The morning call., 1891-07-13
NAPOLE0N'S VERSION.
How Waterloo Was Lost Accord.
ing to an Unpublished Paper.
Boraparte Attributes the First Error in ths
Battle to Movement of Impstience,
Frequent in Military Annals.

1t appears that Napoleon in no wise diff
fered from mSny other Generals who came
after him in his desire to rush into print.
and the London Globe las published ex-
tracts OF the Little Corporal's version OF the
battle of Waterloo, of which the entire
story will appear in the next number Of the
United Service Gazette. having never before
been published in the English language.
After detailing the preparations for the
battle Napoleon says: THE cannonade
commencel; the enemy supported the
troops he had advanced to guard the wood
by thirty pieces of cannon. We, on our
side, also posted some artillery. At one
time Prince jerome became master of the
whole wood, and the whole English army
retired behind a ridge. The Count dErlon
then attacked the village of Mont Saint
Sean; he supported his attack with eighty
pieces OF cannon. He commenced there an
oyerpowering canuonade, which must have
greatly harassed the English army. The
whole action took place on the plain. a
brigade of Count d'Erlun's First Division
took possession Of the village of Mont Saint
Jean; a second brigade was charged by a
corps of English cavalry, which inflicted
upon it great loss. ct the same moment q
division OF English cavalry charged Count
d'Erlon's battery on its right and dismount-
ed several guns; but General Melhand'S
cuirassiers charged this division, of which
three regiments were routed and fed"
IN THE AFTERNOON
The PruSsian division became engaged with
Count Lobau's skirmishers, and the whole
strength OF the reserve was held ready to
assist Count Lobau and crush the Prussian
corps when it should advance. He con-
tinues: This done, the Emperor intended
TO make an attack in the direction of the vii
iage Of Mont Saint-Jean, which it was ex-
pecied would prove n decisive blow, but by
movement OF lmpatlence, so frequent in
our military annals, and which has so often
Dbeeu disastrous TO us, the cavalry IN reserve,
peTcelVlIg q TetUograde movement of the
English to place themselves under shelter
from our batteries, from which thew had al
ready suffered so much, crowned the heights
of Mont Saint-IPan and charged the in
fantry. This movement. made at the right
moment, and backed by the reserves, ought
10 have decided the day; made seoarately,
and before the operations on the right were
completed, it proved fatal. Having no means
to counteTmand il, the enemy showing large
masses of infantry and Of cavalry. and the
two divisions of cuiraSsierS being engaged,
the whole Of Our cavalry started at the same
moment to support their comrades.
There during three hours they made
numerous charges, by which We gained the
breaking of several squares and six flags of
the British infantry, an advantage hardly
commensurate with the losses sustained by
our cavalry from grapeshOt and muSketry.
1t was impossible 10 use our reserves OF in
1antry until the
ATTACK OF THE PRUSSIAN CORPS
On our flank was repulsed. This attack
wsiill continued and directly on our right
flank. The Emperor sent there General
DuchPSne VITA the Young Guard and sew
ernl reserved batteries. The enemy was
checked, was repulsed, and retreated; lie
had eX uausted his forces ard there was
nothing further 10 fear from him. This
was the moment suitable for az attack on
4 center of the enemy. As the cuiTasSieTs
were suffering from musEetry fire four bat
talous of the Young Guard were sent to sup
port the culraSSiers, TO hold their position.
ana if 1t were possible 10 diSengage and
withdraw part of our cavalry to the plain.
Two other 6attaliOnS were sent to hold the
eniiuence on the extreme left Of the division
which had maneUYred Gu our tiankS in or
der that there might be no cause for uneaS-
ness in this direction; tile rest was placed in
reserve, one part to occupy the eminence ia
rear Of Mont Saint-Jean, the other on the
plain behind the field of battle, which
formed our line Of retreat.
u Hder these circumstances the battle
was gained; we occupied all the positions
taat We're occupied by the enemy at the
commencement Of the action; our cavalry
aVing been too quick and badly employed,
49, could 10 longer hope for a decisive sue
cess. but MARSH GIOucnS. having learned
Of the movement OF the PruSsian corps,
marched in rear Of that corps, which
] assured us a splendid success for the next
day.
AFTER EIGHT HOURS OF FIRING
Ard of charges of infantry and of cavalry,
tie whole army saw WIFE satisfaction the
battle gained and the field OF battle in our
power. At $50 O'Clock the four battalicns
OF The Young Guard, which had been sent
to the plain beyond Mont Saint-Jean 10 sup
port The culIasslers, being Inconvenience
10y tie enemy's grapeshnt, advanced with
blyouets fixed to sweep off its batteries.
The day closed in; charge on their
flank BY several English squadrons broke
their ranks; the fugitiye5 repaSsed the IA
vine: the neighboIing regiments who saw
some troops belonging to the Guard in dis
order thought it was the Old Guard and
gave way. The cry arose, All is lost, The
Quart Is beaten back" The soldiers even
maintained that at several points wretched
r-uegades cried out, 'Sauve qui peut! Be
tiFt as It may, terror and panic immedi-
- spread over the whole battlefield; all
I.-d in the greatest disorder along the line
# commandments gunuers, wag-
OnS hurried on The Old Guard, which was
in reserve, was pressed back and carried
away. In an instant the army was only a
confused nasal the arms were inter-
mingled and it was impossible to reform a
corps. The enemy perceived this astound-
ing confusion; sent forward columns OF
cavalry; the disorder augmented, the con-
fusol OF the night prevented the rallying
OF the troops and showing them their mis-
take
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