The life of Napoleon Buonaparte, emperor of the French. By Sir Walter Scott.

836 LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.
rnanders of the allied armies appear not to have over- how little of thle Prulssian position had been occupi-d
rated what was to be expected from their troops, by the French. The Prussians had fillen bace
which Nv,s not exactly the case with their opponents. very leisurely on Wavres, their rear-guard occuTilhe outline ot the operations, and the strategie on pying Brie, which they did not evacuate before three
the part of Napoleon to separate the two armies, o'clock on the morning of the 17th. Bonaparte, in
was no doubt finely conceived, and, as we have deceiving the French people, by the accounts hel
seen, was nearly successful; yet it is presumed, that, gave of' the defeat of the Prussians at Ligny, seenms
had it been so, even to the extent Bonaparte could almost to have deceived himself. lie miust have
hope or expect, the allies had still a safe retreat, known that the action was not a decisive one-that
and sufficient resources. On all sides, it was a cal- the enemy had retired in excellent order-that he
culation of houls. It is hardly possible to know the had not been able to pursue them —and that his own
point an enterprising enemy means to attack, espe- loss must have considerably weakened his arm-y,
cially on so extended a line; and here the assailant whilst the Prussians were Ihlling back upon their
has the advantage. Fault has been found with the reinforcements-and, above all, that IalrshalBliu her
Duke of Wellington for having no artillery and very commanded them. The Prussian army Nwas concentew cavalry upon the 16th. No portion of either trated at Wavres at an early hour, and commlunicawere with the reserve at Brussels, which is remark- tion took place between the Duke of Wellington
able, particularly as regards the artillery.* and Blucher, by which a junction of the army was
The spirited manner in which the allied marshals arranged for the succeeding day at Waterloo.4 The
adhered to their plans of defence previously agreed retrograde movement of the Prussians rendered a
on, and extricated themselves from the difficulties corresponding one necessary on the part of the
which they found themselves placed in, by the British, which was performed in the most leisurely
sudden and vigorous attack they had to sustain, and manner, the duke allowing the men time to finish their
which their distinct commands tended rather to in- cooking. About ten o'clock, the whole army retired,
crease, must command admiration; and since war in three colunns, by Genappe and Nivelles, tois only a great game, where the movements are wards a position at Waterloo-a rear-guard wvas
influenced by many events which occur during their left to occupy the ground, so as to conceal the
execution and progress-events which human calcu- movement from the enemy, who, about mid-day, delation cannot foresee-it becomes easy to criticise ployed their troops in columns of attack, as if e'xwhen the operations are passed, when all the data pecting to find the English army in position there.
on which they rested, or might have rested, are They imInmediately followed up the retreat witlh caknown; but to form a good plan of attack, or a cam- valry and light artillery. An affair of cava lry ocpaign-to act with decision and firmness, and with curred at Genappe, where the 7th hussars attacked
a " coup d'oeil," so as immediately to profit by the a French regiment of lancers without success; upoin
changes which incessantly take place, can be said which the heavy cavalry were brought up by the
of very few men of the many who have ever arrived Marquis of Anglesea, who checked the enemy's ad.
at the command of an army. vance by a vigorous and decisive charge.
On the morning of the 17th, the British troops As the troops arrived in position in front of Mont
remained in possession of Quatre-Bras, where the St-Jean, they took tip the ground they were to mainrest of' the army had joined the Duke of Wellington, tain, which was effected early in the evening. The
who was prepared to maintain that position against weather began to be very severe at this period.
the French army, had the Prussians remained in the The whole French army, under Bonaparte, with
position of Ligny, so as to give him support. the exception of two corps under Grouchy (32,000
Marshal Blucher had sent an aide-de-camp to men, and 108 guns), took up a position immediately
inform the duke of his retreat, who was unfortun- in front; and, after some cannonading, both arinies
ately killed; and it was not until seven o'clock on remained opposite to each other during the night,
the 17th, that Lord Wellington learned the direc- the rain falling in torrents. The duke had already
tion which the Prussians had taken. A patrol, sent communicated with Marshal Bluchler, who proat day-lightto communicate with the Prussians, ad- mised to come to his support with the whole of his
vanced beyond Brie and Sombref, which confirmed army, on the morning of the 18th. It was consequently decided upon to cover Brussels (the preservphlus o moins bonnes. Un Anglais pourrait etre compti ation of which was of such importance, in every
pour lean Francais; et deux Hollandais, Prussiens, oe point of view, to the King of the Netherlands), by
Ahomnmes de Ia colnfldration, pour anm Flraais. Les maintaining the position of Mont St-Jean. The inlarmees ennexmies itraient sattoennees seoas de coemmande- tention of the allied chiefs, if they were not attacked.ne.t de deix girax dts e teens IAet fe.rm eis de dex an- on the 18th, was to have attacked the enemy on the
tions rieisles d'inztrets et de sentimelns." His armry, on 9
]9th.
the contrary, was under one chief, the idol of his soldiers,
who were of the best description-veterans who had fought Since we are now arrived at the position of Mont
in the brilliant campaign of 1813-l14, and draughts from the St-Jean, it may be necessary to offer a few remarks
numerous garrisons who had since entered France from as regards the position itself, which has been consiAntwerp, Hamnburg, Magdeburg, Dantzic, Mentz, Alex- dered as a bad one by some writers,t and solme
andria, Mantua, etc., with the numerous prisoners from
England. Liv. ix, p. 201. t Muffing, p. 20, says, "that Blucher only asked for
* Three brigades of iron eighteen-pounders were pre- tinle to distribute food and cartridges to his men."
paring at Brussels, but not in a state of forwardness to be t Montholon, vii, p. 134. Liv. ix, pp. 123-'h)7. Gturyaud,
sent to Waterloo. p. 131.