Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-02-20

was ordered TO march the next morning.
The division of the French army nearest
the forces Of Butcher, was commanded by
General Bourmont, who had been an officer
OF tho Royalists, curing the civil war ia
France, afterwards entered the Imperial SER
vice, and so distinguished himself as 10 gain
his present rank. He was never a favorito
of Napoleon's- learning on his return
from Elbo, the zeal he had manifested in the
Royalist cause, during his absence, refused
- receive him, and was only induced to do so
by the earnest solicitations of Ney and Ger
ard. On the morning Of the fifteenth, his
division was on the march at daylight-he
preceding it under pretence of reconnoier-
ing the ground, accompanied by three staff
officers and two aid de camps - six light
horsemen and their corporal serving as es.
cort. After riding in advance for two or
three miles, he sent back two Of his escort,
with orders TO one Of his colonies, and, as
soon as they were out of sight, ordered the
other five to return also put spurs to his
horse and galloped on. followed by the five
officers. The astonshed corporal followed
at distance, and saw the party arrive at the
enemy's outposts. They were Immediately
conducted to Butcher, who was thus in full
possession of Napoeon's plans, which he
lost no time in communicating to Wellington
who was in such ignorance Of the movements
of the French, that he sent on the same day
despatch to tho Emperor Alexander, dis
cussing plan for the invasion of France
Wellington received Blucher's message at a
ball, given by the Duchess of Richmond, at
Brussels, while conversing in the recess of "A
window with the Duke of Brunswick, and
turned deadly pale. His companion. (who
was shot the next day. rose suddenly with a
start, letting fall upon the floor child who
was playing on his knees - the Prince de
Ligne, now Belgian Ambassador at Paris.
The anger Of the troops, on learning this
infamous lreachery, was with difficulty APP
peased, and their want Of confidence in the
officers strengthened. In tie course of the
morning, Ney, who had been summoned by
telegraph, arrived at head quarters, and the
Emperor. after acquainting him with the con-
duct OF his protege, ordered him to take Two
divisions and drive the British forces back
upon Brussels. Forming staff upon the
spot, Of officers who were unknown to him,
he left for the Qire Bras, where he assured
the Emperor he should be before night, but
upon encoantering the British before Fras-
mes, hesllated. then routed them, and instead
OF pushing on, camped there.
! On the morning of the sixteenth, the En-
peror learned that Butcher. apprised of his
plans, had assembled portion of his forces
and advanced to meet hin,. He immediate
sent to Ney an order commanding him to
delach one of his divisions to fall upon the
enemy's flank while he attacked them in
'front.', forcing them from the village of Ligny
Inc battle was one Of the most sanguinary
ever known each soldier appeared to be
combating mortal enemy, and thew were
seen fighting hand to hand, in houses which
we're in flames, for the French gave no quar-.
ter. Officer after officer was sent to New
and al last the Emperor, seeing that he wa
losing an opportunity of destroying the Prus
slams, gave orders for his reserve guard I,
advance - which he almost immediatel,
countermanded. Two hours were passed i
accommodating large corps which had bee
seen coming a different direction from tina
which the expected reinforcement had bee
, ordered 10 take, and it was rumored tina
they were English, when they suddenl
wheeled about and returned.
: The Imperial guard which had been ker
; in reserve, then advanced to complete III
: victory which the French had ganed-Blu
cher narrowly escaped with his life, the Prus
slams were routed, and had Ney sent tho re
Enforcement ordered to cut off their rerea
they would have been utterly annihaled.-
10 the mean time, Ney, with the other win
; of the army had arrived al Quatre Bras, bu
from some cause never ascertained, remain
ed perfectly inactive until aroused by III
cannon at Ligny. lie then declined an en-
eagement until the arrival of his reserve, un
der d Erlon, and time was thus given to tn
, English to advance and forify their posi,io
) by cutting loop holes in the walls of Il,
houses. In the afternoon no received mes
, sage from d'Eron, who informed him, tina
} having learned that the Emperor had sen, fc
him, he had changed hls line Of march fc
, LIgny. Not having received the Emperor
: orders, Ney at once despatched an aid I
S summon d'Erlon to retul IN to him, and com
menced The engagement, which continue
until night. he having the advantage but re
/ framing from making decisive charge IN
!. til the arrival Of his reserve. Now il wa
this battalion that having lost its way, la
been mistaken by Napoleon for the enemy
: and il was the receipt Of Ney's Impera
tive order that caused il 10 wheel about, q
} above mentioned, and return TO Qatre Bra!
{ where it arrived late in tho evening. Thu
: 10000 men and 40 cannon were marchin
, about between the two wings whereas, ha
they co-operated with Napoleon, they woul
have enabled him to annihilaie the Prussian
, had they been with Ney, he could hsv
. driven back the British. before the arriv;
. Of their reinforcement. The blame is to b
F.; attributed 10 Marshal Soult, whose con,radic
3 tory dispatches were intrusied to person
{ VIGOROUSLY incompetent; Indeed one of the,
went over 10 the enemy.
D Ney received orders during tho night I
attack the enemy at daylight on the l6il
and after sending of Grouchy, to keep Il,
Prussians in check, Napoleon hastened wit
his guard 10 Quatre Bras, where he arrive
about eleven o'clock, and found to his as
tonishment that nothing had been done :
: Ney endeavored to excuse himself, unde
the pretence that he thought all the BIRTHS
force had arrived. and feared risking ger
eral engagement. The Emperor at one
put the troops in motion. and ii was foun
that the enemy were in full retreat upo
, their renfOrcements, who had taken posti