The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-28
battle Of WATERLOO
Story Told as 1t Has Never
Been Told Before
BY M. HENRY HOUSSAYE
Who ExpIodes Superstitions
Regarding That Conflict.

Paris, April5-Mr. Henry Housaye il
writing the history OF the fall of the FRS
Empire, with the help of original docu.
ments. The two first volumes of this
work had for their titles: 1S15-The
First Restoration, The Return from Elba
| The Hundred Days. The third and last
volume had just appeared under the title
| 1S15-Waterloo.' Many accounts Of the
| battle Of the battle or Waterloo have ueen
written. NJ. Houssaye has evidently had
| the ambition to write the last and to leave
nothing behind him for future historians.
| He enters first into infinite details upon
| the last army of the Empire, the army
which Napoleon organized after his return
from Elba- For this purpose he has avail
ed himself Of the documents found in the
archieves of the Ministry of War. Ma
| poleon found only 100000 men under the
French flag on his return. If says NJ.
HouSsaye, ''he had had his old absolute
power, he would have doubled the army
by an extraordinary call of the classes
of 1906 to 1914, by the recall of the class of
1915, and the call by anticipation of the
class of 1916" But he hesitated, having
only just seized the crown again, before
so popular measure as the re-establish-
ment of the CONSUMPTION, which had been
abolished by Louis XVIII. His only re-
source was the recall to the regiments Of
the soldiers who were absent on limited
or unlimited leaves, and the recall Of the
great numbers of deserters who figured
on the regimental lists as 'absent with
out permission The men who were alb
sent on leave were 1880, the deserters
s., 900. It was dLGGIcult to count on many Of
this last number. Napoleon feared, be-
Sides to put the army too suddenly on
war-footing; he was trying by all means
to enter into negotiations with the Pow
ers to maintain peace. The French popu-
lation wished ardently for the continue
ton Of peace. The west of France was
agitated the south was partly in arms;
the royalists all over France predicted
war. AS soon as all hopes was given up
of an understanding with the Powers, Ma
poleon published mis- decree; the French
funds in one day suffered a fall of eight
francs. France felt that she must pre-
pare for terrible war, perhaps for a
new invasion.
The feeling of the country is shown by
the number of free volunteers: there were
only 10, 900. Napoleon had to augment the
regular army by the mobiliza ton Of the
National Guards. He would have much
liked to keep the four Swiss regiments Of
the army of Louis XVIII, but the Swiss
officers refused to exchange the white
cockade for the tri-color, and these regi-
ments had to be disbanded. He could
keep only two foreign regiments, Isen-
Cberg and the Irish regiment. OF the 234,-
720 National Guards who were called into
service, 10000 were on the way to their
regiments on the 18th Of June; they were
not enthusiastic, but resigned, and deter
mined to do their duty
The correspondence of Napoleon shows
what immense pains he took to equip and
organize completely his new army, to form
the corps, to choose the troops of the first
line. The command of the corps was Of
the greatest Importance. OF the twenty
marshals Of France, three had accompan-
led Louis XVIII. to. Belgium-Berthier,
Marmount, Victor. Many of the others
were wavering and did not inspire Napol-
con with great confidence. He was es-
pecially discontented with Ney, but after
some hesitation, he wrote to the minister
Of War: Call for Marshal Ney and tell
him that if he wishes to be in the first
battles, he must go on the 18th to AYES
mes, where my headquarters will be-" Ma
poleon refused to give a command to Mu-
rat; he had not forgiven him for having
begun hostilities so late in 1914 against the
Austrians. He regretted this decision at
ST Helena. ''At Waterloo he said on
one of those conversations or rather mon
ologues, which have just been repeated
to US in the Memoirs of Gourgaud, "AIu-
rat would perhaps given US the victory.
What did we need? To break three or
four English squares. Murat was just the
man for IT." Grouchy was an able officer,
and like Murat could handle great masses
Of cavalry. Napoleon gave him a COM
mand.
The choice Of a major general was all
important. Berthier had always occupied
this post, TO the satisfaction OF the EN-
peror; he had been an admiral bic instru-
ment. He did not remain long at Client,
but left for Bamberg. where lived his uncle
kept there as a sort of prisoner of the
Allies On the 1st of June, as a Russian
regiment was passing before the castle on
its way to France, Berthier was seen to
leave window on the first floor, to re-
appear at a window on the third floor. to
fall from It on the pavement. His death
was attributed 10 an accident; 1t was prob
ably a suicide. Napoleon's choice for
ma general fell on Soult, who had never
occupied the post. Napoleon wished 70
have II occupied by a Marshal Of France.
He left Davout in the Ministry Of War
The commanders Of the army corps were
all able and experienced men. Never"
says ". Houssaye, viii the French army
have such chiefs. AL Of them had made
war for more than twenty years. and
none Of them was much as fifty years old
Napoleon's age was forty-six Ney forty
six. Grouchy forty-nine, Drouet d'Erion
forty-nine. Looau forty-fve, Lama rque
E|A S-R~AHx