The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-04
THE UNION: WASHINGTON TUESDAY MORNING. JAN



The following description of the last charge BY the Old
French Guard at Waterloo is derived from French
work entitled Historic de la Ganle mperiale relue pal
M Emile Marco de Saint Hilare" aud is interesting al
The present moment.
During the day The artillery OF the Guard, under
Douel maintained It's old renown and the Guard itself
had frequently been used to restore the battle in various
paris OF the held and always with success The Eng.
llsh were last becoming exhausted, and in an hour more
would doubtless have been forced into disastrous de-
leaf out ioF the timely arrival OF Butcher But when
lhey saw hm with bis thirty thousand Russians APP
pfoaching, their courage revived, while Napoleon was
hled with amazement beaten enemy was about to
form junction with the allies, bile Grouchy, who had
been sent 10 keep him 10 check, nowhere 10 be seen
Alas what great plans single inefficient commander
can overthrow
the attack OF so many fresh troops once allowed TO form
junction with the allied forces and he determined 10
stake ms fate on one bold cast and endeavo TO pierce
the allied centre wh grand charge OF the Old Guard
and thus throw himself between the Two armies For
this purpose the Imperial Guard called up and dvi.
ded INTO two immense columns, which wefe 10 meet in
The BRUSH centre Those under Ree no sooner entered
me IRE than II disappeared like mist The other
placed under Ney The bavest OF the brave." and the
order 10 advance given. Napoleon accompanied them
part OF the way down the slope, and hating Tor
ment IN a hollow addressed them few words. He told
them the battle rested with them, and that he relied
their valor, tried in so many fields. "Viye PEmpereur !"
answered HIM with shout that was heard above the
thunder OF artillery.
The whole continental struggle exhibits sublimer
eHOfl OF Napoleon 10 save MS
sinking empire. The greatest military energy and skill
the world possessed had been taxed TO The utmost during
The day Thrones were toerlng on the turbulent held
and the shadows OF fugitive kings fitted through the
smoke OF battle Bonapars's star Tembled in the zenith
now blazing out in It's ancient spiendor, now suddenly
paling before his anxious eye 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 ard the utter despair OF his great
heart when The curtain lifted over a fugitive army. and
the despairing shrek rang OUT" The Guard recois =!
The Guard recos!" make us for moment forget all
The carnage in sympathy with his distress
The Old Guard is The pressure Of the immense re-
sponsblty and resolved not TO prove unworthy TO the
great trust committed 10 lis Nothing could he more
Imposing than lis movement 10 the assault II had new
er recoed before human Toe and The allied forces be-
held with its firm and steady advance 10 the final
charge. For moment the batteries stopped playing,
and the firing ceased along the British lines, without
the beating OF drum, bugle-note to cheer their
Their tread like muled thunder, while the dazzling
helmets of the curassers flashed long streams OF light
behind the dark and terrible mass that swept in one
strong wave along. The stern Dfouet was there amid
his guns and every brow written the unalieable
resolution TO conquer or die The next moment the ar.
tllery opened ard the head OF that gallant column seem
ed sink in the earth Rank after rank went down. yet
they neither stopped alteed DissolyIng squadons
and whole baalLons disappearing one alter another in
the destructive fire affected not their steady courage
The ranks closed up before, and each, eading over
his fallen comrade, pressed unfinchingly on
The horse which Ney rode fell under him. and scarcely
had he mounted another before also sank to the earlh
and so another and another, MI hive IN succession mad
been shot under him Then, with his drawn sabre, he
marched sleny at the head OF his column IN VAN dld
the artillery burl lis storm OF iron into that living mass
Up 10 the very muzzes they pressed, and driving the ar
ulleymen from their pieces pushed on through me Eng
lsb lines But Jus, as the victory seemed won ME oil
soldiers who bad laid Hat on the ground behind 10"
ridge Of earth, suddenly rose ard poured voliey INTO
their very faces Another and another followed I'LL one
broad sheet OF flame rolled on their bosoms and N such
fierce and unexpected flow that they staggered back
before it, Before the Guard had tine TO rally again and
advance heavy column of infantry Tell on It's ieit Hank
in close and deadly volleys causing IT, IN It's unsettled
state, TO swerve 10 the right AT that instant whole
brigade OF cavalry Numbered the right Hank, 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 also have rolled back the infantry that had boldly
charged its left flank but the cavalry finished The dis
order into which they had been momeniarly thrown
and broke the shaken ranks before they had time to
form, and the eagles of that hitherto inyncble Guard
were pushed backward down the slope II was then
that the army seized with despair shrIeked Out, The
Guard recoils The Guard recos !" and turned and fled
in wild dlsmay. To the Guard IN confusion was
sight they had before behed, and II iroze every
heart with terror Still those veterans refused 10 fly /;
ralyiag from their disorder, they formed into two im
squares of eight baalions and turned Hereby on
the enemy, and noby sove 10 stem the reversed tide OF
battle.
For long time they stood and let the cannon-balis
plough through their ranks. dsdsnng turn their backs
on the foe. Michel al the head OF those ba'tal'ons,
fought like lion. To every command oil tho enemy TO
surrehder he replied, "The Guard dies-it never sur
renders = aud with his las; breath bequeathing this go
rous motto 10 the Guard he fell witness 10 lis truth
Death ravesed those eight baalions with such rapid
ioolstep that they soon dwlnded away 10 two, which
turned in hopeless daring or the overwhelming numbers
that pressed their retiring footsteps.
Last OF all but single battalion, the debris OF The
"coumn OF granite" at Marengo, was left. Into this
Napoleon flung himself Cambronne, lis brave command
er, with terror the Emperor in IT'S irail keeping
He was not struggling for victoryhe was intent only on
showing how the Guard should die. Approaching the
Emperor he cried out, "Retire DO you no, see that
death has no need OF you !" and closing mourniuy yet
sleny round their expiring eagles those brave hearts
babe Napoleon eternal adleu and, fnging themselves
on the enemy were soon piled with the dead at their
feet
MANY OF the officers were seen 10 destroy themselves
her than survive defeat Thus, greater in Its own de-
feat than any other corps OF men in gaining victory,
the Old Guard passed from the stage, and the curtain
dropped upon It's strange IL had fought lis last
battle