THE BRAVEST MAN AT WATERLOO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9034, 21 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BRAVEST MAN AT WATERLOO.

The Duke of Wellington was once asked who, in his opinion, was the bravest man at Waterloo. " I can't tell you that," he said, "but I can tell of one than whom I am sure there was no braver. He was only a private in the Artillery, but had he survived the day he would have been an officer. A farm-house with an orchard surrounded by a thick hedge formed a most important point in the British position, and was ordered to bo held against the enemy at any hazard or sacrifice. Tho hottest of the battle raged round this point, but the English behaved well, and beat back the French, though they attacked the place again and again with great fury. At last the powder and ball were found to be running short; at the same time the timber in the hedges took fire, and the orchard was soon surrounded by a ring of flame. A messenger had, however, been sent to the rear for more powder and ball, and in a short timo two loaded waggons came galloping down to the farm-house, tho gf llant defenders of which were keoping up a thin and scanty fire through the ilamcs which surrounded their posts. The driver of the first waggon, with the reckless daring of an Enplish boy, spurred his struggling and terrified horses through the burning heap ; bub the Ilamcs roso liercely round, and caught tho powder, which exploded in an instant, sending waggon, horses, and rider in fragments into the air. For one instant tho driver of the second waggon paused, appalled by his comrade's fato ; the next observing that tho ilames, beaten back for the moment by the explosion, afforded him one desperate chance, he sent his horses at the smouldering breach, and, amid the deafening cheers of the garrison, landed his terrible cargo safely within. Behind him the flames closed up, and raged more fiercely than ever."