While a pupil at military school Napoleon wrote to his mother that to carve his way in the world all he required was a copy of Homer and a sword. The die was cast—a ten year old boy was determined to follow the life of a soldier. Over the next thirty five years the boy would rise to army officer, general, consul and emperor of France. He would become, arguably, the most renowned soldier the world has ever known. This unique man personally commanded in 600 skirmishes and 85 full scale battles before his final defeat at Waterloo. To put Napoleon’s military career in clear perspective it should be noted that he spent just 6 weeks less on campaign or under fire than he did in at the seat of power or involved in his personal life. There have been many books written about Napoleon Bonaparte but this one deals exclusively with his military career and takes the reader to from the Italian Campaign to Egypt, through pivotal battles such as Jena and Eylau, to the Iberian peninsula, the disastrous invasion of Russia, the times of retreat and defeat and the final battles 1815. Interestingly, this is a book full of anecdotes for it is the authors assertion that it is through the reports, recollections and memoirs of those who knew Napoleon and served with him that the great man’s character is most clearly revealed. Certainly these many perspectives on the campaigns of the Napoleonic epoch, full of dialogue and incident, make entertaining reading. An interesting book for all those fascinated by the ‘Little Corporal,’ the military genius who, as the author of this book writes, ‘held Europe prisoner in the folds of the French flag.’ This book was originally published under the title, ‘Military Career of Napoleon the Great.’
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.
The action at Ligny had commenced a little later but not less aggressively. As Gérard’s three
columns approached the village of Ligny they were received with such a volley that they
were obliged to fall back. A large body of artillery was then thrown forward and riddled the
village of Ligny and Gérard’s columns again advanced, finally taking possession of the
place. This was followed by a series of combats, exceedingly ferocious, as the French gave
no quarter nor did they receive any from the Prussians.<br>
Blücher now advanced at the head of his soldiers and made a vigorous attempt upon the
three St. Amands; but with only partial success for a time. At length, by a series of skilful
attacks and manoeuvres, the French became masters of these three points, but had not
been able to cross the sinuous stream of Ligny. It was now 5:30 o’clock and Napoleon
was directing the Imperial Guard upon Ligny in support of the advantages already gained
by Count Gérard at the head of 5,000 men, at St. Amand, when he was informed that an
army of 30,000 was advancing upon Fleurus. The emperor suspended the movement of his
Guard in order to meet this new force; but the alarm was unfounded. It proved to be the
first corps,—Count d’Erlon’s,—which formed part of Ney’s division, at last complying with
Napoleon’s repeated orders, and had come up to take the enemy in the rear:—their
unexpected appearance had occasioned the loss of two hours.<br>
The Old Guard now resumed its suspended movements upon Ligny: the ravine was passed
by General Pecheux, at the head of his division, supported by the infantry, cavalry, artillery
and Milhaud’s cuirassiers. The reserves of the Prussians were driven back with the
bayonet, and the centre of the line broken and routed. A bloody conflict ensued in which
the French were victorious. The slaughter among the Prussians, was most remarkable.
They, however, divided into two parts, effected a retreat, favoured by the night and by the
failure of that attack in the rear which Ney had been so expressly ordered to make by a
detachment from his force. Their loss amounted to the prodigious number of 18,000 men,
killed, wounded or prisoners; forty pieces of cannon and eight stands of colours, while the
French loss was between 8,000 and 9,000.<br>
For five hours, two hundred pieces of ordnance deluged the field with slaughter, blood and
death, during which period the French and Prussians, alternately vanquished and victors,
disputed that ensanguined post hand to hand and foot to foot, so that no less than seven
times in succession Ligny was taken and lost.<br>
The emperor had repeatedly sent to Ney saying “that the destiny of France rested in his
hands” but the veteran marshal failed to appreciate the importance of the orders and did not
act promptly.<br>
Many of the Prussian generals were killed or wounded; and Blücher himself was
overthrown, man and horse, by a charge of cuirassiers, and galloped over by friends and
foes. Night was coming on and the marshal, who was much battered and bruised, effected
his escape. He joined a body of his troops, directed the retreat upon Wavres, and
continued to mask his movements so skilfully, that Napoleon knew not until noon on the
17th what way he had taken.<br>
The total loss of the French amounted to no more than nine thousand, killed or wounded—
the extraordinary disproportion being occasioned by the more skilful disposition of the
French troops, whereby all their shots took effect, while more than half of those of the
enemy were wasted.<br>
On the same day as the battle of Ligny,—June 16th,—was also fought the Battle of
Quatre-Bras, and at about the same time. Ney, with 45,000 men, began an attack on the
position of Wellington at Quatre-Bras. At this point the French were posted among growing
corn as high as the tallest man’s shoulder, and which enabled them to draw up a strong
body of cuirassiers close to the English, and yet entirely out of their view. The 49th and
42nd regiments of Highlanders were thus taken by surprise, and the latter would have been
destroyed but for the coming up of the former. The 42nd, formed into a square, was
repeatedly broken, and as often recovered, though with terrible loss of life, for out of 800
that went into action, only ninety-six privates and four officers remained unhurt.<br>
The pressing orders of Napoleon not allowing the marshal time for reflection, and doubtless
anxious to repair the precious time lost in which he might have taken possession of
Quatre-Bras, he did not sufficiently reconnoitre but entered into the contest without being
wholly prepared. The first successful attack was soon suspended by the arrival of fresh
reinforcements, led by the Duke of Wellington, and the shining bravery of the Scotch,
Belgians and the Prince of Orange suspended the success of the French. They were
repulsed by a shower of bullets from the British infantry added to a battery of two guns
which strewed the causeway with men and horses.<br>
Ney was desirous of making the first corps, which he had left in the rear, advance; but
Napoleon had dispatched positive orders to Count d’Erlon, at the head of that body, to
join him, for which purpose the latter had commenced his march. Ney, when made
acquainted with this fact, was stationed amidst a cross-fire from the enemies’ batteries. “Do
you see those bullets?” cried the marshal, his brow clouded by despair; “would that they
would all pass through my body!” and he instantly sent General Delcambre with all speed
after Count d’Erlon, directing that whatsoever might have been his orders, although
received from the emperor himself, he must return. This he did, but when he arrived in the
evening, Ney, dispirited by the checks already received, and dissatisfied with himself and
others, had discontinued the engagement. D’Erlon had spent the day in useless marches, his
valour wasted by a fatality over which he had no control. Between 5 and 6 o’clock General
Delcambre had overtaken the first corps on its march to Bry and brought it back towards
Quatre-Bras!<br>
Night found the English, after a severe and bloody day, in possession of Quatre-Bras, the
French being obliged to retreat. The gallant Duke of Brunswick, fighting in front of the line,
fell almost in the beginning of the battle. The killed and wounded on the side of the French
was 4,000 and the Allies’ loss was nearly 6,000, in consequence ]of their having scarcely
any artillery. As at Ligny, little quarter was either asked or given, there being much hatred
between the French and Prussians. The French were next driven out from the Bois de
Bossu by the Belgians, and the English divisions of Alten, Halket, Maitland, Cooke, and
Byng, successively arrived.<br><br>************<br><br>The Duke of Wellington
now dismounted, placed himself at the head of his line and led his men against the remaining
numbers of four battalions of the Old Guard—the only unbroken troops remaining behind,
while Ney was striving to rally his fugitives. His cocked hat was gone, and his clothes were
literally riddled with bullets, though he himself remained untouched. The intrepid marshal, at
Wellington’s approach, took part once more in the mêlée, sword in hand, and on foot. But
nothing could withstand the impetuous assault of the victorious British.<br>
Napoleon, who had watched this last terrible contest from the heights of La Belle Alliance
suddenly exclaimed, “They are mingled together, all is lost for the present,” and
accompanied by but three or four officers, he gave the signal for retreat and hurried to the
left of Planchenois, to a second position, where he had placed a regiment of the Guard,
with two batteries in reserve.<br>
The four battalions of the Old Guard, under General Cambronne, still remained to protect
the retreat of the French Army. If they could succeed in holding the British in check, and
prevent their advance during half an hour longer, darkness would enable the army to retreat
in safety, and partially recover its disorder by morning. The Old Guard formed in square,
flanked by a few pieces of artillery, and by a brigade of red lancers. “The Duke of
Wellington” says Captain Pringle, “now ordered his whole line to advance and attack their
position.” They advanced to the charge in embattled array, condensed and tremendous,
against the remnant of noble veterans of that old Imperial Guard, which, during twenty
years of slaughterous wars, had never once been vanquished. Gathering round the
standards of their former glory, they received the dreadful onset with souls prepared for
death. Nothing could now withstand the vigour of the attack of the British soldiers who thus
had an opportunity to relieve their breasts of the heavy burden they had borne all day when
compelled, for hours, to stand the fierce attacks of the French, being frequently driven
back, and never making an advance.<br>
The Old Guard, as was to be expected, were beaten down,—slaughtered. Their general,
Cambronne, was called upon to surrender by some British officers who seemed to revolt at
the uneven contest. The only reply made by him was,—not the generally believed, but
inaccurate declaration recorded by some historians, “The Old Guard dies, but does not
surrender!” but was a single word of military jargon frequently used by French soldiers.
Almost immediately afterwards he fell from his horse, cut down by a fragment of a shell
striking him on the head; but he would not allow his men to leave their ranks to bear him
away.<br>
Once more these heroes, now reduced to but one hundred and fifty men, are commanded
to surrender; “We will not yield!” they answer back, and discharging their muskets for the
last time, rush on the cavalry and with their bayonets, kill many men and horses, and then
sink to the earth exhausted or in death.<br>
The Old Guard was destroyed,—not defeated! The advancing British troops rode over
their prostrate bodies piled in ghastly heaps,—a monument to their valour and heroism,
even in death. Ney, bareheaded, his clothes hanging in shreds, and with his broken sword in
his hand, seeing a handful of his followers still remaining, ran forward to lead them against a
Prussian column that was pursuing them. As the fearless marshal threw himself once more
into the fray he exclaimed, “Come my friends; come see how a marshal of France can die!”
But his time had not come: he was not destined to die upon the battlefield. His small band
was soon overpowered and scarcely two hundred escaped death. Rulliere, who
commanded the battalion, broke the flag-staff, hid the eagle beneath his coat, and followed
Ney who had been unhorsed for the fifth time, but who was still unwounded. Under cover
of the darkness they made their escape.<br>
The emperor attempted to protect the retreat and rally the fugitives; but it was now fast
growing dark. The soldiers could not see him or they might have rallied, while many
believed the report that he had been killed. “He is wounded,” said some, “He is dead”
cried others. Nothing could be heard above the uproar and hideous confusion that
everywhere prevailed. The Prussian cavalry, supported by some battalions of infantry, and
the whole of Bülow’s corps, now advanced by the right of Planchenois.<br>
In a few minutes the emperor was almost surrounded by hostile forces. He had formed the
regiment into a square, and was still lingering, when Marshal Soult seized the bridle of his
horse, exclaimed that he would not be killed, but taken prisoner, and, pulling him away, the
emperor at last yielded to his destiny! Behind him on the battlefield lay 60,000 French,
English and Prussians, dead or wounded. The Battle of Waterloo was lost and this hitherto
almost invincible warrior was obliged to gallop across the fields in the dark, amidst the
whistling of the Prussian bullets, and detachments of their cavalry which were scouring the
field in all directions.<br>
Napoleon was so fatigued, on the road to Genappe, that he would no doubt have fallen
from his horse, had he not been supported by General Gourgaud and two other persons,
who remained his only attendants for some time.<br>
Wellington and Blücher met about 10 o’clock, at the farm-house of La Belle Alliance, and
after congratulating each other on the success of the day, the Prussian commander, whose
men were still fresh, eagerly undertook to continue the pursuit during the night, while the
English general halted to rest his weary men and care for the dead and wounded.