New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-12

the other by his rebellious defiance OF his che'
| direct orders This is the opinion oil MT. hops'
and il is. like all his positions, supported WIN
| great ability. Yet others NAV still thlhH' a.
| others have long thought in the past mat '"c
errors OF Napoleon in the Waterloo campais II were
| very grave. and that they contributed iargeV
70 bring about the loss OF the battle
Mr. Ropes does not hesitate TO say that the
| retention Of Grouchy with the rest OF the army
| would almost certainly have insured the over
throw OF Wellington at Waterloo; and II must
No admitted that in such circumstances 'he
Iron Duke would have been in perious case
Even a. it was more plumbers on the part OF
the French Imperial Guard were required at the
close of the day to save the British army from
being overwhelmed. Had La IIaye Sainte been
attacked in the only way which offered GER
tanty OF success had the charge of the I'm
pcrial Guard been differently conducted: had
the French cavalry been used TO better advantage
it certainly seems credible that the English and
allies must have bcen swept from the field
before Butcher could arrive in which event OF
course history would have been very different
from what it is and St Helena would probably
have 10 legend Mr.. Ropes holds that the DIS
astcrs which bciel the French were nearly all
attributable 10 the fact that the Emperor was
compelled 10 bcstow all his attention upon the
Prussans under Bulow: and that while he was
occupied Ncy was doing all the harm his hot
head and by no means clear brain could bring
about.
| IL was by no means the first time that Ma
polcon had trusted his famous icutcnants, but
il was precisely the time when he could not
| afford TO be mistaken in his trust. and, as the
event proved. he was fatally mistaken Ncy
might have retrieved the mistakes of Grouc'y
CrouchV miDht boN. hal fhp
of Ncy But nothing Of Til, happened. On the
contrary. the two of calamitous plumbers rein
forced one another. and the effect cumulative
and runous At the last panic seized the troops
which had been led rccklcssly T. the slaughter
by Ncy, and then even Napoleon became power
less 10 deal with them waS in fact, himself over
come by their mad rush and borne from the field
he was still trying To save.
But il was then too late. Sauvc qui pcut -
was the general cry, and Wellington fixed the fate
of the day when lac CAV" that historic order: " Lot
the whole line advance" In dealing with the
Dukes share in the great campaign Mr. Ropes
criticIs'. his preparations with considerable pun
gcncy. and certainly his stat 'ments fully warrant
Tn" conclusion that Wellington was as nearly. as
possible taken by surprise AT Waterloo. That
hc was m>lcd as to the preparedness Of hls
troops by the mistakes OF his chcl of-sta il 70
hc doubted He. in his turn. mslcd Bluchcr. and
upon these misstat"mcnts he based his dispositions
for the battle. so serious did the results II this
inaccurate knowledge Of the numbers and pro-
rinquty Of the available forces threaten f. he,
that in all probability nothing bur the equally
serious bhndcrs Of the French could have saved
the situation. The English fought stubbornly
and well No troops could have done better.
And their commander displayed wonderful grasp
Of IN" situation. taking instant advanfag" Of
every chance 10 get ahead lut Wellington did
right 10 pray that day for might or Butcher.
for his reserves were all used up. and his host
troops terribly maulcd long bofor. the Prussians
were signallcd in the distance
The critquc of Mr.. Ropes j. characterized hv
"A penetration. lu"idity and a catholicitv beyond
all praise. II is so clearly written that IN" lay
reader can follow il from beginning - end with
unfiagging interest. and the alta, Of maps which
Is designed to accompany tlu. history furnishes
every possible aid 10 the student. MIL recently
Shores History of the Waterloo Clmpaign WIS
held III high estimation by military critics, but
Mr. Ropes has been able - demonstrate that
Sihornc was led into several important "rrprs.
and that even when ihc truth was made manifest
he did not always accept II with the canhor -
hay" been expected IN the circumstances. In tins
volume. however. we have history Of IN"
Waterloo campaign which seems almost absolutely
free from partisan-hip and pr,udic" of any kind
which Is based upon n most thorough examination
both NJ all ia" authorities cNtant. and Of fh.
country which the OF the rampaign
which b"traNs no pre- accepted theory, involve. nn
cnmitics. but il Just what il prcfcnds 10 hc
namely an honest, straightforward and thorough
study. undertaken with single eve T. the A.
ccranmcnt of the truth. i H. we think
work of which th" authors may we'll he proud and
which must tax" its place standard il no, a,
decidedly the best history of the campaicn Of
Waterloo, without delay OF doubt