Gronow, you shall go with the Hon. Captain Clements and a detachment
to the village of Waterloo, to take charge of the French prisoners."
I said, "What the deuce shall I do with my horse ?" Upon which the
Hon. Captain Stopford, aide-de-camp to Sir John Byng, volunteered to
buy him. Having thus once more become a foot soldier, I started according
to orders, and arrived at Waterloo.


GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE FIELD OF WATERLOO


The day on which the battle of Waterloo was fought seemed to have been
chosen by some providential accident for which human wisdom is unable
to account. On the morning of the 18th the sun shone most gloriously,
and so clear was the atmosphere that we could see the long, imposing
lines of the enemy most distinctly. Immediately in front of the division
to which I belonged, and, I should imagine, about half a mile from us,
were posted cavalry and artillery; and to the right and left the French
had already engaged us, attacking Huguemont and La Haye Sainte. We
heard incessantly the measured boom of artillery, accompanied by the
incessant rattling echoes of musketry.

The whole of the British infantry not actually engaged were at that
time formed into squares; and as you looked along our lines, it seemed
as if we formed a continuous wall of human beings. I recollect distinctly
being able to see Bonaparte and his staff; and some of my brother officers
using the glass, exclaimed, "There he is on his white horse." I should
not forget to state that when the enemy's artillery began to play on
us, we had orders to lie down, when we could hear the shot and shell
whistling around us, killing and wounding great numbers; then again