received the general in his arms, and kissed the flag. The silence of
this affecting scene was only interrupted by the occasional sobs of the
soldiers. Having kissed the flag, Napoleon said with great emotion,
"Farewell once more my old comrades! Let this kiss be impressed on all
your hearts!"
On this occasion the English commissioner who stood near him, and had
previously been his inveterate enemy, was so deeply moved that he was
affected in the same degree as Napoleon's attendants. When leaving
Napoleon called for Rustan, his Mameluke servant, but the latter had
concealed himself, though on the preceding day he had received from his
master, at Fontainebleau, a present of 30,000 francs to provide for his
wife and family during his absence. The Emperor, in speaking afterwards
of this man who nightly slept across his doorway, said, "I am by no
means astonished at his conduct, as he was imbued with the sentiments of
a slave; and, finding me no longer master, he imagined his services
might be dispensed with."
Napoleon now hurried through the group that surrounded him--stepped into
his carriage, and instantly drove off. The carriages took the road to
Lyons.
Four commissioners, one each from the great Allied Powers, Austria,
Russia, Prussia and England, accompanied him on his journey. He was
attended by the ever faithful Bertrand, Grand Master of the Palace, and
some other attached friends and servants. While fourteen carriages were
conveying him and his immediate suite towards Elba, 700 infantry and
about 150 cavalry of the Imperial Guard,--all picked men and
volunteers,--marched in the same direction to take on them the military
duties of the exiled court.
Not far from Lyons Napoleon met Augereau, general-in-chief of the Army
of the East, whose conduct during the late campaign had been that of a
traitor. When Augereau had taken his leave from his ex-chief one of the
commissioners ventured to express surprise that Napoleon should have
treated him with such a show of affection. "Why should I not?" he asked.
"Your Majesty is perhaps unacquainted with his conduct. Sire, he entered
into an understanding with us several weeks ago!"
The Emperor afterwards confirmed this anecdote, adding: "The conqueror
of Castiglione might have left behind him a name dear to his country;
but France will execrate the memory of the traitor of Lyons."
During the early part of his progress the Exile was received
respectfully by the civil functionaries of the different towns and
departments, and many tokens of sympathy on the part of the people were
expressed. As he increased the distance between himself and his capital,
and was carried into provinces wherein his name had never been extremely
popular, he was once or twice subjected to personal insult, and danger
of violence, when the horses were changing. At Lyons, an old woman in
mourning, and with a countenance full of enthusiasm, rushed forward to
the door of the carriage. "Sire" said she, with an air of solemnity,
"may the blessing of heaven attend your endeavor to make yourself happy.
They tear you from us; but our hearts are with you, wheresoever you go."
The Austrian commissioner, quite disconcerted, said to his companion,
"Let us go; I have no patience with this mad woman!"
At length Napoleon disguised himself and sometimes appearing in an
Austrian uniform, at others riding on before the carriages in the garb
of a courier, reached in safety the place of embarkation. A French
vessel had been sent round from Toulon to Cannes, for the purpose of
conveying him to Elba; but there happened to be an English frigate also
in the roads and he preferred sailing under any flag rather than the
Bourbon. The voyage to Elba was uneventful. Napoleon succeeded in making
a favorable impression on the English crew and when, on finally leaving
the "Undaunted," he caused some two hundred napoleons ($800) to be
distributed among the sailors, the boatswain undertook to return thanks
in the name of the crew by "wishing him a long life--_and better luck
next time_!" As he left the vessel a royal salute was fired.
The Emperor of the little island of Elba came in view of his new
dominions on the afternoon of May 4th, 1814, and went ashore in disguise
the same evening, in order to ascertain for himself whether the feelings
of the Elbans were favorable or otherwise. He found the people
considered his residence as likely to increase in every way the
importance and prosperity of their island, and returned on board the
ship; at noon the day following he made his public entry into the town
of Porto-Ferrajo amidst many popular demonstrations of welcome and
respect. The English and Austrian commissioners landed with him, those
from Russia and Prussia having departed at the coast of Provence. When
the Exile climbed to the hill above Ferrajo, and looked down upon the
whole of his territory, as upon a map, he remarked to Sir Neil Campbell,
the English commissioner, "It must be confessed that my island is very
small."
The island, however, mountainous and rocky, for the most part barren,
and of a circumference not exceeding sixty miles, was his. He forthwith
devoted to it the same anxious care and industry that had sufficed for
the whole affairs of France, and a large portion of Europe besides. In
less than three weeks he had thorougly acquainted himself with its
history, resources and the character of its people, had explored every
corner of the island "and projected more improvements of all sorts"
according to one historian, "than would have occupied a life-time to
complete." He even extended his "Empire" by sending some soldiers to
take possession of a small adjacent islet, hitherto unoccupied for fear
of Corsairs. He established residences in four different corners of Elba
and was continually in motion from one to the other. All the etiquette
of the Tuileries was adhered to as far as possible, and Napoleon's eight
or nine hundred veterans were reviewed as frequently and formally as if
they had been the army of Austerlitz or Friedland, and over which hung
the flag of Elba which the Emperor had adopted, and which was that of
the island,--white, striped with purple and studded with stars. Sometime
later he adopted a new flag as King of Elba; silver with a red band, the
latter having bees of gold on it. The Emperor wore the uniform of the
Colonel of the Horse Chasseurs of the Guard. He had substituted on his
chapeau the red and white cockade of the island for the tri-colored
cockade. His presence gave a new stimulus to the trade and industry of
the island and the port of Ferrajo was crowded with vessels from the
opposite coast of Italy.
Napoleon received no money whatever from the Bourbon court, his pension
having been entirely forgotten by his successors at the capital. His
complaints on this head were not even considered, and the exchequer of
the Exile being rapidly depleted by his generous expenditures, he soon
became in need of many necessities. These new troubles imbittered the
spirit of the fallen Chief and but for the course of events at Paris, of
which he was kept fully advised, would have become overpowered by a
listlessness which at one time affected him seriously.
While on the island the Emperor observed that his new flag had become
the first in the Mediterranean. It was held sacred, he said, by the
Algerians, who usually made presents to the Elban captains, telling them
they were paying the debt of Moscow. Some Algerian ships once anchoring
off the island, great alarm was caused among the inhabitants, who
questioned the pirates, and asked them plainly whether they came with
any hostile views. "Against the Great Napoleon;" they replied, "Oh!
never; we do not wage war on God!"
Louis XVIII. had made his public entry into Paris on the 21st of April.
He was advanced in years, gross and infirm in person, yet he was,
perhaps, less unpopular than the rest of his family; but it was his
fatal misfortune to continue to increase day by day the bitterness of
those who had never been sincerely his friends. The King had been called
to the throne by the French Senate in a decree which provided that he
should preserve the political system "which Napoleon had violated," and
which declared the legislative constitution as composed of a hereditary
sovereign and two houses of assembly; to be fixed and unchangeable.
Louis, however, though he proceeded to France on this invitation, did
not hesitate to date his first act in the twentieth year of his reign.
The Senate saw in such assumptions the traces of those old doctrines of
"the divine right of kings," of which Louis was a shining example, and
which they, who though not originally of his party, had consented to his
recall--although they had through life abhorred and combatted such
principles; and they asked themselves, why, if all their privileges were
but the gifts of the King, they might not, on any tempting opportunity,
be withdrawn by the same authority. They, whose titles had all been won
since the death of Louis XVI., were startled when they found, that,
according to the royal doctrine, _there had been no legitimate
government all that time in France_!
The first tumult of the Restoration being over, and the troops of the
Allies withdrawn, things began to so shape themselves that there were
many elements of discontent amongst all classes, one of the most
powerful of which was in the army itself. The Allies had restored,
without stipulation, the whole of the prisoners who had fallen into
their hands during the war. At least 150,000 veteran soldiers, all of
whom had fought under Napoleon on many battlefields, were thus poured
into France ere Louis was well seated on the throne; men, too, who had
witnessed nothing of the last disastrous campaigns; who had sustained
themselves in their exile by recounting their earlier victories; and who
now, returning fresh and vigorous to their native soil, had but one
answer to every tale of misfortune which met them: "These things could
never have happened had we been here!"
The Empress Marie was at Blois at the time Napoleon signed his
abdication, and Savary has described her grief as very great, but her
own reverses were sufficiently severe to account for this, without any
strong feeling for Napoleon. By direction of Napoleon she applied for
protection to the Emperor of Austria and went to Rambouillet to meet
him, where he explained to her that she was to be separated from her
husband "for a time." The Emperor Alexander visited her also, very much
against her will, and a few days afterwards she departed for Vienna.
Alexander also visited Josephine, and found her distress at Napoleon's
abdication very great. She appears never to have recovered from the
shock for she survived it only about six weeks. She died on the 29th of
May, 1814, at Malmaison, and was buried in the church of Ruel. Her
funeral was attended by several generals of the allied armies, and
marshals and generals of France. The body was afterwards placed in a
magnificent tomb of white marble, erected by her two children, and
bearing the simple inscription: "Eugene and Hortense to Josephine."
Napoleon's mother, and sister Pauline, as well as a number of ancient
and attached servants of his civil government and his army, visited him
during the summer of 1814. Not the least of these was Pauline, who made
repeated voyages to Italy, and returned again as mysteriously. In the
circles of Ferrajo new and busy faces now appeared and disappeared--no
one knew whence they had come or whither they went and an air of bustle
and mystery pervaded the atmosphere of the place. The Emperor continued
to review his handful of veteran soldiers with as much pride as if
they had been the innumerable hosts he had led to victory on the
Continent, and seemed to be fairly well contented with his situation
notwithstanding he had fallen from an eminence that had been reached by
no other man in modern times. The only notable change observed in his
habits was that he became grave, and reserved, and seemed no longer to
take any interest in the improvements he had effected on the island.
It was evident, however, that something was preparing; but the
commissioners who watched over Napoleon were unable to fathom it. They
repeatedly remarked on the absurdity of the Allied Powers in withholding
his pension, which they had solemnly pledged should be paid every
quarter, thereby tempting him to release himself; but their reports were
left unnoticed by those in whose hands they fell. This obliged the
Emperor to sell every luxury and comfort around him to raise the means
of paying his current expenses. Then it was that he began to forecast
the future and to contemplate a bold stroke, not only for liberty, but
to regain his lost throne before he could be transported to St. Helena
which he had been informed privately was being discussed at Vienna.
In this he was aided by a nation which was far from satisfied with the
man whose possession of the royal sceptre had only been made possible by
the force of foreign armies, and it was apparent to nearly everyone that
Louis XVIII. could not long rule France tranquilly, even though Napoleon
did not return.
Ere autumn closed Napoleon granted furloughs on various pretexts to
about two hundred of his Guard, and these at once scattered themselves
over France singing his praises. It now began to be whispered that the
Exile would return to the soil of France in the spring of the coming
year. Among the soldiery and elsewhere he was toasted under the
_sobriquet_ of "Corporal Violet," a flower or a ribbon of its color
being the symbol of rebellion, and worn openly in the sight of the
unsuspecting Bourbons. It was by this secret symbol that Napoleon's
friends knew each other. Rings of a violet color with the device, "It
will re-appear in the spring," became fashionable; women wore
violet-colored silks and the men displayed watch-strings of the same
color; while the mutual question when these friends met was generally,
"Are you fond of the violet?" to which the answer of a confederate was,
"Ah! well."
The representatives of all the European princes had met in Vienna to
settle finally a number of questions left undecided at the termination
of the war, including a division of the "spoils." Talleyrand was there
for France, Wellington for England, Metternich for Austria. On the 11th
of March these representatives, who were then discussing among other
things "how to get rid of the Man of Elba," were thrown into a panic by
the news that Napoleon Bonaparte had reared his standard once more in
France and was marching on Paris!
Of the state of affairs in France Napoleon had been fully advised as
well as of the sessions of the ministers at the Congress of Vienna, who
had suggested that, as the French government would not honestly pay his
pension, he should be taken to some place of greater safety, and St.
Helena was even mentioned at this time. This determined Napoleon to act,
especially as he was fully convinced that he had a good chance of being
well received by the twenty or thirty millions of people who were being
treated with contempt by Louis XVIII. and his followers. The arrival
also of M. Fleury de Chaboulon, with secret messages from Maret, (Duke
of Bassano) then at Paris, had much to do with the hasty determination
of Napoleon to quit Elba at the earliest moment possible. Reserved as
the Exile was with others he told his mother of his plans. "I cannot die
on this island," he said to her, "and terminate my career in a repose
unworthy of me. Besides, want of money would soon leave me here alone,
exposed to the attack of my enemies." His mother reflected for some time
in silence and then replied, "Go, my son--go and fulfill your destiny!
You will fail perhaps, and your failure will soon be followed by your
death. But I see with sorrow that you cannot remain here; let us hope
that God, who has protected you amid so many battles, will save you once
more!"
Bertrand, who was sharing Napoleon's exile, was now informed of the
Emperor's decision as was also Druot who at once commenced secret
preparations for the approaching expedition. Eleven hundred soldiers
were collected of whom 800 belonged to the Guard and 300 to the 35th
light infantry that Napoleon had found in the island. None of these men
had any idea of the projected enterprise. Colonel Campbell, who was
watching proceedings in Elba for the English, had left Ferrajo and gone
to Leghorn. There remained then only the cruisers that were easily
deceived or avoided. In order to keep his preparations a profound
secret, Napoleon, two days before embarking, laid an embargo on the
vessels in the harbors of Elba, and cut off all communication with the
sea. He then ordered his ordnance officer, Vantini, to seize one of the
large vessels lying in the port, which, with the "Inconstant" of
twenty-six cannon, and six other smaller craft, making in all seven
vessels, he secured the means of embarking his eleven hundred men and
four pieces of field artillery. He had decided to commence his romantic
enterprise on the 26th of February, 1815. On this day he allowed his
soldiers to remain at their usual employment until the middle of the
day. They were suddenly summoned in the afternoon and after being
lightly fed, were assembled with arms and baggage on the pier where they
were informed that they were to go on board the vessels. The inhabitants
of the island regretted the Exile's departure as they feared its
prosperity would go with him. Napoleon's staff and about three hundred
men embarked on board the "Inconstant," the others being distributed in
the other vessels of the flotilla.
The discharge of a single cannon at about 7 o'clock in the evening was
the signal agreed upon for weighing anchor, and when the sails were
unfurled, and the little fleet steered its course, reiterated cries of
"Paris or death!" were heard from the exultant troops. The Emperor had
said to them, "Grenadiers! we are going to France; we must march to
Paris!"
The English commissioner immediately attempted to get Napoleon's mother
and sister to betray his destination and being unsuccessful, at once
pursued; but was unable to overtake his charge. On the voyage a French
ship-of-war crossed his path; but the Emperor made all his soldiers and
those persons who could be suspected descend under the deck, and the
steersman of the "Inconstant," who happened to be well acquainted with
the commanding officer, had received and answered the usual challenge
without exciting any suspicion. In reply to the question of how they
left the Emperor at Elba, Napoleon himself made answer by signal that,
"He was very well."
During the voyage he dictated two proclamations which were copied by
almost all his soldiers and attendants who could write. These were to be
duplicated on landing and distributed throughout France.
The Emperor, having left Elba on the 26th of February, arrived off
Cannes, near Fréjus, on March 1st,--the very spot he had touched when he
arrived from Egypt, and from which he had embarked ten months before. He
landed without opposition, and his handful of men,--500 grenadiers of
the Guard, 200 dragoons and 100 Polish lancers, these last without
horses and carrying their saddles on their backs, were reviewed and
immediately began their march on Paris. He bivouacked that night in a
plantation of olives, with all his men about him. As soon as the moon
rose, the reveillé sounded. A laborer who was going thus early to work
in the fields recognized the Emperor's person, and uttering a cry of
joy, said he had served in the Army of Italy and would join the ranks.
"Here is a reinforcement already!" said Napoleon to Bertrand, and after
spending the balance of the evening in chatting familiarly with his
Guard, the march towards Paris recommenced.
Early in the morning they passed through the town of Grasse, and halted
on the height beyond it. There the whole population of the place
surrounded them, some cheering and many others maintaining perfect
silence; but none offered any show of opposition. The peasants blessed
his return; but, on viewing his little band looked upon him with pity,
and entertained no hope of his ultimate success. The roads were so bad
that the pieces of cannon which they had with them were abandoned in the
course of the day, but they marched full twenty leagues ere they halted
for the night at Seranon. "Before arriving at this stopping place," says
Thiers, "the Emperor stopped a few minutes in a hut, occupied by an old
woman and some cows. Whilst he warmed himself before a brushwood fire he
entered into conversation with the old country-woman, who little
imagined what guests she entertained beneath her humble thatch, and was
asked, 'What news from Paris?' She seemed surprised at a question to
which she was little accustomed, and replied very naturally that she
knew of none. 'You don't know what the King is doing then?' said
Napoleon.
"'The King?' answered the old woman, still more astonished, 'the King!
You mean the Emperor--he is always _yonder_.'"
This dweller in the Alpine country was wholly ignorant that Napoleon had
been hurled from his throne and replaced by Louis XVIII. All present
were struck with astonishment at witnessing this extraordinary
ignorance. Napoleon, who was not less surprised than the others, looked
at Druot and said, "Well, Druot, of what use is it to disturb the world
to fill it with one's name?"
On the 5th of March the Emperor reached Gap, where he published his
first proclamations,--one to the army and another to the French people.
The former said: "Soldiers! We have not been conquered. Two men, raised
from our ranks, (Marmont and Augereau) have betrayed our laurels, their
country, their prince, their benefactor. In my exile I have heard your
voice. I have arrived once more among you, despite all obstacles, and in
all perils. We ought to forget that we have been the masters of the
world; but we ought never to suffer foreign interference in our affairs.
Who dares pretend to be master over us? Take again the eagles which you
followed at Ulm, at Austerlitz, at Jena, at Eylau, at Friedland, at
Tudela, at Eckmuhl, at Essling, at Smolensk, at Moskowa, at Lutzen, at
Wurtchen, at Montmirail. Soldiers! come and range yourselves under the
banners of your old chief. Victory shall march at the charging step. The
eagle, with the national colors, shall fly from steeple to steeple, till
it reaches the towers of Notre Dame! In your old age, surrounded and
honored by your fellow-citizens, you shall be heard with respect when
you recount your high deeds. You shall then say with pride, 'I also was
one of that great army which entered twice within the walls of Vienna,
which took Rome, and Berlin, and Madrid and Moscow, and which delivered
Paris from the stain printed on it by domestic treason, and the
occupation of strangers.'"
Between Mure and Vizele, Cambronne, who commanded Napoleon's advanced
guard of forty grenadiers, met suddenly a battalion sent forward from
Grenoble to arrest the march. The colonel refused to parley with
Cambronne and either party halted until the Emperor came up. Napoleon
did not hesitate for a moment but dismounted and advanced alone; some
paces behind him came about a hundred of his Guard, with their arms
reversed. There was perfect silence on all sides until the returned
Exile was within a few yards of the men. He then halted, threw open his
surtout, so as to show the star of the Legion of Honor, and exclaimed,
"If there be among you a soldier who desires to kill his general--his
Emperor--let him do it now. Here I am!"
The old cry of "Vive l'Empereur!" burst instantly from every lip.
Napoleon threw himself among them, and taking a veteran private, covered
with scars and medals, by his beard, said, "Speak honestly, old
Moustache, couldst thou have had the heart to kill thy Emperor?"
The old soldier dropped his ramrod into his piece to show that it was
not loaded, and answered, "Judge if I could have done thee much
harm--_all the rest are the same_!" The soldiers had now broken their
ranks and were surrounding the Emperor, kissing his hands and calling
him their general, their Emperor, their father. The commander of the 5th
battalion, thus abandoned by his soldiers, knew not what to do, when
Napoleon, freeing himself from the throng stepped forward, asked his
name, his grade, his services and then added: "My friend, who made you
chief of battalion?" "You, Sire," "Who made you captain?" "You, Sire,"
"And would you fire on me?" "Yes" replied the brave man, "in the
performance of my duty." He then gave his sword to Napoleon, who took
it, pressed his hand and in a voice that clearly indicated that the
weapon would be restored at that point, said, "Meet me at Grenoble."
Turning to Bertrand and Druot the Emperor then said: "All is decided:
within ten days we shall be in the Tuileries!"
Napoleon now gave the word, and the old adherents and the new began the
march together towards Grenoble. Ere they reached that town Colonel
Labedoyere, an officer of noble family, and who had been promoted by
Louis XVIII., appeared on the road before them at the head of his
regiment, the seventh of the line. These men and the Emperor's little
column, on coming within view of each other, rushed simultaneously from
their ranks and embraced with mutual shouts of, "Live Napoleon! Live the
Guard! Live the Seventh!"
Labedoyere now produced an eagle, which he had kept concealed about his
person, and broke open a drum which was found to be filled with
tri-colored cockades. As these ancient ensigns were exhibited by the
first officer of superior rank who voluntarily espoused the side of the
returned Exile, renewed enthusiasm was apparent on all sides. Napoleon
then questioned young Labedoyere concerning the state of Paris, and
France in general. That gallant officer answered with much frankness:
"Sire, the French will do everything for your Majesty; but your Majesty
must do everything in return for them; no more ambition, no more
despotism; we are determined to be free and happy. It is necessary,
Sire, to renounce that system of conquest and power which occasioned the
misfortune of France and yourself."
[Illustration: From a Drawing by L. Marin
DEPARTURE OF NAPOLEON FOR PARIS]
Napoleon replied, "I know that. I return to revive the glory of France,
to establish the principles of the Revolution and to secure to the
nation a degree of liberty which, though difficult at the commencement
of my reign, is now become not only possible but necessary."
This act of Labedoyere was most decisive, for in spite of all the
efforts of General Marchand, commandant at Grenoble, the whole of that
garrison, when he approached the walls, shouted "Vive l'Empereur!"
Though welcoming Napoleon with their voices and shaking hands with his
followers through the wicket below, they would not so far disobey the
governor as to throw open the gates. Neither could any argument prevail
upon them to open fire on the advancing party and in the very teeth of
all their batteries Napoleon calmly planted a howitzer or two and blew
the gates open. Then, as if the spell of discipline was at once
dissolved, the garrison broke from their lines and dragging the Emperor
from his horse, bore him aloft on their shoulders towards the principal
inn of the place, amidst the clamors of enthusiastic and delirious joy.
The inhabitants of Grenoble, being unable to bring him the keys of the
city, brought him with acclamations, the shattered gates instead,
exclaiming: "For want of the keys of the good city of Grenoble, here are
the gates for you!" Next morning he reviewed his troops, now amounting
to about 7,000, and on the 9th recommenced his march.
On the 10th of March Napoleon came within sight of Lyons and was
informed that Marshal Macdonald had arrived to take the command, had
barricaded the bridge of Guillotierre, and posted himself at the head of
a large force to dispute the entrance of the town. Nothing daunted with
this intelligence, the column moved on, and at the bridge of Lyons, as
at the gates of Grenoble, all opposition vanished when the person of the
Emperor was recognized by the soldiery. Macdonald was forced to retire
and Napoleon entered the second city of France in triumph. Macdonald
would have been taken prisoner by his own troops, had not some of them,
more honorable than the rest, insisted on his escape being unobstructed.
He thereupon returned to Paris where he once more hoped to make a stand.
A guard of mounted citizens who had been formed to attend on the person
of Count d'Artois, the heir of the Empire, and who had accompanied
Macdonald, were the foremost to offer their services to the Emperor
after he reached the hotel; but he rejected their assistance and
dismissed them with contempt. Finding that one of their number had
followed the Prince until his person was out of all danger, Napoleon
immediately sent to that individual the cross of the Legion of Honor.
Meanwhile, during the week that the Emperor had continued his march
Parisward without opposition, the newspapers of the capital were silent,
and none ventured to make any allusion whatever to his successes. There
then appeared a royal decree, proclaiming Napoleon Bonaparte "an
outlaw," and convoking, on the instant, the two Chambers. Next day the
"Moniteur" announced that, surrounded on all hands by faithful
garrisons and a loyal population, this "outlaw and invader" was already
stripped of most of his followers, was wandering in despair among the
hills, and certain to be a prisoner within two or three days at the
utmost! Louis received many addresses full of loyalty and devotion from
the public bodies of Paris, from towns and departments, and, above all,
from the marshals, generals and regiments who happened to be near the
capital. The partisans of Napoleon at Paris, however, were far more
active than the royalists. They gave out everywhere that, as the
proclamation addressed "To the French people" from Gap had stated,
Napoleon came back thoroughly cured of that ambition which had armed
Europe against his throne; that he considered his act of abdication
void, because the Bourbons had not accepted the crown on the terms which
it was offered, and had used their authority in a spirit, and for
purposes at variance with the feelings and the interests of the French
people; that he was come to be no longer the dictator of a military
despotism, but the first citizen of a nation which he had resolved to
make the freest of the free; that the royal government wished to
extinguish by degrees all memory of the Revolution; that he was
returning to consecrate once more the principles of liberty and
equality, ever hateful to the eyes of the old nobility of France, and to
secure the proprietors of forfeited estates against all machinations of
that dominant faction;--in a word, that he was fully sensible of the
extent of his past errors, both of domestic administration and of
military ambition, and desirous of nothing but the opportunity of
devoting, to the true welfare of peaceful France, those unrivalled
talents and energies which he had been rash enough to abuse in former
days.
Napoleon's friends declared, too, and with much show of authority, that
the army was, high and low, on the side of the Emperor; that every
detachment sent to intercept him would but swell his force so that
nothing could prevent him from taking possession of the Tuileries ere a
fortnight more had passed over the head of the Bourbon King.
Napoleon remained at Lyons from the 10th to the 13th of March. Here he
formally resumed the functions of civil government, published various
decrees, one of which commanded that justice be administered everywhere
in his name after the 15th, another abolishing the Chambers of the Peers
and the Deputies and summoning all the electoral colleges to meet in
Paris to witness the coronation of Marie Louise and her son, and settle
definitively the constitution of the State; a third, ordering into
banishment all those whose names had not been erased from the list of
emigrants prior to the abdication of Fontainebleau; a fourth, depriving
all strangers and emigrants of their commissions in the army; a fifth,
abolishing the order of St. Louis, and bestowing all its revenues on the
Legion of Honor; and a sixth restoring to their authority all
magistrates who had been displaced by the Bourbon government.
These publications soon reached Paris and caused much alarm among the
adherents of the King.
Marshal Ney now received orders from the Minister of War to take command
of a large body of troops whose fidelity was considered sure, and who
were about to be sent to Lons-le-Saunier, to intercept and arrest the
returning Exile before he could make further progress. Ney immediately
rode to Paris from his retired country-seat and there, for the first
time, learned of the disembarkation of Napoleon from Elba. He is even
said to have declared that he would bring his former chief to Paris in a
cage, like a wild beast, in the course of a week. On reaching
Lons-le-Saunier he received a letter from Napoleon reminding him of
their former campaigns and summoning him to join his standard as the
"bravest of the brave." Ney had a secret interview with a courier who
brought this letter, with one from Bertrand. Generals Lecourbe and
Bourmont, by whom the marshal was attended, advised him not to oppose a
torrent which was too powerful for any resistance he could bring against
it. While in this state of doubt and indecision, sorely perplexed as to
his exact duty, he received intelligence that his vanguard, posted at
Bourg, had gone over to Napoleon, and that the inhabitants of
Chalons-sur-Saone had seized the park of artillery. All this confirming
what Ney had just been told by the courier, he exclaimed, "It is
impossible for me to stop the incoming water of the ocean with the palm
of my hand!" Accordingly, on the following morning, he published an
order of the day, declaring that "the cause of the Bourbons was lost
forever, and that the legitimate dynasty which the French nation had
adopted was about to reascend the throne." This order was read to the
troops and was received by them with rapture; some of the officers,
however, remonstrated and left their command. One, before he went away,
broke his sword in two, and threw the pieces at Ney's feet, saying, "It
is easier for a man of honor to break iron than to infringe his word."
Ney put his soldiery in motion forthwith, and joined the march of the
Emperor on the 17th of March at Auxerre, being received by Napoleon
with open arms. Ney avowed later that he had chosen the part of Napoleon
long ere he pledged his oath to Louis, adding that the greater number of
the marshals were, like himself, original members of the Elban
conspiracy to again place him on the throne.
In and about the capital there still remained troops sufficient in
numbers to overwhelm the advancing column, and Louis intrusted the
command of these battalions to Marshal Macdonald, who proceeded to
establish himself at Melun with the King's army, in the hopes of being
supported by his soldiers in the discharge of his commission.
On the 19th Napoleon slept once more in the chateau of Fontainebleau,
and on the morning of the 20th he advanced through the forest, alone,
and with the full knowledge of Macdonald's arrangements. About noon the
marshal's troops, who had been for some time under arms on an eminence
beyond the wood, perceived suddenly a single open carriage coming at
full speed towards them from among the trees. A handful of Polish
horsemen, with their lances reversed, followed the equipage. The little
flat cocked hat; the gray surtout; then the person of Napoleon was
recognized. In an instant the men burst from their ranks, surrounded him
with the cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" and trampled their white cockades
in the dust. Macdonald escaped to Paris but Louis had not awaited his
last stand. He had set off from the Tuileries in the middle of the
preceding night, amidst the tears and lamentations of several courtiers,
taking the road to Lisle. McDonald soon overtook and accompanied him to
the frontier of the Netherlands, which he reached in safety.
Napoleon once more entered Paris on the evening of the 20th of March. He
came preceded and followed by the soldiery on horseback, and on whom
alone he had relied. At the Tuileries he was received with every
possible demonstration of joy and was almost stifled by the pressure of
those enthusiastic adherents who, the moment he stopped in the
court-yard of the palace, mounted him on their shoulders and carried him
in triumph up the great staircase of the palace. The Emperor, during
this dramatic proceeding, continued to exclaim, "Be steady my good
children; be steady I entreat you." A piece of his coat being either
purposely or by accident torn off, was instantly divided into hundreds
of scraps, for the procurement of each remnant of which, by way of
relic, there was as much struggling as if the effort had been made to
become possessed of so many ingots of gold. He found in the apartments,
which the King had but lately vacated, a brilliant assemblage of those
who had in former times filled the most prominent places in his own
councils and court.
"Gentlemen," said Napoleon, as he walked round the circle, "it is
disinterested people who have brought me back to my capital. It is the
subalterns and the soldiers that have done it all. I owe everything to
the people and the army."
All night long the cannon of Marengo and Austerlitz pealed forth their
joyous sounds, the city was brilliantly illuminated, and all except the
Bourbons, who, as Thiers happily says, "during twenty-five years had
neither learned or forgotten anything," were rejoicing at the return of
the Exile. Napoleon had now proved that he was not only Emperor of the
army but of the citizens, the people, the peasantry, and the masses.
With a handful of men he had marched from one end of the kingdom to the
other, entered the capital and taken possession of the throne, and that
without shedding even one drop of blood!
He assigned, among other reasons for leaving Elba, that in addition to
the violation of the treaty of Fontainebleau in failing to pay his
pension, that his wife and child had been seized, detained, and never
permitted to join him; that the pensions to his mother and brothers were
alike refused, and that assassins had been sent over to Elba, for the
express purpose of murdering him. This last charge has also been made by
Savary with much positiveness. "Last year," said Napoleon, "it was said
that I recalled the Bourbons; this year they recall me; so we are
equal!"
Previous to the morning of the 20th of March the nights had been rainy
and the days sombre and cloudy; but on this morning, the anniversary of
the birth of the young King of Rome, the day was ushered in by a
brilliant sun and which produced a strong effect on the populace who
again referred in their acclamations to the "sun of Napoleon" as they
had that of Austerlitz, ten years before. On the following day the whole
population of the capital directed their steps towards the Tuileries and
repeated anon and anon their pleasure at the return of the Emperor who
had, between the 1st and the 20th of March, fulfilled that strange
prophecy in which he said, victory would march at the charging step, and
that the imperial eagle would fly, without pause, from steeple to
steeple, to the towers of Notre Dame, even to the dome of the Palace of
the Tuileries!
XVI
THE HUNDRED DAYS. WATERLOO.
The instant that news of Napoleon's daring movement reached Vienna, the
Congress, although on the point of dissolution, published a proclamation
in which it was said: "By breaking the Convention which had established
him in Elba, Bonaparte destroyed the only legal title on which his
existence depended; and by appearing again in France, with projects of
confusion and disorder, he has deprived himself of the protection of the
laws, and has manifested to the universe that there can be neither peace
or truce with him. The powers consequently declare, that Napoleon
Bonaparte has placed himself without the pale of civil and social
relations, and that as an enemy and disturber of the tranquility of the
world, he has rendered himself liable to public vengeance."
All Europe was now prepared once more for war. A formal treaty was
entered into by which the four great powers, England, Austria, Russia
and Prussia, bound themselves to maintain, each of them, at least
150,000 troops in arms until Napoleon should either be dethroned, or
reduced so low as no longer to endanger the peace of Europe. The other
states of the Continent were to be invited to join the alliance,
furnishing contingents adequate to their respective resources.
It was stipulated that in case England should not furnish all the men
agreed upon she would compensate by paying at the rate of $150 per annum
for every cavalry soldier, and $100 for every foot soldier under the
full number.
On the day following his return from Elba, Napoleon reviewed all the
troops in Paris, and addressed them in one of those stirring and
eloquent speeches which had never failed to excite their enthusiasm. In
beginning his address, he said: "Soldiers, I am returned to France with
twelve hundred men, because I relied upon the love of the people, and
the remembrance of me with the veteran troops. I have not been deceived
in my expectations; I thank you, soldiers. The glory of all that is
achieved is due to the people and yourselves. My only merit consists in
having justly appreciated you."
Cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" filled the air and were redoubled when
General Cambronne entered at the head of the officers of the battalion
of the Guard, which had accompanied him to and from Elba, and carrying
the imperial eagles. On observing the ancient emblems, Napoleon
exclaimed, "Behold the officers of the battalion who accompanied me in
the hour of misfortune! They are all my friends; they are dear to my
heart; whenever I beheld them, they presented to my view the different
regiments composing the army; for, in the number of these six hundred
brave men, there are individuals of every corps. In loving them, it is
all of you, soldiers of the whole army, that I loved. They come to
restore you those eagles; let them prove to you the rallying point!
Swear that they shall be found everywhere, when the interests of the
country shall require them; that the traitors, and those who would
subjugate our territory, may never be able to support their view." "We
swear!" came the vociferous replies of the soldiers to the strains of
the band playing: "Let us watch over the safety of the Empire."
Among the peals that rent the air, those of the working class were
particularly audible, their incessant cries being couched in these
terms: "The Great Contractor is returned; we shall now eat bread!"
Napoleon was hardly reseated on his throne ere he learned that he must
in all likelihood defend himself against 225,000 Russians, 300,000
Austrians, 236,000 Prussians, an army of 150,000 men furnished by the
minor States of Germany, 50,000 contributed by the government of the
Netherlands, and 50,000 English, commanded by the Duke of Wellington; in
all 1,100,000 soldiers! From the moment he re-established himself in the
Tuileries, he began that period of his government, which has been
designated the "Hundred Days," in order to meet this gigantic
confederation. Carnot became once more Minister of War, and showed the
same energy he had manifested during the Consulate. Napoleon had the
nation with him at that moment, notwithstanding the proclamations of
Louis XVIII.,--which had found their way into the capital,--announced
the speedy arrival of a million foreign soldiers under the walls of
Paris to replace him on his throne and drive away the "usurper."
The Duchess d'Angoulême was the last of the royal family who remained in
France. She had thrown herself into Bordeaux, trusting to the friendly
feeling of the mayor and citizens. She made strong efforts to maintain
the Bourbon cause, and behaved with so much spirit as to make Napoleon
pass an eulogium on her as "the only man of her family." But her efforts
failed.
The effective force of the army in France, when Napoleon landed at
Cannes, consisted of but about 93,000 men. The cavalry had been greatly
reduced, and the disasters of 1812, 1813 and 1814 were still visible in
the deficiency of military stores, and arms,--especially of artillery.
By almost incredible exertions, although now unable to adopt the old
method of conscription, by the middle of May the Emperor had over
375,000 men in arms,--including an Imperial Guard of 40,000 chosen
veterans,--all in a splendid state of equipment and discipline; a large
and brilliant force of cavalry, and a train of artillery of proportional
extent and excellence. He had labored unremittingly to raise the
military strength of France to a height sufficient once more to repel
the attack of all Europe, and was employed fifteen or sixteen hours a
day during the whole of this period. Men, clothing, arms, horses, and
discipline were wanting.
All the veterans were now recalled to the ranks. They came in crowds,
leaving the employments to which they had applied themselves to the
number of one hundred thousand men. All the officers on half pay were
also summoned to action.
Napoleon made several attempts to open a negotiation with the Allies,
and urged three arguments in defense of his "breach of the Convention"
by which he had become sovereign of Elba: 1st, the detention of his wife
and son by the Court of Austria: 2d, the non-payment of his pension, and
3d, the voice of the French nation which he had heard and obeyed, as
evidenced by the fact that by the end of March the tri-colored flag was
displayed on every tower in France.
During the last days of the Congress of Vienna, Murat's possession of
the throne of Naples was under discussion, and Talleyrand was
endeavoring to dethrone him and place thereon the King of the Sicilies.
When Napoleon landed on the shores of France, Murat resolved to rival
his brother-in-law's daring and without further pause marched to Rome,
at the head of 50,000 men, the Pope and cardinals fleeing at his
approach. Murat then advanced into the north of Italy, inviting "all
true Italians" to rally round him, and assist in the erection of their
country into one free and independent state, with himself at their head.
The Austrian commander in Lombardy put his troops in motion at once to
meet Murat, and the latter's followers fleeing in confusion, their
leader sought personal safety in flight. On quitting his wretched
remnant of an army he returned incognito to his capital on the evening
of the 18th of May. As he embraced his queen,--Napoleon's sister,--he
exclaimed, with emotion, "All is lost, Caroline, except my own life, and
that I have been unable to throw away!"
He departed in a fishing vessel which landed him near Toulon about the
end of May. Here he lingered for some time, entreating Napoleon to
receive him at Paris, and being unsuccessful, after a series of
extraordinary hardships, relanded on the coast of Naples after the King
of the Two Sicilies had been re-established on that throne.
Murat hoped to invite an insurrection and recover what he had lost; but
was seized, tried, and executed, meeting his fate with heroic fortitude.
To those who took his life he said at the last moment, "Save my face;
aim at my heart!" At St. Helena, Napoleon often said that the fortune of
the world might have been changed had there been a Murat to head the
French cavalry at Waterloo.
Austria was now concentrating all her Italian forces for the meditated
re-invasion of France; the Spanish army began to muster towards the
passes of the Pyrenees, the Russians, Swedes and Danes were already
advancing from the north, while the main armies of Austria, Bavaria and
the Rhenish princes were rapidly consolidating themselves along the
Upper Rhine. Blucher was once more in command of the Prussians in the
Netherlands; and Wellington, commanding in chief the British,
Hanoverians and Belgians, had also established his headquarters at
Brussels by the end of May. It was very evident to Napoleon that the
clouds were thickening fast and he at once began preparations to defend
himself ere his frontier had been crossed on all sides.
Among other preparations, the Emperor had now strongly fortified Paris
and all the positions in advance of it on the Seine, the Marne, and the
Aube, and among the passes of the Vosgesian hills. Lyons, also, had been
guarded by very formidable outworks. Massena, at Metz, and Suchet, on
the Swiss frontier, commanded divisions which the Emperor judged
sufficient to restrain Schwartzenberg for some time on the Upper Rhine.
Should he drive them, in the fortresses behind could hardly fail to
detain him much longer.
Meanwhile Napoleon had resolved to himself attack the most alert of his
enemies, the Prussians and the English, beyond the Sambre,--while the
Austrians were thus held in check on the Upper Rhine; and ere the armies
of the North could debouch upon Manheim, to co-operate by their right
with Wellington and Blucher, and by their left with Schwartzenberg.
On the 14th of May, previously appointed as the day of procession and
solemn festival of the "Federates,"--operatives and artisans of
Paris--the Emperor rode along their ranks, received their acclamations,
and harangued them in his usual strain of eloquence. In the meantime,
however, Fouché, Minister of Police, had already begun to hold
traitorous communications with the Austrian government. In one instance
Napoleon had discovered this fact, and had nearly caused him to be
arrested; but he abstained, apparently from apprehension of the
Republican party, amongst whom Fouché was a busy pretender.
The ceremony of the "Champ-de-Mai" took place on the 1st of June, in the
open space facing the Military School. The Imperial and National Guards
and troops of the line, amounting in all to 15,000 soldiers, were drawn
up in squares in the Champ-de-Mars and an immense concourse of
spectators thronged every vacant space from which a view of the scene
could be gained. After a religious solemnity, a patriotic address was
delivered to the Emperor by the electors of the departments, to which he
replied: "Emperor, Consul, Soldier--I hold all from the people. In
prosperity, in adversity, in the field of battle, in council, on the
throne, in exile, France has been the sole object of all my thoughts and
actions."
The Emperor then proceeded to the altar and took an oath to observe the
new constitution, which had been adopted by upwards of a million and a
half votes, and in which he was followed by his ministers and the
electoral deputations. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of
the eagles to the troops, and with loud and repeated acclamations, and
cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" from the soldiers and multitude assembled.
On the following day the Emperor gave a grand fête, in the gallery of
the Louvre, to the deputies of the army and the electors, on which
occasion he was again greeted with every manifestation of devotion and
fidelity. On the 4th of June, Napoleon attended in person the opening of
the Chambers and delivered addresses which were both firm, open and
sensible.
By this time the Emperor had made most extraordinary progress in his
preparations for war. The effective strength of the army had been raised
to 365,000 men, of whom 117,000 were under arms, clothed, disciplined
and ready to take the field. They were formed into seven grand corps,
besides several corps of observation stationed along the whole line of
the frontiers, which were then threatened on every side. What Napoleon
now required was time to prepare the means of defense; but this his
enemies were far from intending to allow.
Their immense armaments were already passing on towards the frontiers of
France, in different lines, and at considerable intervals, for the
convenience of subsistence. The Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the
King of Prussia, had once more placed themselves at the head of their
respective armies. The Austrians, amounting to 300,000 men, commanded in
chief by Schwartzenberg, were divided into two bodies, one of which was
to enter France by Switzerland, the other by the Upper Rhine. Two
hundred thousand Russians were marching towards Alsace, under the
Archduke Constantine. The Prussian army amounted to two hundred and
thirty-six thousand men; of whom one half were already in the field. The
minor states of Germany had furnished one hundred and fifty thousand;
the Netherlands, fifty thousand; England, eighty thousand, including the
king's German legion, and other troops in British pay, under the command
of the Duke of Wellington;--in all 1,016,000 soldiers!
Among these hosts it was the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington,
and the Prussians under Blucher, which were first in the field. They
occupied Belgium and amounted to upwards of two hundred thousand men,
of whom rather less than one half were ranged under the English
commander-in-chief.
[Illustration: RETURN OF NAPOLEON FROM ELBA]
Two plans of campaign presented themselves to the mind of Napoleon. One
was to remain entirely on the defensive, leaving to the Allies the odium
of striking the first blow against the liberties of nations. He believed
that as they would not begin the invasion until the middle of July, it
would be the middle of August before they could make their way through
the fortresses, and appear in force before Lyons and Paris. Large
armies, could, before that time, be concentrated by him under the walls
of these two cities, and there the battles must be fought and decided.
The second plan was to assume the offensive before the Allies had
completed their operations, by marching into Belgium and attacking the
armies of Wellington and Blucher. His numbers would be inferior, but his
tactics would aim at preventing the junction of the two armies opposed
to him and beating them separately, in which event Belgium would to a
certainty rise and join his cause. He finally resolved on the latter
plan of campaign. His calculations, were, in part, disturbed by a
serious insurrection in La Vendée, which obliged him to send 20,000 men
into that province, in order to quell it, and reduced his disposable
forces to one hundred and twenty thousand men; but did not alter his
determination. The army was put in motion, and every preparation made
for the approaching struggle.
The Emperor left Paris on the night between the 11th and 12th of June,
as some writers declare "to measure himself against Wellington." The
Imperial Guard had commenced its march on the 8th, and all the
different corps of the army were in motion towards Maubeuge and
Phillipville. When he had made known his intention of commencing the
war, Caulaincourt solicited the favor of attending him. "If I do not
leave you at Paris" answered Napoleon, "on whom can I depend?" Even then
he felt that it was not the Allies alone that he had to contend against;
and when he had left Paris he seemed less apprehensive of the enemies
before, than those he had left behind him. To Bertrand's wife he said,
as he took her hand at departing, "Let us hope, Madame Bertrand, that we
may not soon have to regret the Island of Elba."
Napoleon arrived at Vervins on the 12th of June and assembled and
reviewed at Beaumont on the 14th, the whole of the army which had been
prepared to act immediately under his own orders. They had been most
carefully selected, and formed, and it was, perhaps, the most perfect
force, though far from the most numerous, with which he had ever taken
the field. The returns showed that his army amounted to one hundred and
twenty-two thousand four hundred men, with three hundred and fifty
pieces of cannon. These included 25,000 of his Imperial Guard, 25,000
cavalry in the highest condition, and artillery admirably served. "The
whole army was superb and full of ardor;" says Count Labedoyere, "but
the Emperor, more a slave than could have been credited to recollections
and old habits, committed the great fault of replacing his army under
the command of its former chiefs, most of whom, notwithstanding their
previous addresses to the King, did not cease to pray for the triumph of
the Imperial cause; yet were not disposed to serve it with that ardor
and devotion demanded by imperious circumstances. They were no longer
men full of youth and ambition, generously prodigal of their lives to
acquire rank and fame; but veterans, weary of warfare, who, having
attained the summit of promotion, and being enriched by the spoils of
the enemy, or the bounty of Napoleon, indulged no other wish, than the
peaceable enjoyment of their good fortune under the shade of those
laurels, they had so dearly acquired."
The Emperor reminded his soldiers, in a fiery proclamation issued on the
14th of June, that the day was the anniversary of the battle of Marengo
and of Friedland. "Then, as after Austerlitz and Wagram" he said "we
were too generous. We gave credit to the protestations and oaths of the
princes whom we suffered to remain on their thrones. Now, however,
having coalesced among themselves, they aim at the independence and the
most sacred rights of France. They have commenced the most unjust of
aggressions. Are we no longer the same men? Fools that they are! A
moment of prosperity blinds them. The oppression and the humiliation of
the French people are out of their power. If they enter France, there
will they find their tomb. Soldiers! We have forced marches to make;
battles to wage; perils to encounter; but with constancy the victory
will be ours. The rights--the honor of the country--will be honored. For
every Frenchman who has a heart, the moment has now arrived either to
conquer or perish!"
The army of Blucher numbered at this time about 120,000 men. They
communicated on their right with the left of the Anglo-Belgian army,
under Wellington, whose headquarters were at Brussels. Blucher's forces
extended along the line of the Sambre and the Meuse, occupied Charleroi,
Namur, Givet, and Liege. The Duke of Wellington's host amounted in
all to 75,000 men; his first division occupied Enghien, Brain-le-Compte
and Nivelles, communicating with the Prussian right at Charleroi. The
second division,--Lord Hills',--was cantoned in Halle, Oudenard and
Gramont, together with the greater part of the cavalry. The reserve,
under Sir Thomas Picton, was quartered at Brussels and Ghent. The
English and Prussian commanders had thus arranged their troops with the
view of being able to support each other, wherever the French might
hazard their assault.
In the night between the 14th and 15th, scouts returned to the
headquarters of the French, reporting that there was no movement among
the invaders at Charleroi, Namur or Brussels, thus verifying the
Emperor's belief that the plans for concealing the movements of his army
during the last few days were successful. The Duke of Wellington, in a
letter to Lord Bathurst, on the 13th, declared his disbelief in the
report that Napoleon had joined the army, and it was not until the
afternoon of the 15th that he possessed any knowledge of the position
and intentions of Napoleon. On that day, an officer of high rank arrived
at Wellington's headquarters in Brussels with the intelligence of
Napoleon's decisive operations.
General Bourmont, a protegé of Ney, with Colonels Clouet and
Villoutreys, and two other officers, had gone over to the enemy with all
the Emperor's plans. Napoleon knew from Marshal Ney that Bourmont had
shown some hesitation, and he had been backward in employing him.
Bourmont, however, having given General Gerard his word of honor to
serve the Emperor faithfully; and the general in question, whom Napoleon
valued highly, having answered for his integrity, the Emperor consented
to admit him into the service. He had covered himself with glory in
1814, and it was not to be expected that he would in 1815 go over to the
enemy on the eve of a battle. A drum-major, who deserted from the French
ranks some hours before General Bourmont and his two companions, was
conducted under an escort to the headquarters of Blucher, at Namur,
where he gave the first intelligence of Napoleon's intended attack. This
was confirmed by Bourmont, Clouet and Villoutreys who added details with
which the drum-major could not possibly have been acquainted.
Later on, in speaking of these traitors, Napoleon said, "Their names
will be held in execration so long as the French people form a nation.
This desertion increased the anxiety of the soldiers."
The Emperor immediately made those alterations in his plan of attack, as
such unexpected treason rendered necessary, and then proceeded to carry
out the details of his campaign. He had determined on first attacking
the Prussians, as he believed Blucher would give him battle at once, in
order to allow the English time to collect their forces. He believed
also, that if the English army were attacked first, Blucher would more
rapidly arrive to the support of the English than the latter were likely
to do if the Prussians were first attacked.
Ney had been placed in command of 43,000 men, with orders to advance on
the road to Brussels and make himself master of the position of
Quatre-Bras, at all points, so as to prevent Wellington from supporting
the Prussians. He was to march at daybreak, on the 16th, occupy the
position and intrench himself.
On Thursday, the 15th of June, the French drove in all the outposts on
the west bank of the Sambre at daybreak and at length assaulted
Charleroi, it being the intention of the Emperor to crush Blucher ere he
could concentrate all his own forces,--far less be supported by the
advance of Wellington,--and then rush on Brussels. Zietten held out with
severe loss at Charleroi; but long enough for the alarm to spread along
the whole Prussian line and then fell back on a position between Ligny
and Amand, where Blucher now awaited Napoleon's attack at the head of
his whole army, except the division of Bulow, which had not yet come up
from Liege.
The design of beating the Prussians in detail was not a success but the
second part of the plan--that of separating them wholly from Wellington,
might still succeed. With this view, while Blucher was concentrating his
force about Ligny, the French held the main road to Brussels from
Charleroi, beating some Nassau troops at Frasnes, and following them as
far as Quatre-Bras, a farm-house, so-called because it is there that the
roads from Charleroi to Brussels, and from Nivelles to Namur cross each
other.
On Thursday a Prussian officer arrived at Wellington's headquarters in
Brussels, with the intelligence of Napoleon's decisive operations. It is
still an open question just what hour this news was received by the
Duke, the time being variously stated at from 1 to 6 o'clock p.m. This
news was to the effect that the attack had commenced and the outposts of
the Allies had been driven back--much to Wellington's surprise, as he
was not wholly prepared for the news. There was to be a ball in Brussels
on Thursday evening, at the Duchess of Richmond's hotel, attended by the
Duke of Wellington and most of his general officers. Notwithstanding the
intelligence, they all went; but a second dispatch arrived at 11
o'clock, announcing that "the French had entered Charleroi that morning,
and continued to march in order of battle on Brussels; that there were
one hundred and fifty thousand strong; and that the Emperor was at their
head!" It was now but too clear that no more time should be lost and the
Duke and all of his officers hurried out of the ball-room.
Wellington, now fully aware of his situation, at once issued orders for
the breaking up of his cantonments, and the concentration of the forces,
which were spread over a very great extent. He rode off at an early hour
on the 16th, to Quatre-Bras, to visit the position, and thence to Bry,
where he had an interview with Blucher.
Napoleon, whose manoeuvres had thus far succeeded to his wish, on coming
up from Charleroi about noon on the 16th, was undecided whether Blucher
at Ligny, or Wellington at Quatre-Bras, ought to form the main object of
his attack. He at length determined to give his own personal attention
to Blucher.
The advanced guards met at the village of Fleurus, and those belonging
to the Prussians having retreated, their army now appeared drawn up in
battle array;--their left on Sombref; their centre on Ligny; their right
on St. Amand. The reserves were on the heights of Bry. Upon the summit
of this high ground the mill of Bry was conspicuous, and behind the
mill, in a depression, stood the village of Bry, whose steeple only was
visible.
The Prussian forces occupied a line nearly four miles in extent. The
French army, not including Ney's division, amounting to 60,000 men,
halted and formed. The Emperor now rode to some windmills on the chain
of outposts on the heights, and reconnoitred the enemy.
The Prussians displayed to him a force of about 80,000 men. Their front
was protected by a deep ravine; but their right was exposed, and had
Ney's division at Quatre-Bras, as the Emperor supposed, in the rear. A
staff officer now arrived from Ney, to inform Napoleon that he had not
yet occupied Quatre-Bras, in consequence of reports which made him
apprehensive of being turned by the enemy; but that he would advance, if
the Emperor still required it. Napoleon blamed him for having lost eight
hours, repeated the order, and added that, as soon as Ney had made good
that position, he (Ney) was to send a detachment by the causeway of
Namur and the village of Marchais, whence it should attack the heights
of Bry in the Prussian rear. Ney received this order at 12 o'clock,
noon; his detachment might reach Marchais by about 2 o'clock.
At this latter hour, therefore, the Emperor having descended from the
heights whence he had formed a correct view of his position, gave orders
for an immediate attack by a change of the whole front, divided into
several columns, on Fleurus. The attack extended all along the line of
the enemy, and which would be enclosed between two fires on the arrival
of the detachment from Ney's division in the rear of the Prussians. "The
fate of the war," said Napoleon, in answer to a question from Count
Gérard, "may be decided in three hours. If Ney executes his orders well,
not a gun of the Prussian army will escape." The soldiers had hardly
advanced a few paces, amid vociferous cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" when
terrible ravages were made in their ranks by the chain-shot from the
village and the balls from the batteries above. A single ball killed
eight men in one of the columns. But the enthusiasm of the troops, all
eager for battle, was too great to cause them to waver and they advanced
almost without firing, drove the Prussians at the point of the bayonet
from their positions in the gardens and orchards, and entered the
village after a stout resistance, only to retire a short time later
being unable to conquer the masses of infantry drawn up in a semi-circle
on a slope which surmounted the hill of Bry. The action at Ligny had
commenced a little later but not less aggressively. As Gérard's three
columns approached the village of Ligny they were received with such a
volley that they were obliged to fall back. A large body of artillery
was then thrown forward and riddled the village of Ligny and Gérard's
columns again advanced, finally taking possession of the place. This was
followed by a series of combats, exceedingly ferocious, as the French
gave no quarter nor did they receive any from the Prussians.
Blucher now advanced at the head of his soldiers and made a vigorous
attempt upon the three St. Amands; but with only partial success for a
time. At length, by a series of skillful attacks and manoeuvres, the
French became masters of these three points, but had not been able to
cross the sinuous stream of Ligny. It was now 5:30 o'clock and Napoleon
was directing the Imperial Guard upon Ligny in support of the advantages
already gained by Count Gérard at the head of 5,000 men, at St. Amand,
when he was informed that an army of 30,000 was advancing upon Fleurus.
The Emperor suspended the movement of his Guard in order to meet this
new force; but the alarm was unfounded. It proved to be the first
corps,--Count d'Erlon's,--which formed part of Ney's division, at last
complying with Napoleon's repeated orders, and had come up to take the
enemy in the rear:--their unexpected appearance had occasioned the loss
of two hours.
The Old Guard now resumed its suspended movements upon Ligny: the ravine
was passed by General Pecheux, at the head of his division, supported by
the infantry, cavalry, artillery and Milhaud's cuirassiers. The reserves
of the Prussians were driven back with the bayonet, and the centre of
the line broken and routed. A bloody conflict ensued in which the French
were victorious. The slaughter among the Prussians, was most remarkable.
They, however, divided into two parts, effected a retreat, favored by
the night and by the failure of that attack in the rear which Ney had
been so expressly ordered to make by a detachment from his force. Their
loss amounted to the prodigious number of 18,000 men, killed, wounded or
prisoners; forty pieces of cannon and eight stands of colors, while the
French loss was between 8,000 and 9,000.
For five hours, two hundred pieces of ordnance deluged the field with
slaughter, blood and death, during which period the French and
Prussians, alternately vanquished and victors, disputed that ensanguined
post hand to hand and foot to foot, so that no less than seven times in
succession Ligny was taken and lost.
The Emperor had repeatedly sent to Ney saying "that the destiny of
France rested in his hands" but the veteran marshal failed to appreciate
the importance of the orders and did not act promptly.
Many of the Prussian generals were killed or wounded; and Blucher
himself was overthrown, man and horse, by a charge of cuirassiers, and
galloped over by friends and foes. Night was coming on and the marshal,
who was much battered and bruised, effected his escape. He joined a body
of his troops, directed the retreat upon Wavres, and continued to mask
his movements so skilfully, that Napoleon knew not until noon on the
17th what way he had taken.
The total loss of the French amounted to no more than nine thousand,
killed or wounded--the extraordinary disproportion being occasioned by
the more skillful disposition of the French troops, whereby all their
shots took effect, while more than half of those of the enemy were
wasted.
On the same day as the battle of Ligny,--June 16th,--was also fought
the battle of Quatre-Bras, and at about the same time. Ney, with 45,000
men, began an attack on the position of Wellington at Quatre-Bras. At
this point the French were posted among growing corn as high as the
tallest man's shoulder, and which enabled them to draw up a strong body
of cuirassiers close to the English, and yet entirely out of their view.
The 49th and 42d regiments of Highlanders were thus taken by surprise,
and the latter would have been destroyed but for the coming up of the
former. The 42d, formed into a square, was repeatedly broken, and as
often recovered, though with terrible loss of life, for out of 800 that
went into action, only ninety-six privates and four officers remained
unhurt.
The pressing orders of Napoleon not allowing the marshal time for
reflection, and doubtless anxious to repair the precious time lost in
which he might have taken possession of Quatre-Bras, he did not
sufficiently reconnoitre but entered into the contest without being
wholly prepared. The first successful attack was soon suspended by the
arrival of fresh reinforcements, led by the Duke of Wellington, and the
shining bravery of the Scotch, Belgians and the Prince of Orange
suspended the success of the French. They were repulsed by a shower of
bullets from the British infantry added to a battery of two guns which
strewed the causeway with men and horses.
Ney was desirous of making the first corps, which he had left in the
rear, advance; but Napoleon had dispatched positive orders to Count
d'Erlon, at the head of that body, to join him, for which purpose the
latter had commenced his march. Ney, when made acquainted with this
fact, was stationed amidst a cross-fire from the enemies' batteries. "Do
you see those bullets?" cried the marshal, his brow clouded by despair;
"would that they would all pass through my body!" and he instantly sent
General Delcambre with all speed after Count d'Erlon, directing that
whatsoever might have been his orders, although received from the
Emperor himself, he must return. This he did, but when he arrived in the
evening, Ney, dispirited by the checks already received, and
dissatisfied with himself and others, had discontinued the engagement.
D'Erlon had spent the day in useless marches, his valor wasted by a
fatality over which he had no control. Between 5 and 6 o'clock General
Delcambre had overtaken the first corps on its march to Bry and brought
it back towards Quatre-Bras!
Night found the English, after a severe and bloody day, in possession of
Quatre-Bras, the French being obliged to retreat. The gallant Duke of
Brunswick, fighting in front of the line, fell almost in the beginning
of the battle. The killed and wounded on the side of the French was
4,000 and the Allies' loss was nearly 6,000, in consequence of their
having scarcely any artillery. As at Ligny, little quarter was either
asked or given, there being much hatred between the French and
Prussians. The French were next driven out from the Bois de Bossu by the
Belgians, and the English divisions of Alten, Halket, Maitland, Cooke,
and Byng, successively arrived.
By neglecting to move the whole of his division upon Quatre-Bras early
in the morning, Ney failed to cut off the means of junction between the
Prussian and English armies; and by not sending the detachment to attack
the Prussians in the rear at Ligny, it now appears that the whole
Prussian army was saved from being destroyed, or made prisoners, before
it could receive the full support which had been promised by the Duke of
Wellington. The latter intended to advance on Quatre-Bras at 2 o'clock,
and debouch on St. Amand at 4 p. m. Ney, however, did an important act
in checking the advance of five or six divisions of the main army during
the rest of the day while the battle of Ligny was decided, and in this
repaired, in a measure, his various faults committed on the 16th.
The French bivouacked, on the night of the 16th, on the battlefield of
Ligny, with the exception of Grouchy's division, which encamped at
Sombref. The Duke of Wellington passed the night at Quatre-Bras,--his
army gradually joining him till the morning of the 17th,--when they
amounted to 50,000 men. The victory acquired by Napoleon at Ligny did
not fulfill his expectations. "If Marshal Ney had attacked the British
with his united forces," said the Emperor, "they must inevitably have
been crushed; after which, he might have given the Prussians a
conclusive blow; but, even if after neglecting that first step he had
not committed a second, in impeding the movement of Count d' Erlon, the
appearance of the first corps would have curtailed Blucher's resistance,
and secured his overthrow without a possibility of doubt; then his
entire army must have been captured or annihilated."
Ney was now ordered to advance on Quatre-Bras at daybreak, and attack
the British rear-guard, while Count Lobau was to proceed along the
causeway of Namur, and take the British in flank. General Pajol, at
daybreak, also went in pursuit of the Prussians under Blucher. He was
supported by Grouchy, with Excelmans' cavalry, and the third and fourth
corps of infantry, amounting in all to about 32,000 men. Grouchy was
ordered by the Emperor to "above all things, pursue the Prussians
briskly, and keep up a communication with me to the left" so as to
rejoin the main army whenever required.
Napoleon rode over the field of battle at Ligny, and directed every
assistance be given to the wounded. He then hurried to the support of
Ney's attack on Quatre-Bras. He learned that it was still held by the
British, and that Ney had not made the attack. He reproached Ney on
meeting him, and the marshal excused his delay by declaring he believed
the whole British army was there. This, however, was not the case.
The Duke of Wellington, who intended a junction with the Prussians at
Quatre-Bras,--but had been frustrated by their disastrous defeat at
Ligny,--now ordered a retreat on Brussels, leaving the Earl of Uxbridge,
with his cavalry, as a rear-guard. Napoleon directed Count Lobau's
division to advance, and the British cavalry then began to retire in
battle-array. The French army moved forward in pursuit, the Emperor
leading the way.
The weather was extremely bad, the rain falling in torrents, so that the
roads were scarcely passable. The attack of cavalry on the British
rear-guard was, therefore, impracticable, but they were much discomfited
by the French artillery. About 6 o'clock the air became extremely foggy,
so that all further attack was relinquished for the night; but not until
the Emperor had ascertained that the whole English army was encamped on
the field of Waterloo, in front of the forest of Soignies.
Napoleon, having ascertained the retreat of Blucher on Wavres, and
committed the pursuit of him to Marshal Grouchy, believed that the
latter was close to the same place,--as he ought to have been; but was
not. At 10 o'clock on the night of the 17th the Emperor dispatched an
officer to Wavres, to inform Grouchy that there would be a great battle
next day; that the English and Belgian armies were posted on the field
of Waterloo, its left supported by the village of La Haye; and ordered
him to detach seven thousand men, of all arms, and six pieces of cannon,
before day break to St. Lambert, to be near to the right of the French
army, and co-operate with it; that as soon as Blucher evacuated Wavres,
either towards Brussels, or in any other direction, he should instantly
march with the rest of his force, and support the detachment sent to St.
Lambert. About an hour after this dispatch was sent off, the Emperor
received a report from Grouchy, dated from Gembloux at 5 o'clock,
stating that "he was still at this village, and had not learned what
direction Blucher had taken!"
At 4 o'clock in the morning a second officer was sent to Grouchy to
repeat the communication, and the orders which had been sent to Wavres
at 10 o'clock. Another dispatch soon after arrived from Grouchy,--who
had not at that time been found by either of the officers sent by the
Emperor, to state that, "he had learned that Blucher was in Wavres, and
would follow him--in the morning!"
The Emperor was now convinced that he had not an hour to spare. He saw
the possibility of the Duke's retreat with Blucher through the forest,
their subsequent junction, while the great armies of Russia and Austria
were about to cross the Rhine and advance on Paris. He now regretted
more than ever that he had been unable to attack the English army before
the night had intervened, and determined to follow and attack it now, if
it commenced a retreat.
It was not until 6 o'clock on the 17th of June that the advance guard of
the French army arrived on the plains of Waterloo,--a delay being
occasioned by unfortunate occurrences upon the road,--otherwise the
forces would have gained the spot by 3 o'clock in the day. The
circumstance appeared to disconcert the Emperor extremely, who, pointing
to the sun, exclaimed with much emphasis, "What would I not give, to be
this day possessed of the power of Joshua, and enabled to retard thy
march for two hours!"
The Duke of Wellington, on being made aware of Blucher's march on Wavre,
and in adherence to the common plan of campaign, had given orders for
falling back from Quatre-Bras. He had before now been heard to say, that
if it ever were his business to defend Brussels, he would choose to give
battle on the field of Waterloo, in advance of the forest of Soignies;
and he now retired thither, in the confidence of being joined there in
the morning by Blucher. The English at last reached the destined field,
over roads covered with deep mud, and in the face of considerable
rain. The troops, although somewhat discouraged by the command to
retreat, were enthusiastic when they heard of their leader's purpose,
and having taken up their allotted stations, bivouacked for the night
assured of a battle on the morrow--the 18th of June.
[Illustration: From a Painting by Hte. Bellange
NAPOLEON ON THE HEIGHTS AT LIGNY]
Arrangements having been effected early in the evening, Wellington now,
it appears, according to Lockhart, although the statement is not fully
substantiated, rode across the country to Blucher to inform him
personally that he had thus far effected the plan agreed on, and to
express his hope to be supported on the morrow by two Prussian
divisions. Blucher replied that he would reserve a single corps to hold
Grouchy at bay as well as they could, and march himself, with the rest
of his army upon Waterloo. Wellington then returned to his post.
The cross-roads at Mont St. Jean were in an almost impassable condition
and the rain continued to fall in torrents. Wellington was before the
village of Mont St. Jean, about a mile and a half in advance of the
small town of Waterloo, on a rising ground, having a gentle and regular
declivity before it,--beyond this a plain of about a mile in
breadth,--and then the opposite heights of La Belle Alliance, on which
the French were expected to form their line. The Duke had 76,700 men in
all; of whom about 30,000 were English. He formed his first line of the
troops on which he could most surely rely,--the greater part of the
British infantry, with the troops of Brunswick and Nassau, and three
corps of Hanoverians and Belgians. Behind this the ground sinks and then
rises again. The second line, formed in the rear of the first, was
composed of the troops whose spirit and discipline were more
doubtful--or who had suffered most in the action at Quatre-Bras; and
behind all these was placed the cavalry. The position crossed the two
highways from Nivelles and Charleroi to Brussels, nearly where they
unite. These roads gave every facility for movement from front to rear
during the action; and two country roads running behind, and parallel
with the first and second lines, favored movements from wing to wing.
The chateau and gardens of Hougomont, and the farm-house and inclosures
of La Haye Sainte, about 1,500 yards apart, on the slope of the
declivity, were strongly occupied and formed the important out-works of
defense. The opening of the country road leading directly from Wavre to
Mont St. Jean, through the wood of Ohain, was guarded by the British
left, while those running further in advance might be expected to bring
the first of the Prussians on the right flank of the French, during
their expected attack. The British front extended in all over about a
mile, with the strong outposts of Hougomont (situated near the centre of
the right) and La Haye (which was in front of the centre) and in the
rear the village of Mont St. Jean with the reserve force stationed
there,--further back, the town of Waterloo (which has given its name to
the battle because it was thence that the English general dated his
dispatches)--and the forest of Soignies, as positions to retire upon, to
make a stand or cover a retreat. A more advantageous ground for
receiving an attack could not easily be obtained in any open country,
not previously fortified. It was, therefore, sufficiently evident that
the Duke of Wellington had availed himself of all these means of
defense, by a circumspect and masterly disposition of his forces.
It was Wellington's design to hold Napoleon at bay until the Prussian
advance should enable him to charge the French with superior numbers,
while it was Napoleon's wish to beat the Anglo-Belgian army, or at least
to divide it, as well as to cut off its communications, ere Blucher
could arrive on the field.
Napoleon hoped to turn the left wing of the Duke's army, it being the
weakest, and divide it from the right wing because he should thus
intercept its junction with the Prussians by the road from Wavre,--and
because he was in constant expectation of being joined himself by
Grouchy from that side. Having effected this separation of the wings,
and made a vigorous attack on both wings to distract the attention, it
was his design to fall suddenly on the centre, break it, and rout all
its component parts in detail. The Duke considered it his business to
defeat, if possible, all these attempts; not to venture a general attack
in return, but to hold his defensive position in the most cautious and
determined manner until the arrival of Blucher.
The Emperor had in the field 72,000 men, all French veterans--each of
whom was, as he declared, worth one Englishman and two Prussians, Dutch
or Belgians. Napoleon's forces, however, unlike those of Wellington's,
had been on the march all through the tempestuous darkness, many of them
had not had sufficient food, and the greater part of them did not reach
the heights of La Belle Alliance until the morning of the 18th was
considerably advanced. The Duke's followers had by that time had
refreshment and some hours of repose.
At 1 o'clock in the morning, the Emperor having issued the necessary
orders for the battle during the earlier part of the night, went out on
foot, accompanied by his grand marshal, and visited the whole line of
the main guards. The forest of Soignies, occupied by the British,
appeared as one continued blaze, while the horizon between that spot and
the farms of La Belle Alliance and La Haye Sainte, was brightened by the
fires of numerous bivouacs; the most profound silence reigning. Some
time later the rain began to fall in torrents. Napoleon feared more than
anything else that Wellington would continue his retreat on Brussels and
Antwerp,--thus deferring the great battle until the Russians should
approach the valley of the Rhine. The night of June 17-18, often called
the "Vigil of Waterloo" was solemn, dark and without unusual incident
during the early hours. Several officers sent to reconnoitre, and others
who returned to headquarters at half-past three, announced that the
British had made no movement. At 4 o'clock the scouts brought in a
peasant, who had served as a guide to a brigade of English cavalry which
had proceeded to secure a position on the left at the village of Ohain.
Two Belgian deserters, who had just quitted their regiments, also
reported that their army was preparing for a battle; and that no
retrograde movement had taken place; that Belgium prayed for the success
of the Emperor, as the English and Prussians were alike unpopular.
The French troops bivouacked amidst deep mud and the officers thought it
impossible to give battle on the following day; the ground being so
moistened that artillery and cavalry could not possibly manoeuvre, while
it would require twelve hours of fine weather to dry the soil. On
reaching the eminence of La Belle Alliance at sunrise, and beholding the
enemy drawn up on the opposite side and in battle array, the Emperor
exclaimed, with evident joy, "At last! at last, then, I have these
English in my grasp!" And yet, at this time, his exertions had been most
phenomenal, and he was far from being in the physical condition
necessary for such a contest as he had every reason to expect. He had
been eighteen hours in the saddle on June 15th, and had slept but three
hours before the battle of Ligny. On the 16th he was again for eighteen
hours on horseback. On the 17th he rose at five in the morning and that
night was almost continually astir.
The Emperor's breakfast was served at 8 o'clock and many officers of
distinction were present. "The enemy's army" said Napoleon, "is superior
to ours by nearly a fourth; there are, nevertheless, ninety chances in
our favor, to ten against us." The Emperor now mounted his horse, and
rode forward to reconnoitre the English lines; after which he remained
thoughtful for a few moments, and then dictated the order of battle. It
was written down by two generals seated on the ground, after which two
aides-de-camp promptly distributed it among the different corps. The
army moved forward in eleven columns, and as they descended from the
heights of La Belle Alliance the trumpets played "To the Field!" and the
bands alternately struck up airs which recalled the memories of many
victories.
The French line of battle was formed in front of Planchenois, having the
heights of La Belle Alliance in the rear of its centre. The forces were
drawn up in six lines, on each side of the causeway of Charleroi. The
first and second lines were of infantry, having the light cavalry at
each of its wings, so as to unite them with the six lines of the main
force. The artillery was placed in the intervals between the brigades.
All the troops were in their stations by about 10:30 o'clock.
Amidst this mass of men there was an almost painful silence until the
Emperor rode through the ranks when he was received with the utmost
enthusiasm; then, giving his last orders, he galloped to the heights of
Rossome, which commanded a complete view of both armies below, with a
considerable range on each side beyond.
While Napoleon's design for making his grand attack from the centre, on
La Haye Sainte,--which was directly in front of the enemy's centre,--was
preparing, he gave orders for the commencement of the battle.
The grand attack on the centre of the Anglo-Belgian army was to be made
by Marshal Ney. The marshal had sent word to Napoleon that everything
was ready, and he only awaited the order to begin. Before giving it
Napoleon looked over the field of battle and the surrounding
country,--the last he was ever to contest. He then perceived a dark mass
at a distance in the direction of St. Lambert, where he had ordered
Grouchy to send a detachment. The glasses of all the officers were
instantly turned towards the object. Some thought it only a mass of dark
trees. To remove all doubts the Emperor dispatched General Daumont, with
a body of three thousand light cavalry, to form a junction with them if
they were the troops of Grouchy, or to keep them in check if they were
hostile. Through a Prussian hussar, who was brought in a prisoner, it
was learned that the dark mass was the advanced guard of Bulow, who was
coming up with thirty thousand fresh men; that Blucher was at Wavres
with his army, and that Grouchy had not appeared there.
A messenger was immediately dispatched to Marshal Grouchy, to march on
St. Lambert, without a moment's delay, and take Bulow's division in the
rear. It was believed that Grouchy must be near at hand, whether he had
received the various orders sent him or not, as he himself had sent word
that he should leave Gembloux in the morning, and from this place to
Wavres was only three leagues distance.
Napoleon had a high opinion of Grouchy and his punctuality, he being an
officer of great experience; but the Emperor was in a state of great
suspense on account of his failure to hear from him. He now ordered
Count Lobau to follow and support the cavalry of Daumont, and to take up
a strong position, where, with ten thousand men, he might keep thirty
thousand in check; also to redouble the attack directly he found that
Grouchy had arrived on the rear of the Prussians. Napoleon thus early
found himself deprived of the services of ten thousand men on this grand
field of battle. These events caused some change in his first plans,
being deprived of the men whom he was thus obliged to send against
General Bulow.
"We had ninety chances for us in the morning," said Napoleon to Soult;
"but the arrival of Bulow reduces them to thirty; we have still,
however, sixty against forty; and if Grouchy repairs the horrible fault
he has committed by amusing himself at Gembloux, victory will therefore
be more decisive for the corps of Bulow must in that case be entirely
lost."
It was now 11:30 o'clock and the Emperor at once turned his attention to
the main attack and sent word to Ney to begin his movement. Instantly
one hundred and twenty pieces of artillery were unmasked. Then the
French opened their fire of musketry on the advanced post of Hougomont
and Jerome Bonaparte, under cover of its fire, charged impetuously on
the Nassau troops in the wood about the house. They were driven before
the French, but a party of English guards instantly unmasked forty
pieces of cannon and maintained themselves in the chateau and garden,
despite the desperate character of many repeated assaults. Jerome,
masking the post thus resolutely held, pushed on his cavalry and
artillery against Wellington's right. The English formed in squares to
receive them and defied all their efforts. For some time both parties
opposed each other here, without either gaining or losing a foot of
ground. At length the English forced back the French, and the garrison
of Hougomont was relieved and strengthened. There was great loss on the
side of the British, owing to the suddenness of the attack, and the
fixed position and dense array of the squares. The loss of the French
was also considerable; and as the squares remained unbroken, no apparent
advantage was gained by the assault.
The French, being again repelled, a communication was reopened with
Hougomont and the small body of English guards, defending the chateau,
received a reinforcement under Colonel Hepburn. The garrison of
Hougomont now made a combined charge; and, after a furious struggle, in
which the utmost valor, both individual and collective was displayed on
either side, drove back the French once more out of the wood, and
recovered the position. The French in their turn rallied,--returned with
renewed vigor,--and the English were now dislodged and driven out with
great slaughter. They rallied in turn and immediately returned, and
again they recovered the position. The French charged again but the
martial spirit of the English guards was now wrought up to the highest
pitch, and all the attempts of the assailants to dislodge them proved
unavailing. This contest lasted through the greater part of the day. The
killed and wounded on both sides during the struggle for this single
outpost has been estimated at upwards of four thousand.
The Emperor, calmly observing the whole from the heights, praised the
valor of the English guards highly. He now ordered Hougomont to be
attacked by a battery of howitzers and shells. The roofs and barns then
took fire, and the remnant of the English guards remaining were obliged
to retreat before the flames, over the mingled heaps of dead and dying
bodies of their comrades and assailants.
The first onslaught of the French made a series of dreadful gaps along
the whole of the enemy's left and one of its divisions was completely
swept away. The gaps were quickly filled by fresh men, however, as a
column of French began to advance. Before it could be supported a grand
charge of English cavalry was made, which broke the column of French
infantry, routed it, and took two eagles and several pieces of cannon.
While the English were wheeling off triumphantly, they were met by a
brigade of Milhaud's cuirassiers. A desperate conflict ensued at sword's
length, the combat lasting much beyond the usual time, the result of a
meeting of two bodies of cavalry being generally determined in a few
minutes. A quartermaster of the lancers, named Urban, rushed into the
thickest of the fight, and took prisoner the brave Ponsonby, commander
of the 1,200 Scotch dragoons,--called the "Scotch Greys," from the color
of their horses. The Scotch sought to free their general but Urban
struck him dead at his feet; he was then attacked by several dragoons,
but instantly rushing at the holder of the standard of the 45th he
unhorsed him with a blow of his lance, killed him with a second, seized
the colors, killed another of the Scotch who pursued him close, and
then, covered with blood, returned to his colonel with the trophy which
had but a short time before been captured from Marcognet's division.
Desperate charges of infantry and cavalry now followed in rapid
succession, the immediate object of the French being the occupation of
the outpost of the Anglo-Belgian army at the farm of La Haye Sainte, and
thence to push on to the farm of Mont St. Jean. Some of the Scotch
regiments made a gallant defense, but were overpowered; the 5th and 6th
English divisions were nearly destroyed, and General Picton, who
commanded the English left, was laid dead on the field.
The French eventually carried La Haye Sainte; a body of their infantry
pushed forward beyond the farm, and overwhelmed and scattered several
regiments; but were charged in their turn by two brigades of English
foot and heavy cavalry and routed. In consequence of this the farm of La
Haye Sainte was vigorously assaulted by the English; and with the
assistance of cannon and shells, was recovered.
This important post was taken and retaken several times, with an energy
that never relaxed on either side. An error in tactics, of which Ney and
d'Erlon had been guilty, had left four or five columns of French
infantry at the mercy of the enemy's cavalry, and cost them 3,000 men in
dead, wounded and prisoners. The English had lost part of their
dragoons, part of Kempt and Pack's cavalry, and Generals Picton and
Ponsonby,--all amounting to about the same number as the French had
lost; but the English had maintained their position and the whole
operation was to be recommenced under the disadvantage of having foiled
in the first attempt.
The French were still masters of a part of La Haye Sainte farm and were
rallying again on the side of the valley which lay between them and the
English. Napoleon joined them, and walked in front of their ranks midst
bullets rebounding from one line to another, and howitzers resounding in
the air, General Desvaux, commander of the artillery of the Guard being
killed at his side.
During these assaults on the centre of the British line, the French
cuirassiers had advanced to the charge in the face of a terrific fire
from the artillery in front of the British infantry. The infantry
awaited it, formed in a double line of squares, placed checkerwise, so
that the sides of each square could fire a volley on the advancing
cavalry, and protected in front by a battery of thirty field-pieces. The
French cuirassiers rode up to the very mouths of the cannon, charged the
artillerymen, drove them from their guns, and then rode fiercely on the
squares behind. These remained steadfast, withholding their fire until
the French were within a few yards of their bayonets, and then opened on
them with deadly effect. The cavalry was all but broken, then rallied
and renewed their charge. This they did several times, and always with
the same result. Sometimes they even rode between the squares, and
charged those of the second line. As the cuirassiers retired the
artillerymen rushed from behind the squares, formed four deep, manned
their guns, and fired grape-shot with terrible effect on the retreating
body of gallant but ineffective cavalry.
At length protracted exposure to such a murderous fire completed the
ruin of these fearless cavaliers, the far greater part being annihilated
in this part of the battle.
When the relics of the cuirassiers at last withdrew, the French
cannonade opened up furiously once more all along the line. It was
vigorously returned, but the effect was far more devastating amidst the
British ranks than in those of their assailants. The English were then
commanded by Wellington to lie flat on the ground for some space, in
order to diminish its effects. The Duke had by this time lost 10,000 men
and Napoleon possibly a few more.
It was now 4 o'clock and about this time the Emperor received
intelligence from Gembloux, that, notwithstanding his repeated orders,
Marshal Grouchy had not left his encampment at that place till after 10
o'clock in the morning, in consequence, it was said, of the state of the
weather. The body of ten thousand men, under Count Lobau and General
Daumont, were now in action with the Prussians under Bulow, near St.
Lambeth. The cannonade continued for considerable time; the Prussian
centre was then attacked and beaten back, but its wings advancing, Count
Lobau was obliged to retire.
At this crisis Napoleon dispatched General Dufresne, with two brigades
of infantry of the young guard, and twenty-four pieces of cannon, and
the Prussian advance was checked. They still endeavored to out-flank the
French right, when several battalions of the Old Guard, with sixteen
pieces of cannon, were sent forward; the Prussian line was then
out-flanked, and Bulow driven back.
At about 5 o'clock Count d'Erlon had taken possession of the village of
Ter-la-Haye; out-flanking the English left and Bulow's right. It appears
that Count Milhaud's cuirassiers--which Ney had so often led against
the enemy, and who were behind d'Erlon--and the Chasseurs of the
Guard, supported by an incessant fire from the infantry of General
Lefebvre-Desnoettes, dashed across the plain beyond the farm of La
Haye Sainte. The advance of eight regiments and four brigades of
their formidable horsemen created a great sensation, as it was
believed the final moment was come. As General Milhaud passed before
Lefebvre-Desnoettes, he grasped his hand and said, "I am going to
charge, support me!" The commander of the light cavalry of the Guard
believed it was by order of the Emperor he was desired to support the
cuirassiers, and following their movement he took up a position behind
them. It was Ney's belief, as he had said to Druot, that were he allowed
to act he could, unaided, with such a body of noble cavalry at his
disposal, now put an end to the English army.
A fierce struggle ensued in which Ney had some advantage over the
English, but not what had been expected. He now hastened towards
Lefebvre-Desnoettes, made a signal to advance, and precipitated him on
the Duke of Wellington's English and German cavalry. This charge allowed
the somewhat disorganized cuirassiers time to form again, and they, with
the chasseurs and lancers, fell again upon the English cavalry.
Thousands of hand-to-hand conflicts now were in progress, ending in the
enemy retreating behind the squares of the English infantry, thus
stopping the onward progress of the French horsemen.
Ney had two horses killed under him, but he was still determined to
fulfill his vow to break the English lines. Observing now, on the other
side of the plateau, 3,000 cuirassiers and 2,000 mounted grenadiers of
the Guard that had not been yet engaged, the Marshal asked that they be
given him to complete the victory.
About 6 o'clock there was disorder in a great part of the Duke of
Wellington's army. The ranks were thinned by the number killed, by those
carried off wounded, and by desertions. Soldiers of various nations,
Belgian, Hanoverian and English "crowded to the rear" and fled in a
panic from this dreadful action. "A number of our own dismounted
dragoons" says Captain Pringle, "together with a portion of our
infantry, were glad to escape from the field. These thronged the road
leading to Brussels, in a manner that none but an eye-witness could have
believed."
Cries of "Victory!" now resounded from the French over different parts
of the field. Napoleon on hearing this, observed,--"It is an hour too
soon; but we must support what is done." He then sent an order for a
grand charge of three thousand cuirassiers under Kellerman on the left,
and who were to move forward briskly and support the cavalry on the low
grounds.
A distant cannonade was now heard in the direction of Wavres. It
announced the approach of Grouchy--or Blucher!
At 12:30 o'clock Grouchy was midway between Gembloux and Wavres. The
tremendous cannonade of Waterloo resounded from the distance. General
Excelmans rode up to the marshal, and told him that "he was convinced
that the Emperor must be in action with the Anglo-Belgian army; that so
terrible a fire could not be an affair of outposts or skirmishing; and
that they ought to march to the scene of action, which, by turning to
the left, they might reach within two hours."
Grouchy paused awhile, and then reverted to his orders to follow
Blucher, although he did not know where Blucher really was. Count Girard
came up, and joined in the advice of General Excelmans. Still Grouchy
remained doubtful, and as if stupefied. "At one moment" says Hazlitt "he
appeared convinced; but just then a report came that the Prussians were
at Wavres, and he set out once more after them," instead of instantly
hurrying off to join the Emperor in his great battle.
It was a rear-guard which Blucher had left at Wavres; and the Prussian
leader had gone to Waterloo, at the head of 30,000 men, having been
advised, as previously stated, that the Duke of Wellington would hazard
a battle on the morning of the 18th, if he could depend on the
co-operation of the Prussians. The veteran marshal, at an early hour,
had detached the corps of Bulow, with orders to march on St. Lambert,
leaving Mielman with his corps at Wavres.
The Duke had expected to be joined by Blucher as early as 11 o'clock;
but the roads were in such a condition that the Prussians could not
accomplish the march in any such time as had been calculated. Their
advance was necessarily slow,--but it was in the right direction!
Meanwhile, the Emperor on the battlefield of Waterloo, had reluctantly
ordered the charge of Kellerman's three thousand cuirassiers, asked for
by Ney, to sustain and follow up the advantage of the cuirassiers of
Milhaud and the chasseurs of the Guard, on the plain below. The
marshal's contest had been carefully watched by Napoleon who declared at
once that Ney was too impatient, and had begun an hour too soon. "This
man is always the same." said Marshal Soult. "He will compromise
everything as he did at Jena and Eylau."
Kellerman was now all ready for action, but he condemned the desperate
use which at this moment was to be made of the cavalry. Distrusting the
result, he kept back one of his brigades, the carbineers, and most
unwillingly sent the remainder to Ney, whom he accused of foolish zeal.
These twenty squadrons, led on by their generals and officers, now
advanced at full gallop as if in pursuit of the English army, shouting,
"Vive l'Empereur!" and under the cannonade of the Prussians, for Bulow
was still pressing upon the flank and rear. Other bodies of cavalry also
advanced upon the centre of the Anglo-Belgian army, making a spectacle
which General Foy, an eye-witness, afterwards declared that during his
long military career he had never been present at such a fearful scene
as he then beheld.
While Napoleon was watching their several charges, General Guyot's
division of heavy cavalry was seen following the cuirassiers of
Kellerman. This latter movement was without the Emperor's orders, and
seems to have been the result of ungovernable excitement on the part of
the officers and men, who thought they could finish the battle by a
_coup de main_.
The Emperor instantly sent Count Bertrand to recall them; but it was too
late! The cavalry, once started, nothing could arrest its rush--they
were in action before the order could reach them; and to recall them now
would have been dangerous, even if possible. This division was the
reserve, and ought by all means to have been held back. Thus was the
Emperor deprived of his reserve of cavalry as early as 5 o'clock.
[Illustration: From an old Drawing by F. Grenier
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ADVANCE OF THE OLD GUARD AT WATERLOO]
It is said that during the preparation of this grand charge of 12,000
French cavalry,--the finest in the world,--the Duke of Wellington ran
forward with his glass in front of the lines, amidst the hot fire which
preceded the charge. He was reminded that he was exposing himself too
much. "Yes," said the Duke, "I know I am,--but I must see what they are
doing." To an officer who asked for instructions in case he should be
slain, he answered; "I have no instructions to give; there is only one
thing to be done--to fight to the last man and the last moment!"
Some years later the Duke said, "I have never seen anything more
admirable in war than those ten or twelve reiterated charges of the
French cuirassiers upon our troops of all arms."
It was obvious to the English commander, as he viewed this splendid
spectacle, that unless this last and decisive onset should drive him
from the post which he had continued to hold during nearly seven hours
of intermitting battle, his allies would come fully into the field and
give him a vast superiority of numbers wherewith to close the work of
the day. The Duke now decided to sacrifice the remainder of his cavalry,
and he moved them forward to meet the shock of the advancing foe.
The matchless body of French cavalry continued to dash forward towards
the hostile lines, in successive masses, and with all the triumphant
fury of a charge upon a retreating enemy. Breaking through many squares
of infantry, overthrowing the opposing cavalry, and overwhelming the
artillery in front of the lines, they were received by the squares of
British infantry, first with a volley of musket-balls, and then upon
the immovable array of bristling bayonets. Men and horses, struggling in
the agonies of violent death, bestrewed the ground. In his extremity
Wellington determined on employing Cumberland's one thousand hussars,
who had not yet been engaged; but at sight of this scene of slaughter
the hussars fell back in disorder.
The resistance of the Duke was most stubborn but Ney still hoped to
destroy the English army at the point of the sword by keeping up a
continued charge, having been reinforced by the heavy cavalry of the
Guard whose advance had been made apparently without orders.
Meanwhile Ney, seeing Kellerman's carbineers in reserve, hastened to
where they were, asked what they were doing and then, despite
Kellerman's resistance, led them to the front where they succeeded in
making fresh breaches in the British infantry, but were unable to get
beyond the second line.
For the eleventh time Ney led on his 10,000 horse to the attack. The
cuirassiers wheeled about, reformed, and again charged with tremendous
energy, and a valor that set at contemptuous defiance the tempest of
grape-shot, and balls of the artillery and musketry which opposed their
advance. Men rolled off, and horses fell plunging; even pistols were
discharged in their faces, and swords thrust over their bayonets in
vain. The British infantry, though shaken for a moment again closed
their ranks, fell into line and continued to fire. About this time Ney
was heard to say to General d'Erlon, "Be sure, my friend, that for you
and me, if we do not die here under the English balls, nothing remains
but to fall miserably under those of the émigrés." To his artillery a
few moments before he had said, "It is here, my friends, that the fate
of our country is about to be decided; it is here that we must conquer
in order to secure our independence!"
The Emperor, who was now suffering great bodily pain, scarcely able to
sit upon his horse, and falling at times into a sort of lethargy, was
much moved by this spectacle. He had never before commanded in person
against the English soldiery; but he knew them now--when it was too
late! He observed their wonderful self-command, and unflinching courage,
and praised it;--but it was his ruin!
Again and again did the brilliant cavalry of the French rush forward to
the charge with redoubled fury. They frequently passed between the
squares of the first line amidst their united cross-fire from front and
rear, and charged the squares of the second line whose fire they also
received, but no general effect was produced, no real advantage gained
beyond an occasional breaking of the squares in both lines, particularly
the second. The baffled cuirassiers were always obliged to retire,
receiving the terrible cross-fire of the squares as they passed between
them and followed by a volley of musketry and often by the grape-shot of
the artillery.
Four thousand of the French cavalry now strewed the ground, while 10,000
English, horse and foot had laid down their lives. Many were the deeds
of individual gallantry performed by officers and men on both sides,
among cavalry and infantry all over the field. During the conflict
Colonel Heymes hastened to Napoleon to ask for the infantry of which Ney
was in need. "Infantry!" cried the Emperor, with considerable
irritation, "where does he suppose I can get them? Does he expect me to
make them? You can see the task before me, and you see what troops I
have!" When the Emperor's irritation had somewhat subsided he sent
another message to Ney, more hopeful than the former. He made Colonel
Heymes tell the marshal that if he were in a difficult position at Mont
St. Jean, he was himself in still greater difficulties on the banks of
the Lasne, where he was opposed by the entire Prussian army, but when he
had repelled, or even checked them, he, with the Guard, would hasten to
complete the conquest of the English; until then the plateau was to be
held at any cost for an hour when he might reckon on reinforcements.
The desperate assaults of the French cavalry ought to have been
supported by strong bodies of infantry; they could not, however, be
spared, being needed for the contest with Bulow, on the French right and
to prevent his advance.
By 7 o'clock, Bulow's corps of 30,000 men was successfully repulsed, and
Count Lobau, with 10,000 men, occupied the positions from which the
Prussian general had been driven.
Still the French cavalry could do no more than maintain itself on the
plateau from which the Duke's 36,000 men had made a slight retrograde
movement. A fresh cannonade was opened by the French along the British
line, after the assaults of the cuirassiers, but no further advance was
attempted by the former. As one authority truly says, the British were
beaten to a stand-still--_but there they stood!_ It was, in effect, a
drawn battle up to this time.
There was not the least demonstration on the part of the Duke of
Wellington to make any general advance during this almost interminable
contest,--nor had there been all day,--and as little sign of his moving
back. About twenty thousand men had already been killed, or otherwise
lost, on each side.
It was now nearly 7 o'clock. The distant cannonade, which had been
faintly heard in the direction of Wavres, opened nearer at hand. It was
the announcement,--not of the arrival of Grouchy, in the rear of Bulow's
division; but that of the two columns of Blucher, amounting to about
31,000 fresh troops!
The relative strength of the two armies, allowing twenty thousand as
lost on both sides, was now considerably over two to one against the
French,--the majority on the other side being chiefly composed of fresh
men. Wellington was heard to say during the day, "Would to God that
Blucher or night would come!" and now both were at hand.
The presence of mind of the Emperor now became most alert, and it was
never so clearly manifested as at this critical moment when everything
hung in the balance.
The fresh army, advancing to the assistance of the Anglo-Belgian forces,
was soon discovered by the French troops, who were in action on the
field. The cavalry on the plain were waiting in constant expectation of
the Emperor's orders for the advance of his reserves of the infantry of
the Guard. They were not alarmed when they saw the communication finally
effected between Bulow and the English, but when they perceived the
approach of the dense columns of Blucher, they were confounded, and
several regiments began to fall back.
Napoleon now sent his aides-de-camp along the whole line to announce the
arrival of succor, and that Blucher's advance was only a retreat before
Grouchy, who was pressing on his rear. It was a clever ruse, and
warranted by the situation in which he now found himself, as it
momentarily revived the spirits of the weary troops to a wonderful
degree.