The Imperial Guard of Napoleon: From Marengo to Waterloo |
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advance allies amid approached arms arrived artillery attack Austerlitz Austria battalions batteries battle-field Bessieres bivouac Blucher Bonaparte brave campaign cannon Caulincourt cavalry centre CHAMP D'ASILE charge chasseurs columns commander compelled Consul Consular Guard corps cuirassiers Davoust dead deeds despatch Drouot eagles Egypt Emperor empire enemy England Europe exclaimed fell field of battle fire force fought France French French Empire gallop glory grenadiers hand head heart honor horse hundred Imperial Guard infantry Italy king knew Lannes latter Legion of Honor leon Mamelukes Marengo Marmont ments midst morning Mortier Murat Napo Napoleon never night officers Old Guard Paris passed peace plain poleon queues rallied ranks regiment replied Republic retreat rolled Russia scene sent shout side soldiers soon squadrons stood swept terrible thousand throne thunder took treaty treaty of Amiens troops vast veterans victory Vive whole army Young Guard
Popular passages
Page 216 - The allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the only obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces for himself and his heirs, the thrones of France and Italy, and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life, which he is not ready to make for the interests of France.
Page 247 - Rank after rank went down ; yet they neither stopped nor faltered. Dissolving squadrons, and whole battalions disappearing one after another in the destructive fire, affected not their steady courage. The ranks closed up as before, and each, treading over his fallen comrade, pressed firmly on. The horse which Ney rode fell under him, and he had scarcely mounted another before it also sank to the earth.
Page 167 - At length, to break the mournful silence, and to express the sympathy they might not speak, the bands struck up a requiem for the dying marshal. The melancholy strains arose and fell in prolonged echoes over the field, and swept in softened cadences on the ear of the fainting warrior — but still Napoleon moved not.
Page 247 - ... drawn sabre, at the head of his men. In vain did the artillery hurl its storm of fire and lead into that living mass. Up to the very muzzles they pressed, and driving the artillerymen from their own pieces, pushed on through the English lines.
Page 246 - ... terrible advance to the final charge. For a moment the batteries stopped playing, and the firing ceased along the British lines, as without the beating of a drum, or the blast of a bugle, to cheer their steady courage, they moved in dead silence over the plain.
Page 77 - This wild gallop of eighty-five miles was long remembered by the inhabitants of the towns through which the smoking cavalcade of the emperor passed. Relays of horses had been provided along the road, and no sooner did he arrive at one post than he flung himself on a fresh horse, and sinking the spurs in his flanks, dashed away in headlong speed.
Page 280 - These sentiments cannot be foreign to the heart of your Majesty, who reign over a free nation, and with the sole view of rendering it happy. Your Majesty will only see in this overture my sincere desire to contribute efficaciously, for the second time, to a general pacification, by a step, speedy...
Page 285 - Sire ! It is on the field of battle, amid the sufferings of a multitude of wounded, and surrounded by fifteen thousand corpses, that I beseech your majesty to listen to the voice of humanity, and not to suffer two brave nations to cut each others' throats for interests not their own.
Page 246 - Europe had been put upon the plains of Waterloo to be battled for. The greatest military energy and skill the world possessed had been tasked to the utmost during the day. Thrones were tottering on the ensanguined field, and the shadows of fugitive kings flitted through the smoke of battle. Bonaparte's star trembled in the zenith — now blazing out in its ancient splendor, now suddenly paling before his anxious eye.
Page 246 - Ney felt the pressure of the immense responsibility on his brave heart, and resolved not to prove unworthy of the great trust committed to his care. Nothing could be more imposing than the movement of that grand column to the assault. That guard had never yet recoiled before a human foe, and the allied forces beheld with awe its firm and terrible advance to the final charge. For a moment the batteries stopped playing, and the firing...