Wellington in his Wartime Letters
“They are as good as I could write now,” said the Duke in 1834. “They show the same attention to details — to the pursuit of all the means, however small, that could promote success.”
One July day at Apsley House, Wellington remarked to Mr. George William Chad, who had just read the fourth volume of the Duke’s published Despatches:
“Aye, it quite interested me to look them over again—it recalled all the feelings of youth—especially the Indian Despatches. I felt young again—all the enterprise and excitement of that time.”
“They are very valuable,” replied Chad. “I had no idea of all the variety of knowledge necessary for a Commander in Chief. I wonder how you could suffice.”
“I never should if I had not been very young in command.” (Wellington had been forty-six at Waterloo, the last of his battles.)
To the Marchioness of Salisbury, in 1834, the Duke expressed surprise to find his Despatches so good:
“They are as good as I could write now. They show the same attention to details—to the pursuit of all the means, however small, that could promote success.”
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