[Ads-l] Acknowledgments for Yale Book of Quotations

[James A. Landau]

I seem to recall a discussion on this list about the quotation "Up Guards and At Them!" by Wellington at Waterloo.

I believe that the word "Up" should be interpreted literally.

Wellington had his men take cover behind the top of a ridge when they were under long-range enemy fire.  If no ridge were handy, he would have his men lie down.  (This was not original with Wellington.  The British had done the same thing at the Plains of Abraham in 1759).  Hence it is very likely that the Guards whom Wellington was addressing were at that point physically lying on the ground.

- Jim Landau

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