The Republican journal., 1870-07-21
A MONTH OF BATTLES.

us tllat the 18TH inst was the fifty-fifth ami
vcrsary OF the battle of Waterloo, which was
fought on the 18th OF June, 1915 1t was the
most remarkable conflict of modern times.
We say remarkable, because it was the most
decisive and important in its results The
word Waterloo has passed not only into his
tory but into the language itself. 1t desig-
mates an overthrowal that is final in its char
acter, and from which there is no appeal.
lhe 18th OF June, 1915, will ever figure rs
one OF the great landmarks of time. 1t is
like the sea fight of Antony and Lepidus with
Octavius Caesar, which decided the fortunes
of the world There is much in the history
of Waterloo which is not understood by the
masses of the people. AS is well known the
arrival of Blucher and his Prussians to the
aid of Wellington decided the victory which
otherwise would have been with the French.
He arrived at six o'clock in the evening.
The 18th of June is among the longest days
OF the year, and it had been determined by
the French Emperor, Napoleon, to open the
contest at break of day, which is before four
O'Clock. But for two or three days previous
there had been heavy falls OF rain. Water
100, which was wheat field in the neighbor-
mood OF Brussels, was converted almost into
4 morass. Napoleon had large preponder.
ance IN the number OF his great guns-23o
against 10. He was strongly in favor OF
the artillery service, in which he had entered
as youth in the College of Brienne The
advantage which he had in it he was not in
favor of surrendcring by commencing the
action when the field, from the recent rains,
was unfavorable to his cannon. He, there
fore, waited until the rays of the hot sun had
dried up the field, and made it passable for
artillery. The action did not commence until
eleven O'Clock in the morning, when other
wise it would have commenced before >iy
f'n Inal- IL 1aI,
fatal to Napoleon. The Prussians arrived ~
six O'Clock in the afternoon, and changed thu
fortunes of the day. Had it not been for the
delay OF five hours on the morning OF the 18th
OF June, the British would have been defeat
ed and in full and irreparable retreat before
the arrival of their allies. As Victor Hugo
aptly observes in his remarkable and eloquent
work, "Les Mserabes.n "A few drops OF
rain, more or less, changed the fortunes OF
the Continent of Europe But this wa
not the only mishap of Napoleon in this cv-
traordinary campaign. In its very outset one
of his Generals, Bourmont deserted to The
enemy and carried with him all his knowledge
of the military projects of the Emperor.
This was a surprise, but it would have been
far greater had it not been for this unforeseen
and unexpected desertion. Wellington and
Misleading generals were attending a brilliant
ball at Brussels The troops were scattered
and cantoned all over the country when the
news was brought that Napoleon, ut the head
of 120 200 men, had made his appearance
in Belgium. The scene that now enSucd j.
beautifully described by Lord Byron iu
"Childe Harold" in which he says
There was sound of revelry by night.
And Belgium's Capital had gathered then
Her beauty and her chvalry, and bright
The lamps shonc DER fair women and brave men.
The Duke of Wellington was caught nap
ping, He had made arrangements with the
distinguished French traitor and hero "t
many revolutions, Fouche, then the Minister
of Police under Napoleon, to communicate t.
him the movements of the great Emperor.
lie sent them but with doube-taced duplicitv
stopped them on the frontier, SO that in case
of either reverse or success he was t. haNea
plea in his defence. The accession OF Bour-
mont TO the allied councils explained the
whole, and then there was mounting in hot
haste and the mastering far and wide ot the
steed of war The celebrated Marshal NcV
was directed to occupy the four roads of Qua
tre Bras, which done, would have rendered i
junction OF the armies Of Butcher and Well
ington impossible. During an inclemcnt
rainy season the gallant Marshal had pro
| ceeded to within two or three miles OF the
point designated His troops were greatly
latigucd, and as his scouts reported that the
| place was unOccupied by the enemy, he dis
patched Il courier to Napoleon informing him
that they were already in possession OF the
French troops. When morning dawncd ana
Ney proceeded onward he found the whole
English army in possession of tluatrc Bras
which was unoccupied several hour, before.
This was the direct and fatal cause of the lo-r
of the battle which enSued.
On the day itself Ney brought ont the
cavalry for an attack on the British lines
! mn hni hn in
tantry squares had been broken. Napoleon
observed it with great distress, and accused
Ncv of destroying his cavalry. But where
was Murat. the brother-in-aw OF the En-
peror, who should have commanded it Ot
account of personal quarrel with the En-
peror, he was compelled by that potentatc 10
remain at II distance, III exile when hi
presence would probably have changed the
destinies OF the world. With Grourhys de-
tcction, with his failure to Join the Emperor
with his corps, everybody is familiar The
cannon of Waterloo was heard in his com
mand. He was advised by his oilcrr, to
proceed to the scene of the firing. lie wa
told that it was general engagement; that
the Emperor had the whole European army
on his hands 1t was remarked that II wa
the cannon of Austcrltz, but still he wouht
not Stir. Appointed to watch Bluchcr WIN
the Prussian army, he neither did it, nor did
he lOln lhe imperial lotctS. l ne result WI
the destruction of the Emperor. 1t was 4 re-
markahle coincidence that forty years after
ward, III 1879. the British and French troops
combined, at the siege of Sebastopol, un th
18th of June, took the Malakof. which wa
the key to its possession. The British t,lrd
in the Rcdan fort but the French, by Il sur
prise, captured the main fortress above alud
ed to- from which they speedily shelcd uu'
the Russians from the Redan.
The 18th OF June was the anniversary ot
the battle of Bunker Hill, fought in l11I,
ninety-tive years ago. That was the first
battle of the American Revolution, which
lasted for seven years. Waterloo was tho
conclusion Of the French Revolution, which
has lasted for period of over twenty years.
But these are not the only great modern
battles of this month. On the l4th of June,
1900, occurred the great battle of Marengo.
which assured to Napoleon the consular
throne of France On the lith of June, lSo1,
he won the battle of Friedland against Rus
sia, which terminated the campaign against
that power, and made him for years the
arbiter of Europe. We may therefore say
that the present month, historically speaking,