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Updated: June 13, 2025
The staff followed in silence, Picton turning one look of kindness on me as he went, as though to say, "I'll not forget you." "The devil take it," cried I, as I found myself once more alone, "but I'm unlucky! What would turn out with other men the very basis of their fortune, is ever with me the source of ill-luck."
Picton, who had some of the highest military qualities, was almost eleven years older than his chief, and was little short of fifty-seven when he fell at Waterloo. Lord Hopetoun was six years older than Wellington. A few months later he took St. Sebastian, after one of the most terrible sieges known to modern warfare. He continued to serve under Wellington until France was invaded.
The Twenty-eighth and the Royals did not indeed wait to be attacked, but led by Picton and Kempt in person resolutely advanced to charge the French cavalry. This feat, seldom exampled in military history, was rendered necessary in order to cover the flank of the Forty-second and Forty-fourth, now, by the flight of the Brunswickers, Dutch, and Belgians, open to the attacks of the French cavalry.
The banks are very lofty, and enclose the water in an oblong form, round which that part of the town which is near the shore is built. Picton is a very beautiful place viewed from the deck of the steamer.
An officer sent forward to reconnoitre, returned with the intelligence that they were British troops, for he had seen their red uniforms. "I can't think it, sir," said Picton. "It is hardly possible that any regiment from Enghien could have arrived already. Ride forward, O'Malley, and if they be our fellows, let them carry that height yonder; there are two guns there cutting the 92d to pieces."
Though repeatedly charged by the French cavalry, though exposed to the murderous fire of the French batteries, which from the heights of Gemiancourt sent shot and shell into the devoted squares whenever the French horseman withdrew, they not only repelled their assailants, but Kempt's and Pack's brigades, led, on by Picton, actually advanced against and through their charging foes, and with stern determination made good to the end of the day the ground which they had thus boldly won.
"'Where's Beamish? said Picton. 'Here, sir, said Phil stepping out from the line and touching his cap to the general, who, taking him apart for a few minutes, spoke to him with great animation.
This was the time, as Picton well knew, to pour in a volley and dash on with the cold steel; but as he cheered on his men, a bullet struck him in the temple and cut short his brilliant career. His tactics were successful at some points while at others our thin lines barely held up against the masses.
Here Pack's Brigade was forming in the Place Royale; and a crowd of staff officers dictating orders, and writing hurriedly on the drum-heads, were also seen. A troop of dragoons stood beside their horses at the door of the Belle Vue, and several grooms with led horses walked to and fro. "Ride forward, sir, to the Bois de Cambre," said Picton, "and pivot the troops on the road to Mont St. Jean.
Too late he reached Spaniards' Harbour, and having just time to visit the Speedwell in Cook's River, a gale springing up, he was compelled to put to sea without ever landing at Earnest Cove. In the meantime, Captain Morshead, in the Dido frigate, having sailed from England, was ordered to call at Picton Island with relief for the party.
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