The Campaign of Waterloo: A Military History: Third EditionRopes, John Codman
History
The Campaign of Waterloo: A Military History: Third Edition
Ropes, John Codman
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
8. It is also maintained that Napoleon should on that morning at
daybreak have marched with the 6th Corps and the Guard to attack the
English at Quatre Bras in conjunction with Ney’s forces,—a point on
which most writers strongly insist.[790]
9. The connection between the injunction contained in the Bertrand
order and the new idea as to the projects of Marshal Blücher, which
Berton’s discovery of a Prussian corps at Gembloux had started in
Napoleon’s mind, is brought out;[791] and Napoleon is censured for
having on the afternoon of the 17th detached so large a force from his
army when he had reason to apprehend that a movement by Blücher with
the intention of coöperating with Wellington had been in operation
since the previous evening.[792]
10. The warning contained in the Bertrand order is given its due
prominence; and the fact that Marshal Grouchy was acting under that
order, and therefore had entire liberty to take any steps which his own
judgment might approve to frustrate the attempt of the Prussians to act
in conjunction with the English, is strongly insisted on.[793]
11. It is shown that Grouchy was at Walhain, and not at Sart-à-Walhain
when he heard the sound of the cannon of Waterloo and rejected the
counsel of Gérard.[794]
12. That Napoleon expected Grouchy to arrive on the left bank of the
Dyle by crossing it at the bridge of Moustier is shown by Marbot’s
testimony; and attention is called to the inference which this fact
warrants, that Napoleon was not cognizant of the language used in the
10 A.M. order to Marshal Grouchy, which seemed to imply that Grouchy
was expected to reach Wavre first.[795]
13. It is pointed out that from about four o’clock in the afternoon
of the 18th of June to about half-past six, Napoleon’s attention was
absorbed by the attack of Bülow’s Corps upon the right and rear of the
French army; and that, for the mistakes committed during this period in
the assaults on the English army, Ney is mainly responsible.[796] It is
furthermore shown that by reason of this distraction of the Emperor’s
attention from the operations in his front, valuable opportunities for
success against Wellington’s army were lost.[797]
14. Marshal Ney is censured for having done so little in the way of
preparation for the successful charge of the Imperial Guard.[798]
15. The questions relating to the formation of the Imperial Guard
in its charge against the English, and of its repulse and defeat by
the English guards and the light brigade, have received particular
attention. It is believed that the view here presented will be found to
harmonize nearly all the conflicting statements.[799]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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