Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... LECTURE VI. EVENTS OF THE 1STH.--COMMENTS.--SUMMARY. The early daylight showed Napoleon the army of his adversary motionless in its position. The English had passed the rainy night in much discomfort; but his own soldiers, almost destitute of firewood, had cha.p.2io. suffered still more from the downpour of rain, which only ceased at about 4 a.m. On the report of his artillery officers, that the ground would require some hours before the guns could move on the muddy fields, Napoleon delayed the preparations for the battle, though his troops were put under arms at an early hour. He expressed his satisfaction at the firm countenance of the English, discussed his intended manoeuvres, and counted up confidently his chances Mem. ix. of success. He had in his whole air and bearing the 114. Goiirg. manner of one who scented a coming triumph, and--. nn Thi. xx. felt no touch of fear of such an unexpected disaster i88.and as might follow the arrival of a fresh army on his flank. No allusion is mentioned, even in his own narratives, as made by him that morning, to any possible aid from Grouchy, nor any sign that he thought the Prussians near. After receiving a report from his chief engineer, General Haxo, that no signs of intrenchments were to be seen in the enemy's position, he dictated his orders for the battle, and proceeded soon after 8 a.m. to marshal his troops in array in three grand lines, in the most deliberate manner, upon the slope opposite the position of Wellington. We need not give the particulars of this parade, which nearly all writers have taken directly from his own glowing description, revealing at its close the real purpose of this display: ' The spectacle was magnificent; and the enemy, who was so placed as to behold it down to..