Page:Life of the Duke of Wellington.pdf/22

22 never have so beaten us, we could have made good the wood against them.'" This brief but characteristic conversation has been adduced to show that even though the English had sustained a temporary disaster, still the plan of the campaign had been so regulated, that Napoleon could only have had a brief and temporary glimpse of success.

Still the battle was far from being decided. Napoleon was desperate, and resolved to sacrifice his last chance of retreat before the Prussians came up; though his cavalry was already wrecked, and he had lost, besides, 15,000 men. There was no time to lose, for the Prussian guns were beginning to thunder on his flank, to the great joy of Wellington, who said, “There goes old Blucher at last;" and by the light of the setting sun his forces were seen issuing from the wood.

Napoleon had still 15,000 men of his own faithful Guard, who, placed during the action either on or behind La Belle Alliance, had hardly drawn a trigger. Led by Marshal Ney, they advanced dauntlessly, rallying as they went such of the broken cavalry and infantry as yet maintained the conflict. The British line, by the successes on the right wing, had gradually all pushed forward, and was now changed from a convex to a concave position, so that the artillery raked the French columns as they came upon the causeway; and so accurately were they directed, that the heads of the columns were constantly cut off, and they seemed to make no progress. Borne on however by the impetuousity of those in the rear, they at length reached the plain, and attained the summit of the ridge where the British lay concealed. At this important time, the Duke of Wellington, who had placed himself immediately behind the Guards, when he thought then near enough, gave the order, “Up, Guards, and at them.” They sprung to their feet, as if by magic, poured in on the French a well-aimed