FOOTNOTES:[53]Seechapter X, Grouchy’s Report, and the English, Prussian, and French official accounts.[54]It in not easy to give a satisfactory reason why the enemy’s infantry skirmishers were allowed to press so closely up to our position and inflict such severe losses upon our gunners and infantry, when our cavalry could have driven them off or destroyed them.[55]All those who were near his Grace, and had full opportunity of observing him during the most critical and trying moments, agree in asserting, that it was impossible to learn from his countenance, voice or gesture, whether the affair in hand were trifling or important, quite safe, or extremely dangerous.[56]It appeared throughout the day, that Napoleon was determined to exhaust our troops, the expense of which was only, to him, asecondaryconsideration.[57]I met this French officer on the field in 1844: he was a captain in the 2d carabineers, or brass-clad cuirassiers; the reason he gave for not coming over to us till the eleventh hour, was, that he expected a number of his regiment to desert with him.[58]Seecolonel Hunter Blair’s letter, Appendix,No. VII.
[53]Seechapter X, Grouchy’s Report, and the English, Prussian, and French official accounts.
[53]Seechapter X, Grouchy’s Report, and the English, Prussian, and French official accounts.
[54]It in not easy to give a satisfactory reason why the enemy’s infantry skirmishers were allowed to press so closely up to our position and inflict such severe losses upon our gunners and infantry, when our cavalry could have driven them off or destroyed them.
[54]It in not easy to give a satisfactory reason why the enemy’s infantry skirmishers were allowed to press so closely up to our position and inflict such severe losses upon our gunners and infantry, when our cavalry could have driven them off or destroyed them.
[55]All those who were near his Grace, and had full opportunity of observing him during the most critical and trying moments, agree in asserting, that it was impossible to learn from his countenance, voice or gesture, whether the affair in hand were trifling or important, quite safe, or extremely dangerous.
[55]All those who were near his Grace, and had full opportunity of observing him during the most critical and trying moments, agree in asserting, that it was impossible to learn from his countenance, voice or gesture, whether the affair in hand were trifling or important, quite safe, or extremely dangerous.
[56]It appeared throughout the day, that Napoleon was determined to exhaust our troops, the expense of which was only, to him, asecondaryconsideration.
[56]It appeared throughout the day, that Napoleon was determined to exhaust our troops, the expense of which was only, to him, asecondaryconsideration.
[57]I met this French officer on the field in 1844: he was a captain in the 2d carabineers, or brass-clad cuirassiers; the reason he gave for not coming over to us till the eleventh hour, was, that he expected a number of his regiment to desert with him.
[57]I met this French officer on the field in 1844: he was a captain in the 2d carabineers, or brass-clad cuirassiers; the reason he gave for not coming over to us till the eleventh hour, was, that he expected a number of his regiment to desert with him.
[58]Seecolonel Hunter Blair’s letter, Appendix,No. VII.
[58]Seecolonel Hunter Blair’s letter, Appendix,No. VII.