Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-07-25
,,,o.esed Bonanar4e repl;ed that he knew

lit well and gave orders for his guards 70
lattack the centre of the English army;
land riding at full gallop in advance, he
lplaced himself with his staff in a hollow
Inade by the road half way between La
Belle Alliance and Haye Sainte. This
Twas his third and last position.
Bonaparle and his suite ran great risks
Ito gain this hollow, bullet struck the
lpommel ci the saddle of one of the officers
without touching him or his horse. Bo.
lnaparte contented himself by coolly ob
Serving !" that they must remain IN this
hollow"
| Hero there was on each side of the road
Ia battery, perceiving that one OF the can,
mons ofthe left battery did not play well.
|he dismonnted, ascended the height OF the
lroad, advanced to the third piece, and
lrectifed the error. whilst the bullets
lwere Kissing around him.
! Whilst in this position he saw eight
Ibattalions of his old guard, to whom he
had given orders to force the centre OF
the English army, advance upon Haye
lSainte. Three of these battalions were
annihilated in his sight, whilst crossing
the road, by the firing from the farm and
batteries. Nevertheless, the French
made themselves masters of the farm, and
the Hanoverians who occupied it, were
obliged to surrender for want Of ammuni-
Ition.
To support the foot guards (garde a
Ipied) Bonaparte made his horse guards.
composed of eight or MAE regiments, ad-
vance he waited the result Of the charge
with the greatest anxiety, but he saw the
flower of his army destroyed 10 an instant
whilst ascending the hill upon which Haye
Sainte is situate. This was his last trial ;
tor on seeing his Old Guard destroyed, he
lost all hope, and on turning to his officers
said IS present c'est fniS, saHrors nous .
IT is now finished, let US save our
Iselves.
1t was half past eight O'Clock and with
out pursuing any steps. or giving any Or
ders, Il taking all possible care to avoid
the Prussians, he, accompanied by his
staff, rode Off at iull gallop to Genappe.
In passing before battery of Il guns,
that was near the Observatos y, he ordered
that before they abandoned it TO the enc
my they should fire IA rounds.
When he arrived at Genappe, it was
lhalt past nine o'clock, 2. NJ. The only
street which forms this village, was so
lincumbered with cassons and cannon,
that it required an entire hour to pass
them, alongside the houses all the inha
|bltants had forsaken their dwellings.
There was no other road to take, because
THE Prusslans occupied the left. and there
was no otner bridge but that of Genappe,
10y which to pass the river that flowed
there.
From Genappe he advanced towards
Quatre Bras, Fastening his pace, always
|atraid the Prussians would arrive before
Ihim /; he was mere tranquil when he had
passed this last place, and when arrived
tat Gossely. he even dismounted & walked
1.-The remainder of the road to Charlery a.
bout one league. He traversed Charleroy
bout two hours and half. and stopped
in meadow, called MarcaneIIe, at the
other end of the town There they made
la large fire and bro't him two glasses ard
1.-TWO bottles OF wine, which be drank with
his officers. He took no other neurish
lment.-They spread upon the ground
a sack OF oats, which his horses eat in
| their brides. Alta quarter before 5 o.
clock, alter having taken another guide,
| to whom he gave the horse that had sery.
led De Coster, he remounted, made a
lslight bow to De Coster, and rode off
Bertrand gave de Coster, for his services
a single Napoleon, and disappeared, as
also the whole staff, leaving De Coster
alone, who was obliged to return home
on foot.
During the whole time that he was
with Bonaparte he was not maItreated
Except whilst they were retreating, on
their arrival at Quatre Bras. when ore of
the officers finding that second guide
which they had with them had escaped,
tied the bride ofDe Coster's horse to his
own saddle, as a precautionary measure.
From the moment that Bonaparte be-
gan to retreat, until his arrival at the mea-
dow of Marancelle,he did not stopnor did
he speak to any one.-He had taken no
|nourishment from the time he left the
farm ROssam, and De Coster even thinks
he had taken nothing from six in TIE
morning.
The danger of the battle did rot APP
pear to affect him. De Coster, who was
greatly asitated through fear, lowered his
head frequently on the neck of his horse
to avoid the balls which Kissed over his