Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-09
HOW WATERLOO WAS LOST.
A Review OF the Memoirs OF MarshaI
GFOUchy.

n MetlcW OF tue MemOlrS OF MRrSn II
GFOUchy.
Napoleon was asked by O Meara, al
ST. Helena, whether when the Prussians
appeared on the field Of Waterloo he did
not believe them to be Grouchy's corps,
and he answered. Certainly l did.
cannot even now conceive why it was
not. / have not seen Grouehy since,
and cannot understand it," With a
curiosity to learn what was denied to
the Emperor, we have read what
Groucby's excuses were, as set forth in
these interesting volumes recently pub.
lished in Paris. They do not exculpate
the Marshal, and his arguments are more
specious than sound. Throughout ttre
whole narrative the fact ia TOO plain, that
while the army was devoted aud lull OF
enthusiasm, most Of the chlet oiicers
were afraid to compromise themselves oy
showing teo much energy, and were cast.
ing many backward look on Psrls 10
keep or secure favor with the Bourbon
should the campaign be unior,unate
There must have bees treachsry, too, ia
the STAFF, for two important dispatches
from the Emperor to Grouchy from the
field of Waterloo, one dated 10 o clock
OF the night of the l7th, and duplicate
Of it at 2 o'clock EN-. OF the 18Th, we're
not delivered to him ut all General
Bourmont deserted to the allies on the
night of the 18th, and a feeling OF dis
trust ard OF being betrayed peryadad
the army.
The memoirs are repleLe with many
anecdotes, personal and political. Some
prove the wonderful sagacily Of mind
and knowledge Of human nature which
marked the genius OF Napoleon, aud
others strip the tinsel from characters
whom partial history has clothed with
false lustre. Wellington was narrow
minded Tory, and not at all scrupuloui
in lavishing Sdulation on any imbecile
provided only he was Of royal or princely
rank. In his dispatch announcing the
victory OF Waterloo to the Prince ere
gent, hs tbrpsts to the foremost distinc.
ton the iDysllable services and great as.
sistancs he derived during the contest
iroId "hs Grace the Duke Of Bruins
wick" BYRON, too, misled BY the assqr.
anee in this spscial state paper, and
never suspecting its entire untruth, per-
petuates the error in the beautiful lines
oil Chlde Harold,
Within wiudowed niche Of that high hall
Sat Brunswick' stated chiettain. HP 9id hear
The sound the first amid the festival;
lie rushed INTO the field, and, foremost hght-
ing. fell.
This ia very beautiful, but on page l0l,
vol iv are the facts from an eye-witp'ss
and an actor, recorded at the time, which
we translate as curious:
We had before US the troops 'oi
Brunswick and Nassau. Marshal Ney,
who commanded us, ordered an attack
on the important position of Quatre-
Bras, defended on our right by some
English and Scotch regiments, and on
our left by German troops, holding the
wood Of Bossus, on the top Of which
they had thrown up ertrenehmentS. Al
the moment when the division Jerome
was advancing to the attack, an officer
of elevated rank, wearing green uni
isEm, covered With medals and decora-
tions, wished to barraugue our men.
Standing up, bis chapeau Id hand, be
cried out, in French, Ny friends, no
fighting (pss de guerrej. Keep the
peace we are come to bring It to you,
ike brothers" 1t seemed to me that he
had not finished his sentence, when
Captain de Brea The who was so fatally
assassinsted in June, lS48 at the Bar
riere d'Italie), coming up at Q double
quick With his company OF carbinesFs,
to scale the works from the top of which
the orator GRATED (perorait), gave the
word FIRE" The unfortunate palaverer
(discourseur) fell dead, riddled with
balls. We all thought at FIRST it was the
Duke Of Berry, but he was soon recog-
uized to be the Duke Of Brunswick" :"
II is difficult to imagine u less appre-
ciative audience His Grace, Bruins
wick's fated Chieftain," must have been
drunk or 0 fool. Most likely, after his
kind be was both. General Bourmont,
he who deserted the night before Water
loo and revealed all he knew 10 yelling.
ton, had made great exertous to obtain
a command. A scene is described at the
Tuileries, day or two before Napoleon
left Paris to Join the army, page 100,
vol. iv.:
Generals Flahault aud Girard impor.
tuned the Emperor to accord it to him.
He reluctantly yielded to the solicita.
tons of two such attached friends, but
said to them: Your urge it, gentlemen;
be it so. ] consent to let NJ, de Bour-
mont have command, but God grant
that we do not repent Of it,
The plan Of the campaign has been
pronounced sublime in its simplicity. A
million Of troops we're swarming from
all parts Of Europe TO oyerwhelm Ma
po!eou. He could only muster l25, ,O00
to meet the Anglo Belgic army Of $4,000
under Wellington, and $4,000 Prussians
under Bluober. Had Wellington re-
treated to Antwerp, as all military critics
unite in thinking be ought 10 have done