Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-07-17
The Emperor Nap0leon'S Bulletin of
Waterloo Not Heretofore Pub
lished in England.
Victory Was Achieved by His Forces
After Eight Hours Fighting,
so he Claims.
Still Everything Was Lost at Night
by Panic Which Infested His
Army.

having ceased somewhat, the first corps
began to march, and took its place on uhe
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 its right on
the road to Brussels, and its left in a small
| wood, within cannon shot of the English
army. The Cuirassiers were kept in reserve
IN the rear, and the life guards were in re-
serve on the heights. The sixth corps, with
| Gen. Domon cavalry, under the command
of Count Lobau, were detailed to take up
position in rear of our right to oppose d
German corps which appeared to have es-
capped Marshal Grouchy, and to intend
falling upon our right hank-an intention
which we discovered by our reports
and by a letter from the Prussian
| general which contained an order which
was captured by our scouts. Gh5 troops
were full of ardor. The English army was
estimated at $4,000 men, the Prussian
corps was supposed to be Is, 900 men, with
possible increase toward evening" The
enemy's forces, therefore, exceeded 80 000
men: ours were less numerous.
''At midday all preparations were COM
| pleted, and Prince Jerome, in command
of a division of the Second corps detailed
| TO form the extreme left, took u posi-
tion by the wood, part of which was occu-
pied by the enemy. The cannonade COM
] menced; the enemy supported the troops
and bad advanced to guard the wood by
thirty pieces of cannon. We on our side
also posted some artillery At l o'clock
Prince Jerome became master of the whole
wood and the whole English army
retired behind ridge. The Count Erlon
then attacked the village of Mont Saint
Jean; he supported his attack with eighty
pieces of cannon. He commenced there
an overpowering cannonade, which must
have greatly harrassed the English army
| The whole action took place on the plain.
| A brigade of Count d d'Erlon' S First division
took possession of the village of Mont
Saint. Jean; a second brigade was charged
by a corps of English cavalry, which In
ficted upon it a great loss 1t 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
division, of which three regiments were
routed and fed.
at was now O'Clock in the afternoon.
The emp ror advanced the Life guards to
| take up a position on the plain
| the same ground which was occupied by
! the First corps at the commencement of the
action, this corps being already in adj
vance. fhe PrG55is-S division, whose
| movement we had foreseen, then became
engaged with Count Lobau's skirmlshers,
| directing their fire upon the whole of our
right flank. 1t was expedient, before
undertaking anything else where, to wait
the issue of this attack. With this object
the whole strength of the reserve
was held ready to come to the
assistance of Count L9bau and 10
crush the Plussian corps when 1t should
advance.
This done, th3 empe tor intended to
make an attack in the direction of the
village of Mont Saint-Jean, which it was
expected would prove a decisive blow;
but by movement of impatience, so fre-
quent in our military annals, and which
has so often been disastrous to us, the
cavalry in reserve, preceivinga retrograde
movement of the English to place them
selves under shelter from our batteries,
from which they had already suffered so
much, crowned the heights OF Mont Saint
Jean and charged the infantry. This
movement, made at the right moment and
backed by the reserves, ought to have de-
cided the day; and before the operations
on the right were completed, it proved fa-
tai. Having no means TO counteract it,
the enemy showing large masses of in
fantry and of cavalry, and the two divis-
ions of Cuirassiers being engaged, the
whole Of our cavalry started at the same
moment to support their comrades.
There, during TIE two hours they made
numerous charges, by which we gained
the breaking of several squares and six
flags of the British infantry-an advan-
80,
sustained by our cavalry from grapeshot
and musketry. 1t was impossible to use
our reserves of infantry until the attack of
the Prussian corps on our flank was re
pulsed This attack still continued, and
directly on our right flank. The emperor
sent there Gen Ducnesne with the young
guard and seversl reserve batteries. The
enemy was checked, was repulsed, and re-
treated; he had exhausted his forces, and
there was nothing further to fear for him.
This was the moment suitable for an at
tack on the center of the enemy. As the
Cuirassiers were suffering from musketry
fire. four battalions of the Young guard
were sent to support the Cuirassiers; to
hold their position, and if 1t were pos
sible, to disengage and withdraw a por-
ton of our cavalry to the pIaih. Two
other battalions were sent to hold the emf
nence of the extreme left On the division
which had unanswered on our hanks, in
order that there might be no cause tor IN
easiness in this direction; the rest were
placed in reserve, one part to occupy the
eminence In rear of Mont Saint-Jean. the
other on the plain behind the ield of bat
tie, which formed our line of retreat.
Under these circumstances the battle
was gained; we occupied all the positions
that were occupied by the enemy at the
commencement of the action; our cavalry
having been too quick and badly deploy-
ed, we could no longer hope for decisive
success But Marshal Grouchy having
learned of the movement of the Prussian
corps, marched in rear of that corps, which
assured US splendid success for the next
| day. After eight hours Of firing and a
/ charge of infantry and of cavalry, the
whole army saw with satisfaction the bat
| tie gained and the field of battle in our
| power At $50 o'clock the four battalious
| of the Young guard, which had been sent
| to the plain beyond Mont Saint-Jean, to
support the Cuirassiers. being unconvinced
| by the enemy's grapeshot, advanced with
| bayonets fixed to sweep off its batteries.
| The day closed In; charge on their flank
| by Sc veral English squadrons broke their
| ranks, the tugitiyes repassed the -avins;
! Tie WIZ edN eDI-lC
troopes belonging to the guard in disorder,
| thought it was the cid guard and gave
way. The cry arose, all is lost The
| guard is beaten back The soldiers even
| maintained that at several points wretched
renegades cried out, .Sauve qui peutr Be
| this as it may, terror and panic immediate
| IL spread over the whole battlefield; all fed
| in the greatest disorder along the bne of
| uuIcatIon--solGIers, gunners. wagons
hurried on; the Old guard. which was in
reserve, was pressed back and carried
/ away.
''In an instant the army was only con-
| fused mass-all the arms were intelming
led and it was impossible to reform
corps. The enemy perceived this astound
! ing confusion bat the night prevented the
| rallying of the troops and showing them
/ their mistake
| Thus battle ended, day was finish
| ed, all false moves repaired, greater success