_Napoleon's Thunderstorm._--The passage of the Niemen by the French army,
and its consequent entry on Russian territory, may be said to have been
Napoleon's first step towards defeat and ruin. A terrible thunderstorm
occurred on that occasion, according to M. Ségur's account of the Russian
campaign.
When Napoleon commenced the retreat, by which he yielded all the
country beyond the Elbe (and which, therefore, may be reckoned a second
step towards his downfall), it was accompanied by a thunderstorm more
remarkable from occurring at such a season. Odelben says:
"C'était un phenomène bien extraordinaire dans un pareil
saison, et avec le froid qu'on venait d'éprouver,"
&c.--Odelben, _Camp. de 1813_, vol. i. p. 289.
The first step towards his second downfall, or third towards complete
ruin, was his advance upon the British force at Quatre-Bras, June 17,
1815. This also was accompanied by an awful thunderstorm, which (although
gathering all the forenoon) commenced at the very moment he made his
attack on the British rear-guard (about two p. m.), when the first gun
fired was instantaneously responded to by a tremendous peal of thunder.
Thunder, to Wellington, was the precursor of victory and triumph. Witness
the above-mentioned introduction to the victory of Waterloo; the terrible
thunder, that scattered the horses of the dragoons, the eve of Salamanca;
also, the night preceding Sabugal. And perhaps some of the Duke's old
companions in arms may be able to add to the category.