Warmedbythecontest，hethusbelievesinsuccess.Themanplacedinrearoradvancingwithreinforcements，havingnothingoftheexcitementofthestruggle，seesonlythelongandincreasingcolumnofwounded，stragglers，andperhapsoffliers.Heseeshiscompanionfallwithoutbeingabletoanswerthefire.Heseesnothingofthecorrespondinglossoftheenemy，andheisapttotakeamostdespondingviewofthesituation.ThusEnglishmenreadingtheaccountsofmenwhofoughtatWaterlooaretooreadytodisbelieverepresentationsofwhatwastakingplaceintherearofthearmy，andtothinkThackeray’slife—likepictureinVanityFairofthestateofBrusselsmustbeoverdrawn.Indeed，inthisverybattleofWaterloo，Zietenbegantoretreatwhenhishelpwasmostrequired，becauseoneofhisaidesdecamptoldhimthattherightwingoftheEnglishwasinfullretreat.\"Thisinexperiencedyoungman，\"saysMuffling，p.248，\"hadmistakenthegreatnumberofwoundedgoing，orbeingtaken，tothereartobedressed，forfugitives，andaccordinglymadeafalsereport.\"Further，reservesdonotsaymuchoftheirpartor，sometimes，nopartofthefight，andfewpeopleknowthatatleasttwoEnglishregimentsactuallypresentonthefieldofWaterloohardlyfiredashottillthelastadvance.
TheDukedescribedthearmyastheworstheevercommanded，andsaidthatifhehadhadhisPeninsularmen，thefightwouldhavebeenovermuchsooner.ButtheDuke，stickingtoideasnowobsolete，hadnopickedcorps.Eachman，trustinginandtrustedbyhiscomrades，foughtunderhisownofficersandunderhisownregimentalcolours.
Whatevertheydidnotknow，themenknewhowtodie，andattheendofthedayaheapofdeadtoldwhereeachregimentandbatteryhadstood.]——
thecareerofbothhadbeenmarkedbysignalvictory;NapoleonhadcarriedhistriumphantlegionsacrossthestupendousAlps，overthenorthofItaly，throughoutPrussia，Austria，Russia，andeventothefootofthePyramids，whileWellington，whohadbeenearlydistinguishedinIndia，hadwonimmortalrenowninthePeninsula，wherehehaddefeated，oneafteranother，thefavouritegeneralsofNapoleon.HewasnowtomaketrialofhisprowessagainsttheirMaster.
AmongthemostcriticaleventsofmoderntimesthebattleofWaterloostandsconspicuous.ThissanguinaryencounteratlaststoppedthetorrentoftheruthlessandpredatoryambitionoftheFrench，bywhichsomanycountrieshadbeendesolated.WiththepeacewhichimmediatelysucceededitconfidencewasrestoredtoEurope.