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Lekt. 57. Tonvigtsregler. Bråktal.
15
Thoughts at Waterloo (wa’terio).
The two armies, for a while separated by the heaps of
slain, assaulted each other again, hand to hand; amidst the
smoke of incessant discharge the melée was so thick, so
confused, and so furious, that neither the eye nor the voice of
the generals could any longer discern or command the
respective movements. It rained death around Wellington.
His surviving companions of the battle, Vincent, A lava (al’ava),
and Hill, thought all was lost; but he alone still continued
to hope. — »Have you any orders to give?» asked the chief
of his staff, with an anxious voice, which seemed to hint
at the prudence of a retreat. »None», replied the general.
»But you may be killed», said the other, »and your Grace
may wish to communicate your thoughts to the next in
command». »My thoughts!» replied the duke; »I have no other
than to stand my ground to the last man!»
During the battle some regiments were reduced to
two-thirds of their original number, but remained immoveable,
notwithstanding, resolved to die to the last man rather than
yield their position and give up the victory. One Scotch
division of 400 men was reduced to 40, and asked for a
re-inforcement. They may die, replied Wellington, »but they
must keep their ground. Nothing but night or Blucher can
give us re-inforcements.» The division obeyed and stood its
ground. The Duke of Wellington, the Prince of Orange,
Lord Hill, Pozzo di Borgo, and Alava, a Spanish volunteer
general, flew by turns from one regiment to another, to
animate them, entered the squares, received the charges, and
quitted them again after their fire had been delivered, to fly
to another, thus setting an example of imparting resolution
to all. »Stand fast! stand to the last man, my lads!» repeated
Wellington from square to square; »we must not be beaten:
what would they say of us iu England?» This was Nelson’s
word of encouragement at Trafalgar: the eye of England was
upon every one of her soldiers.
At the last grand charge of his dragoons, and throughout
its irresistible advance, the duke was up with the foremost
of his people. Nothing stopped him; nothing stood in his
way. He cheered on Adam’s brigade, and halted beyond its
front. He spoke to the skirmishers, and mingled with them;
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