The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-01-28
slhisreAa,,v.
How waterloo Was Won.

Van Laun's Revolutionary Epoch,
.Ney was unable to maintain his posi-
ton without infantry, and had to order
a retreat. His gallant men had already
partially descended the slope, but every
hollow, every square yard Of tue we'll
chosen field, was commanded by English
guns. He resolved to attack the English
squares once more, assisted by fresh
brigades of cavalry under Kellerman,
whom Napoleon had sent to hissupport
Even one thousand carbiaeers, who were
held in reserves were ordered to advance
in spite of tie remQpstrance OF their
commander. Seveul seven sqaadrons
of cavalryA10Do0 heroic and picked
men--rushed once more upon the
heights But again the English formed
their solid squares and received the enc
my with their concentric and terrible fire.
The fighting now grew more desperate
than before, and the loss was great on
both sides Both armies were almost
exhausted. Wellington had called up
his last reserves and his ranks were
thinning fast. while Belgian fngitives
were crowding the Brussels road dSix
Aags were captured and taken to Napo-
leon in the midst of the battle, and he
accepting it as an omen OF success hoped
every moment to witness the retreat Of
the enemy. What then was it which
caused the French, and not the English,
to retire from the heights on the center
and right of the allied positions ? There
can be little doubt that the battle of Wa
terloo, as a battle between French and
English alone, was lost and won upon
the heights, though its success was rem
dered complete by the arrival Of the
Prussians 1t is, therefore, interesting
to inquire how the victory was gained
Perhaps the majority Of foreigners are
wont to maintain that the English we're
beaten by Napoleon and rescued from
utter defeat only by the opportune ar,
rival of Butcher, By which the French
army was overwhelmed This, however,
is wrong opinion. Even if Napoleon,
who was aware that the Prussians had
arrived in the neiehborhood Of Water
loo, had interfered with or recalled the
cavalry under Ney's command, or had
withheld any forces he might otherwise
have sent to Ney's assistance, the only
argument which might be reasonably
brought forward is that the Prussians
created divergence in favor of the En-
glish defenders OF the heights of Mont
St. Jean. But the cause of the with
drswal Of Ney's gallant squadron need
not be looked for outside the circum-
stances of the desperate duel which had
been waged from fourto seven o'clock,
and which must be regarded as either a
drawn battle or as victory for the al
lied troops 'On the plateau writes NJ
Quinet, "the exhaustion of the French
was equal]to that of the English. Seven
Generals were seriously wounded-Lher-
liter. Donop, Blancard, Picquet, Delort,
Travers, Colbert. No one gave the or
der to retreat, no one sounded the recall.
The diminished ranks, pierced by grape
shot, by musketry fire and by the saber,
disorganized by three hours Of unprece-
dented conflict, by the failing strength
of the men, and yet more of the horses,
necessity which sets limit to every
thing-all these things occupied the
place of orderly array" II this was 50,
what is the conclusion except that the
French found it impossible to achieve
what they had so gallantly attempted,
while the tenacity of the English enabled
them to remain. glued to the ground
when the enemy had disappeared