FOOTNOTES:[71]My gallant friend and companion in arms the general[72]who, on all occasions, from my attending him as orderly, at the close of the day of Waterloo, until his death, so kindly took me by the hand, thought that what had occurred at Marengo, (when Kellermann’s cavalry charged the advancing columns of Austrian grenadiers, and Desaix with a small force attacked their front and snatched a victory which the Austrians considered they had previously gained,) might probably take place at Waterloo, and was therefore most anxious to drive the enemy’s cavalry off, and prevent a like occurrence.[72]Seegeneral Vivian’s letter, Appendix,No. VII, p. 274.[73]It was Halkett himself who marked out Cambronne, and having ridden forward at full gallop, was on the point of cutting down the French general, when the latter cried out for quarter and received it. This fact does not well agree with the words popularly ascribed to Cambronne, “La garde meurt, et ne se rend pas.” After having surrendered, Cambronne tried to escape from Halkett, whose horse fell wounded to the ground. But in a few seconds Halkett overtook his prisoner, and seizing him by the aiguillette, hurried him to the Osnabruckers, and sent him in charge of a sergeant to the duke of Wellington. Cambronne was subsequently sent to Ostend, with count de Lobau and other prisoners. It was only the old guard that wore the aiguillette.The words ascribed to Cambronne, “The guard dies, it never surrenders,” of which we see such numbers of engraving, and which illustrates so many pocket handkerchiefs, and ornaments so much of their crockery, etc., have, notwithstanding they were never uttered, made a fortune: all French historians repeat them. I am in possession of a letter, written to me by a friend of Cambronne’s, and who asked the general, whether it was true that he had uttered the words in question; the reply was, I quote Mr. E. S. Dickson’s own words, “Monsieur, on m’a débité cette réponse.” (“The answer has been placed to my account.”)[74]It is notorious, that in the bosom of the truly brave, a spark of humanity is always smouldering, even when the ferocity of war rouses the savage passions to the greatest fury. The case above, that of major Toole, 32d regiment, (page 57,) that of general Pelet, (page 132, note,) together with the anecdote of the French skirmisher with lieutenant-colonel F. Ponsomby, (Appendix,No. VI,) prove the difficulty of making brave men hate each other.[75]Good proof, were it wanting, who first drove the French back, and led the van in pursuit.[76]Let it be recorded to general Pelet’s credit, that he prevented the butchery of some Prussian prisoners, whom their captors, in their fruitless rage, were eager to sacrifice.[77]SeeAppendix,No. II, p. 216; orDispatches, vol. XII, p. 488-489.
[71]My gallant friend and companion in arms the general[72]who, on all occasions, from my attending him as orderly, at the close of the day of Waterloo, until his death, so kindly took me by the hand, thought that what had occurred at Marengo, (when Kellermann’s cavalry charged the advancing columns of Austrian grenadiers, and Desaix with a small force attacked their front and snatched a victory which the Austrians considered they had previously gained,) might probably take place at Waterloo, and was therefore most anxious to drive the enemy’s cavalry off, and prevent a like occurrence.
[71]My gallant friend and companion in arms the general[72]who, on all occasions, from my attending him as orderly, at the close of the day of Waterloo, until his death, so kindly took me by the hand, thought that what had occurred at Marengo, (when Kellermann’s cavalry charged the advancing columns of Austrian grenadiers, and Desaix with a small force attacked their front and snatched a victory which the Austrians considered they had previously gained,) might probably take place at Waterloo, and was therefore most anxious to drive the enemy’s cavalry off, and prevent a like occurrence.
[72]Seegeneral Vivian’s letter, Appendix,No. VII, p. 274.
[72]Seegeneral Vivian’s letter, Appendix,No. VII, p. 274.
[73]It was Halkett himself who marked out Cambronne, and having ridden forward at full gallop, was on the point of cutting down the French general, when the latter cried out for quarter and received it. This fact does not well agree with the words popularly ascribed to Cambronne, “La garde meurt, et ne se rend pas.” After having surrendered, Cambronne tried to escape from Halkett, whose horse fell wounded to the ground. But in a few seconds Halkett overtook his prisoner, and seizing him by the aiguillette, hurried him to the Osnabruckers, and sent him in charge of a sergeant to the duke of Wellington. Cambronne was subsequently sent to Ostend, with count de Lobau and other prisoners. It was only the old guard that wore the aiguillette.The words ascribed to Cambronne, “The guard dies, it never surrenders,” of which we see such numbers of engraving, and which illustrates so many pocket handkerchiefs, and ornaments so much of their crockery, etc., have, notwithstanding they were never uttered, made a fortune: all French historians repeat them. I am in possession of a letter, written to me by a friend of Cambronne’s, and who asked the general, whether it was true that he had uttered the words in question; the reply was, I quote Mr. E. S. Dickson’s own words, “Monsieur, on m’a débité cette réponse.” (“The answer has been placed to my account.”)
[73]It was Halkett himself who marked out Cambronne, and having ridden forward at full gallop, was on the point of cutting down the French general, when the latter cried out for quarter and received it. This fact does not well agree with the words popularly ascribed to Cambronne, “La garde meurt, et ne se rend pas.” After having surrendered, Cambronne tried to escape from Halkett, whose horse fell wounded to the ground. But in a few seconds Halkett overtook his prisoner, and seizing him by the aiguillette, hurried him to the Osnabruckers, and sent him in charge of a sergeant to the duke of Wellington. Cambronne was subsequently sent to Ostend, with count de Lobau and other prisoners. It was only the old guard that wore the aiguillette.
The words ascribed to Cambronne, “The guard dies, it never surrenders,” of which we see such numbers of engraving, and which illustrates so many pocket handkerchiefs, and ornaments so much of their crockery, etc., have, notwithstanding they were never uttered, made a fortune: all French historians repeat them. I am in possession of a letter, written to me by a friend of Cambronne’s, and who asked the general, whether it was true that he had uttered the words in question; the reply was, I quote Mr. E. S. Dickson’s own words, “Monsieur, on m’a débité cette réponse.” (“The answer has been placed to my account.”)
[74]It is notorious, that in the bosom of the truly brave, a spark of humanity is always smouldering, even when the ferocity of war rouses the savage passions to the greatest fury. The case above, that of major Toole, 32d regiment, (page 57,) that of general Pelet, (page 132, note,) together with the anecdote of the French skirmisher with lieutenant-colonel F. Ponsomby, (Appendix,No. VI,) prove the difficulty of making brave men hate each other.
[74]It is notorious, that in the bosom of the truly brave, a spark of humanity is always smouldering, even when the ferocity of war rouses the savage passions to the greatest fury. The case above, that of major Toole, 32d regiment, (page 57,) that of general Pelet, (page 132, note,) together with the anecdote of the French skirmisher with lieutenant-colonel F. Ponsomby, (Appendix,No. VI,) prove the difficulty of making brave men hate each other.
[75]Good proof, were it wanting, who first drove the French back, and led the van in pursuit.
[75]Good proof, were it wanting, who first drove the French back, and led the van in pursuit.
[76]Let it be recorded to general Pelet’s credit, that he prevented the butchery of some Prussian prisoners, whom their captors, in their fruitless rage, were eager to sacrifice.
[76]Let it be recorded to general Pelet’s credit, that he prevented the butchery of some Prussian prisoners, whom their captors, in their fruitless rage, were eager to sacrifice.
[77]SeeAppendix,No. II, p. 216; orDispatches, vol. XII, p. 488-489.
[77]SeeAppendix,No. II, p. 216; orDispatches, vol. XII, p. 488-489.