Journal of the Waterloo Campaign, kept throughout the Campaign of 1815

Preface

This work — the ' Journal of the Campaign of 1815 ' — was written by my father in its pre sent form about forty years ago, from rough notes jotted down every evening after the scenes and events of the day were over. It has no pre tension to be an account of the military opera tions of the war, but merely a diary of the writer's own impressions — what he saw and felt while with the army, from the first landing in Belgium to the final embarkation for England. Of the great battle, no other description than that of the part taken in it by his own troop of Horse Artillery, or those corps in his imme diate vicinity, is given ; but from its very nature as a diary, the tedium of out - quarters, the fatigues of the march, and the hardships of the bivouac, are made present, as it were, to the

PREFACE.

. VI reader. My father having been a very good amateur artist, was much struck, of course, by new and picturesque scenes, consequently has described them con amore, and in considerable detail. The author himself belonged to a military race ; all his famdy were either in the army or navy. He was the second son of General Mercer of the Eoyal Engineers, who, after serving on Sir H. Clinton's staff during the American War of Independence, was more than twenty years commanding engineer in the West of Eng land, where his honourable character procured him many friends. My father (also a general officer at the time of his death) was born in 1783, and passing as usual through the Military Academy at Woolwich, obtained a commission in the Royal Artillery at sixteen, and was sent to Ireland at the time of the Rebellion.

In 1808 he went to the river Plate to join Whitelock's unfortunate expedition, and covered the retreat from Buenos Ayres. This proved a most un happy affair for him ; for having been in South America, he was prevented from partaking in the glorious campaigns of the Peninsula, and only saw foreign service again in the campaign of

PREFACE.

. VII Waterloo. After the peace, he was placed upon half-pay. In 1824 he was ordered to Canada, having the brevet rank of major (I should have noticed that at Waterloo he only held the rank of second captain, although commanding a troop — Sir Alex. Dickson, whose troop it was, being otherwise employed). In 1837, being then a lieutenant-colonel, he was again sent to North America, and commanded the artillery in Nova Scotia at the time when the Maine boundary line threatened to terminate in a war between this country and the United States. He subsequently commanded the garrison at Dover, after which he retired from active service, although, being colonel -commandant of the 9th Brigade of Royal Artillery, he was never placed on the retired list. From that time to the period of his death, at the advanced age of eighty-five, he con tinued to reside at Cowley Cottage, near Exeter.

Another addition to the numerous books which have been published about Waterloo will hardly seem out of place at a time when the subject has been revived both here and in France. It would seem that men's interest in this great " World Battle " is as strong now as fifty years ago ; and

PREFACE.

. VIII although this little contribution will not eluci date any of the questions that are agitated, still (as far as memory serves) it is the first account of the campaign given to the world by an artillery officer, and may add another stone to the cairn raised to the glory of the British army and its immortal chief. At any rate, the surviving veterans of this stirring epoch will rejoice to go again over the scenes of their younger days ; while the lovers of peace wdl congratulate them selves on the cessation of such strife between two noble nations, whose last (and may it continue to be the last) hostile rencontre took place upon the plain of Waterloo. CAVALIE A. MERCER. Tripoli, Syria. PAOE 1 14 32 CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Chapter I

Preparations for Departure— Reports of Fugitives — Embarkation and Departure— The Voyage— Off the Coast— First View of Ostend — Aspect of the Coast — Ostend Harbour — Its Dangers — Unceremonious Landing of Dragoon Horses,

Chapter II

Confusion at Landing — Scene on Shore — Difficulties — Confusion on the Beach — A Catastrophe — The Town by Night — Difficulties of the March — Night Quarters — A Pleasant Change — Return to Ostend — Waiting to Start— Costumes of the Natives — Scenes in the Town — A Wreck — Fearful Scene — Impressions of Ostend, .....

Chapter III

Change of Scenery— Arrival at Ghistel — Our Quarters there — Again on the March — Arrival at Bruges — Our Hotel — First Impressions of Bruges — Present and Past — The Stadthouse and Cathedral— Mass in the Cathedral— The Worshippers — The Ramparts — Dinner, .....

Chapter IV

Eccloo— Arrival at Ghent— Our Quarters there — My Host— My Quarters — Louis XVIII. and his Court — French Officers — Marshal Marmont — French Deserters — Ghent — Street Archi- X CONTENTS. 40 78 100 138 tecture— The Place D'Armes— Flemish Postilions— View from the Citadel— The Corn-Market— The Hotel de Ville— Meat and Vegetable Markets— General Order and Cleanli ness—A Suppressed Monastery — The Cathedral — A Royal Mass— Domestic Architecture — An Interior— Comfortable Quarters— Numbers of Priests— Costumes— Character of the People— Immorality— German and English Cavalry,

Chapter V

Again on the March— The Pays de Waes— Lokern — A Village Cure — Dendermonde— My Quarters at St Gille — View from my Windows — Kindness of the Natives— A Flemish Farmhouse—Fertility of the Land — At Dinner — Our Host — Attachment to Napoleon — Peace and War — Flemish Teams — Cattle and Sheep — Dendermonde, ....

Chapter VI

Excursion to Alost — Aspect of the Place— We Lose our Way — Again on the Move — Parting with my Hostess — A Last Breakfast — On the March — Change of Scenery — Views from the Hills — Beauty of the Country — Arrival at Strytem — The Chateau— Our Quarters there — Comfortless Prospect — Family Portraits — Choosing our Quarters — A Private Chapel — Increasing Comfort — Our Mess - Room — Karl — His History — His Acquirements — An Interruption — The Maire and his Following— A Garde-Champetre— A Scene — M. L'Adjoint's Speech — Our Answer to it — I am peremptory — The Deputation in a Fright — The Mayor in Safe Keeping— Petit Jean — A Sleepless Night, .

Chapter VII

Occupations at Strytem — Our Fare— The Country round Strytem — Beauty of the Scenery — Rich Cultivation — TheFlemish Farmers — Farming Establishments — Execrable Roads — Drunkenness — Frog-Concerts — Draining the Moat — Result of the Experiment — The Due de Berri — His Brutality — A Dog-Chase — Disposition of the Troops — Visitors from Englaud — The Due de Berri again — Artillery at Waterloo — Our Equipment — Our Organisation, .... CONTENTS. XI 103 194 212 230

Chapter VIII

My Difficulties— Plundering— The Duke and the Rocket Troop- Ride to Ninove— Ninove— The great Monastery— A ruined Convent— Liederkerke — Aspect of the Country— A Character—The Lord of Gaesbeke— The Chateau de Gaesbeke— My Reception— The Marquis D'Acornati— Interior of the Chateau : its desolate Aspect— The Kitchen— The Grounds : their Beauty— Variety of Views— History of the Chateau- Career of its Owuer— His Singularities— His Mode of Life — Visits to the Grounds, .....

Chapter IX

Visit to Hal — Return to Strytem — Start for Brussels— First View of Brussels — Its Internal Aspect — The Park — The Ramparts—The H6tel de Ville— The Cathedral— The Bruxellaises — The Allee-Vert — Prince D'Aremberg — A Mistake — Anticipations of the Campaign, ....

Chapter X

Cavalry Review — The Due de Berri again — His Unceremonious Reception — The Duke and Blucher — Dinner after the Review — Strytem again — New Species of Game — Change of Quarters — A Death — Visit from our Host — Our Landlord — A Spy — Approaching Departure, CHAPTER XT. Order to Advance — Preparations — Farewell to Strytem — On the March — News from Brussels — Halt at Enghien— Doubts as to my Route — Uncertainties — Braine le Comte — Still without Orders — Beauty of the Scenery — We are left alone — Sounds of Distant Battle — Pressing on — Nivelle — Excitement in the Town — Signs of Battle — Fugitives from the Field — A Wounded Highlander— Belgian Gasconading, .

Chapter XII

At Quatre Bras — Our Bivouac — Morning after the Battle — Our Position— The Battle- Field— Position of the French— Skirmishing— An Alarm— The Retreat— Aspect of the Field— CONTENTS. XII 253 291 338 A Memento of Battle — Alone on the Field — Inactivity of the Enemy — Their Advance — Orders and Counter-Orders—Na poleon—A Storm — Our Danger — Our Narrow Escape — Our Retreat — Arrival at Genappe— The Enemy again— In Action with them — The Rocket Brigade — An Eccentric Missile — Panic among the Brunswickers — Take up Position — Rejoin the Army — Bivouac for the Night — Discomforts—Comfort less Night — Speculations as to the Morrow — A Godsend,

Chapter XIII

Morning of Battle — Survey of the Field — Alarm of Battle — Commencement of the Battle — Orders at last — Take up Position — The Field of Battle — View from our Position — Our own Position — We open Fire — Our first Casualty — An Alarmed Doctor — Death of Captain Bolton — A Wounded Horse — A Cavalry Charge — Our Situation — Advance of Cavalry — Dangerous Mistake — New Position — The Brunswickers — Danger of Panic — Advance of Cavalry — Their Retreat — Our first Death — Skirmishers — Attack P.enewed — Effect of our Fire — The Cavalry again Repulsed — A Narrow Escape — A third Attack and Repulse — The Duke — Heavy Fire — Fearful Losses — Further Escapes — A Remonstrance — Our Losses — Victory — Arrival of Prussians — The Field by Moonlight — The Prussian Bivouac — Moonlight Thoughts,

Chapter XIV

Preparing to Move — The Field by Morning— The Wounded — The French Wounded — An Ingrate — A Grenadier a Cheval — A Welcome Feast — Visitors from Brussels — Visit to Hougoumont — A Contrast — Garden of the Chateau — A Striking Oration — A Noble Enemy — A Keepsake — A Recognition — On the March — A Comfortable Bivouac — Resume our March —Block before Nivelles — Reception in the Town— Aspect of the Town — Arrival of Prisoners — We get on at last — Belgic Infantry— Our Bivouac — Rejoin the Army — The Greys and Highlanders— Aspect of the Country — We Cross the Frontier — Our first Night in France, .... JOUENAL OF THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN.

Chapter I

The return of Napoleon from Elba, though a sur prise to many, was far from being so to those who, well aware of his restless disposition, his insatiable ambition, and the enthusiastic attach ment of the French soldiery to his person and fortunes, had scarcely expected that he would have remained so long as he actually did with out some new attempt at disturbing the general peace. The steps taken on this occasion by the diffe rent European Powers — their preparations for a renewal of the bloody scenes so lately ended — are VOL. I. A A PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. out of my province. They belong to the historian, and not to the simple journalist, whose affair it is to confine himself strictly to those transactions in which he was himself a participator; or at most to glance at those more general subjects, merely to give connection to his narrative and make it better understood.

At the time the news of this extraordinary event arrived, the troop of horse-artillery which I commanded was stationed at Colchester; and the reductions necessary to put us on a peace establishment had already commenced, when the order arrived for our being immediately equipped again for foreign service. To do this effectually, an other troop, then in the same barracks, was broken up, and we got the picked horses of both, thus making it the finest troop in the service; and such diligence was used, that although our equip ment fell little short of a complete reorganisation, Major Sir A. Fraser, commanding the horse-artillery in Colchester, was enabled to report on the third day that the troop was ready to march at a moment's warning. Meantime the town of Colchester (situated as it is on the great road from Harwich to London) presented a scene of bustle and anxiety seldom equalled — couriers passing to and fro incessantly, REPORTS OF FUGITIVES. 3 and numerous travellers, foreign and English, arriving day and night from the Continent, many travelling in breathless haste, as if fearful, even here, of Napoleon's emissaries.

The reports spread by these fugitives were various and contradictory, as might be expected. According to some, Louis XVIII. had been arrested in Paris ; according to others, he1 had sought refuge in the Pays Bas ; and again, it was asserted that his Majesty was at Ostend, awaiting permission to pass the sea and return to his old and secure quarters in England. In the midst of all this, on the 8th April, the post brought our order to march forth with to Harwich, there to embark for Ostend — ■ an order received with unfeigned joy by officers and men, all eager to plunge into danger and bloodshed, all hoping to obtain glory and dis tinction. On the morning of the 9th, the troop paraded at half-past seven o'clock with as much regularity and as quietly as if only going to a field-day; not a man either absent or intoxicated, and every part of the guns and appointments in the most perfect order.

At eight, the hour named in orders, we marched off the parade. The weather was fine, the scenery, as we skirted the beautiful EMBARKATION banks of the Stour, charming, and the occasion exhilarating. Near Manningtree we halted a short time to feed our horses, and then, pursuing our route, arrived at Harwich about three o'clock in the afternoon. Here we found the transports — the Adventure, Philarea, and Salus, in which last I embarked — awaiting us ; but the tide being unfavourable, although we immediately commenced operations, we only succeeded in embarking the horses of one division and those of the officers ; the remainder were therefore put up in the barracks for the night. As might be expected, the little town of Harwich presented a most animated spectacle. Its narrow streets of modest houses, with brick trottoirs, were crowded with soldiers — some, all over dust, just arrived ; some, who had already been a day or two in the place, comparatively at home, lounging about in undress ; others, about to embark, hurrying along to the beach with baggage and stores; sailors marketing, or rolling about half-seas-over ; country-people bringing in vegetables and the like, and towns-people idling at their windows, or in groups at corners of the streets — in short, the usual picture incident on such occasions.

The morning of the 10th was foggy, which AND DEPARTURE. 5 much retarded us, since it was necessary to em bark the horses in flats to be taken off to the transports, not easily found in the fog. However, by noon all were on board, and without any serious accident, although a sailor was somewhat hurt in endeavouring to recover a horse that had fallen overboard. In the afternoon our guns, carriages, &c, were embarked ; but as the wind blew right into the harbour, the agent would not at tempt to get out, and we adjourned to Mr Bull's comfortable house (the Three Cups), there to pass our last evening in England in the enjoyment of a good dinner, and perhaps for the last time to sleep in good beds. About two p.m. on the 11th, a light breeze from the N.W. induced our agent to get under way, and we repaired on board our respective ships with every prospect of a good and speedy pass age.

In this, however, we wTere disappointed, for the breeze dying away as the sun went down, we anchored, by signal, at the harbour's mouth, just as it got dark. The evening was splendid. A clear sky studded with myriads of stars overhead, and below a calm unruffled sea, reflecting on its glassy surface the lights of the distant town, the low murmuring sounds from which, and the rippling of the water . THE VOYAGE. under the ships' bows, were the only interruptions to the solemn stillness that prevafled after the people had retired to their berths. In our more immediate neighbourhood stretched out the long, low, sandy tract, on the seaward extremity of which the dark masses of Landguard fort could just be distinguished. With daybreak on the morning of the 12th came a favourable wind, though light, and again we took up our anchors and proceeded to sea.

For some distance, after clearing the harbour, our course lay along the Suffolk coast, and so near in that objects on shore were plainly discernible. To : us, who had long been stationed at Woodbridge, only a few mfles inland, this was highly interest ing. We knew every village, every copse, every knoll — nay, almost every tree. There were the houses in which we had so oft been hospitably entertained ; there were 'the sheepwalks on which we had so often manœuvred ; and there in the distance, as we passed the mouth of the Deben, our glasses showed us the very barrack on the; hill, with its tiled roofs illumined by the noontide sun. About Bawdsey we left the coast, and steered straight over, with a light but favourable wind : the low sandy shores of Suffolk soon sank beneath the horizon. At noon fell in with a fleet OFF THE COAST- 7 of colliers bound for the river, and soon after saw the Sunk -Sand Light; when, as the wind had died away and the tide was setting us towards the bank, we anchored until the flood-tide.

Dur ing the night a light breeze right aft, and smooth water, enabled us to make good progress ; but towards morning (13th) the wind had very con siderably increased, and although the coast was not in sight, we were sensible of its neighbourhood from the number of curious heavy-looking boats plying round us in all directions, having the foremast, with its huge lug-sad, stuck right up in the bow, or rather inclining over it. From one of these boats we soon procured a pilot — a little sturdy fellow, with a full, good-humoured countenance, and his breast decorated with a silver medal bearing the impress of an anchor, like our porters' tickets, the badge of his calling. The poor fellow was hardly on deck ere he was surrounded and assailed by innumerable questions — "Where is Buonaparte . " " Where is the French army .

" " What are the English about ? " " Has there been any fighting." &c. &c. Of this he understood or heard only the word " Buonaparte," and therefore to all kept repeating, " II est cap6te," accompanied by a significant motion of the hand FIRST VIEW OF OSTEND. across the throat, at the same time showing much anxiety to get rid of his tormentors and proceed to business, which he did with such earnestness as soon gave us to understand there must be more than ordinary difficulty in entering the port of Ostend. The first and principal care was the getting up a hawser and coiling it on deck, the use of which we were soon to learn. Meanwhile we had been approaching the coast, which, though still invisible, the pdot informed us was not distant. The first intimation of the truth of this was the appearance of the church tower and lofty lighthouse of Ostend ; and we had brought about half their height above the horizon before land began to show itself, which it did in a num ber of isolated and rounded yellow hummocks, and at the same time the houses of the town became distinctly visible.

With that impatience and ex cessive curiosity always felt upon approaching for the first time a strange land, especially under the present interesting state of things, all our glasses were directed to the coast, which we were rapidly nearing and hoped soon to reach, when, to our great disappointment, the pilot ordered the vessel to be hove to, and we found that the tide would not permit our running for the port before two p.m. Numbers of ships, brigs, and schooners were lying- ASPECT OF THE COAST. 9 to as well as ourselves, and others continually arriving. _ Nothing, certainly, could be more repulsive than the appearance of the coast — sand-hills as far as the eye could reach, broken only by the grey and lugubrious works and buildings of Ostend, and further west by the spires of Mit telkerke and Nieuport, peering above the sand hills.

The day, too, was one little calculated to enliven the scene. A fresh breeze and cloudy sky ; the sea black, rough, and chilly ; the land all under one uniform cold grey tint, presenting scarcely any relief of light and shadow, con sequently no feature. Upon reconnoitring it, however, closer, we found that this forbidding exterior was only an outer coating to a lovely gem. Through the openings between the sand hills could be seen a rich level country, of the liveliest verdure, studded with villages and farms interspersed amongst avenues of trees and small patches of wood. An occasional gleam of sunshine breaking out and illumining it, communicated to it a dreamy appearance that was very pleasing, and tended to revive our spirits, drooping from the gloomy aspect of the coast. — - A black-looking mass of timber rising from the OSTEND HARBOUR. waters off the entrance of the harbour, and which we understood to be a fort, now became the prin cipal object of our attention.

As the tide rises the depth of water is announced by different flags hoisted on this fort; and we were delighted when at last that (a red one) indicating the necessary depth for our ship was hoisted, and we bore up for the harbour mouth. The harbour of Ostend is an artificial one, formed by jetees of piles projecting as far as low -water mark. The right, on entering, is merely a row of piles running along in front of the works of the town ; but on the left is a long mole or jetee, on the extremity of which is a small fort. Behind this mole, to the north-east, the shore curving inwards forms a bight, presenting an extent of flat sandy beach on which the water is never more than a few feet deep, even at the highest tides. A tremendous surf breaks on this whenever it blows from the westward. As the flood-tide sets past the harbour mouth with great rapidity, a vessel attempting to enter with a westerly wind is in danger of being swept be yond it and thrown on the beach just mentioned.

And this we now discovered was the cause of the anxiety displayed by our pilot, and for which we could not before account. In approaching the ITS DANGERS. 11 harbour, we steered as if going to run the ship ashore on the broad stone glacis of the town, which extended into the water all along the sea front. Even with this precaution we were drifted so much to leeward that, instead of shooting into the harbour, we went bump upon the jet6e3 The poor pilot raved and jumped about like a madman, but there still was method in his mad ness; and now we discovered the use of the hawser he had coiled upon deck, for passing the end of this to the Belgic soldiers, who upon the shock immediately ran out of their guard-room, the vessel was saved from swinging round (as she otherwise would have done) and fading ashore on the beach beyond, stern foremost, and soon dragged within the influence of the current setting up the harbour.

Our attention, before engaged by our perilous situation, was now directed to new and exhilarat ing objects on the other side, where the works of the town arose immediately from the sands. These were crowded with spectators, and, being Sunday, all in their best; so that the sun, just peeping out as we shot along, imparted to the scene quite an * The port of Ostend is what people usually term a " dry har bour." It is dry at low tide, but the flood brings in about 16 or 18 feet water. UNCEREMONIOUS LANDING OF air of gaiety ; and to us it was also a novel one. I remember being mightily struck with the head dress of the women, so different from what we had been accustomed to see at home, and the comparison was certainly not in favour of my fair compatriots. With these the fashionable coiffure was a large low poke-homiet, which I had always fancied very becoming ; but there is no describing how this sunk into meanness and deformity in a moment when I cast my eyes on the elegantly tapering, high-crowned straws of the belles on the rampart, encircled sometimes with two, and even three, rows of gay ribbon or artificial flowers.

These gave them such a lofty commanding air, and withal was so light and graceful. But bonnets were not allowed long to occupy my attention. FoUowed by a crowd of other craft of all sorts and sizes, we shot rapidly along towards that part of the harbour where a dense assemblage of shipping filled up its whole breadth, and forbade further progress, so that one wondered what was to be come of the numerous vessels in our wake. The mystery was soon explained, for each having at tained the point, turning her prow to the town, ran bumpon the sands, and there stuck fast. Those immediately above us had just arrived, and from them a regiment of Light Dragoons was DRAGOON HORSES. in the act of disembarking by throwing the horses overboard, and then hauling them ashore by a long rope attached to their head-codars.

What a scene ! What hallooing, shouting, vociferating, and plunging ! The poor horses did not appear much gratified by their sudden transition from the warm hold to a cold bath.

Chapter II

Our keel had scarcely touched the sand ere we were abruptly boarded by a naval officer (Captain Hid) with a gang of sailors, who, sans ceremonie, instantly commenced hoisting our horses out, and throwing them, as well as our saddlery, &c, over board, without ever giving time for making any disposition to receive or secure the one or the other. To my remonstrance his answer was, " I can't help it, sir ; the Duke's orders are positive that no delay is to take place in landing the troops as they arrive, and the ships sent back again ; so you must be out of her before dark." It was then about three p.m. ; and I thought this a most un comfortable arrangement. The scramble and confusion that ensued baffle all description. Bundles of harness went over the side in rapid succession, as well as horses.

In vain we urged the loss and damage that must CONFUSION AT LANDING. accrue from such a proceeding. " Can't help it no business of mine — Duke's orders are positive," &c. &c, was our only answer. Meantime the ebb had begun to diminish the depth of water along side, and enabled us to send parties overboard and to the beach to collect and carry our things ashore, as well as to haul and secure the horses. The same operation commenced from the other vessels as they arrived, and the bustle and noise were inconceivable. The Dragoons and our men (some nearly, others quite, naked) were dashing in and out of the water, struggling with the affrighted horses, or securing their wet accoutre ments as best they could. Some of the former were saddling their dripping horses, and others mounting and marching off in small parties.

Dis consolate-looking groups of women and children were to be seen here and there sitting on their poor duds, or roaming about in search of their husbands, or mayhap of a stray child, all clamour ing, lamenting, and materially increasing the babel-like confusion, amidst which Erin's brogue was everywhere predominant. Irish beggars swarm everywhere and in all quarters of the globe. Even here they pestered us to death, and one young bare-legged rascal, when he found his whining and cant unavailing, suddenly changing SCENE ON SHORE. his tone, tried to excite our liberality by a dirty joke on the Flemish pronunciation of their word horse (pferd). Add to all this crowds of people from the town idling about — some as spectators, others watching for windfalls ; some bringing cakes, beer, &c, for sale, others teazing the offi cers with various offers of service, and these not always of the most respectable kind.

It was not without difficulty that I succeeded at last in impressing upon Captain Hill the neces sity of leaving our guns and ammunition-waggons, &c, on board for the night — otherwise his furious zeal would have turned all out to stand on the wet sand or be washed away. Meantime, al though we were on shore, we were without orders what to do next. Not an officer, either of the staff, the garrison, nor even of our own corps, came near us. Night approached, and with it bad weather evidently. Our poor shivering horses and heaps of wet harness could not remain on the sands much longer, when the flood began to make again ; and it was necessary to look about and see what could be done. With this intent, therefore, leaving the officers to collect their divisions, I got one of my horses saddled and rode into the town.