The Campaign Of Waterloo - free ebook by John Codman Ropes

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The Campaign Of Waterloo

John Codman Ropes

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THE CAMPAIGN OF WATERLOO

THE CAMPAIGN OF WATERLOO

A MILITARY HISTORY Member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, and the Harvard Historical Society; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Historical Society; Honorary Member of the United States Cavalry Association, etc. Author of “The Army under Pope,” in the Scribner Series of “Campaigns of the Civil War”; “The First Napoleon, a Sketch, Political and Military,” etc. THIRD EDITION. NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

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NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

Since the publication of this book the writer has been put in possession of facts which have led him to reverse his opinion of the truth of the story that the Duke of Wellington rode to Wavre on the evening of the 17th of June, 1815. J. C. R. 99 Mount Vernon Street: Boston: May 17, 1893....

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A PARTIAL LIST OF WORKS RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN.1

A PARTIAL LIST OF WORKS RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN.1

ALISON: History of Europe from the commencement of the French Revolution to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815. By Archibald Alison, LL. D. New Edition with Portraits. Vols. XIII and XIV. Wm. Blackwood &amp; Sons, Edinburgh &amp; London, MDCCCL. BATTY: An Historical Sketch of the Campaign of 1815, illustrated by Plans of the Operations and of the Battles of Quatre-Bras, Ligny and Waterloo. By Captain Batty, of the First or Grenadier Guards. 2d Edition, Considerably Enlarged. London,

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NOTE TO CHAPTER I.

NOTE TO CHAPTER I.

The view given above of Napoleon’s plan has been by no means universally accepted. It is often stated that he intended to separate the two armies and attack them in detail, but if this expression is to be understood as meaning that the former operation was to precede the latter in point of time, it is not in our judgment a correct statement. There never was, we believe, any expectation on Napoleon’s part that he could, by throwing his army between those of Wellington and Blücher, or by merely oc

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NOTE TO CHAPTER II.

NOTE TO CHAPTER II.

The opinion expressed here in regard to the health of the Emperor is substantially that entertained by Thiers and Chesney. The former says that the Emperor’s brother Jerome, and also one of the surgeons on the Emperor’s staff, both told him that Napoleon was a sufferer at this time from an affection of the bladder. But this was, he says, denied by Marchand, the Emperor’s valet. “Whatever may have been the health of Napoleon at this epoch, his activity was not diminished.” 39 To the same effect i

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NOTE TO CHAPTER III.

NOTE TO CHAPTER III.

The Earl of Ellesmere, who wrote, as has been before said, under the inspiration of the Duke of Wellington, has given us the following critical estimate of a portion of the Duke’s army. He is speaking of the English and German infantry, some thirty thousand in all, which fought at Waterloo. 57 “Of this very body, which bore the brunt of the whole contest, be it remembered that not above six or seven thousand had seen a shot fired before. It was composed of second battalions to so great an extent

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NOTES TO CHAPTER IV.

NOTES TO CHAPTER IV.

1. Marshal Ney was acting under considerable disadvantage during this afternoon and evening. We have spoken of this subject before. His difficulties are well pointed out by Colonel Maurice in a recent paper, 94 in which much stress is laid, and very justly, on the fact that Ney had not with him a proper staff. It is true that Ney was no neophyte in the practice of war, and that he was perfectly well known to his corps-commanders, and in fact to his entire command. But he arrived at the front lat

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NOTES TO CHAPTER V.

NOTES TO CHAPTER V.

1. We may properly devote a few words here to the Duke of Wellington’s “Memorandum on the Battle of Waterloo,” written in 1842, in reply to Clausewitz’s History of the Campaign of 1815. There are some statements contained in this paper which fairly take one’s breath away. For instance, we learn that the Duke, “having received the intelligence of” the French “attack only at three o’clock in the afternoon of the 15th, was at Quatre Bras before the same hour on the morning of the 16th , 193 with a

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NOTE TO CHAPTER VI.

NOTE TO CHAPTER VI.

“ Almost all historians” says Colonel Maurice, 227 “write as if the occupation of Quatre Bras by Prince Bernhard was a step for which he not only deserves the greatest credit, but one which in itself was sure to be of vast advantage to the English army.” In this opinion Colonel Maurice does not share. We have fully treated of this subject before. 228 All we need say here is to repeat, that the question of the suitableness of Quatre Bras as the point of concentration for the Anglo-Dutch army coul

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NOTES TO CHAPTER VII.

NOTES TO CHAPTER VII.

1. It may be worth while to state, as nearly as we can, the actual positions at 7 A.M. of the 16th of the various bodies of troops mentioned in the “Disposition.” (See Map 5.) The 1st division was not at 7 A.M. at Braine-le-Comte. It did not reach that place from Enghien until 9 A.M. 237 Its commander, General Cooke, having received no further orders, halted the division till noon, when he took upon himself the responsibility of continuing the march to Nivelles, where he arrived at 3 P.M. Here h

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NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII.

NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII.

1. The conduct of Marshal Ney on the 15th and 16th has been the subject of violent and bitter disputes. One principal cause of these disputes lies in the supposition that Napoleon in his accounts of the campaign has misrepresented the facts, so as to throw a large part of the blame for the final disaster undeservedly upon Ney. Accordingly, what Napoleon has said about Ney, and his motives in saying it, have been the subjects of discussion, rather than what Ney himself did. We have strictly confi

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NOTES TO CHAPTER IX.

NOTES TO CHAPTER IX.

1. The very simple explanation suggested in this chapter of the cause of the delay on the morning of the 16th in the movement of the main body of the French army under the Emperor in person, namely, that that movement was deferred because of the inability of the left wing of the army to make a simultaneous movement on Quatre Bras, does not seem to have occurred to most of the historians of this campaign. 306 But surely, when allowance is made for this fact, the severe criticisms of Jomini, 307 C

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NOTE TO CHAPTER X.

NOTE TO CHAPTER X.

What were the reasons which induced Marshal Blücher to take up a defensive position at Ligny, and there await the attack of Napoleon? The question is certainly an important one. We have considered above and rejected the answer to this question offered by some Prussian writers, that Blücher accepted battle only on the definite promise of support from Wellington. It remains to see what other reasons have been adduced for his taking a step so perilous to the fortunes of the allies. Neither Clausewi

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NOTES TO CHAPTER XI.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XI.

1. Napoleon has been often blamed because he did not begin the battle of Ligny till between two and three o’clock in the afternoon. We have spoken of this criticism before, and recur to it now merely to repeat that the greater part of this delay may (in all probability) be accounted for by his wish that his own advance-movement should be contemporaneous with that of the left wing, one-half of which was far in the rear. There was probably also an unusual amount of time spent in examining the posi

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NOTES TO CHAPTER XII.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XII.

1. Charras’ references to the orders to Marshal Ney as respects Kellermann’s cavalry, are disingenuous and very misleading. They are evidently intended to throw the blame for the non-employment of this body of troops upon the shoulders of Napoleon. It will be remembered that in his letter 424 to Ney, which the Emperor said might arrive a little before the formal order signed by Marshal Soult, the Emperor told Ney what his wishes were as to the disposition of his troops after he should have occup

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NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII.

1. In regard to Napoleon’s action with reference to the defeated Prussians, it is necessary to distinguish between instituting a prompt and vigorous pursuit of them, and taking immediate measures for ascertaining in which direction they had retreated. The first was under the circumstances impossible, that is, without an entire change of plan, but the second was not only possible, but of prime necessity. Charras, 494 however, complains bitterly of Napoleon for not following up the Prussians. “Not

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NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV.

1. Colonel Maurice has recently examined the evidence in reference to the communications which passed between the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher on the subject of the support to be given to the English army by the Prussians. 546 We think he has shown that the account given in Siborne is not altogether correct, and we have followed Colonel Maurice in preferring the statements of Müffling and Ollech. Siborne says 547 that the Duke, on the morning of the 17th, sent back the Prussian officer

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NOTES TO CHAPTER XV.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XV.

1. The first question that demands consideration in connection with the matters narrated in this chapter is this:— Was it wise in Napoleon to detach from his main army such a large force as that which he gave to Grouchy? Or,—to state the question more carefully,—Napoleon, being, at 1 P.M. of the 17th (through his own neglect, but the cause is not important in this connection), in ignorance of the direction of the retreat of the Prussians, but having in mind that they might be intending to unite

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NOTES TO CHAPTER XVI.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XVI.

1. That the tactics employed by the French at the battle of Waterloo in their operations against the army of the Duke of Wellington were unworthy of the experience and reputation of their commanders is almost universally admitted. The word “commanders” is used advisedly, because Ney seems to have had the immediate direction of the 1st and 2d Corps even when the Emperor was personally superintending the battle, and when Napoleon was called off to direct the defence of Planchenoit, Ney was certain

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CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

The justification for this book on the well-worn subject of the campaign of Waterloo is to be found, if at all, in its treatment of certain topics to which we now propose very briefly to advert. 1. First among them is Napoleon’s plan of campaign. 782 In regard to this we have followed his own account, and have pointed out the difference between it and the plan which it has been claimed he either really did entertain or ought to have entertained. 2. In regard to the much-vexed question of the all

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APPENDIX A. ON SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF NAPOLEON’S MEMOIRS.

APPENDIX A. ON SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF NAPOLEON’S MEMOIRS.

Probably no military narratives that ever were written have been subjected to more harsh and unjust criticism than the two accounts of the campaign of Waterloo, which, under the names of the Gourgaud Narrative and the Memoirs, were dictated or written by Napoleon at St. Helena. To read the remarks of Charras, Chesney, Hooper, and others, about these books, one would suppose that a military narrative is the easiest, plainest sort of narrative to write, and that if a general wished to compose it p

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APPENDIX B. ON MARSHAL GROUCHY AND THE BERTRAND ORDER.

APPENDIX B. ON MARSHAL GROUCHY AND THE BERTRAND ORDER.

We have stated ( ante , p. 208) that Marshal Grouchy “denied, over and over again, in his pamphlets written about the battle, ever having received any written order, whether from Napoleon or Soult, until the next day (the 18th)”; and we have pointed out the grave misconceptions of the conduct of Napoleon which have been the result of these denials on the part of Marshal Grouchy, which, for many years, were very generally credited. We now propose to prove the truth of our statement. In 1818 Marsh

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I.

I.

ADDRESS TO THE ARMY: June 14, 1815. Corresp. Vol. 28, p. 324. 22052.—À L’ARMÉE. Avesnes , 14 juin 1815. Soldats, c’est aujourd’hui l’anniversaire de Marengo et de Friedland, qui décidèrent deux fois du destin de l’Europe. Alors, comme après Austerlitz, comme après Wagram, nous fûmes trop généreux; nous crûmes aux protestations et aux serments des princes que nous laissâmes sur le trône! Aujourd’hui, cependant, coalisés contre nous, ils en veulent à l’indépendance et aux droits les plus sacrés d

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II.

II.

ORDER OF MOVEMENT: June 14, 1815. Corresp. vol. 28, p. 325. 22053—ORDRE DE MOUVEMENT. Beaumont , 14 juin 1815. Demain 15, à deux heures et demie du matin, la division de cavalerie légère du général Vandamme montera à cheval et se portera sur la route de Charleroi. Elle enverra des partis dans toutes les directions pour éclairer le pays et enlever les postes ennemis; mais chacun de ces partis sera au moins de 50 hommes. Avant de mettre en marche la division, le général Vandamme s’assurera qu’ell

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III.

III.

Doc. Inéd., p. 22. 15 Juin. A M. LE COMTE REILLE. Commandant le 2e Corps d’Armée . Monsieur le comte Reille, l’empereur m’ordonne de vous écrire de passer la Sambre, si vous n’avez pas de forces devant vous, et de vous former sur plusieurs lignes, à une ou deux lieues en avant, de manière à être à cheval sur la grande route de Bruxelles, en vous éclairant fortement dans la direction de Fleurus. M. le comte d’Erlon passera à Marchiennes et se formera en bataille sur la route de Mons à Charleroi,

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IV.

IV.

Doc. Inéd., p. 24. A M. LE COMTE D’ERLON. Bivouac de Jumignon, 15 juin, 10 heures du matin. Monsieur le Comte, l’empereur m’ordonne de vous écrire que M. le comte Reille reçoit ordre de passer la Sambre à Charleroi, et de se former sur plusieurs lignes à une ou deux lieues en avant, à cheval sur la grande route de Bruxelles. L’intention de Sa Majesté est aussi que vous passiez la Sambre à Marchiennes, ou à Ham, pour vous porter sur la grande route de Mons à Charleroi, où vous vou

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V.

V.

ORDER TO THE COUNT D’ERLON: 3 P.M., June 15, 1815. Doc. Inéd., p. 25. A M. LE COMTE D’ERLON. (EXTRAIT DU REGISTRE DU MAJOR GÉNÉRAL.) En avant de Charleroi, à 3 heures du soir, 15 juin 1815. Monsieur le comte d’Erlon, l’empereur ordonne à M. le comte Reille de marcher sur Gosselies, et d’y attaquer un corps ennemi qui paraissait s’y arrêter. L’intention de l’empereur est que vous marchiez aussi sur Gosselies, pour appuyer le comte Reille et le seconder dans ses opérations. Cependant, vous

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VI. SUBSEQUENT ORDER TO THE COUNT D’ERLON: June 15, 1815.

VI. SUBSEQUENT ORDER TO THE COUNT D’ERLON: June 15, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 25. A M. LE COMTE D’ERLON, COMMANDANT LE 1ER CORPS. Charleroi, le 15 juin 1815. Monsieur le Comte, l’intention de l’empereur est que vous ralliez votre corps sur la rive gauche de la Sambre, pour joindre le 2e corps à Gosselies, d’après les ordres que vous donnera à ce sujet M. le maréchal prince de la Moskowa. Ainsi, vous rappellerez les troupes que vous avez laissées à Thuin, Sobre et environs; vous devrez cependant avoir toujours de nombreux partis sur votre gauche pour éclair

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VII. ORDER TO GENERAL NOGUÈS: 3 A.M., June 16, 1815.

VII. ORDER TO GENERAL NOGUÈS: 3 A.M., June 16, 1815.

“Napoléon à Waterloo,” p. 144. Ordre de mouvement adressé par l’adjudant commandant, chef d’état-major de la 3e division du 1er corps, au général Noguès, commandant la 1er brigade de cette division. Quartier général à Marchienne-au-Pont: 16 juin (trois heures du matin). D’après l’intention du général en chef, le lieutenant général me charge de vous inviter à faire partir de suite votre brigade pour être rendue à six heures du matin, et plus tôt s’il était possible, à Gosselies. L’adjudant comma

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VIII. BULLETIN OF THE ARMY: June 15, 1815: Evening.

VIII. BULLETIN OF THE ARMY: June 15, 1815: Evening.

Corresp. vol. 28, p. 331. 22056.—BULLETIN DE L’ARMÉE. Charleroi , 15 juin 1815, au soir. Le 14, l’armée était placée de la manière suivante: Le quartier impérial à Beaumont. Le 1er corps, commandé par le général d’Erlon, était à Solre, sur la Sambre. Le 2e corps, commandé par le général Reille, était à Ham-sur-Heure. Le 3e corps, commandé par le général Vandamme, était sur la droite de Beaumont. Le 4e corps, commandé par le général Gérard, arrivait à Philippeville. Le 15, à trois heures du ma

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IX. WELLINGTON’S FIRST MEMORANDUM OF ORDERS: June 15, 1815.

IX. WELLINGTON’S FIRST MEMORANDUM OF ORDERS: June 15, 1815.

Gurwood, vol. xii, p. 472. MEMORANDUM For the Deputy Quarter Master General. Movements of the Army. Bruxelles , 15 June, 1815. General Dörnberg’s brigade of cavalry, and the Cumberland Hussars, to march this night upon Vilvorde, and to bivouac on the high road near to that town. The Earl of Uxbridge will be pleased to collect the cavalry this night at Ninhove, leaving the 2d hussars looking out between the Scheldt and the Lys. The 1st division of infantry to collect this night at Ath and adjace

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X. WELLINGTON’S LETTER TO THE DUC DE FELTRE: 10 P.M., June 15, 1815.

X. WELLINGTON’S LETTER TO THE DUC DE FELTRE: 10 P.M., June 15, 1815.

Gurwood, vol. xii, p. 473. To the Duc de Feltre. à Bruxelles , ce 15 juin, 1815. à 10 heures du soir. Monsieur Le Duc : Je reçois les nouvelles que l’ennemi attaqua les postes Prussiens ce matin à Thuin sur la Sambre, et il paraissait menacer Charleroi. Je n’ai rien reçu depuis neuf heures du matin de Charleroi. * * * * Wellington. ...

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XI. WELLINGTON’S “AFTER ORDERS”: 10 P.M., June 15, 1815.

XI. WELLINGTON’S “AFTER ORDERS”: 10 P.M., June 15, 1815.

Gurwood, vol. xii, p. 474. MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY. After Orders, 10 o’clock p.m. Bruxelles , 15th June, 1815. The 3d division of infantry to continue its movement from Braine le Comte upon Nivelles. The 1st division to move from Enghien upon Braine le Comte. The 2d and 4th divisions of infantry to move from Ath and Grammont, also from Audenarde, and to continue their movements upon Enghien. The cavalry to continue its movement from Ninhove upon Enghien. The above movements to take place with as li

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XII. EXTRACT FROM WELLINGTON’S REPORT OF THE OPERATIONS: June 19, 1815.

XII. EXTRACT FROM WELLINGTON’S REPORT OF THE OPERATIONS: June 19, 1815.

Gurwood, vol. xii, p. 478. TO EARL BATHURST. Waterloo , 19th June, 1815. My Lord , Buonaparte, having collected the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th corps of the French army, and the Imperial Guards and nearly all the cavalry, on the Sambre, and between that river and the Meuse, between the 10th and 14th of the month, advanced on the 15th and attacked the Prussian posts at Thuin and Lobbes, on the Sambre, at daylight in the morning. I did not hear of these events till in the evening of the 15th; and I

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XIII. WELLINGTON’S CONVERSATION WITH THE DUKE OF RICHMOND: June 16, 1815.

XIII. WELLINGTON’S CONVERSATION WITH THE DUKE OF RICHMOND: June 16, 1815.

Letters of the First Earl of Malmesbury, London; Bentley. 1870. vol. 2, p. 445. CAPTAIN BOWLES 838 TO LORD FITZHARRIS. ORIGINAL MEMORANDUM BY THE WRITER. At the Duchess of Richmond’s ball at Brussels the Prince of Orange, who commanded the 1st division of the army, came back suddenly, just as the Duke of Wellington had taken his place at the supper table, and whispered some minutes to his Grace, who only said he had no fresh orders to give, and recommended the Prince to go back to his quarters a

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XIV.WELLINGTON’S ORDERS TO LORD HILL: June 16, 1815.

XIV.WELLINGTON’S ORDERS TO LORD HILL: June 16, 1815.

Gurwood, vol. xii, p. 474. INSTRUCTIONS For the Movement of the Army on the 16th. 839 Signed by Colonel Sir W. De Lancey, Deputy Quarter Master General. To General Lord Hill, G. C. B. 16th June, 1815. The Duke of Wellington requests that you will move the 2d division of infantry upon Braine le Comte immediately. The cavalry has been ordered likewise on Braine le Comte. His Grace is going to Waterloo. To General Lord Hill, G. C. B. Your Lordship is requested to order Prince Frederick of Orange t

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XV. EXTRACT FROM WELLINGTON’S “MEMORANDUM ON THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.”

XV. EXTRACT FROM WELLINGTON’S “MEMORANDUM ON THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.”

SUPPLEMENTARY DESPATCHES, &amp;c., of the Duke of Wellington: vol. x, pp. 523 et seq. But what follows will show that, notwithstanding the extension of the Allied army under the command of the Duke of Wellington, such was the celerity of communication with all parts of it, that in point of fact 840 his orders reached all parts of the army in six hours after he had issued them ; and that he was in line in person with a sufficient force to resist and keep in check the enemy’s corps which first

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XVI. WELLINGTON’S LETTER TO BLÜCHER: 10.30 A.M., June 16, 1815.

XVI. WELLINGTON’S LETTER TO BLÜCHER: 10.30 A.M., June 16, 1815.

Ollech, opposite p. 124. Sur les hauteurs derrière Frasne le 16me Juin 1815 à 10 heures et demi. Mon cher Prince: Mon armée est situé comme il suit: Le Corps d’Armée du Prince d’Orange a une division ici et à Quatre Bras; et le reste à Nivelles. La Reserve est en marche de Waterloo sur Genappe; ou elle arrivera à Midi. La Cavalerie Anglaise sera à la même heure à Nivelles. Le Corps de Lord Hill est à Braine le Comte. Je ne vois pas beaucoup de l’ennemi en avant de nous; et

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XVII. SOULT’S FIRST ORDER TO NEY: June 16, 1815.

XVII. SOULT’S FIRST ORDER TO NEY: June 16, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 26. A M. LE MARÉCHAL PRINCE DE LA MOSKOWA. Charleroi, le 16 juin 1815. Monsieur le maréchal, l’empereur vient d’ordonner à M. le comte de Valmy, commandant le 3e corps de cavalerie, de le réunir et de le diriger sur Gosselies, où il sera à votre disposition. L’intention de Sa Majesté est qui la cavalerie de la garde, qui a été portée sur la route de Bruxelles, reste en arrière et rejoigne le restant de la garde impériale; mais, pour qu’elle ne fasse pas de mouvement rétrograde, v

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XVIII. THE EMPEROR’S LETTER TO NEY: June 16, 1815.

XVIII. THE EMPEROR’S LETTER TO NEY: June 16, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 32.: Corresp. vol. 28, p. 334. AU MARÉCHAL NEY. Mon cousin, je vous envoie mon aide de camp, le général Flahaut, qui vous porte la présente lettre. Le major général a dû vous donner des ordres; mais vous recevrez les miens plus tôt, parce que mes officiers vont plus vite que les siens. Vous recevrez l’ordre de mouvement du jour, mais je veux vous en écrire en détail parce que c’est de la plus haute importance. Je porte le maréchal Grouchy avec les 3e et 4e corps d’infanterie sur S

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XIX. COUNT REILLE’S LETTER TO NEY: June 16, 1815.

XIX. COUNT REILLE’S LETTER TO NEY: June 16, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 37. A M. LE MARÉCHAL Prince de la Moskowa. Gosselies, le 16 juin 1815, 10 heures et quart du matin. Monsieur le Maréchal , J’ai l’honneur d’informer Votre Excellence du rapport que me fait faire verbalement le général Girard par un de ses officiers. L’ennemi continue à occuper Fleurus par de la cavalerie légère qui a des vedettes en avant; l’on aperçoit deux masses ennemis venant par la route de Namur et dont la tête est à la hauteur de Saint-Amand; elles se sont formées peu à

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XX. NEY’S ORDERS TO REILLE AND D’ERLON: June 16, 1815.

XX. NEY’S ORDERS TO REILLE AND D’ERLON: June 16, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 38. A M. LE COMTE REILLE , Commandant le 2E Corps d’Armée. Ordre de Mouvement. Frasnes, le 16 juin 1815. Conformément aux instructions de l’empereur, le 2e corps se mettra en marche de suite pour aller prendre position, la cinquième division 847 en arrière de Gennapes, sur les hauteurs qui dominent cette ville, la gauche appuyée à la grande route. Un bataillon ou deux couvriront tous les débouchés en avant sur la route de Bruxelles. Le parc de réserve et les équipages de cette di

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XXI. SOULT’S FORMAL ORDER TO NEY TO CARRY QUATRE BRAS: June 16, 1815.

XXI. SOULT’S FORMAL ORDER TO NEY TO CARRY QUATRE BRAS: June 16, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 27. A M. LE MARÉCHAL PRINCE DE LA MOSKOWA. Charleroi, le 16 juin 1815. Monsieur le Maréchal, l’empereur ordonne que vous mettiez en marche les 2e et 1er corps d’armée, ainsi que le 3e corps de cavalerie, qui a été mis à votre disposition, pour les diriger sur l’intersection des chemins dits les Trois-Bras (route de Bruxelles), où vous leur ferez prendre position, et vous porterez en même temps des reconnaissances, aussi avant que possible, sur la route de Bruxelles et sur Nivelle

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XXII. SOULT’S SECOND ORDER TO NEY TO CARRY QUATRE BRAS: June 16, 1815.

XXII. SOULT’S SECOND ORDER TO NEY TO CARRY QUATRE BRAS: June 16, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 31. A M. LE MARÉCHAL Prince de la Moskowa. Charleroi, le 16 juin 1815. Monsieur le Maréchal , Un officier de lanciers vient de dire à l’empereur que l’ennemi présentait des masses du côté des Quatre-Bras. Réunissez les corps des comtes Reille et d’Erlon, et celui du comte de Valmy, qui se met à l’instant en route pour vous rejoindre; avec ces forces, vous devrez battre et détruire tous les corps ennemis qui peuvent se présenter. Blücher était hier à Namur, et il n’est pas vraisem

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XXIII. FLAHAUT’S LETTER TO THE DUKE OF ELCHINGEN.

XXIII. FLAHAUT’S LETTER TO THE DUKE OF ELCHINGEN.

Doc. Inéd., p. 63. A M. LE DUC D’ELCHINGEN. Paris, 24 novembre 1829. Je voudrais, mon cher Duc, pouvoir répondre d’une manière plus précise à vos questions; mais, n’ayant pas pris de notes, il m’est impossible, après un intervalle de quinze années, de me rappeler les détails que vous tenez à savoir. C’est moi qui ai porté, le 16, à monsieur votre père, l’ordre de marcher aux Quatre-Bras et de s’emparer de cette position. L’empereur me l’a dicté le matin de bonne heure, autant qu’il m’en souvien

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XXIV. NAPOLEON’S LETTER TO GROUCHY: June 16, 1815.

XXIV. NAPOLEON’S LETTER TO GROUCHY: June 16, 1815.

Corresp. vol., 28, p. 336. 22059.—AU MARÉCHAL COMTE GROUCHY Commandant l’aile droite de l’armée du Nord. Charleroi, 16 juin 1815. Mon Cousin, je vous envoie Labédoyère, mon aide de camp, pour vous porter la présente lettre. Le major général a dû vous faire connaître mes intentions; mais, comme il a des officiers mal montés, mon aide de camp arrivera peut-être avant. Mon intention est que, comme commandant l’aile droite, vous preniez le commandement du 3e corps que commande le général Vandamme,

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XXV. THE 2 P.M.—June 16th—ORDER TO NEY.

XXV. THE 2 P.M.—June 16th—ORDER TO NEY.

Doc. Inéd., p. 40. A M. LE MARÉCHAL Prince de la Moskowa. En avant de Fleurus, le 16 juin à 2 heures. Monsieur le Maréchal, l’empereur me charge de vous prévenir que l’ennemi a réuni un corps de troupes entre Sombref et Bry, et qu’à deux heures et demie M. le maréchal Grouchy, avec les troisième et quatrième corps, l’attaquera; l’intention de Sa Majesté est que vous attaquiez aussi ce qui est devant vous, et qu’après l’avoir vigoureusement poussé, vous rabattiez sur nous pour concourir à env

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XXVI. THE 3.15 P.M.—June 16th—ORDER TO NEY.

XXVI. THE 3.15 P.M.—June 16th—ORDER TO NEY.

Doc. Inéd., p. 42. Monsieur le Maréchal, je vous ai écrit, il y a une heure, que l’empereur ferait attaquer l’ennemi à deux heures et demie dans la position qu’il a prise entre le village de Saint-Amand et de Bry: en ce moment l’engagement est très prononcé; Sa Majesté me charge de vous dire que vous devez manœuvrer sur-le-champ de manière à envelopper la droite de l’ennemi et tomber à bras raccourcis sur ses derrières; cette armée est perdue si vous agissez vigoureusement; le sort de la France

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XXVII. SOULT’S LETTER TO NEY: June 17, 1815.

XXVII. SOULT’S LETTER TO NEY: June 17, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 45. A M. LE MARÉCHAL Prince de la Moskowa. Flerus, le 15 [17] juin 1815. Monsieur le Maréchal, le général Flahaut, qui arrive à l’instant, fait connaître que vous êtes dans l’incertitude sur les résultats de la journée d’hier. Je crois cependant vous avoir prévenu de la victoire que l’empereur a remportée. L’armée prussienne a été mise en déroute, le général Pajol est à sa poursuite sur les routes de Namur et de Liége. Nous avons déjà plusieurs milliers de prisonniers et 30 piéce

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XXVIII. SOULT’S ORDER TO NEY: 12 M., June 17, 1815.

XXVIII. SOULT’S ORDER TO NEY: 12 M., June 17, 1815.

Doc. Inéd., p. 44. A M. LE MARÉCHAL Prince de la Moskowa. 851 4e corps d’armée [ sic ], à Gosselies. En avant de Ligny, le 17 à midi. Monsieur le Maréchal, l’empereur vient de faire prendre position, en avant de Marbais, à un corps d’infanterie et à la garde impériale; S. M. me charge de vous dire que son intention est que vous attaquiez les ennemis aux Quatre-Bras, pour les chasser de leur position, et que le corps qui est à Marbais secondera vos opérations; S. M. va se rendre à Marbais, et el

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XXIX. CAPTAIN BOWLES’ STORY OF WELLINGTON AT QUATRE BRAS: June 17, 1815.

XXIX. CAPTAIN BOWLES’ STORY OF WELLINGTON AT QUATRE BRAS: June 17, 1815.

Captain Bowles in Lord Malmesbury’s Letters, vol. 2, p. 447. “On the morning of the 17th, my company being nearly in front of the farmhouse at Quatre-Bras, soon after daybreak the Duke of Wellington came to me, and, being personally known to him, he remained in conversation for an hour or more, during which time he repeatedly said he was surprised to have heard nothing of Blücher. At length a staff-officer arrived, his horse covered with foam, and whispered to the Duke, who without the least cha

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XXX. GROUCHY’S REPORT TO NAPOLEON FROM SART-À-WALHAIN: 11 A.M., June 18, 1815.

XXX. GROUCHY’S REPORT TO NAPOLEON FROM SART-À-WALHAIN: 11 A.M., June 18, 1815.

Grouchy Mém. vol. 4, p. 71. Sart-à-Walhain le 18 juin, onze heures du matin. Sire: Je ne perds pas un moment à vous transmettre les renseignements que je recueille ici; je les regarde comme positifs, et afin que Votre Majesté les reçoive le plus promptement possible, je les lui expédie par le major La Fresnaye, son ancien page; il est bien monté et bon écuyer. Les 1er, 2e et 3e corps de Blücher marchent dans la direction de Bruxelles. Deux de ces corps out passé à Sart-à-Walhain, ou à peu de di

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XXXI. GENERAL ORDER OF PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO: June 18, 1815.

XXXI. GENERAL ORDER OF PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO: June 18, 1815.

Doc. Inéd. p. 52. A M. LE MARÉCHAL PRINCE DE LA MOSKOWA. L’empereur ordonne que l’armée soit disposée à attaquer l’ennemi à 9 heures du matin; MM. les commandants des corps d’armée rallieront leurs troupes, feront mettre les armes en état, et permettront que les soldats fassent la soupe; ils feront aussi manger les soldats; afin qu’à 9 heures précises chacun soit prêt et puisse être en bataille avec son artillerie et ambulances, à la position de bataille que l’empereur a indiquée par son ordre d

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XXXII. ORDER FOR THE ATTACK TO BEGIN AT 1 P.M., June 18, 1815.

XXXII. ORDER FOR THE ATTACK TO BEGIN AT 1 P.M., June 18, 1815.

Doc. Inéd. p. 53. Une fois que toute l’armée sera rangée en bataille, à peu près à 1 heure après midi, au moment où l’empereur en donnera l’ordre au Maréchal Ney, l’attaque commencera pour s’emparer du village de Mont St. Jean où est l’intersection des routes. A cet effet, les batteries de 12 du 2me corps et celle du 6me se réuniront à celle du 1er corps. Ces 24 bouches à feu tireront sur les troupes du Mont St. Jean, et le comte d’Erlon commencera l’attaque, en portant en avant sa division de g

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XXXIII. THE 10 A.M.—JUNE 18th—ORDER TO GROUCHY.

XXXIII. THE 10 A.M.—JUNE 18th—ORDER TO GROUCHY.

Grouchy Mémoires , vol. 4, p. 79. En avant de la ferme de Caillou, le 18 juin, 1815, à dix heures du matin. Monsieur le maréchal, l’Empereur a reçu votre dernier rapport, daté de Gembloux. Vous ne parlez à Sa Majesté que de deux colonnes prussiennes qui ont passé à Sauvenière et à Sart-à-Walhain. Cependant des rapports disent qu’une troisième colonne, qui était assez forte, a passé par Géry et Gentines, se dirigeant sur Wavres. L’Empereur me charge de vous prévenir qu’en ce moment Sa Majesté v

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XXXIV. THE 1 P.M.—JUNE 18th—ORDER TO GROUCHY.

XXXIV. THE 1 P.M.—JUNE 18th—ORDER TO GROUCHY.

La Tour d’Auvergne , p. 270. Du champ de bataille de Waterloo, le 18 juin, à une heure après midi. Monsieur le Maréchal, Vous avez écrit, ce matin à deux heures, à l’Empereur, que vous marcheriez sur Sart-lez-Walhain; donc votre projet était de vous porter à Corbais ou à Wavre. Ce mouvement est conforme aux dispositions de Sa Majesté, qui vous out été communiquées. Cependant, l’Empereur m’ordonne de vous dire que vous devez toujours manœuvrer dans notre direction. C’est à vous de voir le point

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