New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-01
The " Old Guard, a., Waterloo.


The " Old Guard'' ut Waterloo.
The following description of the last charge
by the Old French Guard at Waterloo, lie de-
rived from French work entitled "Histoire
de Ia Garde lmperiale, relue par NJ. Emile
Marco de Saint Hiliare" and is interesting at
the present moment:
During the day, the artillery OF the Guard under
Drouet maintained its old renown and the Guard itself
had frequently beenused TO restore the battle in various
parts O. the field, and always with success The Eng
sh were fast becoming exhausted and in hour more
would doubtless have been forced into disastrous de-
feat but for the timely arrival Of Blucher. But when
they him with bis 10000 Prrssians approa hing,
their courage revived, while Napoleon was filled with
amazement beaten enemy was about TO form a juno.
ton with the allies, while Gr0uchy who had been cent
to keep him in check, nowhere to be seen Alas
what great plans single inefficient commander can
overthrow.
In moment Napoleon that he could not sustain
the attack Of many fresh troops if once allowed TO
form junction with the allied forces, and he deter
mined b stake lis fate bold cast and endeavor 20
pierce the allied center with grand charge of the Old
Guard and thus throw bimself between the two armies
For this purpose the Imperial Guard was called up AMI
divided into two immense columns which were 10 meet
in tic British center Those under Reile sooner en-
tered the fire than 1t disappeared like mist The other
placed under Ney the braves OF the brave, and
the order to advance given, Napoleon accompanied
tho III part Of the way down the slope, and hatng fora
moment In hollow, addressed them few wc'ds. He
ted them the battle rested with them and that ne relied
on their valor tried in many ieds 'Vive lEmpe'
reuT answered him with shout that was hcard above
the thunder of artillery
The whole continental struggle exhibits no suolner
spectacle hnn this last effort OF Napoleon TO save h
sinking Empire The greatest military energy and sSlll
the world pos sesed had been taxed 70 the utmost during
the day Thrones tottlrng on the t 6uient field,
and the shadows Of fugitive kings fitted through the
smoke Cf battle. BOnapartes star treInb1d IN the
zeni,h-now blazing out in its ancient splondor, now
suddenly pang before his anxious eve. The intense
anxiety with which he watched the advance Ci that col
umn, and the terrible suspense he suffered when inc
smoke of battle wrapped IL from sight and the utter
despair of his grea. heart when the curtain ied over
fugitive army, and the despairDg shrek rung out
1.-THE Guard Iecoils r. "The Guard recoils + make us
for moment forget all the carnage in sympathy with
his distress.
The Old Guard felt the pressure Of the immense 70
sponsbihty and resolved not 10 prove unworthy 10 the
great trust committed to it's care Nothing could be
more imposing than it, yement TO the assault thad
never recoed before human foe, and the ah forces
behed with its firm and steady advance 10 the hna
charge For q moment the batteries stopped playing
and he firing ceased along the British lines, without
the beating OF drum, or bugenote 10 cheef lheir
steady courage they moved in dead silence over tne
field Their tread like mufled tlunter, while the
dazzling helmets Of the cuirossers flashed long streams
of light behind the dark aud terrible mass tnat swept III
one strong wave along. The stern Drouet was there
amid his guns aud on every brow was written me un
aeTable resolution 10 conquer or die. Inc next mo
me. the artillery opened and the head Of that gallant
column seemed 10 sink in the earth. Rank afier rank
went down. yet they neither stopped nor aiterc pls.
solving squadiC"s and whole bGttaions disappearing
one after anOt the destructive nrc affected not
tber st,sdy co1 The ranks closed up as before,
and each ,reNdi 81 ais fallen coursde, pressed un'
ilincmnRly GA. =.
tc bo,,o which New rode fell under him. and scarce
" had ne mounted another before u also sank to the
earth and so another and smother I'LL 1--we IN succession
hed been shot under him Then, with he drawn sabre,
he marched t,erny 81 the head OF his column In vain
did the artillery hul It's storm OF iron into that living
lnass Up to the very muzzes they pressed snddrvng
the arterymen from their pieces pushed on through
the English lines But Just the victory seemed won
file of soldiers who had laid Hat ON the ground behind
low ridge Of earth suddenly rose and poured ayoley
into their very feces Another and another followed
ill one broad sheet of flame rolled their boSons, and
in such fierce and unexpected flow that they staggered
back before it, Before the Guard had time TO rally again
and advance heavy column of infantry fell on ia lett
flank in close and deadly voieys causing IT, in 1T I'M
settled state to swervc the right At that insteut
whole brigade Of cavalry Numbered On The gh ranA,
and penetrated where cavalry had never gone before
That intrepid Guard could have borne up against the
unexpected FIRE from soldiers they did not see, and
would sto have rolled back the infantry that had boldly
charged its left flank but the cavalry finished the lis
orier into which they had been momcntarly thr ~n.
and broke the shaken ranks before they had tre -
form and the eagles of that hitherto invncble Guard
were pushed backward down the slope IL was then
that the army, seized with despair, shrieked oui The
Guard rccoils The Guard recos and turned and hed
in wild dismay. To see .he Guard in confusion was q
sight they had before beheld and trQze every
heart with terror Still those veterans refused TO fly
fallyifg nom tntif uleofucf ttI INTO t"o III
mcnsesousres OF eight ba,tsons and turned fcrcely
the enemy and molly stroye to stem the reversed tide
Of hattie.
For long time they stood and let the cannonballs
plow through their rsnks dsdainng TO tu-n : backs
on the foe Michel at the head OF those baTtllions,
fought ike hon To every command OF the enemy 20
surrender he replied The Guard dies never sur
renders" and with his last breath bequeaing this go
rious motto the Guard he fell witness 70 ts truth
Desth traversed those eight bsttaons with such rapid
oo,step tha, they socn Gwindle1 away 10 two, which
turned in hopeless daring on the Overwhelming nam
bers that pressed their retiring Footsteps.
Last OF all but a single BATTALION the debris OF the
column OF granite" nj Marengo, was left Into tIs
Napoleon flung himself Csmbronne, It's brave COR
msndcr with terror the Emperor ia IL irSi KEEP
ing He was not struggling for victory, Re Wa intent
only on showing how the Guard should die. Approach
Ing the Emperor he cried OUT Retire Do you not see
that death has need of you and closing nourniuly
vet stesrnly round their expiring eagles those orsVe
hearts babe Napoleon an eternal adieu, and hnsins
themselves the enemy were soon piled with the dead
81 their feet
Many Of the officers were seen to destroy them elves
rather than survive defeat Thus greater in It's own dc
feat than any other corps Of men III gaining victory the
Old Guard passed from the stage and the curtain
dropped upon its strange career II hsd fought ia last
battle