The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-21
NAPOLEON ON WATERLOO
The Great Warriors Report Of the
Most Famous Battle Recently
Published.
At High Noon All Was Ready and
the Final Struggle Com
menced.
An Impatient Movement of Cavalry, Made
at al InOpportune Time, Lost
tho Day.

which gives the following translation, taken
from the correspondence of Napoleon I:
"At nine O'Clock in the morning. the rain
having ceased somewhat. the First corps
began to march and took it's place on tho
left of the road to Brussels, and opposite to
the village of Mont Saint-Jean, which
seemed to be the center of the enemy's posi-
ton. The Second corps rested it's right on
the road to Brussels, and it's left on n small
wood, within ann shot of the English
army. Thu cnirassiers we're kept in reserve
in the rear. and the life guards were in re-
serve OH the heights. III Q Sixth corps, with
Gen. Demons cavalry, under the command
of Count Lobau, were detailed to take up
position in rear Of our right to oppose a
German corps which appeared to have
escaped Marshal Grouchy, and to intend
falling upon our right flanlk-an intention
which was discovered by our reports and by
q letter from the Prussians general which
contained al order which was captured by
our scouts. The troops were full of ardor.
The English army was estimated as &c, 900
men, the Prussian corps was supposed to be
5000 men, with a possible increase toward
evening. The enemy's forces, therefore,
" AShS WILD " 400 uA4O
GUS.
SAT midday all preparations we're COM
pleted. and Prince Jerome, in command of
a division Of the Second corps detailed to
form the extreme left, took up a
position by tho wood, part of which
was occupied bv the enemy. The
canuonade commenced; the enemy
supported the troops he had advanced
toRuard the wood by thirty pieces of carnon.
We on our side also posted some artillery.
At one O'Clock Prince Jerome became
master of the whole wood, and the whole
Illnglish army retired behind a ricge. The
Count d'Erlon then attacked the village of
Mont Saint-Jean; he supported his attack
with eighty pieces of cannon. He COM
menced there an over pOwering cannonade,
which must have greatly harassed the
English army. The whole action
took place on the plain in: A brigade
took possession of the village of Mont
saint-Jean: u second brigade was
charged by a CORPS of English cavalry.
which inflicted upon it great loss. At the
same moment a division of English cavalry
charged Count d'Erlon's battery on its
right and dismounted several guns; but
Gen. Melhaud's cuirassiers charged this
divisjon, Of which three regiments were
routsd and fed.
ut was now three O'Clock in the afternoon.
The emperor advanced the life guards to
take up a position on the %plain--the same
corps ut the commencemento of the action this
corps being already in advance. The Prus-
sian division, whose movement we had
foreseen, then became engaged with Count
Lobau's skirmishers, directing their fire
upon the whole of our right flank. 1t was
expedient, before undertaking anything
elsewhere, to wait the issue of this attack.
With this object the whole strength of the
reserve was hold rendy to come to the as
%sistance of Count Lobau and to crush the
Prussian corps when it should advance.
This done. the emperor intended to
make an attack in the direction of the viii
lage of Mont Saint-Jean, which it was ex-
pected would prove a decisive blow. but by
y movement of impatience, so frequent in
our military annals. and which has 80
often been disastrous to US, the cavalry in
reserve, perceiying a retrograde movement
of the English to place themselves
under shelter from our batteries.
from which they HAD already suf-
fered 80 much, crowded the heights
of Mont ~Saint-Jean and charged tho infan-
try. This movement, made at the right
moment and backed by the reserves, ought
to have decided the day; made separately
cnd before the operations Oh the right were
completed, it proved fatal. Having no
means to countermand it, the enemy show
ing large masses of infantry and of cavalry,
and the two divisions of cuirassiers being
engaged, the whole of our cavalry started
ut the same moment to support their com
fades.
"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
Onr CAV irV from Orp ma Rhnf and mna,efrv
1t was impossible to use our reserves Of
infantry until the attack of the Plussian
corps on our flank WAS repulsed. This attack
still continued and directly on our right
flank. The emperor sent there Gen. Du-
chesne with the Young guard and several
reserve batteries. TN enemy was checked,
was repulsed, and retrented; he had ex-
hausted his forces, and there was nothing
further to fear from him. This was the
suitable for an attack on the CEN
Ser Of the enemy. AS the cuirassiers were
suffering from musketry fire, four battal-
lions of the Young guard were sent to sup
port the cuirasssiers, to hold their
position, and, il it were pos
sible, to disengage and withdraw
a portion of our cavalry to the plain. Two
other battallonsw were sent to hold the emf
nence on the extreme left Of the division
which had Unanswered on our TANKS, in
order that there might be no cause for I'M
ensiness in this directions: tho rest we,e
placed in reserve. ono part to occupy the
eminence in rear of Mort Saint-Jean, the
other On the plain behind the field of bat
tie. which formed our line of retreat.
under these circumstances the battle
was gained; wo occupied all the positions
that were occupied by tho enemy at the
commencement of the action; our cavalry
having been to quick and badly employed.
we could no longer hope for a decisive sue
cess. But Marshal Grouchv, having learned
of the movement of tho Plussian corps,
marched in the rear of that corps, which
assured US a splendid success for the next
day. After eight hours of firing and
of charges Of infantry ana cav
nlrv, the whole army saw
with satisfaction thu battle gained md the
field of battle in our rower. Az $50 O'Clock
the four battalions Of the Young guard.
which had been sent to the plain beyond
Mont 1t. Jean, to support the Cuirassiers,
being Inconvenience by thu encmy's grape
shot. advanced with bRvonets fixed to sweep
of its batteries. Tho day closed in; u
charge on their flank by several English
squadrons broke their ranks, this .uGitives
repassod the ravine. the neighboripg regi-
ments who saw some troops belonging to tho
guard in disorder, thought it was the Old
guard and gave way. The cry arose, all il
lost! The guard is teaten back! The sol
diers even maintained that at several points
wretohed~ renegadcs cried out, 'Sunve qui
pcut" BE that ns it may, totror and panic
Immediately spread over this whole battle
field; all fed in the greatest diso der along
tho line of communication-soldiers, gun
nsrs, wagons hurried on! Tho Old guard,
winch wns reserve, was pressed back and