Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-06-19

Ney'S Charge ut W~aterlOO---BiS Death.
b We have not for a long time been more impressed
by the perusal of any thing than by the following de-
~scription, by Mr.. ]. T. Headley, of Ney's desperate
charge at the head of Napoleon's Guard at Water
leo, and the subsequent cold blooded butchery of the
'bravest of the brave The account is prefaced by a
rapid, vigorous sketch of Ney's earlier career:
His last charge at Waterloo showed that the frmness
and bravery Of the man was undiminished. 1t is true the
Old Guard was not what il had been. 1t required the ex-
perience and training of the veterans that fell in the snow
drifts of Russia. But still it was the sod Guard" which
had ever regarded itself rs the prep and pride of Bonaparte.
Il was the same that had gained him so many bsttIes-the
same that at Krasnoi, in the retreat from Russia. when re-
duced to a little band, closed around their Emperor and
marched past the Russian batteries, playing in the hottest
Of the FIRE the popular ali, "Ou beAt on efre mieur GU on
sem de sa famiEe :" Ii was the "unconquersble guard"
From eleven in the morning till four IN the afternoon,
the battle had ragged while victory perched on neither stan
dard. The heavy French cavalry had charged the Eng
hsh square in vain Jerome Bonaparte had left 400 men
around Hougoumont. The centre of the English lines
had not yielded an inch. yet, exhausted aad- worn, they
stood less firmly in their places. The Old Guard had re-
manned passive spectators of the scene, during the whole
day, being reserved for the last moment TO complete the
victory. At this juno ture the head of the Prussian COL
umns appeared ir the field. Fifty thousand fresh troops
added TO the English would make the odds to great. In
stead of retiring till Grouchy could come up and restore
the balance, Bonaparte took the rash and desperate resolu-
ton Of bringing his entire reserve in the field, and with
one awful charge break the centre, and prevent the threat
ppipg junction of the two armies. For this purpase he
called up the Old Guard, and placing himself at their head
marched down the slope, aud haiing in a hollow, address
ed them in bis fiery vehement manner. He told them
every thing rested on thti il vaIor. They answered with
the shout, Fiue : EHpereEr, that was heard all along the
English line. He then placed them under Ney, who or
deed the charge.
Bonapar;e has been blamed for not heading this charge
himself but he knew be could not carry that guard so
far. nor hold them so long before the artillery as Ney.
The moral power Ney carried with him, from the reputa-
ton be had gained of being the "bravest Of The brave, !"
was worth a whole battalion. Wherever a column saw
him at their head, they knew that it was TO be victory, or
humiliation. With the exception of Mcdonald, we do
not know a general in the tive armies who could hold his
soldiers so long IN the face. of destruction as he. The
whole continental struggle exhibited no subIimer spectacle
than this last effort of Napoleon to save his sinking En-
pire. Europe had been put upon the plains of Waterloo
10 be hattled Tor. The greatest military energy and skill
the world possessed had been tasked TO the utmost during
the day. Thrones were lettering on the ensanguined
field, and the shadows Of fugitive kings fitted through the
smoke OF battle. Bonapartes star trembled in the zenith,
now blazing out in its ancient splendor, now suddenly
paIllng before his anxious eye.
At length when the Russians appeared on the field, he
resolved to put all Europe on one bold throw. He com.
mitted himself and France to Ney. aud saw his empire
resi- on a single charge. We almost forget Napoleon
ambition and guilt in our sympathy for him in his critt
cal moment of his life The intense anxiety with which
he watched the advance of that column, and the terrible
suspense he suffered when the smoke of battle wrapped il
from sight, and the utter despair of his great heart, when
the curtain lifted over a fugitive army, and the despairing
shrek Iung on every side, ia garde recuLs ! Ia garGe re
Guile ," makes, us for a moment almost wish he had gain
ed thesdry- Ney felt the immense responsibility reains
upon him. He felt the pressure of an empire on bis bray,
heart, and resolved not to prove unworthy of the grea
trust committed to his care. Nothing could be more i'm
posing than the moving Of that grand column TO the as
sault. That guard. had never yet recoiled before a huma,
foe, and the allied forces beheId with awe its firm and ter
rible advance TO the final charge.
For a moment the batteries stopped playing, and III
firing ceased along the British lines. Without the beat
ing of a drum or the blast of a bugle, to cheer their stead
courage, they moved 10 steady silence over the plain. Tn
next moment the artillery opened, and the head of tina
gallant column seemed to sink into the earth. Rank a
ter rank went down, yet they neither stopped nor faltered
Dissolviag squadrons, and whole columns dsappearinp ON
after another in the destructive FIRE, affected not their stes
DIV courage. The column closed up as before. and eac
tea4ing over his fallen comrade. pressed firmly on. Tn
horse which Ney rode fell under him, and he scsrceI
meuhaed another before it also sunk to the earth. Aeal
and again did that unfinching man feel his steed sin
down, till Eve had been shot under him. Then with h
uniform rddled with bullets, and his face singed and bIacl
ened- with powder, he marched on foot with drawn sabr
OF the head of his column. In vain did the artillery hu
its storm of fire and lead into that living mass. Up to n
very muzzles they pressed and driving the artlleryme
from their own pieces. pushed on through the Englis
lines But the sudden firing Of that hitherto unseen ran
into their very faces, pouring a sheet Of fame in their b.
SONS, was too much for human courage. They reeled-
sho0k-turned and fed.
Ney was borne back in the refuent tide, and huris
over the field But for the crowd Of fugitives that 6rcs
him back. be would have stood alone and fallen in his foo
steps. Asst was, disdaining 10 fly, though the whole a
nv was flying, he formed his men into two immep
Squares and sndesvorded to stem the terrific tide, an
would have done SO had il not been for the fifty thousar
fresh Prussians that pressed on his exhausted ranks. F.
q long time they stood and let the artillery plough throu,
them. But the fate Of Napoleon was writ, ami though '
believe Ney did what no other man in Europe could ha
done, the decree could not be reversed. The star that hi
bIszed so bsIefuIIy ever the world, went down in bloc
and the "brasest Of the brave" had fought his last baul
il was worthy his great name, and the charge Of the o
Guard At Waterloo with him Al their head will be noinn