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of Waterloo. HOUGOMONT, 11. Route. 155
almost exhausted, they perceived two fresh columns marching against
them. Again the enemy succeeded in setting the barn on fire, and again
it was successfully extinguished in the same manner as before.
“Every shot we fired increased my anxiety and distress. I again de-
spatched a messenger for aid, saying ‘that I must abandon the defence
if not provided with ammunition , — but in vain! As our fusillade
diminished, our embarrassment increased. Several voices now ex-
claimed : ‘We will stand by you most willingly, but we must have the
means of defending oursely 7es!? Even the officers, who had exhibited
the utmost bravery throughout the day, declared the place now untenable.
The enemy soon perceiv ed our defenceless condition, and boldly broke open
one of the doors. As but few could enter at a time, all who crossed the
threshold were bayonetted, and those behind hesitated to encounter the
game fate. They therefore clambered er the walls and roofs, whence
they could shoot down my poor fellows with impunity. At the same time
ey thronged in through the open barn, which could no longer be de-
ribably hard as it was for me to yield, yet feelings of
w prevailed over those of honour. I therefore ordered my
men to retire to the garden at the back. The effort with which these
words e wrung from me can only be understood by those who have
milar position.”
ge of the house was very narrow, several of my men
efore MOY coull Id escape. One of these was the Ensign
He ran through with his sabre
the firs t man w na meres Ta ‘but the next moment his arm was broken
by a bullet. He then contrived to escape into one of the rooms and con-
ceal himself behind a bed. Two other men fl into the same room,
closely pursued by the French, who exclaimed: ‘Pas de pardon & ces
brigands veris!* and shot them down before hi Most fortunately,
however, he remained undiscovered until the ho again fell into our
hands at a later hour. As I was now convinced that the garden could
not possibly be maintained when the enemy was in posse sion of the house,
I ordered the men to retreat singly to the main position of the army. The
enemy, probably satis with their success, molested us no farther.’
The door of the house still bears traces of the French bullets.
Several of the unfortunate defenders fled into the kitchen, adjoining
the garden at the back on the left. The window was and is still
secured with iron bars, so that all escape was cut off. Several
were shot here, and others thrown into the kitchen-well, where
their bodies were found after the battle. An iron tablet bears an
inscription to the memory of the officers and privates who fell in
the defence of the house.
Farther to the E. are Papelotte, La Haye, and Smohain, which
served as advanced works of the Allies on their extreme left.
They were defended by Nassovians and Netherlanders under Duke
Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar, but fell into the hands of the French
about half-past 5 o’clock.
The defenders of Goumont, or Hougomont (see p. 149), another
advanced work of the Allies, situated about 1/,M. to the 8.W. of
the Lion, were more fortunate. The buildings still bear many traces
of the fearful scenes which were enacted here. It is computed that
throughout the day the attacks of nearly 12,000 men in all were
launched against this miniature fortress, notwithstanding which the
garrison held out to the last (see p. 156). The French stormed the
orchard and garden several times, but they did not succeed in pene- |
