Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-07-12
Waterloo-Before and After.


We were forcibly struck, lately, (says the
Knickerbocker) in reading Dumas "Shores Of
the Rhine" by this contrasted picture of "Na-
poeon going to, and returning from Waterloo"
The two scenes are worthy the pencil Of Della
roche:-
ave saw two carriages approaching, gallop-
ing each with six horses. They disappeared for
an instant in valley, then rose again at quar-
ter of leagues distance from us. Then we set
off running toward the town, crying "DEmper-
eur! L'Empevw" We arrived breathless, and
only preceding the Emperor by some five hun
bred PAGES. | thought he would not STOP what
ever might be the crowd awaiting him, and so
made for the post-house, when | sunk down half
dead with the running but at any rate was
there. In moment appeared, turning the cor
ner of a street, the ioaming horses; then the
RACES themselves: then the people following the
carriages. The carriages stopped at the post
| saw Napoleon! He was dressed in green
coat, with little epaulets, and wore the officers
cross of the legion Of honor. | only saw his
bust framed in the square of the carriage win.
dow. His head fell upon his chest that famous
medalic head of the old Roman Emperors. His
forehead fell forward his features, immovable
were of the yeowish color of wax only hi
eyes appeared to be alive. Next him, on his LEI
was prince Jerome, King without kingdom
but faithful brother. He was at that period {
fine young man of six-and twenty or thirty year,
of age, his features regular and well formed, hi
beard black, his hair elegantly arranged. HI
saluted in place of his brother, whose vague
glance seemed lost in the future perhaps in thu
past. Opposite the Emperor was Letort, his ait
de-camp and ardent soldier, who seemed already
to snuff the air of battle; he was smiling too
the poor fellow, as if he had long days to live
All this lasted for about minute. Then the
whip cracked, the horses neighed, and it all dis
appeared like vision.
"Three days afterwards, toward evening, some
people arrived from ST. Quentin; they said tina
as they came away they heard cannon. The
morning of the 18th courier arrived who scat
tered all along the road the news of victory -
The 18th nothing. The 10Th nothing; ONLY
vague rumors were abroad, coming, no one knew
whence. 1t was said that the Emperor was
Brussels. The goth, three mon in rags tive
wounded, and riding jaded horses all covered
with foam, entered the town, and were instantly
surrounded by the whole population, and pushed
into the court-y yard of the town-house. Ihes'
men hardly spoke French. They were, believe
Wesphalians, belonging somehow to our army
To all our questions they only shook their head
sadly, and ended by coniessing that they ha'
quilted the field of battle of Waterloo at elgh
o'clock. and that the battle was lost when the
came away. 1t was the advanced guard OF tu
gitves We would not believe them. we sal
these men were Prussian spies. Napoleon couI
not be beaten That fine army which we ha
seen pass could not be destroyed. We wante
to put the poor fellows i'll prison; so quickly ma
we forgotten 10 and IA, to remember the year
+ which had gone before Ny mother ran to til
: fort, where she passed the whole day, known
: it was there the news must arrive, whatever
| were. During tins time looked out in the mar
f for Waterloo, the name of which even coul
y not find, and begun to think the place was lnag
= Al.
n four O'clock more fugitlves arrived, who cohhrrl
+. ed the news of the first corners. THESE wei
d French and could give all the details when
1t asked for. They repeated what the others ho
s. said, only adding that Napoleon and his broth
: were killed. This we would not believe; M
IS poleon might not be Observation-Disclosures
n certainly was. Fresh news more terrible al
e disastrous continued to come in until ten o'clo
Or at night
m cat ten o'clock at night we heard the moi
|. of carriage. 1t stopped, and the Postmas'
IT. went out with a light We followed him as
n, ran to the door to ask for news. Then he sta
e. ed back a step, and cried, otis the Emperor =
III got on stone bench, and looked over my mo
re er's shoulder. 1t was indeed Napoleon; seat
he in the same corner, in the same uniform, his he
rs on his breast as before. Perhaps it was lit
III lower bent; but there was not line in his COZ
he tenance, not an altered feature, to mark vi
re were the feelings of the great gambler, who
IN Just staked and lost the world. Jerome and
o. tort were not with him to bow and smile in