The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-25
THE NAPOLEONIC LECTURES.
LAST OF PR0F. WHEELER,S HIGHLY
 INTERESTING LECTURES.

O-A oIlkinR Letter written Dy Na-
 poleon-How Napoleon Lost the Fight.
 Professor Wheeler gave the last of the series of lectures on Napoleon's
 public life in France at the Historical
 society building yesterday afternoon.
 A large audience of refined people was in attendance. Napoleon's career as
 a general was drawing to a close, and
 this lecture was particularly interest
 ing, as 1t treated of the famous battle
 of Waterloo. Maps had been especial ly prepared by Professor Wheeler show
 ing the roads and courses over which
 the different troops marched and the final positions of the armies on this
 bloody battle field. He spoke in part as follows:
 "The armies are in the field. The
 French under Napoleon and the Eng fish under Wellington. This was not the best army Napoleon had ever com manded, but grouped together for the first time. The staff officers were Wretched and gave wretched work
 throughout the Icampaign. Napoleon
 had left Martial d'Beau, his best off, cer, at Paris. The odds were tremen- dously against him, and even if he had won the battle of Waterloo the Rus sians would have bounced upon him. His only chance was to surprise his enemies, and that probably would not be successful.
 'Napoleon's objective point was Quar- tre Bras. If he could capture this point he would be between Wellington and the Prusslans and could march upon the latter at Nanur.
 wellington and the Prussian mar tials had previously made arrange ments to invade France if Napoleon should not declare war against them. He had taken up arms, however, and thus the Prussian army was in the field against France.
 ''Wellington, If he had been candid, would have admitted to the Prussians that Napoleon had gained twenty-four hours the start of him, but he would not even admit to himself that he had been thus out-generaled at the very commencement of the campaign. He did not have his troops where he could call them together immediately and thus Napoleon was allowed to gain his point and march against the Prus- sians at Namur. Wellington was told that the French wer marching toward Namur, but he would not believe 1t. He crossed the river to interview the Prussian generals, and while there saw with his own eyes what the French were doing. It is said that Wellington started away in a great hurry and remarked that he would return at 4 o'clock, but he did not.
 Napoleon thought he was marching against the whole Prussian army and so prepared for severe attack. He sent orders to Marshal Ney to bring all his troops into the field. Part of his order to -Ney read: The fate of France is in your hands, therefore, act prompt ly and do not lose moment During the battle he saw large army ap- preaching and sent out his officers to ascertain if it was Ney's army. Ma poleon was just then preparing to crush the Prussians by a final move, and if he had sent orders to Ney's army by his staff officers he could have had the use of 10000 infantry to help him, but he waited for his officers to return and by that time the battle had been decided and the Prussians badly beaten. Napoleon did not follow the retreating army immediately and it is thought this move turned the whole campaign against him. He had receiv- ed a severe slap from Martial Butcher once before for such mistake and it is peculiar that he should let him escape this time. The next day Ma poleon came up from where he had passed the night before and walked over the battle field talking politics with some of his officers as if he had all the time in the world. It was thus he lost the last chance he would ever have to destroy the English. He, how ever, turned 1t upon his subordinates and said: They ruined France
 Napoleon thought Wellington would now retreat to Brussels and there join what was left of the Prussian army and leave France. The English did not do as he expected, however. They stopped at Waterloo, and there sta- tioned their troops for a final stand.
 q have taken particular pains to translate the following letter which sent to Marshal Ney:
 T sent Marshal Grandey with the Third and Fourth infantry corps to Sombreffe. take my guard to Elem rus, where shall be myself before noon. There I shall attack the enemy, if I shall meet him, and I shall ex- plore the road as far as Grembloux. There, according as matters turn, shall make my decision. You shall be ready to march on Brussels. I shall | support you with the guard, which | will be at Sombreffe, and I wish to | reach Brussels. tomorrow morning. | You will march this evening, if I make | my decision early enough to improve | of before dark, and make three or four | leagues tonight and be at Brussels at | 2 o'clock in the morning. You can therefore place your troops as follows: First division two leagues beyond the Cross Roads, if there Is no obstacle; Sixth division of infantry about the Cross Roads, and division at Mar bais, so that I can draw it to me if I want it. It is probable that I shall de- eide to move on Brussels this evening with the guard. Nevertheless, protect the division Lefebroe with the two cavalry divisions of d'Erlon and Reille, 50 as to spare the guard. If you have l brush with the English 1t is better | should come on the line troops than