+ |
GROUCHY PRESENTS HIS CASE TO THE CHAMBER
OF PEERS, JULY 1, 1815
Chamber of Peers -- July 1.
Marshal Grouchy expressed his regret at the language which had
been used with respect to his account of the situation of the
army of the north. That he had never ceased to write, that it
contained a mass of more than 20,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry,
with 100 pieces of cannon. He demanded a publication of the
reports which he had made of his march from Namur to Rheims. When
he arrived there with his brave army, he received orders to
conduct it to Soissons (where the Duke of Dalmatia was
reorganizing the wreck of the army which fought at Waterloo),
there to take the command of the entire army of the north, and to
march on Paris.
Compeigne, Creil, Pont St. Maxence (Mayence?), had not been
occupied. The enemy was master of them; he was nearer to the
capital than I was. I could not arrive there in time except by
the most rapid march, and exposing my flank for 18 hours to the
enemy. I determined, therefore, to file off the troops which I
brought from Rheims, covered by the troops which came from
Soissons. By this arrangement they arrived at Paris without
firing a musket. My left wing was attacked on the march at two
points; some pieces of cannon were taken; the soldiers deserted
their ranks, and I was less satisfied with the troops of this
left wing than with those I brought from Namur. No consideration
shall make me conceal the truth, especially when the safety of
the capital requires the best considered measures of defence. The
Marshal concluded with claiming credit for having brought 40,000
men to Paris, whom he had resigned to hands more able than his
own.
After some conversation, this appeal of the Marshal was ordered
to be inserted in the minutes.
Back to The Edinburgh Evening Courant index
+ |
-Napoleon Bonaparte
Internet Guide-
optimized for browsers 4+ (600x800)