Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/30

26 to the effect that the Prussians were beaten but not broken, and ready to fight again. He returned, bringing with him a surgeon of the Life Guards at the Dukes special desire, and a second operation was performed. When the Prussians retired to Wavre, Sir Henry was conveyed at some risk to the Marshal's head-quarters in that town.

It is difficult, after the lapse of many years, to ascertain with accuracy the dates of certain conversations which took place; but Lord Stanhope, an historian of singular accuracy, who probably took the words down in his Journal whilst they were fresh in his mind, relates how Sir Henry described the above occurrence. The following is the account given by Lord Stanhope of what took place at Walmer Castle in October, 1837: — 'The Duke remarked that at Ligny it was a most extraordinary circumstance that the French did not maintain the position they had won; that the first thing he did on the 17th was to send William Gordon and two squadrons with orders to make their way through all obstacles and let him know what had become of the Prussians; that he came back early on the 17th, having found the French gone off the field of battle and not in possession of Sombreffe. "Yes," said Hardinge, "Blücher had gone back as far as Wavre. I passed that night with my amputated arm lying on some straw in the ante-room. Next morning Blücher sent for me, calling me 'Lieber Freund,' and embracing me. I perceived he smelt strongly of gin and rhubarb. He said to me, 'Ich