack general Bulow. I fell in with the enemy as I was marching on Wavre. He was immediately driven into Wavre, and general Vandamme’s corps attacked that town, and was warmly engaged. The portion of Wavre, on the right of the Dyle, was carried: but much difficulty was experienced in debouching

SECRET MEMORANDUM. for H. R. H. the prince of Orange, the Earl of Uxbridge, Lord Hill, and the Quarter-Master-General. “ Brussels , April 29th, 1815. “1. Having received reports that the Imperial guard had moved from Paris upon Beauvais, and a report having been for some days prevalent in the country that Bonaparte was about to visit the northern frontier, I deem it expedient to concentrate the cantonments of the troops, with a view to their early junction in case this country should be attacked

The reader will observe that the letters from which I make the following extracts, were written at three o’clock in the morning of the battle. To Sir Charles Stuart. “ Waterloo , June 18th, 1815, three o’clock A.M. “MY DEAR STUART, ... “You will see in the letter to the duc de Berry the real state of our case, and the only risk we run. The Prussians will be ready again in the morning for anything. “Pray keep the English (in Brussels,) quiet, if you can. Let them all prepare to move, but neither

The reader should be aware, that in military returns, the figures which represent the strength of regiments often greatly exceed the actual number of effective men present . There are always numerous casualties, not accounted for in returns, particularly before a battle. The missing are not all eventually loss ; for, if not taken prisoners most of them join after the strife. The strength of the British was of course greater on the 16th, before the action at Quatre-Bras, where the loss was partic

LETTERS CONCERNING THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Marshal Blücher to Baron Müffling. “ Wavre , June 18th, 1815. “Your Excellency will assure the duke of Wellington from me, that, ill as I am, I shall place myself at the head of my troops, and attack the right of the French, in case they undertake anything against his Grace. If, on the other hand, the day should pass over without their making any attack, it is then my opinion that we should jointly attack them to-morrow. “I beg your Excellency to convey

ANECDOTES RELATIVE TO THE CAMPAIGN OF WATERLOO. At a period of the battle, when the Duke was surrounded by his staff, it was evident they had become the object of the fire from a French battery. The shot fell fast around them. Their horses became restive, and Copenhagen himself (the Duke’s horse,) so fidgety, that the Duke became impatient, and having reasons for remaining on the spot, said, “Gentlemen, we are rather too close together: better divide a little.” On one occasion Wellington rode up

As a tribute of the Author’s respectful gratitude for the information he has obtained from many officers who have visited the field, and, with all the advantages of being on the spot, have discussed the leading questions which have been raised in the United Service Journal, and so many other publications, respecting the details of the battle, their names are subjoined: GENERALS. COLONELS. MAJORS. Two other officers of high rank, who served on the Duke’s staff, have given me information respectin