Page:Battles of Quatre Bras & Waterloo.pdf/16

 —every soldier on either side seemed to remember nothing but the glory of his country when, by dexterity or good fortune, he had cut down his opponent, his eyes glared around in search of one worthy of his victorious arms!—The whole might be called a series of single combats, in which the noblest, blood of the rival armies profusely flowed, and horses, wounded or dead, lay on every side in the greatest confusion- Victory at last declared for our cavaliers. The royals and Enniskillens drew in their reins, and returned to their memorable stance; but the greys pursued, cutting their way through the enemy's lines, and of this there cannot be a doubt, for the following day, several of them were found lying beside their horses, a considerable way even beyond their second line. In this imprudent, though brave pursuit, the gallant Sir William Ponsonby lost his life.

The fire of our artillery was soon after this resumed, and again abandoned, as circumstances required. The operations proved always dreadful to the advancing and retiring French. Their cannon was likewise terrible to us. When the moment permitted they were let off, and being in some places ranged within the space of a few hundred yards, carried devastation to the very heart of our squares. “Yet, under such a fire," said a general officer, "did these gallant men close their files over the bodies of their dead and dying comrades, and resume, with stern composure, that close array of battle which, their discipline and experience taught them, afforded the only means of defence."

There now commenced an uninterrupted series of attacks, through the whole line, but principally on the centre, sometimes with infantry, at other times with cavalry, and then with both united; while nearly three hundred pieces of artillery played