The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine (May 1913): Vol. LXXXVI. New Series: Vol. LXIV. May to October, 1913Various
History
The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine (May 1913): Vol. LXXXVI. New Series: Vol. LXIV. May to October, 1913
Various
Periodicals
The last trumpet-call sounded for “Marengo” in September, 1829. After
his death the skeleton was purchased and presented to the United
Service Institution at Whitehall, London, and is at present among its
most highly treasured relics. Another interesting souvenir of the
famous steed is one of his hoofs, made into a snuff-box, which makes
its daily rounds after dinner at the King’s Guards, in St. James’s
Palace. On its silver lid is engraved the legend, “Hoof of Marengo,
barb charger of Napoleon, ridden by him at Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena,
Wagram, in the Russian campaign, and at Waterloo,” and round the
silver shoe the legend continues: “Marengo was wounded in the near hip
at Waterloo, when his great master was on him in the hollow road in
advance of the French. He had frequently been wounded before in other
battles.” Near his skeleton may be seen an oil painting of “Marengo,”
by James Ward, R.A., who also was commissioned by Wellington to paint
a picture of “Copenhagen,” Napoleon’s pocket-telescope, and other
articles found in his carriage at Genappe, near Waterloo, where he was
nearly captured, but escaped by mounting the fleet “Marengo.” In the
museum is also displayed the saddle used by Blücher at Waterloo, and a
letter written by the fiery old field-marshal, the day after the fierce
battle, of which the following is a translation:
Gossalines June 19, 1815.
You remember, my dear wife, what I promised you, and I have kept
my word. The superiority of the enemy’s numbers obliged me to
give way on the 17th; but yesterday, in conjunction with my friend
Wellington, I put an end forever to Bonaparte’s dancing. His army
is completely routed, and the whole of his artillery, baggage,
caissons, and equipage are in my hands. I have had two horses
killed under me since the beginning of this short campaign. It will
soon be all over with Bonaparte.
From a recent Paris publication, written by General Gourgaud, we learn
that at St. Helena Napoleon said that the finest charger he ever
owned was not the famous “Marengo,” but one named “Mourad Bey,” of
which, unfortunately, no further information is afforded by the French
general. In his St. Helena diary, Gourgaud writes:
L’Empereur passé à l’equitation. Il n’avait pas peur à cheval,
parce qu’il n’avait jamais appris. “J’avais de bons chevaux le
Mourad-Bey etait le meilleur et le plus beau à l’armée d’Italie.
J’en avait un excellent: Aussi, pour invalide, l’ai-je mis à
Saint-Cloud, où il passait en liberté.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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