THE WAR DRAMA OF THE EAGLES
PORTE-AIGLE, IMPERIAL GUARD, AND GRENADIER SERGEANT
IN PARADE UNIFORM.
From St. Hilaire's Histoire de la Garde Impriale.
THE WAR DRAMA
OF THE EAGLES
NAPOLEON'S STANDARD-BEARERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN VICTORY AND DEFEAT FROM AUSTERLITZ TO WATERLOO A RECORD OF HARD FIGHTING, HEROISM AND ADVENTURE
BY EDWARD FRASER
AUTHOR OF "THE ENEMY AT TRAFALGAR," "FAMOUS FIGHTERS OF THE FLEET," "THE 'LONDONS'" ETC.
"These Eagles to you shall ever be your rallying-point. Swear to sacrifice your lives in their defence; to maintain them by your courage ever in the path of victory."On the Day of the Presentation on the Field of Mars.
"The soldier who loses his Eagle loses his Honour and his All!"
Address to the 4th of the Line after Austerlitz.
"The loss of an Eagle is an affront to the reputation of its regiment for which neither victory nor the glory acquired on a hundred fields can make amends."
55th Bulletin of the Grand Army: 1807. NAPOLEON.
This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING
Text originally published in 1912 under the same title.
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Publishers Note
Although in most cases we have retained the Authors original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern readers benefit.
Contents
CHAPTER XIII 146
AT WATERLOO- AVE CAESAR! MORITURI TE SALUTANT! 146
PREFACE
THIS book breaks fresh ground in a field of romantic and widespread interest; one that should prove attractive, associated as it is with the ever-fascinating subject of Napoleon. Incidentally, indeed, it may also help to throw a new sidelight on certain characteristics of Napoleon as a soldier.
I venture to hope at the same time that it will arouse interest further as offering independent testimony to the valour of our own soldiers, the Old British Army which, under Wellington, defeated on the battlefield the veterans of the Eagles whose feats of heroism and hardihood are described in the book. Magnificent as were the acts of fine daring and heroic endurance of the men whom Wellington led to victory, no less stirring and deserving of admiration were the deeds of chivalrous valour and stern fortitude done for the honour of Napoleon's Eagles by the gallant soldiers who faced them and proved indeed foemen worthy of their steel. All who hold in regard cool, self-sacrificing bravery and steadfast courage in adversity and peril will find no lack of instances in the stories of what the warriors of the Eagles dared and underwent for the name and fame of the Great Captain.
The record of Napoleon's Eagles in war has never before been set forth, and the centenary year of Badajoz and Salamanca and the Moscow Campaign seems to offer a befitting occasion for its appearance.
The world, indeed, is in the midst of a cycle of Napoleonic centenaries. Our own centenary memories of Talaverathe victory of which Wellington said, in later years, that if his Allies had done their part, "it would have been as great a battle as Waterloo"of Busaco ridge and Torres Vedras, of heroic Barrosa and desperate Albuhera,these are only just behind us. Immediately ahead lie the centenaries of yet greater events. In less than a twelvemonth hence England will mark the centenary of Vittoria, Wellington's decisive day in Spain, the crowning triumph of the Peninsular War; and yet more than that in its import and sequel for Europe. It was the news of Vittoria that, in July 1813, decided Napoleon's father-in-law to throw Austria's sword into the balance against the Man of Destiny, compelling Napoleon, with what remained of the Grand Army, to stand at bay for the "Battle of the Nations" on the Marchfeldt before Leipsic. Within six months from then, the world, in like manner, will recall the Farewell of Fontainebleau, and Elba; and finally, in the year after that, the British Empire will commemorate the epoch-making centenary of the greatest of all British triumphs in arms on land-
"Of that fierce field where last the Eagles swooped,
Where our Great Master wielded Britain's sword,
And the Dark Soul the world could not subdue,
Bowed to thy fortune, Prince of Waterloo!"
the triple-event, indeed, of Waterloo, the Bellerophon , St. Helena.
The stories told here exist indeed, even in France, only in more or less fragmentary form, scattered broadcast amongst the memoirs left by the men of the Napoleonic time. They have not before been brought together within the covers of a book.
I have utilised, in addition to the personal memoirs of Napoleon's officers, French regimental records, bulletins, and despatches (noted in my List of Authorities), other official military documents, contemporary newspapers, both British and foreign, and information kindly placed at my disposal by the authorities of Chelsea Royal Hospital and the Royal United Service Institution, and by friends abroad.
EDWARD FRASER.
ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
ILLUSTRATIONS
PORTE-AIGLE, IMPERIAL GUARD, AND GRENADIER SERGEANT IN PARADE UNIFORM
From St. Hilaire's Histoire de la Garde Impiriale
MARSHAL MORTIER
MARSHAL SOULT In the uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Chasseurs of the Guard
MARSHAL DAVOUT
MARSHAL NEY WITH THE REARGUARD IN THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW
From a picture by A. Ivon, at Versailles Photo by Alinari
NAPOLEON AND THE SACRED SQUADRON ON THE WAY TO THE BERESINA
From the picture by H. Bellang
NAPOLEON'S FAREWELL TO THE OLD GUARD AT FONTAINEBLEAU
From a print after H. Vernet, kindly lent by Messrs. T. H. Parker, 45, Whitcomb Street
THE FIGHT FOR THE STANDARD
Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys taking the Eagle of the 45th at Waterloo From the picture by R. Andsell, A.R.A., at Royal Hospital, Chelsea
THE SQUARE OF THE OLD GUARD AT BAY AFTER WATERLOO.
LA REVUE DES MORTS
From a picture by R. Demoraine.
MAPS
OUTLINE MAP OF NAPOLEON'S CONCENTRATION IN REAR OF ULM, SEPTEMBER 27 TO OCTOBER 18, 1805
SKETCH PLAN OF THE POSITIONS OF THE ARMIES AT THE OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ
SKETCH PLAN OF THE BATTLEFIELD OF EYLAU
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF BARROSA
WATERLOO. THE CHARGE OF THE UNION BRIGADE
WATERLOOTHE FINAL PHASE. SKETCH PLAN TO SHOW THE ATTACK AND THE DEFEAT OF THE COLUMNS OF THE GUARD
GENERAL MAP
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
ALLISON: History of Europe.
AVRILLON, PION DES LOCHES, PELET, COMBES, DU ROURE DE PAULIN, VIONNET, BERTIN, THERION, NOEL, DUPUY, BLAZE, ST. CHAMANS, VIDE-LEBRUN, ETC.: Souvenirs.
BARBOUX, GENERAL: War Services.
BARDIN: Dictionnaire de l'Arme.
Memorial de l'Officier.
