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DROUET'S ACCOUNT OF WATERLOO
FRENCH PARLIAMENT
The following is the report of the battle of Mount Saint-Jean or
La Belle Alliance, made by Count Drouet to the Chamber of Peers
on the 23rd of June. His introduction, in which he notices some
misrepresentations that had been made in the House, and professes
his attachment to the emperor, his love of the country, and his
enthusiasm for the national glory, we omit. The following
includes his whole narrative.
"The French army passed the frontier June 15. It was
composed of several corps of Cavalry, five corps of Infantry, and
the Imperial Guard. The five corps of Infantry were commanded,
the 1st by Count d'Erlon, the 2nd by Count Reille, the 3rd by
Count Vandamme, the 4th by Count Gerard, and the 6th by Count
Lobau.
They met some light troops on this side of the Sambre, dispersed
them and took 4 to 500 men. They afterwards passed the river; the
1st and 2nd corps at Marchienne-au-Pont, the remainder of the
army at Charleroy. The 6th corps, which remained behind, did not
pass the river until the next day. The army marched in advance of
Charleroy upon Fleurus. The corps of Vandamme, attacked, about 4
o'clock in the evening, a division of the enemy, which appeared
to be 7 or 8000 strong, infantry and cavalry supported by some
cannon, with its horse upon the road of Fleurus. This division
was routed, its squares were overthrown by our cavalry, one of
which was entirely put to the sword. In one of these charges of
cavalry, France lost my brave and estimable comrade, Lieut. Gen.
Letort, Aid-de-camp of the Emperor. Our advanced guard marched
upon Fleurus. The next morning the French army entered the plain
of Fleurus, which 21 years before we had rendered famous by one
of the most splendid feats of arms. The enemy appeared in form of
an amphitheatre, upon a hill behind the villages of St. Amand,
and
Ligny. The right appeared to extend a little beyond St. Amand,
the left stretched considerably beyond Ligny.
About noon, the 3rd corps of Infantry, supported by its cavalry,
attacked the village of St. Amand, took possession of a wood in
front of the village, and penetrated as far as the first houses.
Soon after, it was vigorously repulsed. Supported by new
batteries, it recommenced the attack, and after several very
obstinate attempts, it remained master of the wood and the
village, which it found filled with dead and wounded Prussians.
At the same time, the 4th corps attacked the village of Ligny. It
met with great resistance, but the attack was directed and
supported with most persevering obstinacy. Some batteries
occupied the whole interval between the two villages, to oppose
the artillery which the enemy had planted at the foot, and on the
declivity of the hill. I witnessed this cannonade with
satisfaction, because I perceived that we had decidedly the
advantage. The troops who protected our batteries were at a
distance, and being masked by the inequalities of the ground,
could receive no injury. Those of the enemy, on the other hand,
being disposed in amphitheatre, behind their batteries, suffered
the greatest losses.
It appeared to be the intention of the Emperor to move the
reserve beyond the ravine, and upon the position of the enemy, as
soon as we should be masters of Ligny. The manoeuvre would have
entirely cut off the left of the Prussians, and left them at our
discretion. At the moment of executing this, between 4 and 5 o'clock,
the Emperor was informed that Marshal Ney, who was far at our
left at the head of the 1st and 2nd corps, was opposed to a very
considerable English force, and wanted support. The Emperor
ordered that the battalions of chasseurs of the old guard, and a
great part of the reserve of artillery should march to the left
of the village of St. Amand to the assistance of the two first
corps, but it was soon ascertained that this reinforcement was
not necessary, and it was recalled to the village of Ligny, by
which the army was to debouch. The grenadiers of the guard passed
the village, and overthrew the enemy, and the army, chanting the
hymn of victory, took a position on the other side of the ravine,
upon the field of battle, which it had rendered illustrious, by
the most splendid military feats.
I know not what other trophies distinguished this great day, but
those which I saw were several standards, and 24 pieces of cannon
collected at one point. I have never under any circumstances,
seen the French troops engage with a more noble enthusiasm. Their
rapidity and valor inspired the highest hopes.
On the morning of the next day I went over the field of battle; I
saw it covered with the enemy's dead and wounded. To the latter
the Emperor ordered every assistance and consolation to be given.
He left upon the field officers and men specially instructed to
collect them. The peasants bore away with the greatest care, the
French wounded; they seemed anxious to give them assistance; but
we were obliged to employ menaces to compel them to take charge
of the Prussians, to whom they showed a strong dislike.
According to the reconnoitring reports, it appears that after the
battle the enemy's army had separated; that the English took the
road of Brussels, and that the Prussians bent their course
towards the Meuse. Marshal Grouchy, at the head of a large corps
of cavalry, and the 3rd and 4th corps of infantry, was ordered to
pursue the latter. The Emperor followed the route of the English
with the 1st, 2nd and 6th corps and the imperial guard. The 1st
corps, which was in advance, attacked and overthrew many times
the rear guard of the enemy and pursued it until night, when it
took a position upon the plain behind the village Mount Saint-Jean,
its right extending towards the village of Braine and its left
extending indefinitely in the direction of Wavre. It was
frightful weather. Everybody was persuaded that the enemy took
this position to gain time for its baggage and packs to pass the
forest of Soignes, and that the army would make the same movement
at the break of day.
At day light, the enemy was found in the same position. The
weather was very stormy; and had so destroyed the roads, that it
was impossible to manoeuvre with the artillery. About 9 o'clock
it became fair, the fields became dried a little, and at noon the
order for attack was given by the Emperor. Ought we to have
attacked the enemy in position, with troops fatigued by a
succession of marches, a great battle, and frequent engagements?
Or ought we to have given them time to repose from their fatigues,
and left the enemy quietly to fall back upon Brussels? If we had
been successful, all military men would have declared it an
unpardonable fault, not to have pursued a retreating army, when
it was but a few leagues from its capital, to which we were
invited by numerous partisans. Fortune has betrayed our efforts,
and it is regarded as a great act of imprudence to have given
battle. Posterity, more just, will decide.
The 2nd corps commenced the attack at noon. The division
commanded by Prince Jerome attacked the wood which was situated
in advance of the enemy's right. He first got possession of it
and was afterwards repulsed, and did not remain entirely master
of it until after several hours of an obstinate contest.
The 1st corps, the left of which rested upon the great road,
attacked at the same time the houses of Mount Saint-Jean,
established itself there and marched upon the position of the
enemy. Marshal Ney, who commanded these two corps, stationed
himself upon the great road to direct their movements according
to circumstances.
The Marshal told me during the battle that he was about to make a
great effort upon the enemy's center, while his cavalry was
bringing together the cannon, which appeared not to be well
supported. He told me several times, when I brought him orders
during the battle, that we were about to gain a great victory.
Meantime, the Prussian corps which had joined the English left,
put itself en potence on our right flank and began to attack it
about half past 5 o'clock in the evening. The 6th corps, which
had taken no part in the battle of the 16th, was brought up to
oppose it, and was supported by a division of the young guard and
several batteries of the guard.
About 7 o'clock, there were perceived at a distance towards our
right, a fire of artillery and musketry. There was no doubt but
Marshal Grouchy had followed the movements of the Prussians, and
had come to take part in the victory. Cries of joy extended along
our whole line. The troops, fatigued by eight hours fighting,
gained vigor, and made new efforts. The emperor regarded this
movement as decisive. He pushed his whole guard in advance,
ordered four battalions to pass near the village of Mount Saint-Jean,
to march upon the enemy's positions, and to force with the
bayonet all that resisted them. The cavalry of the guard, and all
our cavalry that remained at hand, seconded the movement. The
four battalions, on reaching the plain, fell back from the
terrible fire of musketry and grape. The great number of wounded
who were detached from them, gave rise to the belief that the
guard was routed. A terrible panic spread to the neighboring
corps, which precipitately took to flight. The enemy's cavalry,
which perceived this disorder, moved forward upon the plain; it
was restrained for some time by 12 battalions of the old guard,
which had not yet given way, but which drawn in by that
inexplicable movement, followed, but in order, the retreat.
All the carriages of the artillery were precipitated upon the
great road. They soon accumulated so that it was impossible to
move them. They were for the most part abandoned on the way, and
unteamed by the soldiers who led the horses. All precipitated
towards the bridges of Charleroy and Marchienne, whence the
wrecks were directed towards Phillippeville and Avesnes. Such is
the history of this fatal day. It ought to have raised to its
highest height the glory of the French army, to have destroyed
all the vain hopes of the enemy, and perhaps have given very
shortly to France, the peace so much desired. But heaven decided
otherwise, it has destined that after so many catastrophes, our
unhappy country should be again exposed to the ravages of
foreigners."
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