or disposition, shall think it advisable to dismiss the military service in St. Helena. "If there are strangers in the island, whose residence in the country shall seem to be with a view of becoming instrumental in the flight of General Buonaparte, he must take measures to remove them. The whole coast of the island, and all ships and boats that visit it, are placed under the surveillance of the Admiral. He fixes the place which the boats may visit, and the Governor will send a sufficient guard to the points where the Admiral shall consider this precaution as necessary. "The Admiral will adopt the most vigorous measures to watch over the arrival and departure of every ship, and to prevent all communication with the coast, except such as he shall allow. "Orders will be issued to prevent, after a certain necessary interval, any foreign or mercantile vessel going in future to St. Helena. "If the General should be seized with serious illness, the Admiral and the Governor will each name a physician, who enjoys their confidence, in order to attend the General in common with his own physician; they will give them strict orders to give in, every day, a report on the state of his health. In case of his death, the Admiral will give orders to convey his body to Eng land." "Given at the War Office, July 30, 1815." "Foreign Office, August 26, 1815. "Lord Bathurst, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, has this day notified, by command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to the ministers of friendly powers resident at this court, that, in consequence of events which have happened in Europe, it has been deemed expedient, and determined, in conjunction with the Allied Sovereigns, that the Island of St. Helena shall be the place allotted for the future residence of General Napoleon Buonaparte, under such regulations as may be necessary for the perfect security of his person; and for this purpose it has been resolved, that all foreign ships and vessels whatever shall be excluded from all communication with, or approach to, this island, so long as the said island shall continue to be the place of residence of the said Napoleon Buonaparte."* Buonaparte landed there on the 17th of October.-Vide p. 140. FRENCH MOVEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS PREVIOUS TO THE BATTLES OF THE 15TH, 16TH, 17TH, AND 18TH OF JUNE. Buonaparte's Portfolio-Extracts, &c. from Letters, &c. mostly in his own hand-writing, previous to the Battles. "June 11.-Monsieur Count Lavellette,-As I said in my speech this day, that I should depart this night, I wish you would look to it, that no post-horses be taken from the road by which I travel; that particular attention be paid to the persons to whom horses are given on the neighbouring roads; and that no courier, or estaffette, be sent off." "Other letters, written this day, request Marshal Massena to take the command of the third and fourth divisions, and say, "Let Ney come if he wishes to be present at the first battle: he must be at Avesnes by the 13th, where my head-quarters will be." 66 Acquaint Marshal Suchet that hostilities will commence on the 16th, and on that day to make himself master of Montmeillan." "June 11.-To the Prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust).-Look to it, that 240 pieces of naval cannon be placed in battery by the 20th, that I may be without anxiety about the city of Paris." Speaking of muskets," they must be sent quickly, that, when we are victorious, I may arm with them the peasants in Belgium, Liege, &c. Give me also a list of Belgian officers who are here. Send also a Belgian staff officer for the suite of the general staff. These people may become necessary." "June 11.-To the Minister of Marine.—I suppose that you have broken off all communication by sea, and that no person or packet-boat dare to pass any more, under any pretence. "June 12.-Set off from Paris and slept at Laon. "June 13.-Slept at Avesnes. "Avesnes, June 13.-To the Major-general.-Give orders for the equipages of the pontoons to repair this evening behind Solre, on the road to Beaumont. "June 13.-To the same.-Since General Vandamme is arrived at Beaumont, I do not think it proper to make him return to Philippeville, which would fatigue his troops; I prefer letting this general encamp in the first line, a league and a half from Beaumont; I shall review his troops to-morrow. The sixth corps will then be placed a quarter of a league behind. In this case, the army of the Moselle will join to-morrow, near Philippeville; the detachment of Cuirassiers, coming from Alsace, will make this change in the general order. "June 13.-To General Drouet.-Give orders for the division composed of the Chasseurs and Red Lancers to repair this evening in advance of the Solre. Let all the divisions of Chasseurs likewise repair to Solre. All the grenadiers at Avesnes, the gre nadiers on horseback, and the dragoons in advance of Avesnes. each corps will have its artillery with it; the reserve artillery in advance of Avesnes. "June 14.-Slept at Beaumont. "June 14.-To Prince Joseph. - Brother, -I remove my head-quarters this evening to Beaumont: to-morrow, the 15th, I shall advance to Charleroi, where the Prussian army is, which will occasion a battle, or the retreat of the enemy. The army is fine, and the weather pretty fair; the country perfectly well disposed. I shall write this evening, if the communications are to be made on the 16th; mean time we must prepare. Adieu. "To the Minister of War. I hope to pass the Sambre tomorrow, the 16th. If the Prussians do not evacuate, we shall have a battle. Suchet must take Montmeillan, and fortify himself there. Recommend that there be 10,000 muskets at Lyons to arm the National Guards. The 300 cannon of the marine must be placed in batteries at Paris; let them be there before the 25th. Lastly, let the company of cannoneer . . . . . march-let them go en diligence to Vincennes, on Thursday. Do not be too prodigal of muskets to the Fédérés; we are in great want of them everywhere. I direct . . . . . from Maubeuge to Paris.”—[The blanks are for two words that we cannot decipher. The rest of the letter is quite unintelligible, except a few words; we see that mention is made of the Rhône, of the Saone; of Rapp, who is to defend Alsace to the utmost; of Befort, of Marne, &c. His imperial Majesty seems very uneasy about all this: he has much business on his hands at this moment, and never wrote with more precipitation.] "General Order. "Avesnes, June 14, 1815. "Soldiers!-This day is the anniversary of Marengo and of Friedland, which twice decided the destiny of Europe. Then, as as after Austerlitz, as after Wagram, we were too generous! We believed in the protestations and in the oaths of princes whom we left on the throne! Now, however, coalesced among themselves, they would destroy the independence and the most sacred rights of France. They have commenced the most unjust of aggressions. Let us march, then, to meet them. Are they and we no longer the same men? "Soldiers! at Jena, against these same Prussians, now so arrogant, you were one against three, and at Montmirail one against six! "Let those among you who have been prisoners of the English, detail to you the hulks and the frightful miseries which they suffered! "The Saxons, the Belgians, the Hanoverians, the soldiers of the Confederation of the Rhine, lament that they are compelled to lend their arms to the cause of princes, the enemies of justice and of the rights of all nations; they know that this coalition is insatiable! After having devoured twelve millions of Poles, twelve millions of Italians, one million of Saxons, six millions of Belgians, it must devour the states of the second rank of Germany. "The madmen! a moment of prosperity blinds them. The oppression and humiliation of the French people are beyond their power. If they enter France, they will there find their tomb. "Soldiers! we have forced marches to make, battles to fight, dangers to encounter; but, with steadiness, victory will be oursthe rights, the honour, the happiness of the country will be reconquered! "To every Frenchman who has a heart, the moment is arrived to conquer or perish. "(A true copy), (Signed) "NAPOLEON." "The Marshal Duke of DALMATIA, Major-general.” "Beaumont, June 15th, three in the morning. "To Prince Joseph.-Brother, the enemy being in motion to attack us, I march to meet him: hostilities will then begin to-day. Thus I desire that the communications which have been prepared may be made. "Your affectionate Brother.” "Charleroi, June 16th, 1815.-To the Minister at War.-My Cousin,-Send me all the Generals I have demanded, and particularly General Mouton Duvernet; send me also General Lepie of the Guard; he understands the use of the sabre (c'est un bon sabreur), and will do well in the Grenadiers." "June 16th.-To Prince Joseph.-Brother,-The bulletin will inform you what is passed. I advance my head-quarters to Sombref; we are all in motion. I much regret the loss of General Letort. The loss yesterday was inconsiderable, and fell chiefly on the four squadrons of the Guard on duty. The confiscation of the property of the traitors, who hold meetings at Ghent, is necessary. "Your affectionate Brother." FRENCH OFFICIAL DETAIL OF THE BATTLES WITH THE PRUSSIANS AND ENGLISH, WITH NEY'S OBSERVATIONS. Position of the French Army. On the 14th the army was placed in the following order: The first corps, commanded by General Count D'Erlon, was at Solre-sur-Sambre. The second corps, commanded by General Reille, was at Hamsur-Heure. The third corps, commanded by General Vandamme, was on the right of Beaumont. The fourth corps, commanded by General Girard, was arriving at Philippeville. On the 15th, at three in the morning, General Reille attacked the enemy, and advanced upon Marchiennes-au-Pont. He had several engagements, in which his cavalry charged a Prussian battalion, and made 300 prisoners. At one o'clock in the morning, the Emperor was at Jamignansur-Heure. General D'Aumont's division of light cavalry sabred two Prussian battalions, and made 400 prisoners. General Pajol entered Charleroi at noon. The sappers and the marines of the Guard were with the van to repair the bridges. They penetrated the first into the town as sharpshooters. General Clari, with the first regiment of hussars, advanced upon Gosselies, on the road to Brussels, and General Pajol upon Gilly, on the road to Namur. At three in the afternoon, General Vandamme, with his corps, débouched upon Gilly. Marshal Grouchy arrived with the cavalry of General Excelmans. The enemy occupied the left of the position of Fleurus. At five o'clock in the afternoon the Emperor ordered the attack. The position was turned and carried. The four squadrons on service of the Guard, commanded by General Letort, broke three squares. The 26th, 27th, and 28th Prussian regiments were put to the rout. Our squadrons sabred 400 or 500 men, and made 150 prisoners. During this time General Reille passed the Sambre, at Marchiennes-au-Pont, to advance upon Gosselies, with the divisions of Prince Jerome and General Bachelu, attacked the enemy, took from him 250 prisoners, and pursued him on the road to Brussels. Thus we became masters of the whole position of Fleurus. * Vide further particulars in the French Officer's Account, p. 89. |