Oneofthegreatestcommandersevertoleadtroops,theDukeofWellingtonwasfamousforhisconcernforhissoldiersandhisastonishingcoolnessunderfire.
AtWaterloo,afterhoursofthebloodiestfighting,hewasridingbythesideofLordUxbridge,hissecond-in-command,whenacannonball,havingpassedfirstoverthewithersoftheduke'scharger,smashedUxbridge'skneeintobloodyjunk.
Uxbridgelookeddown,andremarkedalmostcasuallytotheduke:"ByGod,I'velostmyleg."
Theduke,equallycool,glancedoveratUxbridge."Haveyou,byGod!"HedismountedandhelpedUxbridgedownandthenreturnedtothebusinessofbeatingtheFrench.Afterthebattle,thisironmanwouldbreakintotearsovertheterriblelossesamonghistroops.
威靈頓公爵是個出色的軍隊指揮官,歷代罕有其匹。他關懷將士,而且在槍砲之下冷靜得驚人,因此為人樂道。
滑鐵盧戰役中,經過多小時激烈血戰,威靈頓和副指揮官阿克斯布里奇勳爵並轡而行。一枚砲彈在他戰馬的肩上飛過,打中阿克斯布里奇的膝蓋,血肉模糊。
阿克斯布里奇低頭一看,似乎漫不經意,對威靈頓說:「老天,我一條腿廢了。」
威靈頓也很冷靜,望望阿克斯布里奇,說:「是嗎,老天!」他跳下馬,扶阿克斯布里奇下來,回頭就再戰法軍。戰後,這個鐵漢見手下傷亡慘重,不禁淚下。