LECTURE VI. THE HUNDRED DAYS. The Congress of Vienna. European settlement after Napoleon's fall. Treaty of Paris settles the position of France. The Bourbon monarchy sends Talleyrand as representative of France to Vienna. France reduced to the frontier of 1790. England gains Mauritius, Malta, and the Cape. The Vienna negotiations. Difficulties in reconstruction. "The Congress dances, but advances not." Jealousies between the Powers. Views of Russia and Prussia. Opposition of England, France, and Austria. War imminent. Napoleon escapes from Elba. France under Louis XVIII. "The Bourbons have learned nothing, and have forgotten nothing." Apathy of the French people enthusiasm of the army for Napoleon. He advances unopposed, and enters Paris. Reinstated as Emperor, March, 1815. Napoleon's manifesto declaring the advantages of peace, and his determination "to exhibit no other strife but that of the felicity of nations.” His activity in reorganising the army. War inevitable. The forces actually in the field against him. Hesitation as to his best policy. The alternative of offensive or defensive warfare. Napoleon determines to act on the offensive, and orders his army to concentrate at Charleroi to act against Wellington and Blucher in Belgium. Rapidity and effectiveness of the French movements. The Armies in the field : 1. The French army. Its quality and strength. 2. Blucher's Prussian army. 3. Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army. Napoleon's manifesto to his troops. The advance on June 15, 2.30 A.M. Unreadiness of the allies to oppose him. The French cross the river and take position at Fleurus and before Quatre Bras. Brief account of the chief movements in the campaign. LECTURE VII. [ALTERNATIVE.] THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN. Preliminaries of the campaign, and relative strength of the rival armies. Alternative plans. Napoleon determines to concentrate on Charleroi. Mobilization of the French army. Events on June 15. Unprepared state of the allied armies. Why were they unprepared? Blucher takes position at Ligny. Did he receive assurances of support from Wellington? The Duke's hesitation. Gives orders that his troops shall concentrate at Nivelles. He thinks himself prepared for any event. June 16-Napoleon delays his attack upon Blucher till the afternoon. Ney at Quatre Bras. The armies in position. Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras. Disastrous blunder by which the French 1st Corps fails to be present at either battle. Effects of this upon Napoleon's plans. Defeat of the Prussians. Wellington holds his own at Quatre Bras. The Prussians retreat, unknown to Napoleon, northward on Wavres. June 17.-Condition of Napoleon's health. His delay on the 17th. Want of co-operation between Napoleon and Ney. Grouchy is given a roving commission to pursue the Prussians. Napoleon joins forces with Ney. Retreat of Wellington on Waterloo. Napoleon pursues. Positions of the armies on the field of Waterloo. Wellington assured of support from Blucher. June 18.-Napoleon delays the action. His misconception as to the Prussian movements. But Grouchy was not yet in touch with them and one Prussian corps already well on the way to Waterloo. Beginning of the engagement, 11.30 a.m. (a) The attack on Hougoumont, and its repulse. (b) The attack on Wellington's left wing-its repulse. counter-movements. (d) Ney's cavalry charges on Wellington's right centre. (f) The attack by the old guard and its repulse. (g) Arrival of a further Prussian corps upon the Duke's left. The order to advance. The retreat from Waterloo. Rout of the French. Napoleon surrenders. Grouchy's movements on June 18. His inability to check the Prussians or to arrive himself on the battlefield. Battle of Wavres and Grouchy's retreat into France. Final fall of Napoleon and banishment to St. Helena. The |