Mont-Saint-Jean

Mont-Saint-Jean is a hamlet located in Wallonia in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium, south of Waterloo located partly on Waterloo and partly on Braine-l'Alleud where the National road going from Brussels to Charleroi crosses the National road going from Nivelles to Leuven.Mont-Saint-Jean is on the reverse slope of the escarpment where the Battle of Waterloo was fought, and is the name Napoleon Bonaparte gave to the battle . At the time of the battle there was a farm called Mont-Saint-Jean Farm, on the Charleroi–Brussels road about halfway between the edge of the escarpment and the village.Aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo, from 18 June 1815 onwards, for days and weeks. Like many, if not all houses all the way to Brussels who could be used for such purpose, Mont-Saint-Jean Farm served as field hospital. The situation is best rendered by this eloquent albeit sober passage by an eyewitness, Sgt-Maj. Cotton : "The field of battle, after the victory, presented a frightful and most distressing spectacle. Solicitude for the wounded prompted the Duke [of Wellington] to ride back to Brussels immediately after the sanguinary contest. The assistance of the town authorities was requested, in collecting and removing the wounded from the field, burying the dead, etc., as well as to restore confidence amongst the population, and allay the extreme excitement which prevailed throughout Belgium. Right nobly did the inhabitants of Brussels repond to his appeal. The clergy, as might have been expected, were foremost in their exertions to relieve the dreadful agonies of so many gallant and innocent sufferers : the highest in rank rivalled the hardier classes in performing the most trying offices for the mangled heroes that filled the hospitals, and encumbered even many private dwellings. " , 5th edit., 1854, 137).

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