Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-23
WATERLOO.
4 True History Of Napoleon's Fall Com.
piled from Recent Publications.


The battle of Waterloo was fought
June Is. 1873. between the allied Brit
ish, Nethcrland and German troops
under Wellington and the French
under Napoleon. On June l6 Napo-
leon had attacked the Prnssians under
Blncher at Ligny, and forced them to
retreat toward Wavre, and Marshal
Ney at the same time attacked the
British and Dutch forces at Quatre
Bras, but was forced to retire after an
engagement of five hours. Napoleon's
object. however, which was to prevent
a union of the Prussians with Yelling
tons main army. was partly gained.
The latter's commander. having
learned of Blucher's repulse, moved on
to Waterloo. expecting that the Prus-
sian commander. according TO previous
arrangement, would join him there As
speedily as possible. On June IL Ma
poieon also moved toward Waterloo
with the main body of his army, having
directed Marshal Grouchy with thirty
four thousand men and ninety-siX guns
to pursue Blucher's command toward
Wavre. Both armies bivouacked on
the field of Waterloo. and the next
morning Napoleon, confident that
Grouchy would prevent the arrival of
the Prussians. delayed attack until the
ground should become dry. heavy
shower having fallen on the day previ-
GUS The forces under Wellington oc-
cupied semi-circular ridge a mile and
half in length. and the French were
on an opposite ridge. the two being
separated by valley five hundred
yards wide. The plan of Napoleon was
to turn the allied left, force il back up
on the center. and gain possession of
the enemy's line of retreat. To draw
off Wellington's retreat to his right.
French troops were sent about eleven
o'clock 70 attack the chateau of
Houguemont, which the English had
fortified. After 4 fight of more than
two hours this was still in possession
of its defenders. About one O'Clock a
Prussian corps under Bulow was seen
approaching on the French right. and
Napoleon finding i'll necessary to send
ten thousand men to check their ad-
was w ftah
of battle. He therefore ordered
fierce attack upon the allied center.
Wellington maSsed his troops here,
and the battle was obstinately main
tanned for five hours. with:varying sue
cess to the participants. both com
manders hourly expecting reinforce
ments. Wellington was waiting for
Blucher and Napoleon for Grouchy.
The French at last were gaining
ground; the allied troops in the
center were wavering under Ney's
impetuous onslaughts. General Du-
rutte had forced back the left, and
Bulow's troops on the right had been
forced to yield the position they had
taken. Now, however, there were ru-
mors that Blucher's army was ap-
preaching. and the allies again rallied.
At seven O'Clock Napoleon, despairing
of the approach of Grouchy. deter
mined to decide the day by a charge Of
the Old Guard. which had been held in
reserve. At this stage the advance of
Prussian horse on the allied left forced
back General Durette's troops. and the
Old Guard formed in square to cover
this retreat. Ney's division. sur
rounded. made a gallant struggle.
their brave leader, still unwounded
though five horses had been shot under
him. heading them on foot, sword in
hand-but were forced to give way.
The Old Guard held their ground
against overwhelming numbers.
Finally, when five squares were
broken. the Emperor gave the
order to fall back" The
cry The Guard is repulsed" spread
CONSERVATION through the French army
and threatened to turn retreat into pre-
cipitate flight. Napoleon seeing this,
reformed the Guard in order to give a
raIying point for the fugitives. Fail
ing in thi. he declared he would dia
within the square, but Marshal Soult
hurried him away. The heroic band.
surrounded. was hidden to surrender,
1.-The Old Guard dies. but never sur
renders" is the reply popularity at
with the cry of ''Vive rEmpereur"
the remnant of the Guard made last
charge upon the enemy and perished
almost to q man. The forces of Blu
cher being now upon the field. the roui
of the French was complete. and the
Prussians pursued the fleeing troops,
capturing guns and men. There is no
doubt that the failure of Grouchy to
come upon the field caused Ma
poleon to lose his last great bat.
tie. 1t was subsequently asserted
that that Marshal was bribed,
but there seems to be no real founda
ton for so base a charge. The trouble
was that he had been ordered by Ma
poleon to follow the Prussians toward
Wavre and thought it necessary to fol
low the strict letters of his Instructions
Before he reached the village the main
body of the Prussian force was on ih
way to Waterloo. but one division had
been left there to occupy his attention.
Engaged in skirmishing with this, hs
paid no attention to the advice of his
subordinate Generals. who. hearing
the terrible csnnonading at Waterloo.
besought him to go to the aid of the
army there. Napoleon, believing that
he was either holding back Blucher's
forces or was hotly pursuing them, did
not recall him to the main army, and
the decisive battle was lost. 'Grouchy
was summoned before a Council Of
War but the court declared itself in
competent to decide his case. and
nothing further came of it-Chieogs
Inter Ocean.