Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-12-10
BY E. w. PICkARD.

plre, more especially the peO-
pie of Saxony, and yet more
especially the people of the
city of Leipsic, are making
elaborate preparations for the cele-
bration, next year, of the centenary
of the Battle of Leipsic. the mighty
struggle which settled the fate of
continental Europe. 1t has been
called the Battle of the Nations be-
cause of the large number of nation
alities that took part in it.
So momentous were the results Of
that conflict, which actually was the
turning point in Napoleon's career,
that it has been considered worthy
of a monument, now under construc-
ton, which will be the largest battle
monument in the world. When this
memorial is dedicated, in October,
1918, the participants will include the
emperor of Germany, the rulers of
score of European states which were
saved from the conquering Corsican
by the battle. and great throngs OF
people from all quarters of the earth.
hdllS pei oOAS OOAAVNS NhdS ASSAAA
parties downfall dates from his disas-
trous invasion of Russia, but the truth
is that not that expedition, but the
five-day battle in the outskirts of
Leipsic broke the backbone Of his
power Again, superficial students
of history have asserted that the
defeat of the French army at Leipsic
was evidence of the waning of the
emperor's mentality and tactical
skill. They are wrong, in the opinion
of modern leaders in the art of war
fare The latter pronounce the Leip-
sic campaign the best planned of all
the campaigns of the Napoleonic
wars. and declare that the overthrow
of the French army was due to Ma
poleons supreme confidence in his
ability to whip the Allies.
Hated Napoleon.
After the battle of Jena, in 1906,
Napoleon was heard to say that Leip-
sic was the most dangerous of his
enemies, but not for minute did he
ever think that it would prove so
IdIdI 10 HIS dluDlIAOhS. hC NOiA4uCiCi
Of Marengo, Austerlitz, Friedland,
Ratisbon, Wagram, LutZen, Bautzen
and Dresden made no preparations
for retreat.
The people of Leipsic hated Napol-
con and his soldiers, and not without
reason. The citizens had formed
Corps of Vengeance" sworn to fight
the emperor to the death, but when,
after Lutzen, he took possession OF
Leipsic he only sneered at the corps,
and when the deputies of the city pre-
sented it's submission to him he con-
temptuously told them to get out"
as he would have spoken to an i'm
Fortunate beggar. The city was de-
clared in a state of siege so that it
might the more conveniently be plum
dered and vast sums were taken from
the people, the hospitals alone costing
more than $4,000 a week. The sol
diers pillaged at will and whatever
they could not use they wilfully de-
stroyed.
Meanwhile the armies of the Allies,
led by Prince Schwartzenburg and
Barclay de folly were concentrating
ON Leipsic. Russians, Austrians, Prus-
slams and Swedes, determined to strike
a death blow at the man who had
ground them under his heel for years,
were animated with something in the
nature Of a fanatical patriotism. Ma
poleon withdrew from Dresden before
their advance and on October IA ar
rived at Leipsic and established head
quarters in the suburbs, several miles
from the point where the conflict al
ready had begun.
About four miles southeast Of the
city was posted his main force Of
| 10000, in a semi-circle between the
/ villages of Markkleeberg and Holz-
hansen. Bertrand, with 10000 men,
guarded the road to the west, and
Marmont was posted at Mockern, to
the north, to prevent the junction OF
the armies of Silesia and the North
with the main body of the Allies, ad-
vancing from Bohemia. The total
strength of the allied troops under
Schwartzenberg was about 100000,
The real battle began on October 16
and the day Of lighting was bloody