Journal of the Waterloo Campaign (kept throughout the campaign of 1815) Vol. I

• Autore: Mercer General Alexander Cavalié
• Pubblicazione: San Francisco : , : Wagram Press, , 2011; ©2011
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (145 pages)
• Disciplina: 940.2742
• Altri autori: PublishingPickle Partners
• Nota di contenuto: Intro -- PREFACE -- CHAPTER I. -- Preparations for Departure-Reports of Fugitives-Embarkation and Departure-The Voyage-Off the Coast-First View of Ostend-Aspect of the Coast-Ostend Harbour-Its Dangers -Unceremonious Landing of Dragoon Horses -- CHAPTER II. -- Confusion at Landing-Scene on Shore-Difficulties-Confusion on the Beach-A Catastrophe-The Town by Night-Difficulties of the March-Night Quarters-A Pleasant Change-Return to Ostend-Waiting to Start- Costumes of the Natives-Scenes in the Town-A Wreck-Fearful Scene - Impressions of Ostend -- CHAPTER III. -- Change of Scenery-Arrival at Ghistel-Our Quarters there-Again on the March-Arrival at Bruges-Our Hotel-First Impressions of Bruges-Present and Past-The Stadthouse and Cathedral-Mass in the Cathedral-The Worshippers-The Ramparts-Dinner -- CHAPTER IV. -- Eccloo-Arrival at Ghent-Our Quarters there-My Host-My Quarters-Louis XVIII. and his Court-French Officers-Marshal Marmont-French Deserters-Ghent-Street Architecture-The Place D'Armes-Flemish Postilions-View from the Citadel-The Corn-Market-The Hôtel de Ville-Meat and Vegetable Markets-General Order and Cleanliness-A Suppressed. Monastery-The Cathedral-A Royal Mass-Domestic Architecture-An Interior-Comfortable Quarters-Numbers of Priests-Costumes-Character of the People-Immorality-German and Engl -- CHAPTER V. -- Again on the March-The Pays de Waes-Lokern-A Village Curé-Dendermonde-My Quarters at St Gille-View from my Windows-Kindness of the Natives-A Flemish Farmhouse-Fertility of the Land-At Dinner-Our Host-Attachment to Napoleon-Peace and War-Flemish Teams-Cattle and Sheep-Dendermonde -- CHAPTER VI. ; Excursion to Alost-Aspect of the Place-We Lose our Way-Again on the Move-Parting with my Hostess-A Last Breakfast - On the March -Change of Scenery - Views from the Hills - Beauty of the Country - Arrival at Strytem-The Chateau-Our Quarters there-Comfortless Prospect- Family Portraits - Choosing our Quarters - A Private Chapel-Increasing Comfort-Our Mess-Room-Karl-His History-His Acquirements-An Interruption-The Maire and his Following-A Garde-Champêtre-A Scene - M. L'Adjoint's Speech-Our Answer -- CHAPTER VII. -- Occupations at Strytem-Our Fare-The Country round. Strytem-Beauty of the Scenery-Rich Cultivation-The Flemish Farmers - Farming Establishments - Execrable Roads -Drunkenness-Frog-Concerts-Draining the Moat-Result of the Experiment-The Duc de Berri-His Brutality-A Dog-Chase-Disposition of the Troops-Visitors from England-The Duc de Berri again-Artillery at Waterloo-Our Equipment-Our Organisation, -- CHAPTER VIII. -- My Difficulties-Plundering-The Duke and the Rocket Troop-Ride to Ninove-Ninove-The great Mouastery-A ruined Convent -Liederkerke-Aspect of the Country-A Character-The Lord of Gaesbeke--The Chateau de Gaesbeke--My Reception-The Marquis D'Acornati-Interior of the Chateau its desolate Aspect-The Kitchen-The Grounds: their Beauty-Variety of Views--History of the Chateau-Career of its Owner-His Singularities-His Mode of Life -Visits to the Grounds -- CHAPTER IX. -- Visit to Hal-Return to Strytem-Start for Brussels-First View of Brussels-Its Internal Aspect-The Park-The Ramparts-The Hôtel de Ville-The Cathedral-The Bruxellaises-The Allée-Vert-Prince D'Aremberg-A Mistake-Anticipations of the Campaign -- CHAPTER X. ; Cavalry Review-The Duc de Berri again-His Unceremonious Reception-The Duke and Blucher-Dinner after the Review-Strytem again-New Species of Game-Change of Quarters-A Death- Visit from our Host-Our Landlord -A Spy-Approaching Departure -- CHAPTER XI. -- Order to Advance-Preparations-Farewell to Strytem-On the March-News from Brussels-Halt at Eughieu-Doubts as to my Route-Uncertainties-Braine le Comte-Still without Orders-Beauty of the Scenery-We are left alone-Sounds of Distant Battle-Pressing on-Nivelle-Excitement in the Town-Signs of Battle-Fugitives from the Field-A Wounded Highlander-Belgian Gasconading -- CHAPTER XII. -- At Quatre Bras-Our Bivouac-Morning after the Battle-Our Position-The Battle-Field-Position of the French-Skirmishing-An Alarm-The Retreat-Aspect of the Field-A Memento of Battle-Alone on the Field-Inactivity of the Enemy-Their Advance-Orders and Counter-Orders-Napoleon-A Storm-Our Danger-Our Narrow Escape-Our Retreat-Arrival at Genappe-The Enemy again-In Action with them-The Rocket Brigade-An Eccentric Missile-Panic among the Brunswickers-Take up Position-Rejoin the Army-Bivouac for the Night-Di -- CHAPTER XIII, -- Morning of Battle-Survey of the Field - Alarm of Battle-Commencement of the Battle-Orders at last-Take up Position-The Field of Battle-View from our Position-Our own Position - We open Fire - Our first Casualty-An Alarmed Doctor-Death of Captain Bolton-A Wounded Horse-A Cavalry Charge-Our Situation-Advance of Cavalry - Dangerous Mistake - New Position-The Brunswickers - Danger of Panic-Advance of Cavalry-Their Retreat-Our first Death-Skirmishers-Attack Renewed-Effect of our Fire-The Cavalry agai -- CHAPTER XIV. ; Preparing to Move-The Field by Morning-The Wounded-The French Wounded-An Ingrate-A Grenadier à Cheval -A Welcome Feast-Visitors from Brussels-Visit to Hougoumont-A Contrast-Garden of the Chateau-A Striking Oration-A Noble Enemy-A Keepsake-A Recognition-On the March-A Comfortable Bivouac-Resume our March .-Block before Nivelles-Reception in the Town-Aspect of the Town-Arrival of Prisoners-We get on at last-Belgic Infantry-Our Bivouac-Rejoin the Army-The Greys and Highlanders-Aspect of the Country.
• Sommario/riassunto: Without doubt, one of the finest accounts of a participant of the Waterloo campaign. Mercer was famously in charge of "G" troop RHA during the campaign, and from the journal he kept at the time, he formed this book. It is written with a jaunty air more often seen in the writings of French cavalry officers memoirs, a certain irreverence to rank and custom (his description of the Duc de Berri is particularly cutting) and a keen eye for detail and the anecdote. This edition is the second volume of a two volume series as originally published. Having been stationed in Belgium for over a month during which time he offers a number of telling remarks on the country and its inhabitants, and their enthusiasm for the conflict, his troop arrived belatedly at the battle of Quatre Bars on the 16th June 1815 as the fighting died down. He was involved in covering the retreat of the Allied forces northward to Waterloo on the 17th. During this retreat Mercer sights Napoleon riding with the vanguard of his advanced forces, as he struggles to cover his retreating comrades, in a moment he refers to as "sublime".During the battle on the 18th his troop is in the thick of the fighting, during which time Mercer's account leaves no detail out, apart from his disobeying Wellington's order to avoid counter-battery fire. As the battle rolls on the magnificent and yet foolhardy charges of the massed French cavalry are recounted with their brave but ultimately futile attempt to break the squares on the ridge, Mercer and his troop pour fire into the horsemen mercilessly. As the Armée du Nord recoils from its final attack in disarray, Mercer is ordered with his men to follow up the retreating hordes, he replies to his superior "How?" as the charnel house surrounding his position contains the dead and dying horses needed to pull his guns.Essential reading.Author - General Alexander Cavalié Mercer (1783-1868)
• Altri titoli varianti: Journal of the Waterloo Campaign
• Titolo autorizzato: Journal of the Waterloo Campaign (kept throughout the campaign of 1815) Vol. I
• ISBN: 1-908692-32-4
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Record Nr.: 9910164254703321
• Lo trovi qui: Univ. Federico II
• Serie: Journal of the Waterloo Campaign (kept throughout the campaign of 1815)