Towards the end of Wellington's life, the glory that Waterloo
gave him had deepened to reverence. The nation, from the Royal Family
to the humblest subject, regarded him with something near to awe. No
longer was he merely the man of battle, the clever and unyielding
strategist, but the "conqueror of conquerors," "the mightiest of
captains," "the supreme soldier." For the victory he had won over the
greatest of adversaries had changed the face of the world...
At the congress of Vienna, paying a gallant tribute to the
bravery of the opposing troops, Wellington declared to General Jomini
that he had "never seen anything more worthy of admiration than the
ten or twelve repeated charges of the French Cuirassiers against
troops of every branch of the Service", and that June 18 had been "a
battle of giants".
Dumouriez, the French General who defeated the Prussians and
Austrians at Jemmapes and at Valmy, and who was removed from his
command by the convention, remained on friendly terms with
Wellington. It was to him that the "Iron Duke" wrote this letter,
begun four days before and finished two days after Waterloo, not far
from the still smoking ruins of the battlefield. It is impossible to
read such a document without emotion.
Brussels, June 14, 1815.
 
My Dear General,
I have received your letter of June 9, and assure you that I shall
have the greatest pleasure in recommending Prince Metternich the
request you intend to make to the Emperor for the restitution of your
pension.
Nivelles, June 20.
I began this letter on June 14 and, as there was no post that day,
did not finish it. I was engaged with the enemy on Friday, when there
was a post. I have since received your letter of the 15th, for which
I am much obliged. You have seen what I have done, and I hope you
will be pleased. Never have I seen a battle like that of the day
before yesterday nor won such a victory, and I hope this is the end
of Bonaparte. We are in hot pursuit of him.
I have the honour to be, my dear General, your obedient servant.
Wellington.
(British Museum)
[Wellington, Duke of (1769-1852), was a British soldier
and statesman who was known as The Iron Duke. He became famous in
the history of Britain, as the general who overcame the armies of
Napoleon in Spain and Portugal, and defeated Napoleon at the Battle
of Waterloo. Later, Wellington became prime minister.]
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