Waterloo: the Downfall of the First Napoleon: a history of the Campaign of 1815

Front matter

WATERLOO: THE DOWNFALL OF THE FIRST NAPOLEON. a WATERLOO: THE DOWNFALL OF THE FIRST NAPOLEON: A HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1815. BY GEORGE HOOPER, AUTHOR OF "THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS OF GENERAL BONAPARTE." The great phenomenon of war it is, this and this only, which keeps open in man a spiracle — an organ of respiration— for breathing a transcendent atmosphere, and dealing with an idea that else would perish — viz., the idea of mixed crusade and martyrdom, doing and suffering, that finds its realization in a battle such as that of Waterloo — viz., a battle fought for interests of the human race, felt even where they are not understood; so that the tutelary angel of man, when he traverses such a dreadful field, when he reads the distorted features, counts the ghastly ruins, sums the hidden anguish, and the harvests " Of horror breathing from the silent ground," nevertheless, speaking as God's messenger, " blesses it and calls it very good."

Thomas de Quincet. Un gouvernement est Hi par ses anticidents. Napoleon III. to Victoh Emmanuel. WITH MAP AND PLANS. LONDON SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. M.DCCC.LXIL [The right of Translation is reserved.]

Preface

. The following work (for eight years past the subject of study and meditation in the leisure hours of a busy life) was completed early in the present year. It has not been prepared for those who have themselves studied the subject deeply : the author does not presume to think that he has anything new to tell them. He has re written the history of the campaign of 1815 for three reasons. First, because he honestly believes that there is no account of it in English, at once full, well-arranged, accurate, and adapted for general reading ; secondly, because foreign histories are not exact, and, if they were, are not accessible to the bulk of Englishmen ; thirdly, because recent and passing events have made it desirable (especially when we are asked to put faith in France, and to disarm) that attention should be recalled to the period of her grandest attempt to become dominant in Europe.

That there is in France a large party who profess honestly not to desire aggrandizement, the author is willing to believe. But the national satisfaction at the a

PREFACE.

. VI seizure of Nice and Savoy, at the interventions in Rome and Syria, shows that these professions, really believed in, at the moment they are uttered, are only transi tory; and they weigh as nothing against the teaching of history. Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor partly because he was supposed to represent the policy of Napoleon I. In broad characteristics the French people are unchanged, and unchanged is the policy of their rulers. As to histories of the last campaign of Napoleon I. there are many. The work of Captain Siborne is the fullest and most eareful. But for the general reader it is not suitable, because it is so full of minute details, and so purely military in its character. It is a mass of material of the greatest value, and the author is proud to acknowledge his obligations to Captain Siborne.

The other works in the English language have not appeared to him to do justice to the story. Of the foreign writers, Colonel Charras is the best ; and to him also ample acknowledgments are due. In reconstructing this his tory, the author has had recourse to the best authorities in English, French, German, and Dutch ; and from this wealth of material he has endeavoured to produce a complete and accurate work. This he has sought to accomplish by including in his narrative the career of Napoleon from Elba to St. Helena ; by giving due place to political as well as military events, and by aiming at simplicity in arrangement and unity in design.

PREFACE.

. VII He has also, by connecting the events of 1815 with those of December, 1851, and of subsequent years, intended to impart a practical purpose to a work which would otherwise have been simply the story of the Downfall of the First Napoleon. French writers are still seeking for the causes of the " disaster " in " acci dent," "destiny," "treachery;" instead of looking for them, where they are to be found, in the failings of individuals, and in the national passion for domineering over Europe. France does not yet appear to have learned the lesson set her in 1815. She is once more armed by land and sea, and once more she has entered on the path of aggression. History does not exactly repeat itself ; but the present Emperor has told us that "a Government is bound by its antecedents;" and assuredly that of Napoleon III. is so bound. Kensington, November, 1862. CONTENTS

Book I The Army Kestoees The Emperor

Chapter I. NAPOLEON AGAINST EUROPE. PAGE 1. Napoleon's Relation to Europe in 1815 . . . . 3 2. He Returns from Elba ....... 8 3. His Political Calculations . . . . . . .18 4. His Resources and Exertions ...... 23 5. Champ de Mai : Meeting of the Chambers . . . .28 Chapter II. THE ALLIES IN THE LOW COUNTRIES. 1. Character and Growth of the Anglo-Allied and Prussian Armies 33 2. Their Dispositions and Functions . . . . .40 8. Preparations and Projects ...... 47 Chapter III. General Position on the Eve of the Campaign . . 52 Chapter IV. THE INVASION OF BELGIUM. 1. Concentration of the French Army 59 2. The Allies on the Alert 64 3. Opening of the Campaign ....... 67 4. Ney at Frasne 74 5. Marches and final Positions of the French Army . . .75 6. Prussian Movements ....... 77 7. Wellington's Information and Proceedings . . . .78 CONTENTS.

X Chapter V. THE MORNING OF THE 16TH OF JUNE. pAGE 1. Napoleon: Charleroi to Fleurus 87 2. Ney: Gosselies and Frasne ...... 97 3. Wellington and Blucher : Sombref 101 Chapter VI. THE AFTERNOON OF THE 16TH OF JUNE. 1. Battle of Ligny 107 2. Battle of Quatre Bras 119 3. D'Erlon's Wanderings ....... 135 Chapter VII. THE RETREAT OF THE 17TH OF JUNE. 1. Wellington's Activity 140 2. Napoleon at Fleurus and Ligny ..... 142 3. Retreat and Pursuit ........ 144 4. Blucher Retires to Wavre . . . . . .150 5. Grouchy in Pursuit . . . . . . . .152 Chapter VIII. Retrospective 155 Chapter IX. THE MORNING OF THE 18TH OF JUNE. 1. Movements of Grouchy . . . . . . .162 2. Bluchers Flank March . . . ' . . .165 3. Mont St. Jean and La Belle Alliance 168 4. The Field of Battle 173 Chapter X. THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 1.

Expectation .....'.•... 187 2. Tho Attack on Hougoumont . . . . . .190 3. Approach of the Prussians ...... 195 4. The First Grand Attack ....... 198 5. Progress of the Fight 208 6. Grand Attacks of Cavalry ....... 214 7. Operations of Bulow ...... 223 8. Defeat of the Imperial Guard ...... CONTENTS. XI PAGE 9. The Battle Won 234 10. Losses 240 11. Reflections on Waterloo . . . . . . .241 12. After the Battle 248 13. Battle of Wavre and Retreat of Grouchy .... 250

Book II. The Allies In France

Chapter I. RAPID FALL OF NAPOLEON. 1. The Invasion of France ....... 261 2. Napoleon Deserts the French Army ..... 263 3. Napoleon at the Elys^e 266 4. The Allies March on Paris 280 5. Interregnum ......... 283 6. Before Paris : Capitulation ...... 291 Chapter II. NAPOLEON : LA MALMAISON ; ST. HELENA. 1. Napoleon reluctant to Fly . . . . . . .301 2. Flight 304 3. Arrives at Rochefort : Hesitations 306 4. Retribution 310

Book III. Revival Of Bonapartism In Europe

. . CONTENTS. APPENDICES. PAGE I. The Army of Wellington 337 II. The Army of Prince Blucher ...... 339 HI. The Army of Napoleon 340 IV. British Regiments at Waterloo ..... 341 V. Could Grouchy have saved Napoleon ? . . . . 342 Map and Plans at the End of the Volume. I. General Map. II. Ligny. III. Quatre Bras. IV. Waterloo. V. Waterloo.