MILITARY REGISTER – ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO - CW Lee's Diary

AN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO – By an Officer

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo,

Who bravely fought, ’tis very true;

Though really that is nothing new,

As former deeds, did plainly shew ;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo

The Highlanders, a dauntless crew,

First shew’d the French what they could do;

For numbers could not them subdue,

They stood, as on the ground they grew;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

The line themselves in squares they threw,

And man to man they stuck like glue;

The Frenchmen each attack did me;

The ground they with their bones did strew;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

The Foot Guards, and the Life Guards too

Battled away ’till all was blue,

They put the French Guards in a stew,

Until the cry was ” Sauxe qui pen.”

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

Money had given them their cue,

For seeing it was all perdu;

The fight was o’er, full well he knew;

He only hoped to save a few ;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

For many of the rogues they slew,

That sought the Cyprus and the Yew,

But for the rest away they flew,

The victors after thew pursue.

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

The Prussians now came full in view;

And got the rascal is in a chew,

So desperately they back and hue,

And gave them properly their due;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

Nap’s bullies now the day besh , ew,

They were so unmauled at Waterloo;

The Allies now may squeeze and screw;

King Louis he may have his pew;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

There were, who did this fight eschew;

But that my friend, is “entre nous ;”

Ribbons are red and blue,

They cut a dash in retinue;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

So now my worthy friend, adieu,

Tis fact what I have told you,

The war is o’er, we ‘re pence in lieu,

Starvation on half-pay, par blu ;

Hail to the Lads of Waterloo.

September 8 1815 D.R.

As our metrical Communication was of a humerous kind, we take occasion to quote by way of acknowledgement, a few lines on anyother subject – the remainder is too poignantly severe.

Hasty effusions, on reading the Military Register of the 16th August.

To the tune of– “THE TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND.”

In the year – Seventy three,

A youth non of glee.