Waterloo, 18 June 1815: Dawn with the 7th Hussars.

Sergeant-Major Edward Cotton.

The field of Waterloo is an open, undulating plain; and on the day of the battle it was covered with splendid crops of rye, wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, potatoes, turnips, tares and clover; some of which were of great height. There were a few patches of ploughed ground, intersected by two high roads, which branched off at Mont St Jean...

   At the break of day, all who were able began to be on the move. There were many who from cold and fatigue were unable to stir for some time. Some were cleaning arms, others fetching wood, water, straw etc., from Mont St Jean -my present place of abode- some trying from the embers of our bivouac to light up fires, many of which had been entirely put out by the heavy rain. At this time there was a continual but irregular popping along the line, not unlike a skirmish. Our bivouac had a most unsightly appearance: both officers and men looked blue with cold; and our long beards with our wet and dirty clothing drying upon us was anything but comfortable. As morning advanced and all were in motion, one might imagine the whole plain itself to be undergoing a movement. Imagine 70,000 men huddled together. The buzzing resembled the distant roar of the sea against a rocky coast.