Whilst thus endeavouring to draw the Allied Generals into negotiation;FouchéandDavoustfelt the necessity of carrying out their plans with the greatest caution, and in such a manner as to prevent any unfavourable construction being put upon their motives by the Army.
On the evening of the 30th of June, there was an assemblage of General Officers at the Head Quarters in Villette; at which it was proposed to send up an Address to the Chamber of Representatives expressive of the determined spirit of resistance which animated the troops, and of their hostility to the Bourbons. It was adopted by the majority; andDavoust, though secretly working withFouchéfor the Restoration ofLouis XVIII., did not hesitate to attach to it his signature. It was couched in the following terms:—
"Camp at Villette, 30th June."Representatives of the People!"We are in presence of our Enemies. We swear before you and the world to defend, to our last breath, the cause of our independence and the national honour."It is wished to impose the Bourbons upon us, but these Princes are rejected by the immense majority of Frenchmen. If their return could be agreed to, recollect, Representatives, that you would sign the annihilation of the Army; which for twenty years has been the Palladium of French honour. There are in War, especially when it has been long conducted, successes and reverses. In our successes, we haveappeared great and generous. If it is wished to humble us in our reverses, we shall know how to die."The Bourbons present no guarantee to the Nation. We received them with sentiments of the most generous confidence: we forgot all the calamities they had caused us in their rage to deprive us of our most sacred rights. Well! what return did they make for this confidence? They treated us as rebels and as vanquished. Representatives! these reflections are terrible, because they are true. History will one day relate what the Bourbons have done to replace themselves on the Throne of France; it will also narrate the conduct of the Army; of that Army essentially national; and posterity will judge which best deserved the esteem of the World."The Marshal Prince ofEckmühl, Minister at War,"CountPajol, commanding the First Corps of Cavalry,"Countd'Erlon, commanding the Right Wing,"CountVandamme, General in Chief."(And fifteen other Generals.)
"Camp at Villette, 30th June.
"Representatives of the People!
"We are in presence of our Enemies. We swear before you and the world to defend, to our last breath, the cause of our independence and the national honour.
"It is wished to impose the Bourbons upon us, but these Princes are rejected by the immense majority of Frenchmen. If their return could be agreed to, recollect, Representatives, that you would sign the annihilation of the Army; which for twenty years has been the Palladium of French honour. There are in War, especially when it has been long conducted, successes and reverses. In our successes, we haveappeared great and generous. If it is wished to humble us in our reverses, we shall know how to die.
"The Bourbons present no guarantee to the Nation. We received them with sentiments of the most generous confidence: we forgot all the calamities they had caused us in their rage to deprive us of our most sacred rights. Well! what return did they make for this confidence? They treated us as rebels and as vanquished. Representatives! these reflections are terrible, because they are true. History will one day relate what the Bourbons have done to replace themselves on the Throne of France; it will also narrate the conduct of the Army; of that Army essentially national; and posterity will judge which best deserved the esteem of the World.
"The Marshal Prince ofEckmühl, Minister at War,"CountPajol, commanding the First Corps of Cavalry,"Countd'Erlon, commanding the Right Wing,"CountVandamme, General in Chief."(And fifteen other Generals.)
The Chambers being thus appealed to, felt it incumbent on them to issue a Proclamation explanatory of the political situation of France; and of their own intentions under all the critical circumstances in which it presented itself to their view. This document, cautiously drawn up by the Constitutionalists who formed the preponderating party in the State, and strongly marked by the policy which was pursued throughout byFouché, was framed with great tact. Although it acknowledged the nomination ofNapoleon's son to the Empire, it manifested no hostility to the Bourbons: it expressed a desire to secure a Monarchical and Representative Government; but, at the same time, declared that the Head of the Government, whoever he might be, must enter into a solemn Compact and abide by the Constitutional Charter.
In short, its general tone was sufficiently independent to secure for it, if not the approbation, at least the acquiescence, of both the Liberals and the Buonapartists; whilst, on theother hand, it significantly indicated the terms upon which a Bourbon might re-ascend the throne, and rally round him the Friends of Constitutional Order and Civil Rights. With but few exceptions it admitted of being reconciled with the Proclamation published on the 28th of June by Louis XVIII. It ran thus:—
"Frenchmen!"The Foreign Powers proclaimed, in the face of Europe, that they were only armed againstNapoleon; and that they wished to respect our independence, and the right which belongs to every Nation to choose a Government suitable to its habits and its interests."Napoleonis no longer the Chief of the State. He has renounced the Throne, and his Abdication has been accepted by your Representatives. He is removed from us. His son is called to the Empire by the Constitution of the State. The coalesced Sovereigns are informed of this; and the War ought to be terminated, if the promises of Kings have any foundation in truth."While Plenipotentiaries have been sent to the Allied Powers to treat for peace in the name of France; the Generals of two of those Powers have refused any Suspension of Arms. Their troops have accelerated their marches under favour of a moment of hesitation and trouble. They are now at the very gates of the capital, and no communication has stated for what object the War is continued. Our Plenipotentiaries will soon declare whether we must renounce Peace. In the mean time, resistance is not only legitimate, but necessary: and humanity, in requiring an account of the blood uselessly shed, will not accuse those brave men who only combat to repel from their houses the scourges of war, murder, and pillage; and to defend with their lives the cause of Liberty, and of that Independence the imprescriptible right of which has been guaranteed to them even by the Manifestoes of their Enemies."Amidst these circumstances, your Representatives cannot forget that they were not chosen to stipulate for the interests of any individual Party, but for the whole Nation. Every act of weakness will dishonour them, and will only tend to endanger the future tranquillity of France. While the Government is employing all the means in its power to obtain a solid Peace; or, should that not be obtained without compromising our honour, to repel the Battalions of Foreigners: what more advantages to the Nation can be done than to collect and establish the fundamentalrules of a Monarchical and Representative Government, destined to secure to all citizens the free enjoyment of those sacred rights which sacrifices so numerous and so great have purchased; and to rally for ever, under the National Colours, that great body of Frenchmen who have no other interest, and no other wish, than an honourable repose and a just independence."Meanwhile the Chambers conceive that their duty and their dignity require them to declare that they will never acknowledge, as legitimate Chief of the State, him who, on ascending the Throne, shall refuse to acknowledge the Rights of the Nation, and to consecrate them by a solemn Compact. The Constitutional Charter is drawn up; and if the force of arms should succeed in temporarily imposing upon us a Master—if the destinies of a great Nation are again to be delivered up to the caprice and arbitrary will of a small number of privileged persons—then, in yielding to force, the National Representation will protest in the face of the whole World against the oppression of the French People."Your Representatives will appeal to the energy of the present and future generations to renew their claim both to National Independence, and the Rights of Civil and Religious Liberty. For these Rights they now appeal to the reason and the justice of all civilized Nations."
"Frenchmen!
"The Foreign Powers proclaimed, in the face of Europe, that they were only armed againstNapoleon; and that they wished to respect our independence, and the right which belongs to every Nation to choose a Government suitable to its habits and its interests.
"Napoleonis no longer the Chief of the State. He has renounced the Throne, and his Abdication has been accepted by your Representatives. He is removed from us. His son is called to the Empire by the Constitution of the State. The coalesced Sovereigns are informed of this; and the War ought to be terminated, if the promises of Kings have any foundation in truth.
"While Plenipotentiaries have been sent to the Allied Powers to treat for peace in the name of France; the Generals of two of those Powers have refused any Suspension of Arms. Their troops have accelerated their marches under favour of a moment of hesitation and trouble. They are now at the very gates of the capital, and no communication has stated for what object the War is continued. Our Plenipotentiaries will soon declare whether we must renounce Peace. In the mean time, resistance is not only legitimate, but necessary: and humanity, in requiring an account of the blood uselessly shed, will not accuse those brave men who only combat to repel from their houses the scourges of war, murder, and pillage; and to defend with their lives the cause of Liberty, and of that Independence the imprescriptible right of which has been guaranteed to them even by the Manifestoes of their Enemies.
"Amidst these circumstances, your Representatives cannot forget that they were not chosen to stipulate for the interests of any individual Party, but for the whole Nation. Every act of weakness will dishonour them, and will only tend to endanger the future tranquillity of France. While the Government is employing all the means in its power to obtain a solid Peace; or, should that not be obtained without compromising our honour, to repel the Battalions of Foreigners: what more advantages to the Nation can be done than to collect and establish the fundamentalrules of a Monarchical and Representative Government, destined to secure to all citizens the free enjoyment of those sacred rights which sacrifices so numerous and so great have purchased; and to rally for ever, under the National Colours, that great body of Frenchmen who have no other interest, and no other wish, than an honourable repose and a just independence.
"Meanwhile the Chambers conceive that their duty and their dignity require them to declare that they will never acknowledge, as legitimate Chief of the State, him who, on ascending the Throne, shall refuse to acknowledge the Rights of the Nation, and to consecrate them by a solemn Compact. The Constitutional Charter is drawn up; and if the force of arms should succeed in temporarily imposing upon us a Master—if the destinies of a great Nation are again to be delivered up to the caprice and arbitrary will of a small number of privileged persons—then, in yielding to force, the National Representation will protest in the face of the whole World against the oppression of the French People.
"Your Representatives will appeal to the energy of the present and future generations to renew their claim both to National Independence, and the Rights of Civil and Religious Liberty. For these Rights they now appeal to the reason and the justice of all civilized Nations."
Notwithstanding the continued endeavours, on the part of the French Commissioners appointed by the Chambers, to induce the Allied Generals to enter upon an Armistice; the military operations were not for a moment interrupted.
On the morning of the 1st of July,Bülow'sCorps d' Armée(the Fourth) moved off to its right, towards Argenteuil. During the movement, however; the Enemy, as if at length aware, or desirous of ascertaining the nature, ofBlücher's operation, attacked the Village of Aubervilliers in front, from the Canal of St Denis, and penetrated as far as the Church situated in the centre of the place. The French were here met by the Prussian Support; and two Battalions from the main position arriving immediately afterwards, they were prevented from making any further progress. Nevertheless, a prolongedtiraillade, as well as a howitzer fire, on the part of the French, were maintained; duringwhich the march ofBülow's Corps continued in operation, the Fourteenth Brigade being left in support to the Advanced Posts until the arrival of the Anglo-Allied troops.
In the afternoon, the Duke ofWellington's Army reached Le Bourget; and took up the position vacated by PrinceBlücher, whose Advanced Posts it immediately relieved. Three Companies of Light Infantry fromColville's Division were thrown into Aubervilliers. The Prussians who had hitherto been stationed for the purpose of masking as much as possible the general movement of their Army to the right, had kept up a desultory fire from that portion of the Village which was in their possession; abstaining from making any direct attack, since this might have led to the advance of the French in great force at the moment the former were no longer supported by the main Army, and before the Anglo-Allied troops had arrived.
The British Light Companies, mentioned as having been thrown into Aubervilliers, were under no restraint of this kind; and Lieutenant Colonel SirNeil Campbell, who commanded them, determined to push forward, and possess himself, if possible, of the entire Village. Having first gained two or three of the highest houses, he broke from the top of these into some that were lower; and thence forcing his way through the partition walls of others, without much firing, since the French did not appear disposed to make an obstinate resistance (being by that time probably aware of the Prussian movement to the right, and of the arrival of the Anglo-Allied Army), he succeeded in obtaining possession of one side of a whole street, and of the greater portion of the Village. The French Officer in command then proposed a truce; which was accepted, since the Post he occupied lay between the British and a Battery upon the Canal. Theremaining Outposts were taken up from the Prussians without any molestation on the part of the Enemy; and the main Anglo-Allied Army occupied a position, having its Right upon the Height of Richebourg, and its Left upon the Wood of Bondy.
It will be recollected that Lieutenant ColonelSohr, of the Prussian Light Cavalry, was directed to pass the Bridge of St Germain on the morning of the 30th of June, and to show himself on the Orleans road upon the 1st of July. Starting at daybreak of the 30th, the Brigade passed through Montmorency and Argenteuil, towards St Germain; where it fell in with MajorColomb's Detachment, consisting of the 8th Hussars and two Battalions of Infantry. It then moved on about a league further, to Marly, upon the Versailles road; which it reached at nightfall, and where it bivouacked. On the morning of the 1st of July, Lieutenant ColonelSohrresumed his march, and took the direction of Versailles, which place, however, he did not reach until noon; much delay having occurred whilst passing through the intersected ground in that quarter, and in awaiting the Reports from the Detachments sent out in different directions to gain intelligence of the Enemy.
This bold and hazardous movement of Lieutenant ColonelSohr's Brigade, which was acting independently as a Free Corps for the time, did not escape the Enemy's observation. GeneralExcelmans, who commanded the French Cavalry on the south side of Paris, on receiving information that two Regiments of Prussian Hussars were advancing by Marly upon Versailles, resolved to attack them.
For this purpose he proceeded himself with the 5th, 15th, and 20th Dragoons, and the 6th Hussars, comprising a force of three thousand men, along the road from Montrougetowards Plessis Piquet, against the front of the Prussian Brigade. At the same time, the Light Cavalry Division of GeneralPiré, together with the 33rd Regiment of Infantry, consisting of three Battalions, were detached against the flank and rear of the Prussian Brigade. The 5th and 6th Lancers marched by the Sèvres road upon Viroflay; the 6thChasseursproceeded to occupy the cross roads connecting Sèvres with the northern portion of Versailles; the 1stChasseursmoved by Sèvres towards Rocquencourt, about three miles from Versailles, on the road to St Germain; in which direction the 33rd Infantry followed. Both the latter Regiments were destined to cut off the retreat of the Prussian Cavalry, should it be driven back byExcelmans. An exceedingly well planned ambush was now laid in and about Rocquencourt, and every precaution taken by the detaching of small parties on the look out.
It was late in the afternoon when Lieutenant ColonelSohrreceived intelligence that the Enemy's Cavalry was approaching, and that his Advanced Guard was attacked. He immediately advanced with both his Hussar Regiments, and drove back the Enemy upon Villa Coublai, in the Defile of which Village a sharp engagement ensued. In this attack the ranks of the Prussian Hussars had become disordered; and, as the latter retired, they were fallen upon by the 5th and 6th French Lancers ofPiré's Light Cavalry Brigade, before alluded to as having been posted in ambush. They then fell back upon Versailles, pursued by the French; who vainly endeavoured to force an entrance into the Town, at the Gate of which a gallant resistance was made by the Prussians. The short time that was gained by this resistance sufficed for collecting the main body of the Brigade on the open space at the outlet leading to St Germain, towards which point it might have retreated through the Park; but,having received information of the advance ofThielemann's Corps, and expecting every moment to derive from it a Support, Lieutenant ColonelSohrretired by the more direct road through Rocquencourt.
About seven o'clock in the evening, at which time the Hussars had collected their scattered force together, and were on the point of commencing their further retreat upon St Germain:Sohrreceived intelligence, upon which he could rely, that he had been turned by both Cavalry and Infantry; and that his line of retreat had been intercepted. His decision was instantly formed. He knew his men, their devotion, and their courage; and resolved upon cutting his way through the Enemy with the sword.
On quitting Versailles the Prussian Hussars were fired upon by the National Guard from the Barrier. They had not proceeded far when word was brought in, that Prussian and English Cavalry were approaching from the side of St Germain; but they were speedily undeceived. It was the 1st Regiment of FrenchChasseurs. In the next moment they were formed for attack, and advanced at a gallop. TheChasseurscame on in the same style; but they were completely overthrown, and their Commanding Officer lay stretched upon the ground by a pistol shot. As they were pursued by the Hussars, a fire was unexpectedly opened upon the latter by two Companies of the 3rd Battalion of the 33rd French Regiment, posted behind some hedges, near Le Chesnay; whereuponSohr, with the greater part of his Hussars, struck into a field road to the right, in order to turn this Village, which was occupied by the Enemy. This, however, led them to a bridge, with adjacent houses, occupied by two more Companies of the above Battalion; from which they also received a sharp fire. Meeting with this new obstacle, and aware of the proximity of the greatmass of Cavalry underExcelmans, in their rear; the diminished and disordered remnant of the two Prussian Regiments, about 150 Hussars, rallying upon their Chief, dashed across a meadow, with a determination to force a passage through the Village of Le Chesnay. Here theChasseursagain opposed them, but were once more overthrown; and the Prussians now followed a road which conducted them through the Village, but which unfortunately led into a large court whence there was no other outlet. Not only was their further progress thus checked, but their whole body was suddenly assailed by a fire from Infantry, already posted in this quarter; whilst the pursuing Cavalry prevented every chance of escape. Their situation had become truly desperate; but their bravery, instead of succumbing, appeared incited to the highest pitch by the heroic example of Lieutenant ColonelSohr: who rejected the offer of quarter, and fell, severely wounded by a pistol shot. Victory favoured the strongest: but it was a victory gained by immeasurably superior numbers over the dead and dying of a gallant band of warriors; who fought to the last, and did all that the most inflexible bravery could accomplish.
The losses incurred by this Brigade during the short Campaign had already reduced it, previously to this Affair, to between 600 and 700 men: and on the present occasion it suffered a still further loss of ten Officers, and from 400 to 500 men.
The detaching of these two Regiments so much in advance of the Prussian general movement to the right; and the Orders given to Lieutenant ColonelSohr, to cross the Seine on the morning of the 30th of June, appear a questionable measure. It is true that this Officer was desired to consider himself as acting independently, and without reference to the troops that were to follow inthe same direction; but then it must be recollected that he had to proceed along a very considerable portion of the circumference of a circle, from the centre of which the Enemy could detach superior force along radii far shorter than the distance between the Prussian Brigade and the main Army: so that, with a vigilant look out, the French possessed every facility of cutting off his retreat. His Orders were to interrupt the communication with Paris by the Orleans road, and to spread alarm and confusion on that side of the capital: but in issuing them the effect likely to be produced upon themoraleof the citizens could have alone been contemplated; and, in all probability, it was at the same time conceived that, as no fortified works had been thrown up on the south side, the French troops intended to direct their attention mainly, if not wholly, towards the Armies in front of the northern portion of the capital. The effect thus sought to be produced might have been obtained in the case of a weak garrison; but that of Paris, comprising as it did about 50,000 troops of the Line, besides the National Guards, was not to be so lightly treated. In carrying into execution the Order to create alarm and confusion on the south side of Paris, these two Regiments of Hussars would naturally draw in that direction the attention of the French Commanders; and thus lead, as the result proved, not only to the cutting off of so comparatively weak a force, but also to the posting of a respectable body of troops at the threatened point, in anticipation of the Enemy's following up the attack in greater force. Even previously to obtaining the insight thus afforded into a part of the plan of the Invaders, the movements of the latter had been more narrowly watched than was supposed: as may be readily inferred from the fact ofExcelmanshaving been detached, on the 1st, towardsVersailles, with a body of Cavalry; and of the position at Montrouge having been occupied in considerable force. All circumstances considered, the preferable course would have been, to have employedSohr's Brigade as an Advanced Guard only; having immediate support from the main Columns in its rear.
It so happened that the Advanced Guard ofThielemann's Corps, consisting of the Ninth Infantry Brigade, under GeneralBorcke, was on the march from St Germain (which it had left about seven o'clock in the evening) to take post at Marly; when it received intelligence of the two Cavalry Regiments, under Lieutenant ColonelSohr, having been completely defeated.Borckehastened forward, and it was not long before his Advance became engaged with the FrenchTirailleursproceeding from Versailles. The Enemy was immediately attacked, and driven back upon Rocquencourt. As darkness was setting in,Borckedrew up his force with caution. He pushed forward the Fusilier Battalion of the 8th Regiment, supported by the 1st Battalion of the 30th Regiment; and held the remainder in Battalion Columns on the right and left of the road. The vigour of the attack made by the first named Battalion was such that the Enemy retired in all haste upon the nearest suburb of Paris; whilstBorckebivouacked at Rocquencourt.
Besides the Cavalry underExcelmans, the remains of the Third and Fourth FrenchCorps d'Arméewere detached to the south of Paris; on which sideVandamme, who commanded, took up a position, having his Right upon the Seine, his Left by Montrouge, and his Centre in rear of Issy. He placed a portion of his troops in the villages of Vanves and Issy; the houses and walls of which appeared to offer great advantages for defence. His Advanced Guard occupied Chatillon, Clamord, Meudon, Sèvres, and St Cloud. In theevening he was joined by the Imperial Guard, which he posted in support.
The following were the positions of the respective Armies on the evening of the 1st of July:—
The Second Corps of the Anglo-Allied Army, under LordHill, comprising the Second and Fourth Divisions, the Nassau troops, andEstorff's Hanoverian Cavalry Brigade, was in the position previously occupied by the Fourth Prussian Corps; having its Right upon the great road about Pierrefitte, its Left upon the great road of Senlis, and its Advanced Posts at Aubervilliers and in front of St Denis.The First Corps, under SirJohn Byng, comprising the First and Third Divisions, and the Dutch-Belgian troops, were in the position previously occupied by the First Prussian Corps; having its Right upon the great road behind Le Bourget; its Left upon the Forest of Bondy, and its Advanced Posts along the Ourcq Canal.The Reserve, under SirJames Kempt, was encamped between Louvres and Vauderlan.The Cavalry was encamped and cantoned about the villages of Groussainville, Vauderlan, and Roissy.The Pontoon Train and the Hawser Bridges were at Sarcelles, on the Chantilly road to Paris.The Head Quarters of the Duke ofWellingtonwere at Gonesse.The First PrussianCorps d'Arméewas encamped between the villages of Le Mesnil and Carrière au Mont, on the left bank of the Seine, not far from St Germain.The Third Corps was also on the left bank of the Seine, in the valley, and near St Germain. Its Advanced Guard (the Ninth Brigade) was at Rocquencourt.The Fourth Corps was upon the march to St Germain.PrinceBlücher's Head Quarters were at St Germain.The Third and Fourth FrenchCorps d'Arméeand the Imperial Guard were on the south side of Paris, their Right upon the Seine, their Left by Montrouge; with the Advanced Guard at Chatillon, Clamord, Meudon, Sèvres, and St Cloud.The remainder of the French Army continued within the capital.The Prince ofEckmühl's Head Quarters were at Villette.
The Second Corps of the Anglo-Allied Army, under LordHill, comprising the Second and Fourth Divisions, the Nassau troops, andEstorff's Hanoverian Cavalry Brigade, was in the position previously occupied by the Fourth Prussian Corps; having its Right upon the great road about Pierrefitte, its Left upon the great road of Senlis, and its Advanced Posts at Aubervilliers and in front of St Denis.
The First Corps, under SirJohn Byng, comprising the First and Third Divisions, and the Dutch-Belgian troops, were in the position previously occupied by the First Prussian Corps; having its Right upon the great road behind Le Bourget; its Left upon the Forest of Bondy, and its Advanced Posts along the Ourcq Canal.
The Reserve, under SirJames Kempt, was encamped between Louvres and Vauderlan.
The Cavalry was encamped and cantoned about the villages of Groussainville, Vauderlan, and Roissy.
The Pontoon Train and the Hawser Bridges were at Sarcelles, on the Chantilly road to Paris.
The Head Quarters of the Duke ofWellingtonwere at Gonesse.
The First PrussianCorps d'Arméewas encamped between the villages of Le Mesnil and Carrière au Mont, on the left bank of the Seine, not far from St Germain.
The Third Corps was also on the left bank of the Seine, in the valley, and near St Germain. Its Advanced Guard (the Ninth Brigade) was at Rocquencourt.
The Fourth Corps was upon the march to St Germain.
PrinceBlücher's Head Quarters were at St Germain.
The Third and Fourth FrenchCorps d'Arméeand the Imperial Guard were on the south side of Paris, their Right upon the Seine, their Left by Montrouge; with the Advanced Guard at Chatillon, Clamord, Meudon, Sèvres, and St Cloud.
The remainder of the French Army continued within the capital.
The Prince ofEckmühl's Head Quarters were at Villette.
At daybreak of the 2nd of July,Blücherput the wholePrussian Army in motion towards the south side of Paris, where he purposed taking possession of the advantageous position comprising the Heights of Meudon and Chatillon, and their immediate vicinity.Thielemann's Advanced Guard (the Ninth Brigade) immediately proceeded to occupy Versailles. The Corps itself halted two hours at Rocquencourt to wait for the arrival ofZieten's Corps. As the latter Corps advanced, it threw out a Detachment to its left, consisting of the 1st Battalion of the 1st West Prussian Regiment, two pieces of Horse Artillery, and a Squadron of Cavalry, under CaptainKrensky: who was directed to proceed by Malmaison towards St Cloud, communicating with MajorColomb, who had already been detached, with the force before mentioned as being under his command, towards the Bridge of Neuilly; and to keep a look out to the left of the direct road to Paris. OnZieten's Advanced Guard reaching Ville d'Avray, whence it drove off a French Picquet, information was obtained that the Enemy was restoring the Bridge of St Cloud, which he had previously destroyed; and that he occupied the Bois de Boulogne in considerable force. The Third Brigade was therefore ordered to proceed by its left towards St Cloud, and to oppose any movement which might be attempted against that Flank.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon whenZieten's First Brigade, underSteinmetz, reached Sèvres. Here the French were strongly posted, occupying the place itself, the Heights of Bellevue; and having their Light Troops well disposed amongst the adjacent gardens and vineyards. The First Prussian Brigade was followed in support by the Second and Fourth Brigades; and, notwithstanding the very gallant defence that was made, these troops succeeded in forcing the French to abandon their stronghold, and fall back upon Moulineau. Here the French made another stand; butwere again defeated bySteinmetz, who had closely pursued them. Whilst the First Brigade was thus gaining ground; the Second, together with the Reserve Artillery, advanced towards the Heights of Meudon. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps followed the First Brigade, in support. The Fourth Brigade occupied Sèvres. Major GeneralJagow, who had been detached to the left with the Third Brigade, having ascertained that the Enemy was not likely to undertake any movement from the Bois de Boulogne, and that CaptainKrensky's Detachment was on the look out in that direction, proceeded to rejoin the Corps; and on reaching Sèvres, towards evening, he was directed byZietento take up a position with his Brigade to the right, on the Heights of Meudon.
In the evening, the French, after having reformed, and collected their defeated force at Issy, made an attempt to regain possession of Moulineau; but the attack failed, and they were driven back upon Issy. Here they were reinforced: fifteen Battalions were posted in and about Issy, supported by numerous guns and Cavalry: their Light Infantry occupying the vineyards in front of the Village. About half past ten o'clock in the night, however, the Prussians, who kept a sharp look out, heard these troops marching off; and perceived that their departure was conducted in rather a disorderly manner. Instant advantage was taken of this circumstance, and a part of the First and Second Prussian Brigades attacked the French; who fled back upon the suburb of Vaugirard in such confusion that Paris might have been entered at this moment, if more force had been at hand.
During the night,Zietenposted his Corps in the following manner:—His Right upon the Height of Clamord, his Centre upon that of Meudon, and his Left in Moulineau;Sèvres still occupied; the Advanced Guard in Issy, in the rear of which Village was the Reserve Cavalry in support.
WhilstZieten's Corps had been thus successfully effecting its movement against the south side of the capital;Thielemann's, which formed the Right Column, proceeded towards Plessis Piquet, and pushed forward its Advanced Guard to the Heights of Chatillon, which it reached late in the evening.Bülow's Corps, acting as a Reserve, occupied Versailles and its vicinity during the night.
During the whole of this day, the troops of the Anglo-Allied Army continued in position in front of the fortified lines on the north side of Paris. The Duke having established a Bridge at Argenteuil, Detachments were sent across the Seine: and these, having secured the Villages of Asnières, Courbevoie, and Suresnes on the left bank of the Seine, opened a communication with the Prussians.
The Allied Commanders had thus succeeded in shutting up the French forces within their lines.Wellingtonwas perfectly prepared to attack the north side of Paris, if circumstances should render such a step necessary; or if a favourable opportunity should present itself: whilstBlücher, having secured a strong position in front of the south side, which was mostly open and defenceless, was equally ready to storm the capital with his collected force. The effect of this well conceived and successfully executed plan of operation was to divide the Enemy's attention between two opposite points of the town. Should he attempt to assail the one Army with his principal force, he would immediately find himself attacked by the other Army; without possessing the means wherewith to carry on the contest with both simultaneously. On the other hand, should a general and formidable assault be made by those Armies, on the opposite points, at the same time; the necessary division of hisforces, in arranging his plan of defence, would render his situation still more desperate.
The Provisional Government, fully alive to this state of things, and duly aware of the approach of the Bavarian, Russian, and Austrian Armies, clearly saw the inutility of further resistance to the Allies, and instructed the Commissioners to wait upon the Duke ofWellington, and report to his Grace the fact ofNapoleonhaving quitted Paris on the 29th to embark for the United States, and to press the point of a Suspension of Hostilities.
To this representation the Duke replied that the great obstacle to the Armistice having thus been removed, there remained only the question as to the terms; which he thought should be the halting of the Anglo-Allied and Prussian Armies in their present positions, the withdrawal of the French Army from Paris across the Loire, and the placing of the capital in the keeping of the National Guards until the King should order otherwise. He offered, if they agreed to these terms, to endeavour to prevail on PrinceBlücherto halt his troops, and send an Officer to settle the details; but, at the same time, he told them distinctly that he would not consent to suspend hostilities so long as a French soldier remained in Paris.
Having received this explicit declaration on the part of his Grace, the Commissioners withdrew.
The following were the positions of the respective Armies during the night of the 2nd of July:—
The troops of the Anglo-Allied Army continued in position in front of the lines of St Denis. Detachments were at Asnières, Courbevoie, and Suresnes, on the left hank of the Seine.The First PrussianCorps d'Arméehad its Right on the Height of Clamard, its Centre on that of Meudon, its Left at Moulineau, and itsAdvanced Guard at Issy; in rear of which point was the Reserve Cavalry of the Corps.Of the Third Corps, the Ninth Brigade was at Chatillon, the Tenth and Eleventh Brigades were in front of Vélizy, the Twelfth Brigade was at Chatenay and Sceaux. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps bivouacked about Plessis Piquet.Of the Fourth Corps, the Sixteenth Brigade was at Montreail, in advance of Versailles; the Thirteenth Brigade bivouacked near Viroflay; the Fourteenth Brigade bivouacked at Le Chesnay Bel Air, not far from Rocquencourt. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps was partly in front of Versailles, and partly on the left of Montreail.The troops composing the Right Wing of the French Army occupied the lines on the right bank of the Seine, whence they were watching the British. Some troops were posted in the Bois de Boulogne, and several Posts were established along both banks of the river.The Left Wing extended from the Seine as far as the Orleans road. It held Vaugirard strongly occupied, the main body was posted between the Barrières de l'Ecole Militaire and de l'Enfer.
The troops of the Anglo-Allied Army continued in position in front of the lines of St Denis. Detachments were at Asnières, Courbevoie, and Suresnes, on the left hank of the Seine.
The First PrussianCorps d'Arméehad its Right on the Height of Clamard, its Centre on that of Meudon, its Left at Moulineau, and itsAdvanced Guard at Issy; in rear of which point was the Reserve Cavalry of the Corps.
Of the Third Corps, the Ninth Brigade was at Chatillon, the Tenth and Eleventh Brigades were in front of Vélizy, the Twelfth Brigade was at Chatenay and Sceaux. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps bivouacked about Plessis Piquet.
Of the Fourth Corps, the Sixteenth Brigade was at Montreail, in advance of Versailles; the Thirteenth Brigade bivouacked near Viroflay; the Fourteenth Brigade bivouacked at Le Chesnay Bel Air, not far from Rocquencourt. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps was partly in front of Versailles, and partly on the left of Montreail.
The troops composing the Right Wing of the French Army occupied the lines on the right bank of the Seine, whence they were watching the British. Some troops were posted in the Bois de Boulogne, and several Posts were established along both banks of the river.
The Left Wing extended from the Seine as far as the Orleans road. It held Vaugirard strongly occupied, the main body was posted between the Barrières de l'Ecole Militaire and de l'Enfer.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 3rd of July,Vandammeadvanced in two Columns from Vaugirard to the attack of Issy. Between Vaugirard and the Seine, he had a considerable force of Cavalry, the front of which was flanked by a Battery advantageously posted near Auteuil on the right bank of the river. The action commenced with a brisk cannonade: the French having brought twenty pieces of cannon against the front of the Village, which was then vigorously assailed by his Infantry. The Prussians had constructed some barricades, and other defences, during the night; but these did not protect them from the sharp fire of case shot which was poured upon them by the French Batteries, the guns of which enfiladed the streets. The 12th and 24th Prussian Regiments, and the 2nd Westphalian Landwehr, supported by a half Battery of twelve pounders, fought with great bravery. There was much loss on both sides. At length the French withdrew; but only to advance again, considerably reinforced.
The Second Prussian Brigade was immediately ordered to join the First, and the whole of the troops of the First Corps stood to their arms.Zietensent a request to PrinceBlücherfor the support of two Brigades ofBülow's Corps; and, at the same time, beggedThielemannto advance (in conformity with instructions conveyed to him from Head Quarters) from Chatillon, and threaten the Enemy's Left Flank.
In the mean time, the French renewed their attack upon Issy; which, however, again proved unsuccessful. This was followed by a heavy cannonade and by further assaults, without any decided advantage having been gained over the defenders. The French did not appear disposed to venture upon a more general attack, which would have offered them a much greater chance of forcing back the Prussian Advanced Guard; probably considering that, if unsuccessful, it might end in the suburbs of Paris being easily carried by storm: and hence, after four hours' continued but fruitless attempts uponZieten's Advanced Position, they fell back upon Paris; the PrussianTirailleursfollowing them until they came within a very short distance of the Barriers.
At a Council of War, which had been held during the previous night in Paris, it was decided that the defence of the capital was not practicable against the Allied Armies. Nevertheless,Davoustwas desirous that another attempt should be made on the Prussian Army: but now that this had failed in the manner described, that the two Allied Armies were in full communication with each other, and that a British Corps was likewise moving upon the left of the Seine towards Neuilly, a Capitulation was determined upon.
Accordingly, at seven o'clock in the morning, the fire on the part of the French suddenly ceased; and GeneralRevestwas deputed to pass over toZieten's Corps,which of all the Allied troops was the nearest to the capital, for the purpose of offering a Capitulation, and requesting an immediate Armistice.Blücher, however, required from MarshalDavoust, the Commander in Chief of the French Army, a negotiator possessing greater powers, before he would finally agree to a Suspension of Hostilities; and indicated the Palace of St Cloud as the place where the negotiations should be carried on, to which point he then removed his Head Quarters.
During the contest at Issy, the Detachments on the left of the First Prussian Corps, under CaptainKrensky, were engaged rather sharply with the Enemy between St Cloud and Neuilly; which ended in the French being driven back upon the Bridge at the latter place, towards which point also a body of British troops was advancing. ThusZieten's Corps, the same that had opened the Campaign with the actions along the Sambre, had the honour of closing it with those at Issy and Neuilly on the Seine.
Officers, furnished with full powers by their respective Chiefs, soon met at St Cloud; whither the Duke ofWellingtonhad already repaired in person to join PrinceBlücher; and the result of their deliberations was the following:—
Military Convention.This day, the 3rd of July 1815, the Commissioners named by the Commanders in Chief of the respective Armies; that is to say, the BaronBignon, holding the Portfolio of Foreign Affairs; the CountGuilleminot, Chief of the General Staff of the French Army; the Countde Bondy, Prefect of the Department of the Seine; being furnished with the full powers of his Excellency the Marshal Prince ofEckmühl, Commander in Chief of the French Army, on one side: and Major General BaronMüffling, furnished with the full powers of his Highness the Field Marshal PrinceBlücher, Commander in Chief of the Prussian Army; and ColonelHervey, furnished with the fullpowers of his Excellency the Duke ofWellington, Commander in Chief of the English Army, on the other side, have agreed to the following Articles.Article I.There shall be a Suspension of Arms between the Allied Armies commanded by his Highness the PrinceBlücherand his Grace the Duke ofWellington, and the French Army under the walls of Paris.Article II.The French Army shall put itself in march tomorrow, to take up a position beyond the Loire. Paris shall be completely evacuated in three days; and the movement behind the Loire shall be effected within eight days.Article III.The French Army shall take with it all itsmatériel, Field Artillery, Military Chest, horses, and property of Regiments, without exception. All persons belonging to the Depôts shall also be removed, as well as those belonging to the different Branches of Administration which appertain to the Army.Article IV.The Sick and Wounded, and the Medical Officers whom it may be necessary to leave with them, are placed under the special protection of the Commanders in Chief of the English and Prussian Armies.Article V.The Military, and those holding employments to whom the foregoing Article relates, shall be at liberty, immediately after their recovery, to rejoin the Corps to which they belong.Article VI.The wives and children of all individuals belonging to the French Army shall be at liberty to remain in Paris. The wives shall be allowed to quit Paris for the purpose of rejoining the Army, and to carry with them their property and that of their husbands.Article VII.The Officers of the Line employed with theFédérés, or with theTirailleursof the National Guard, may either join the Army, or return to their homes or the places of their birth.Article VIII.Tomorrow, the 4th of July, at mid day, St Denis, St Ouen, Clichy, and Neuilly shall be given up. The day after tomorrow, the 5th, at the same hour, Montmartre shall be given up. The third day, the 6th, all the Barriers shall be given up.Article IX.The duty of the City of Paris shall continue to be done by the National Guard, and by the Corps of the MunicipalGensd'armerie.Article X.The Commanders in Chief of the English and Prussian Armies engage to respect, and to make those under their command respect, the actual authorities, so long as they shall exist.Article XI.Public property, with the exception of that which relates to War, whether it belongs to the Government, or depends uponthe Municipal Authority, shall be respected; and the Allied Powers will not interfere in any manner with its administration and management.Article XII.Private persons and property shall be equally respected. The inhabitants, and in general all individuals who shall be in the capital, shall continue to enjoy their rights and liberties, without being disturbed or called to account, either as to the situations which they hold, or may have held, or as to their conduct or political opinions.Article XIII.The foreign troops shall not interpose any obstacles to the provisioning of the capital; and will protect, on the contrary, the arrival and the free circulation of the articles which are destined for it.Article XIV.The present Convention shall be observed, and shall serve to regulate the mutual relations until the conclusion of Peace. In case of rupture, it must be denounced in the usual forms at least ten days beforehand.Article XV.If any difficulties arise in the execution of any one of the Articles of the present Convention, the interpretation of it shall be made in favour of the French Army and of the City of Paris.Article XVI.The present Convention is declared common to all the Allied Armies, provided it be ratified by the Powers on which these Armies are dependant.Article XVII.The Ratifications shall be exchanged tomorrow, the 4th of July, at six o'clock in the morning, at the Bridge of Neuilly.Article XVIII.Commissioners shall be named by the respective parties in order to watch over the execution of the present Convention.Done and signed at St Cloud, in triplicate, by the Commissioners above named, the day and year before mentioned.The Baron Bignon.The Count Guilleminot.The Count de Bondy.The Baron de Müffling.F.B. Hervey, Colonel.Approved and ratified the present Suspension of Arms, at Paris, the 3rd of July 1815.The Marshal Prince of Eckmühl.Afterwards approved byPrince Blücherand theDuke of Wellington; and the Ratifications exchanged on the 4th of July.
Military Convention.
This day, the 3rd of July 1815, the Commissioners named by the Commanders in Chief of the respective Armies; that is to say, the BaronBignon, holding the Portfolio of Foreign Affairs; the CountGuilleminot, Chief of the General Staff of the French Army; the Countde Bondy, Prefect of the Department of the Seine; being furnished with the full powers of his Excellency the Marshal Prince ofEckmühl, Commander in Chief of the French Army, on one side: and Major General BaronMüffling, furnished with the full powers of his Highness the Field Marshal PrinceBlücher, Commander in Chief of the Prussian Army; and ColonelHervey, furnished with the fullpowers of his Excellency the Duke ofWellington, Commander in Chief of the English Army, on the other side, have agreed to the following Articles.
Article I.There shall be a Suspension of Arms between the Allied Armies commanded by his Highness the PrinceBlücherand his Grace the Duke ofWellington, and the French Army under the walls of Paris.
Article II.The French Army shall put itself in march tomorrow, to take up a position beyond the Loire. Paris shall be completely evacuated in three days; and the movement behind the Loire shall be effected within eight days.
Article III.The French Army shall take with it all itsmatériel, Field Artillery, Military Chest, horses, and property of Regiments, without exception. All persons belonging to the Depôts shall also be removed, as well as those belonging to the different Branches of Administration which appertain to the Army.
Article IV.The Sick and Wounded, and the Medical Officers whom it may be necessary to leave with them, are placed under the special protection of the Commanders in Chief of the English and Prussian Armies.
Article V.The Military, and those holding employments to whom the foregoing Article relates, shall be at liberty, immediately after their recovery, to rejoin the Corps to which they belong.
Article VI.The wives and children of all individuals belonging to the French Army shall be at liberty to remain in Paris. The wives shall be allowed to quit Paris for the purpose of rejoining the Army, and to carry with them their property and that of their husbands.
Article VII.The Officers of the Line employed with theFédérés, or with theTirailleursof the National Guard, may either join the Army, or return to their homes or the places of their birth.
Article VIII.Tomorrow, the 4th of July, at mid day, St Denis, St Ouen, Clichy, and Neuilly shall be given up. The day after tomorrow, the 5th, at the same hour, Montmartre shall be given up. The third day, the 6th, all the Barriers shall be given up.
Article IX.The duty of the City of Paris shall continue to be done by the National Guard, and by the Corps of the MunicipalGensd'armerie.
Article X.The Commanders in Chief of the English and Prussian Armies engage to respect, and to make those under their command respect, the actual authorities, so long as they shall exist.
Article XI.Public property, with the exception of that which relates to War, whether it belongs to the Government, or depends uponthe Municipal Authority, shall be respected; and the Allied Powers will not interfere in any manner with its administration and management.
Article XII.Private persons and property shall be equally respected. The inhabitants, and in general all individuals who shall be in the capital, shall continue to enjoy their rights and liberties, without being disturbed or called to account, either as to the situations which they hold, or may have held, or as to their conduct or political opinions.
Article XIII.The foreign troops shall not interpose any obstacles to the provisioning of the capital; and will protect, on the contrary, the arrival and the free circulation of the articles which are destined for it.
Article XIV.The present Convention shall be observed, and shall serve to regulate the mutual relations until the conclusion of Peace. In case of rupture, it must be denounced in the usual forms at least ten days beforehand.
Article XV.If any difficulties arise in the execution of any one of the Articles of the present Convention, the interpretation of it shall be made in favour of the French Army and of the City of Paris.
Article XVI.The present Convention is declared common to all the Allied Armies, provided it be ratified by the Powers on which these Armies are dependant.
Article XVII.The Ratifications shall be exchanged tomorrow, the 4th of July, at six o'clock in the morning, at the Bridge of Neuilly.
Article XVIII.Commissioners shall be named by the respective parties in order to watch over the execution of the present Convention.
Done and signed at St Cloud, in triplicate, by the Commissioners above named, the day and year before mentioned.
The Baron Bignon.The Count Guilleminot.The Count de Bondy.The Baron de Müffling.F.B. Hervey, Colonel.
Approved and ratified the present Suspension of Arms, at Paris, the 3rd of July 1815.
The Marshal Prince of Eckmühl.
Afterwards approved byPrince Blücherand theDuke of Wellington; and the Ratifications exchanged on the 4th of July.
The terms of the Convention were literally fulfilled.
On the 4th, the French Army, commanded by MarshalDavoust, quitted Paris; and proceeded on its march to the Loire: and the Anglo-Allied troops occupied St Denis, St Ouen, Clichy, and Neuilly. On the 5th, the latter took possession of Montmartre. On the 6th, they occupied the Barriers of Paris, upon the right of the Seine; and the Prussians those upon the left bank. On the 7th, the two Allied Armies entered Paris: the Chamber of Peers, having received from the Provisional Government a notification of the course of events, terminated its sittings; the Chamber of Deputies protested, but in vain. Their President (Lanjuinais) quitted his Chair; and on the following day, the doors were closed, and the approaches guarded by foreign troops.
On the 8th, the French King,Louis XVIII., made his public entry into his capital, amidst the acclamations of the people, and again occupied the palace of his ancestors.
It was also on the 8th thatNapoleon Buonaparteembarked, at Rochefort, on board the French FrigateLa Saale; and proceeded, accompanied byLa Méduse, in which was his suite, to the roads of the Isle of Aix, with the intention of setting sail to America.
On the 10th, the wind became favourable: but a British Fleet made its appearance; andNapoleon, seeing the difficulty of eluding the vigilance of its Cruisers, resolved, after having previously communicated with CaptainMaitland, upon placing himself under his protection on board theBellerophon, which vessel he accordingly reached on the 15th. On the following day, CaptainMaitlandsailed for England; and arrived at Torbay, with his illustrious charge, on the 24th. The Ex-Emperor was not permitted to land; and the British Government having decided upon sending him to the Island of St Helena, he was removed to theNorthumberlandMan of War,under Rear Admiral SirGeorge Cockburn, in which ship he sailed for that distant rock; the final abode on earth of the man whose extraordinary career marks the most stirring and eventful period in the history of Europe.
The Convention of Paris constituted a basis for the resumption of negotiations for the General Peace which, a few months before, had been so unexpectedly interrupted. The celebrated Statesmen of that remarkable period—Castlereagh,Nesselrode,Metternich,Hardenberg, andTalleyrand—aided by distinguished Representatives of the minor European States, now perceived the importance of establishing a more closely cemented Alliance; reconciling the clashing interests of emulative Governments, securing the rights of the legitimate Sovereign of France, and consolidating the re-established order of things in that country.
The mere engagement of the French Government to a Treaty of Peace and grateful amity was not considered a sufficient guarantee for the long desired repose of Europe. France, which dictated laws according to her own desires and interests to the entire Continent, was now, in her turn, to be subjected to the most severe conditions. In order to guarantee her compliance with the demands required of her by the wants and necessities of the nations panting for that peace which was to relieve their exhausted means, and to avert the dangers of internal dissensions; she was destined to witness the occupation of her Frontier Fortresses by a vast Army, comprising contingent forces from the Allied Powers, and requiring to be maintained upon a full War Establishment at her expense: whilst, at the same time, heavy contributions were laid upon her for the purpose of indemnifying the Sovereigns who had been compelled again to take up arms against her.
But, notwithstanding these reverses and indemnities,France herself is, perhaps, the country that has most benefited by that General Peace which was established on the ruins of her Empire. The rational form of Government which was secured to her by an enlarged Constitutional Charter has gradually introduced among her people the most salutary reforms, and the most liberal institutions; the stimulus given to her industry by the cessation of harassing wars, of persecuting conscriptions, and of vexatious imposts, rapidly obtained for her a commercial prosperity to which she had long been a stranger; whilst an unusual period of tranquillity has so completely renovated and invigorated her resources, both moral and physical, as to place her again in the rank of the highest Powers.
Now that the nation has completely recovered from the effects of the convulsive throes which attended its dissolution as an Empire, and has assumed the calm and dignified attitude of repose; in its resuscitated strength it contemplates the past in a more rational and philosophic spirit, balancing the evil with the good. If the public mind of France dwell for a time upon the tyrannical exercise ofNapoleon's power upon the people; the sadness of the reflection is palliated by his flattering, though personally ambitious, desire to render France the Arbitress of Europe: if it perceive the rights of the citizens subverted for the furtherance of his designs, the impression thus produced vanishes at the contemplation of theCodeNapoleon: if it appear shocked by the general perversion of labour from its natural sphere to purely military purposes; it is again soothed by the grandeur in design, and utility in effect, of mighty enterprises, conferring employment on myriads of artists and artisans: if it be disposed to disapprove of the spoliation authorized in foreign States; it is speedily flattered by the grand idea of rendering Paris the centre of civilization and of the arts: and finally, if it feel pained and subdued by a contemplation of thedisasters of Moscow, Vittoria, Leipzic, and Waterloo; it revives and rejoices in recounting the glorious triumphs of Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, and Wagram.
If one country more than any other required a lasting Peace to enable her to recover from the effects of the immense sacrifices she had made, in life and treasure—sacrifices which proved, beyond doubt, the Salvation of Europe—that country was Great Britain. Through the intelligence of her Statesmen, the freedom of her Constitution, the enterprise of her merchants, the industry of her artisans, and the bravery of her naval and military defenders; she continues to maintain her lofty position in the scale of nations, and even to extend her Empire and her sway to the furthermost points of the earth. But to whom is she mainly indebted for this proud pre-eminence, this unparalleled grandeur? To such a question every Briton, no matter what may be the direction of his political feelings or party prejudices, will unhesitatingly reply—to the rare talent, the untiring zeal, and practised skill of her Chief who led, as also to the inflexible courage, extraordinary endurance, and the perfect discipline of her sons who fought, her last and ever memorable struggle on the Continent of Europe—theBattle of Waterloo. It was upon the solid foundation thus obtained that was raised that well cemented superstructure, the solemn Compact of Sovereigns and States, constituting the General Peace of 1815: and although, as time rolls on, symptoms of decay may be traced in some portions of the edifice, still it stands a monument of the downfall of an insatiable ambition aiming at universal dominion; and continues to this day the surest guarantee of the preservation of that equitable Balance of Power which can alone secure the permanence of the tranquillity and prosperity of Europe.
SUPPLEMENT.
THE Battle of Waterloo, followed as it was by the advance of the Anglo-Allied and Prussian Armies upon Paris, was so decisive in its effects, and so comprehensive in its results, that the great object of the War—the destruction of the power ofNapoleonand the restoration of the legitimate Sovereign—was attained while the Armies of the Upper Rhine and of Italy were but commencing their invasion of the French territory. Had the successes attendant upon the exertions ofWellingtonandBlücherassumed a less decisive character, and, more especially, had reverses taken the place of those successes; the operations of the Armies advancing from the Rhine and across the Alps would have acquired an immense importance in the history of the War: but the brilliant course of events in the north of France materially diminished the interest excited by the military transactions in other parts of the kingdom. Upon this ground it has been considered, that to enter into any very detailed account of the movements and dispositions of the Allies, on the eastern frontier, is unnecessary; and that the completion of the present Work will be sufficiently accomplished by the addition of a simple outline of the daily progress and attendant circumstances of the advance of each Army into the interior of the country.
cap
Part of France
Operations of the German Corps d'Armée.
This Corps, which was composed of contingent forces supplied by the petty Princes of North Germany, was assembled, in the middle of April, in the vicinity of Coblentz. It amounted to 26,200 men, divided into thirty Battalions, twelve Squadrons, and two and a half Batteries; and was placed under the command of General CountKleist von Nollendorf. At a somewhat later period it crossed the Rhine at Coblentz and Neuwied, and took up a position on the Moselle and the Sarre; its Right communicating with the Third PrussianCorps d'Armée, and its Left with the Bavarian troops at Zweibrücken. Its Advanced Posts extended along the French frontier from Arlon to Mertzig. Its Head Quarters were at Trier, on the Moselle.
In this position it remained until the 16th of June, when its Commander, Generalvon Engelhard(in the absence of CountKleist, who was ill), advanced from Trier to Arlon; which it reached on the 19th. Here it continued until the 21st, when it received an Order from PrinceBlücherto move into France by Bastogne and Neufchâteau; and to gain possession of the Fortresses of Sedan and Bouillon. On the 22nd, the Corps commenced its march, in two Columns: the one by Neufchâteau, upon Sedan; the other by Recogne, upon Bouillon. Sedan, after a few days' bombardment, capitulated on the 25th of June. An attempt was made to take Bouillon by acoup de main; but its garrison was strong enough to frustrate this project. The place was not considered of sufficient importance to rendera regular siege expedient, and it was therefore simply invested, from the 25th of June, until the 21st of August; when it was blockaded at all points by troops of the Netherlands, under PrinceFrederickof Orange.
On the 28th of June, Lieutenant Generalvon Hacke, who had been appointed to the command of the German Corps, directed the Advanced Guard to move upon Charleville, which lies under the guns of the Fortress of Mézières, and to carry the place by storm. The capture was successfully made by some Hessian Battalions, and tended greatly to facilitate the siege of Mézières. Moveable Columns were detached to observe the Fortresses of Montmédy, Laon, and Rheims. The last named place was taken by capitulation on the 8th of July; and the garrison, amounting to 4,000 men, retired behind the Loire.
Lieutenant Generalvon Hackefinding that, notwithstanding his vigorous bombardment of Mézières, which he commenced on the 27th of June, his summons to surrender was unheeded by the Commandant, GeneralLemoine, undertook a regular siege of the place, and opened trenches on the 2nd of August. On the 13th, the French garrison gave up the Town and retired into the Citadel, which surrendered on the 1st of September.
The efforts of the Corps were now directed upon Montmédy, around which Fortress it had succeeded in placing twelve Batteries in position by the 13th of September. After an obstinate resistance, the garrison concluded a convention on the 20th of September; by which it was to retire, with arms and baggage, behind the Loire.
After the capture of Montmédy, the GermanCorps d'Arméewent into cantonments in the Department of the Ardennes; whence it returned home in the month of November.
Operations of the Army of the Upper Rhine, under the command of Field Marshal His Highness PrinceSchwartzenberg.
This Army consisted of fourCorps d'Armée, and Reserves; composed of troops of Austria, Bavaria, Würtemberg, Saxony, of Hesse Darmstadt, and of the petty Princes.
Its strength was as follows:—
According to the general plan of operations projected by PrinceSchwartzenberg, this Army was to cross the Rhine in two Columns. The Right Column, consisting of the Third Corps, under Field Marshal the Crown Prince ofWürtemberg; and of the Fourth Corps, or the Bavarian Army, under Field Marshal PrinceWrède, was to cross the Rhine between Germersheim and Mannheim. The Left Column, consisting of the First Corps, under the Master General of the Ordnance, CountColloredo, and of the Second Corps, under General PrinceHohenzollern Heckingen, together with the Austrian Reserve Corps; the whole being commanded by General the ArchdukeFerdinand, was tocross the Rhine between Basle and Rheinfelden. The Column formed by the Right Wing was to be supported by the Russian Army, under Field Marshal CountBarclay de Tolly, which was expected to be collected at Kaiserslautern by the 1st of July. The object of the operations, in the first instance, was the concentration of the Army of the Upper Rhine and the Russian Army at Nancy.
As soon as PrinceSchwartzenbergwas made acquainted with the commencement of hostilities in Belgium, he gave his Orders for the advance of his Army. The Fourth, or Bavarian,Corps d'Arméewas directed immediately to cross the Sarre: and, by turning the Vosgian Mountains, to cut off the French Corps under GeneralRapp, collected in the environs of Strasburg, from its base of operations; and to intercept its communications with the interior of France.
A Russian Corps, under General CountLambert, forming the Advance of the Army of CountBarclay de Tolly, was united to theCorps d'Arméeof PrinceWrède; who was to employ it principally in keeping up the communication with the North GermanCorps d'Armée, under Lieutenant Generalvon Hacke.
Fourth Corps d'Armée, PrinceWrède.
On the 19th of June, the Bavarian Army crossed the Rhine at Mannheim and Oppenheim, and advanced towards the Sarre. On the 20th, some trifling affairs of Advanced Posts occurred near Landau and Dahn. On the 23rd, the Army having approached the Sarre, proceeded, in two Columns, to take possession of the passages across the River at Saarbrück and Saargemünd.
The Right Column, under Lieutenant General CountBeckers, attacked Saarbrück; where it was opposed by the French GeneralMeriage. The Bavarians carried the suburband the Bridge, and penetrated into the Town along with the retiring French; of whom they made four Officers and seventy men prisoners, and killed and wounded one hundred men: suffering a loss, on their own part, of three Officers and from fifty to sixty men killed and wounded. CountBeckersoccupied the Town, posted his Division on the Heights towards Forbach: and detached Patrols along the road to Metz, as far as St Avold; and to the right along the Sarre, as far as Saarlouis.
The Left Column, consisting of the First Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baronvon Ragliovich, and of the First Cavalry Division, under His Royal Highness PrinceCharlesof Bavaria, advanced against Saargemünd; at which point the French had constructed atête de ponton the right bank of the river. After some resistance, this was taken possession of by the Bavarians; whereupon Baronvon Ragliovichmarched through the Town, and took up a position on the opposite Heights, commanding the roads leading to Bouquenom and Lüneville.
The Fourth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General BaronZollern, advanced towards the Fortress of Bitsch; which, however, the French Commandant, GeneralKreutzer, refused to surrender.
The Russian Corps, under CountLambert, attached to the Right Wing of PrinceWrède's Army, advanced as far as Ottweiler and Ramstein.
On the 24th, PrinceWrèdeoccupied Bouquenom; and detached the Cavalry Division under PrinceCharlestowards Pfalzburg, to observe this place. His Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions, and the Reserve, were collected at Saargemünd. The Russian troops under CountLambertoccupied Saarbrück; having previously detached the Cavalry, under Lieutenant GeneralCzernitscheff, as far as St Avold.
On the 26th, PrinceWrède's Head Quarters were at Morhenge; and, on the 27th, his Advanced Posts penetrated as far as Nancy, where he established his Head Quarters on the 28th. From St Dieuze the Prince detached to the left, in order to discover the march of GeneralRapp; who, however, was still on the Rhine, and whose retreat had thus become cut off by the occupation of Nancy.
PrinceWrèdehalted at Nancy, to await the arrival of the Austrian and RussianCorps d'Armée. Upon his right, Lieutenant GeneralCzernitscheffcrossed the Moselle, on the 29th, within sight of Metz; and carried by storm, on the 3rd of July, the Town of Chalons sur Marne. The garrison of this place had promised to make no resistance, and yet fired upon the Russian Advanced Guard; whereupon the Cavalry immediately dismounted, scaled the ramparts, broke open the gates, sabred a part of the garrison, made the remainder prisoners, including the French GeneralRigault, and pillaged the town.
After remaining four days in the vicinity of Nancy and Lüneville, PrinceWrèdereceived an Order from PrinceSchwartzenbergto move at once upon Paris, with the Fourth, or Bavarian Corps; which was destined to become the Advanced Guard of the Army of the Upper Rhine. This Order was given in consequence of the desire expressed by the Duke ofWellingtonand PrinceBlücher, that the Army of the Upper Rhine should afford immediate support to their operations in front of Paris. On the 5th of July, the main body of the Bavarian Army reached Chalons; in the vicinity of which it remained during the 6th. On this day, its Advanced Posts communicated, by Epernay, with the Prussian Army. On the 7th, PrinceWrèdereceived intelligence of the Convention of Paris; and, at the same time, directions to move towards the Loire. On the 8th,Lieutenant GeneralCzernitschefffell in with the Enemy between St Prix and Montmirail; and drove him across the Morin, towards the Seine. Previously to the arrival of the Corps at Château Thierry; the French garrison had abandoned the place, leaving behind it several pieces of cannon, with ammunition. On the 10th of July, the Bavarian Army took up a position between the Seine and the Marne; and PrinceWrède's Head Quarters were at La Ferté sous Jouarre.
Third Corps d'Armée, Crown Prince ofWürtemberg.
On the 22nd of June, a portion of the ThirdCorps d'Armée, under the Crown Prince ofWürtemberg, took possession of the intrenchments of Germersheim, on the left bank of the Rhine. Lieutenant Field Marshal CountWallmodenwas posted, with ten Battalions and four Squadrons, in observation of the Fortress of Landau, and the line of the Queich. The main body of the Corps stood between Bruchsal and Philipsburg. On the 23d, the Corps crossed the Rhine at Germersheim, and passed the line of the Queich without opposition.
The Crown Prince was directed to proceed by Weissenburg and Hagenau, with a view to complete, in conjunction with the FourthCorps d'Armée, the plan of intercepting the retreat of GeneralRapp.
On the 24th, the Corps advanced to Bergzabern and Nieder Ottersbach; at both of which points it fell in with the Enemy, and drove him back. CountWallmodenleft a small Detachment to observe Landau; and advanced, with the remainder of his force, as far as Rheinzabern. On the 25th, the Crown Prince ordered the advance towards the lines of Weissenburg, in two Columns. The first Columnassembled at Bergzabern, and the second moved forward by Nieder Ottersbach. CountWallmodenwas directed to advance upon Lauterburg. The Crown Prince advanced his Corps still further along the Hagenau road. His Advanced Guard pushed on to Inglesheim, and the main body of the Corps reached the lines of Weissenburg; which the French abandoned in the night, and fell back upon the Forest of Hagenau, occupying the large Village of Surburg. On the 26th, the Crown Prince attacked and defeated the Enemy at the last mentioned place, with his Right Column; whilst the Left Column, under CountWallmoden, was equally successful in an attack which it made upon the French GeneralRothenburg, posted, with 6,000 Infantry and a Regiment of Cavalry, at Selz. On the following day, GeneralRappfell back upon the Defile of Brümath; but this he quitted in the night, and took up a favourable position in the rear of the Suffel, near Strasburg. His force comprised twenty four Battalions of Infantry, four Regiments of Cavalry, and a numerous Artillery, and amounted to nearly 24,000 men.
The Crown Prince ofWürtemberg, whose force amounted altogether to more than 40,000 men, succeeded, on the 28th, after a smart action, in forcing GeneralRappto retire within the Fortress of Strasburg. The loss of the Third Corps on this occasion amounted to 75 Officers, and 2,050 men, killed and wounded. That of the French was about 3,000 men.
Austrian Reserve Corps, ArchdukeFerdinand.
The Third Corps remained in front of Strasburg until the 4th of July; when it was relieved by the arrival of the Second Austrian Corps, under PrinceHohenzollern, from the vicinity of Colmar. At this last point the AdvancedGuard of the Austrian Reserve Corps, under Lieutenant Field MarshalStutterheim, moved upon Remiremont, and the main body upon St Marie aux Mines. The Austrian Reserve Corps itself reached Raon l'Etape; whence it subsequently moved (on the 10th) to Neufchâteau. The Third Corps, under the Crown Prince ofWürtemberg, marched into the vicinity of Molsheim.
On the 7th of July, the Crown Prince reached Lüneville; but instead of proceeding to Nancy, according to its original destination, the Corps, on the 9th, took the road to Neufchâteau. The advance was in two Columns; the one upon Bayon, and the other upon Rembervillers. These two Columns moved respectively, the one, by Vaucouleurs, Joinville, Brienne le Château, Troyes, and Auxonne; and the other, by Neufchâteau, Chaumont, Bar sur Aube, Vendoeuvres, Bar sur Seine, and Chatillon: at which points (Auxonne and Chatillon) they halted on the 18th. On the 21st, the Corps entered into cantonments between Montbard and Tonnerre.
First and Second Corps—CountColloredoand Princevon Hohenzollern.—Reserve Corps, ArchdukeFerdinand.
The First and Second AustrianCorps d'Arméeand the Reserve Corps, forming the Left Wing of the Army of the Upper Rhine, crossed this river at Rheinfelden and Basle in the night of the 25th of June. On the 26th, the First, under CountColloredo, was directed upon Belfort and Montbelliard; and, on the same day, the Austrians invested the Fortress of Huningen. The Advanced Guard of the First Corps had an affair with a French Detachment of 3,000 men belonging to the Corps of GeneralLecourbe, and repulsed it as far as Donnemarie. On the 28th, theFirst Corps fell in with the Enemy near Chabannes, between Donnemarie and Belfort, when the French force, amounting to 8,000 Infantry and 500 Cavalry, was driven back upon Belfort. Major Generalvon Scheitherof the First Corps was detached against Montbelliard, a town fortified and defended by a citadel. After having maintained a most destructive fire against the place, the Austrian troops carried it by storm; with a loss, however, of 25 Officers and 1,000 men, killed and wounded.
With the exception of a few sorties of little consequence, GeneralRappremained very quiet in the Fortress of Strasburg. The news of the capture of Paris by the British and Prussian troops led to a Suspension of Hostilities; which was concluded on the 24th of July, and extended to the Fortress of Strasburg, Landau, Lutzelstein, Huningen, Schlettstadt, Lichtenberg, Pfalzburg, Neuf Brisac, and Belfort.