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Lot 281
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Vivid Account of the Battle of Waterloo by Lord Uxbridge's Aide, Thomas Wildman
Vivid Account of the Battle of Waterloo by Lord Uxbridge's Aide, Thomas Wildman
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Description:

Battle of Waterloo
Brussels, Belgium, June 19, 1815
Vivid Account of the Battle of Waterloo by Lord Uxbridge's Aide, Thomas Wildman
ALS

According to a well informed UK dealer this is a family copy of Wildman's letter, rather than the original mailed. The original postally marked &c. 14 1/2pp. is still in a collection and was supplied by Maggs. They say that our present example - 13pp. went through Sotheby's in 1918 from the Alfred Morrison collection, again in 1963 $182, and Christie's East 1998, $4600. It's a purely legitimate item, a contemporary copy made for family circulation, but is not the original sent to his mother. whether or not this is in Wildman‘s hand is a subject of some debate, but clearly it has significant value based on its past auction history.

A lengthy and detailed description of the Battle of Waterloo in a letter from British officer Thomas Wildman, aide-de-camp to Lord Uxbridge, to his mother. 13pp, measuring 8" x 12.5", Brussels, dated June 19, 1815. Signed "Thos Wildman", the letter was written the day after the battle and provides a vivid account of Napoleon's final battle. The pages are held together with a piece of string at the upper left corner. Light toning, soiling, and foxing throughout. Slight wear, creasing, bumping, and chipping to the page edges. Very legible and boldly signed.

Highlights from the letter:
"…only one serious misfortune prevents me from saying that it was the proudest happiest day I ever knew. The loss the British army will sustain in the services of Lord Uxbridge must be felt by all, and you may conceive how much more strongly so by me who always admired and look'd up to him as an Officer and have lately learnt to respect esteem and love him as a man…"

"The field was literally three times lost and won: The fate of the day seem'd to hang upon a thread, both parties being well aware that defeat and destruction were almost synonimous, there being but one road to retreat by and that of course choak'd up with Baggage, ammunition, wounded, &c…Bonaparte commanded in person and had animated his troops by going down the ranks of different corps and addressing them during the morning: He headed the last attack, placing himself in front of his Imperial Guard and leading up to the very mouths of our guns they did him ample justice, and I firmly believe that under any other man in the world but he Duke of Wellington, even British valour would have been unavailing…"

"The Guards suffer'd considerably & the Highlanders receiv'd a charge of the Cuirassiers repulsed them and destroy'd the whole squadron. Our Cavalry did not arrive till after the action was over which was not till 10 o'clock at night, except Sir O. Vandeleur's Brigade of light Dragoons with which Ld Uxbridge show'd a front and kept the enemy's cavalry in check. In this affair the Gallant Duke of Brunswick-Oels was kill'd by a grape shot, in whom the Army has sustain'd severe loss…"

"Our squadron not making any impression was repulsed. When we retired, they pursued, some men were killed & wounded Majr Hodge, Helphinstone & Myers were made prisoners; John Wildman & Peter were also taken & stript of their Pelisses, Belts, money &c But just at that moment the 1st Life Guards made a most Gallant charge & drove the Lanciers in confusion in which time, the two young caught a couple of spare French horses & made their escape. Elphinstone got away last night & is arrived here. Lord Uxbridge sent to the enemy's advanced posts to enquire about the Major & Myers & was inform'd that they were both prisoners the Majr. Slightly & Myer severely wounded, but both doing well. I have no doubt that they will be exchanged very shortly. We manouver'd & cannonaded with this cavalry all the way to our position in front of Waterloo, and about dark they retired - I sent John who was bruised by his horse falling down to Brussels by which he missed being in the action yesterday…"

"It is said the British have taken 150 pieces of Cannon & the Prussians 60 - all their material ammunition, stores, Baggage & even Bonaparte's carriage. The Slaughter was terrific. I have heard that the Duke of Wellington was affected to tears & said that he never again wished to see a field of battle…Lord Uxbridge was struck by a grape shot from the enemy's guns on the right knee which shatter'd the joint all to pieces. I did not see him fall & went on to the charge, but soon miss'd him & perceived Seymour taking him to the rear. He told me immediately that he must lose his leg & then began conversing about the action & seem'd to forget his mound in the exultation for the victory."

"Sir Lord Elley one of the bravest soldiers and as good an officer as ever breathed is here with three stabs & a sabre cut: When I went to see him, he cried like a child in speaking of Lord Uxbridge and said that tho' he rejoiced that his valuable life had been preserved, yet the loss to the British Army was irreparable. His emotion was so great that I was obliged to leave him for his own sake…The loss on our side has been immense but the enemy's army is annihilated - there never was yet such a battle known and probably never will again. I must again remind you of your own singular good fortune, who have three sons in a regiment which was particularly engaged & as you will see by the Gazette has suffer'd pretty considerably & yet all three safe. John was not in the great action: Edward was everywhere & has been remark'd for his conduct. He had three horses kill'd under him, yet escaped without a wound. I was slightly hit by a musket shot in the foot early in the day, but no bone broke & so trifling that it did not take me a minute from the field…"

Thomas Wildman II (1787-1859) was the eldest son of a wealthy, prominent family. Following schooling at Harrow and Oxford, he entered the army with his two brothers, Edward and John. He took part in the Peninsular Campaign and was at the Battle of Waterloo, acting as aide-de-camp to Lord Uxbridge. In 1817 or 1818 he bought Newstead Abbey Nottinghamshire from his friend Lord Byron and retired from the Army in 1832. Wildman went on to become Colonel of the Sherwood Rangers, Equerry to the Duke of Sussex, and provincial Grandmaster of the Freemasons for 35 years.

Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768-1854), styled Lord Paget between 1784 and 1812 and known as the Earl of Uxbridge between 1812 and 1815, was a British Army officer and politician. He is perhaps most notably known for being Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo. "Lord Uxbridge's leg" became a tourist attraction in the village of Waterloo, where it was interred. Paget had an articulated artificial limb fitted and became known as "One-Leg". The loss of his leg did not impede his career, and he rose to become a field marshal and Knight of the Garter, twice serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and twice as Master-General of the Ordnance.

The Battle of Waterloo was the climax of Napoleon Bonaparte's Hundred Days resurgence after he escaped from exile on Elba. Fought on Sunday, June 18, 1815, the battle marked the end of Napoleon's return to power in France and the victory of two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition. An army led by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington consisted of forces from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hanover, Brunswick, and Nassau, and cooperated with a Prussian army led by Field Marshal von Blücher to defeat Napoleon's army near the village of Waterloo in Belgium. The allied army repelled repeated French assaults, and the arriving Prussians attacked the French right flank. Four days later, Napoleon abdicated, and the forces of the Seventh Coalition entered Paris on July 7. This battle led to the end of decades of European wars and began a decades-long Pax Britannica. Louis XVIII returned to the French throne, and Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. The Treaty of Paris was signed on November 20, 1815.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 12.5"
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