WATERLOO AND QUATRE BRAS Papers pertaining to Captain Thomas Wildman of the 7th Hussars and ADC to Lord Uxbridge, including a remarkable first-hand account of Waterloo, written the day after the battle, and a notebook of cavalry orders, comprising: i) Autograph letter signed ('Thos. Wildman') to his mother ('My dearest Mother'), following on from the '...hasty note I wrote by Lord Uxbridge's Bedside last night...', reassuring her that all three of her sons are safe and well '...after the most tremendous Battle that ever yet was fought... 'L'Armée Française n'existe plus!!!'...', commenting on the blow '...it has given to all Napoleon's expectations; but, as a grand Military Affair, it will probably for ever stand unrival'd and alone...', expressing his admiration for Lord Uxbridge, going on '...The Field was literally three times lost, and won: the Fate of the Battle seem'd to hang upon a thread... The French fought with desperation, charging frequently to the very mouths of our cannon... sheer fighting and allmost hand to hand - Buonaparte commanded in person and had animated his Troops... He headed the last attack in person; placing himself in front of his Imperial Guard, and leading up to the very mouths of our guns.- They did him ample justice... under any other Man in the world but the Duke of Wellington, even British valour would have been unavailing...', detailing injuries incurred by leaders on both sides and numbers of men in the field, on receiving news at the Duchess of Richmond's Ball that the Prussians had been attacked ('...the Duke of Wellington & Lord Uxbridge had a long conversation...'), troops despatched to Quatre Bras ('...The French were repulsed at all points... The Guards suffer'd considerably...'), much detail on ensuing skirmishes and the capture of Maj. Dodge, Elphinstone and Myers and Elphinstone's escape ('...John Wildman and Peters were also taken and stript of their Pellises, Belts, Money etc., But just at that moment the 1st Life Guards made a most gallant Charge, and drove the Lanciers in confusion...'), action recommencing the following day at around 11 o'clock ('...Buonaparte had reconnoitred our position himself and harangued his troops... Our Armies were in position - the British in front of Waterloo... Our Ground was high but open; and our Infantry continually were obliged to form Squares and received the Charge of the French Cavalry... The Life Guards and Blues distinguish'd themselves particularly... I believe there was no part of the Army, which was not perpetually under fire; and such a terrific fire...'), the encouragement of the Duke of Wellington ('...who only said 'We will beat them yet before night'...'), details of the fierce fighting, the retreat of the French and the aftermath ('...The slaughter was terrific - I have head that the Duke of Wellington was affected to tears, and said that 'He never again wish'd to see a Field of Battle'...'), much on the wounding of Lord Uxbridge and his bravery ('...struck by a grape shot from the Enemys Guns on the right knee, which shattered the joint all to pieces... He told me immediately that he must lose his leg, and then began conversing about the action, and seem'd to forget his wound in the exultation for the victory...' and the amputation ('...he only said... 'if it is to be taken off the sooner it is done the better'... We wrote a short note to Lady Uxbridge... During the operation he never moved or complain'd, no one ever held his hand; he said once perfectly calmly, that he thought the Instrument was not very sharp... his nerves did not appear the least shaken... his pulse even was not altered... How he escaped with his life I can scarcely imagine...'), and concludes '...There never was such a Battle, and probably never will again...', reminding his mother of her own good fortune with three sons involved but unharmed ('...Edward... had Three Horses kill'd under him, yet escaped without a wound...'), mentioning that he was '...slightly hit by a musket shot in the foot... so trifling, that it did not take me a minute from the field...', integral address panel, docketed on reverse, 15 pages, dust-staining and marks, particularly where folded and exposed, creased at folds, seal tear with loss, remains of red wax seal, 4to (227 x 188mm.), Brussels, 19 June 1815 ii) Three manuscript warrants, marked 'Copy', signed by Sir Henry Torrens and the Deputy Secretary at War, W. Merry, relating to clothing warrants for the 7th Hussars and other regiments; accompanying covering letter to the Earl of Uxbridge; three letters, one to Uxbridge and two autograph (one marked 'Copy') from Lord Uxbridge on the subject, June 1815; two lists detailing estimated expenses on clothing; with Surgeon Callender's autograph statement signed ('John Callender/ Surgeon to the Forces'), certifying Captain Wildman of the 7th Hussars '...was wounded in the right foot at the battle of Waterloo on the 18th June 1815, and that he experienced considerable inconvenience from it...', docketed by Wildman '...never presented or shewn...', 22 pages, dust-staining and marks, creased at folds, folio (320 x 200mm.) and smaller, London, War Office, Minorca and elsewhere, 15 March 1816 to 14 June 1815; held with the Waterloo letter in an oatmeal cloth solander box iii) Manuscript Order Book titled 'General Cavalry Orders/ by/ Lieut. General The Earl of Uxbridge K.G.C.P/ 1815' in ink on upper cover, beginning with 'General Cavalry Orders' and 'Orderly Duties', preceding copies of 15 general orders ('... General Officers will cause the Regiments under their command to be out frequently in Marching Order; and to march a considerable distance...'), 27 numbered leaves, the remainder blank, light dust-staining, half morocco backed boards, worn and marked, 4to (225 x 180mm.), Ninove, 3 May 1815 to 15 June 1815; held in an oatmeal cloth solander box (collection) Footnotes: 'THE FATE OF THE BATTLE SEEM'D TO HANG UPON A THREAD': A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF WATERLOO FROM A MEMBER OF WELLINGTON'S INNER CIRCLE, A SCHOOLFRIEND OF BYRON, WHO WITNESSED THE AMPUTATION OF LORD UXBRIDGE'S LEG. Captain Thomas Wildman (1787-1859), joined the 7th Hussars in 1807 and was one of three brothers who fought at Waterloo, all of whom miraculously survived relatively unscathed, as he mentions here. By the age of twenty-eight he was a tough and seasoned soldier, having already served in the Peninsular Campaign, and at Waterloo he acted as aide-de-camp to Lord Uxbridge and was thus privy to Wellington's decisions and reactions during the battle. Writing the day after the battle he gives an evocative and detailed account, a witness to the battle as fought by its most significant participants, Lords Wellington and Uxbridge. His unallayed admiration for Uxbridge runs through his account ('...He was every where in the hottest Fire. When the day was doubtful he cheer'd and assisted the Infantry...'), and never more so as when he witnessed the amputation of Lord Uxbridge's leg, an incident which has found its way into Waterloo folklore with the oft-repeated anecdote: on being hit Uxbridge exclaimed 'By God, sir, I've lost my leg!' to which the nearby Wellington replied 'By God, sir, so you have!'. Wildman, who was by his side, here describes how Uxbridge bore the event with incredible bravery and stoicism, which clearly impressed him enormously. The leg in question became somewhat of a tourist attraction at Waterloo where it was interred and had its own chequered history. A report given by James Callender, one of the surgeons who operated on Uxbridge, on Wildman's own injur For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing