by the Nivelles road.

Ney was very strong in cavalry, and our men were constantly formed into
squares to receive them. The famous Kellerman, the hero of Marengo,
tried a last charge, and was very nearly being taken or killed, as his
horse was shot under him when very near us. Wellington at last took
the offensive; - a charge was made against the French, which succeeded,
and we remained masters of the field. I acted as a mere spectator,
and got, on one occasion, just within twenty or thirty yards of some
of the cuirassiers; but my horse was too quick for them.

On the 17th, Wellington retreated upon Waterloo, about eleven o'clock.
The infantry were masked by the cavalry in two lines, parallel to the
Namur road. Our cavalry retired on the approach of the French cavalry,
in three columns, on the Brussels road. A torrent of rain fell, upon
the Emperor's ordering the heavy cavalry to charge us; while the fire
of sixty or eighty pieces of cannon showed that we had chosen our position
at Waterloo. Chambers said to me, "Now, Gronow, the loss has been very
severe in the Guards, and I think you ought to go and see whether you
are wanted; for, as you have really nothing to do with Picton, you had
better join your regiment, or you may get into a scrape." Taking his
advice, I rode off to where the Guards were stationed; the officers
- amongst whom I remember Colonel Thomas and Brigade-Major Miller -
expressed their astonishment and amazement on seeing me, and exclaimed,
"What the deuce brought you here? Why are you not with your battalion
in London? Get off your horse, and explain how you came here!"

Things were beginning to look a little awkward, when Gunthorpe, the
adjutant, a great friend of mine, took my part and said, "As he is here,
let us make the most of him; there's plenty of work for everyone. Come,