32 THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

 

As the French approached, the English met
them with a deadly volley at close range
and then dashed upon them with their
bayonets. The French were driven back
and then the English cavalry charged down
upon them, sabred the artillerymen of the
seventy-four guns, cut the traces and killed
the horses, rendering them useless for the
day and causing a loss which did much to
decide the day in their favor.

Although the French had fought fiercely
they had gained no decided advantage, and
at half past three as Napoleon saw the
Prussian allies coming up from the east he
ordered his splendid cavalry to charge the
English center. This body of horsemen
was the finest the world had ever seen.
They numbered 35,000, every man selected
for bravery and daring. It had never
known defeat and when the order to charge
came they dashed: forward with ringing
cheers. Wellington quickly formed his in-
fantry in squares, and while the outer ranks
received the French upon their bayonets
the inner lines poured volley after volley
into their advancing columns. Charge
after charge was made but the English
The Prus-

sians under Blucher having arrived, the

squares remained unbroken.

English and their allies assumed the offen-
sive and began to attack the French in dif-
ferent portions of the line. Throughout
the day the Old Guard, Napoleon’s bravest

veterans had remained inactive, These

 

were picked troops, the heroes of a score of
battles, renowned for their skill and bray-
ery. These under the command of Ney
were ordered forward. In the face of a
deadly fire they moved imposingly on.
Ney’s horse was shot under him but he led
the way on foot, swordin hand. Suddenly
there came the command, “ Up Guards, and
at them!” and from the ground where they
had been lying up sprang the British
Guards four deep in compact order and in
perfect form. “Fire!” and three hundred
of the Old Guard went down never to rise.
“Charge! ’ and with the fury of demons
the English troop rushed upon the French.
In vain did the French officers strive to
The British
Guards were irresistible and for the first

check the English advance.

time in their career the Old Guard turned
At the foot of the hill they ral-

lied and again advanced.

and fled.
Meantime the
English had ordered a brigade to flank the
French and as they assended the hill a de-
structive fire met them in front and poured
in from the side. Against such odds the
bravery of the French could not prevail,
Then it
was that Wellington, seeing the disorder

and again they turned and fled.

of the French, gave the order to his entire
army to charge. Before Napoleon and
Ney could ralley their disheartened men
The French
were thrown into confusion and except the

weakened ranks of the Old Guard, retreat-

the English were upon them.