The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-13
Marongo and Waterloo,

To the Editor: Some people claim
there is no such thing as Luck" 1
respectfully call the attention of all
such persons to the circumstances at
tending the two famous battles, Maren-
go and Waterloo. All agree that Ma
poleon had wonderful natural endow-
ments of mind and body. Were it pos
sible for human energy and skill to con-
troll human destiny Napoleon was espe-
cially fitted to accomplish that exploit
Marengo occurred at a critical point of
his career. He had overthrow the
Directory, made himself first Consul, set
out with an army to regain from the
Austrians that portion of Italy conquer
ed by him in his brilliant campaign Of
1896 and subsequently lost 10 France by
the plumbers of the Directory. Success
meant establishing his power ON a firm
basis. Failure meant his overthrow and
the re-establishment of the Directory
He crossed the Alps by what was then
considered a very brilliant march. and
threw himself in the rear of the Aus
trian army, cutting its line Of communi
cation. He could not exactly locate the
Austrian army and sent Desaux with
about 10000 men to watch another road
by which the Austrians might try to
escape. Melas, commander in chief of
the Austrians, attacked Napoleon on the
plain of Marengo. After an obstinate
contest of several hours the French gave
way at all points and were in full re-
treat. AS soon as the battle commenced
Napoleon sent courier after courier for
DeraiX, who was over twenty-five miles
off. Deraix was a born soldier and at
the first sound of the cannon set his
troops in hurried motion for the battle
field. About half way there he began
to meet Napoleons couriers. He ar
rived just in time, charged with his
column of 10000 and chuecked the Aus
TRANS. Kellerman about this time made
daring flank charge with small body
of cavalry. The two charges, wholly
unexpected, broke the Austrians and the
battle resulted in a complete victory
orders he would not have reached the
field in time. 1t was something en-
tirely beyond Napoleon's control. Yet
it made him.
WATERLOO.
All military critics agree that the
plan Of the Waterloo campaign was
worthy of Napoleon's best days to beat
the enemy in detail before he could con-
centrate. He beat the Prussions at Lig-
ney, leaving Grouchy to watch them with
strict orders to keep them away from
Waterloo or come himself, Napoleon
marched on the English. On the night
of the 18th he came up with the Eng
lish and arranged for attack at day
break on the 18th. A very heavy rain
fell during the night of the 18th making
the ground impracticahle for artillery
The attack could not begin until II
o'clock-six hours lost. When the at
tack did begin artillery could not be
handled well on account of the mirry
nature of the ground. Very early in
the action the Prussians came in sight.
Grouchy did not come at all Whether
or not Napoleon would have beaten the
English without the Prussions will al
ways be matter of conjecture and dis
pute. 1t is quite certain that the ar
rival of the Prussians made Waterloo a
crushing defeat and the end of his
career 1t is also certain that after he
left Grouchy it was beyond his power
was won, Waterloo was lost: alike by
events entirely beyond Napoleon's con-
troll. Desaix was Stonewall, Grouchy
was Longstreet, always behind.
T. NJ GALLOWAY