In Front of Charleroi

Napoleon in Charleroi
Horace Vernet (PD)

Napoléon shifted uncomfortably in his saddle as he lowered his glass, rather than handing it to an aide, he tucked it into one of the saddlebags of his borrowed mount. Maréchal Davout, also dressed in the uniform of a mounted chasseur, continued to stare through his glass at the scene down on the river. Unashamedly he was wearing his spectacles, he knew Napoléon didn't like them, but the Emperor liked defeat even less, so Davout would wear his eyeglasses.

"Not much of an obstacle on the bridge, my engineers should sweep that aside with no trouble." Napoléon commented.

"Indeed Sire, but did you glass the buildings on the far side of the bridge? There's infantry in those windows, the engineers will have to cross under fire."

The Emperor grunted as he yanked the reins of his horse to turn it back to the French encampment not far away. "Yes, but it's what I pay them for, isn't it?"

Davout knew better that to respond to that remark. He turned his horse as well, following Napoléon back up the track. They had seen what they needed to see. The Prussians were manning the bridges over the Sambre, it would be impossible to get scouts over the bridges to fully fix the Prussian positions. Fording the river at some point might be possible, but with the recent rains, the river was high. Fords might be few and far between.

The ride back to headquarters was quiet. The Emperor and the Marshal were back in their regular uniforms, Napoléon had not liked wearing the fatigue cap of a cavalry lieutenant, but he had thought it ridiculous to don a shako, he thought he looked odd indeed in that headgear.

Davout said not a word, his thoughts were turned to what the scouts had discovered on the main road to Brussels. He assumed that the Emperor would expect him to deal with Wellington with almost no help from the forces under the Emperor's direct command. The job of the left wing would be to take what advantageous positions they could and to keep Wellington's soldiers occupied while the bulk of the Armée du Nord fell on Blücher's Prussians.

Davout looked up when he heard a commotion ahead, a messenger from headquarters had intercepted them. He rode closer to the Emperor to listen.

Napoléon saw Davout come close and turned to him, "Soult has arrived in camp, there is still no word of Ney. The man expects a command but cannot be bothered to come to the front?"

He leaned in close to Davout and hissed under his breath so that the others might not hear, "I fear the man is addled, has he lost his senses?"

Davout coughed, holding his hand over his mouth as he then said, "The Marshal and his wife were ill-treated by the Bourbons, it upset him greatly."

Napoléon huffed and spurred his horse, "Let us see what le Maréchal Soult has for us, word from Paris perhaps?"

"So St. Cyr has sent the Chamber of Representatives¹ home for an 'extended' vacation, eh?"

Soult drank some cognac, coughed then answered, "Yes Sire, they were wanting to meet and actually make laws in your absence."

"What of the Chamber of Peers?"

"They are content to await the outcome of the campaign. They do not desire to arouse St. Cyr's ire."

"St. Cyr's ire? 'Tis nothing compared to what I might give them!" the Emperor snapped as he tossed off his coat and took a seat by the table where Berthier had spread his maps.

He stared at the maps, identifying the bridge they had just visited, visualizing the terrain beyond. Looking at another section he saw that there was a crossroads, Quatre Bras it was called. His mind began to formulate a plan of action. If the Prussians took up positions along, his finger traced the line of a small stream - Ligny according to the label - this watercourse, he would strike them there and attempt to drive them to the northeast, away from Wellington.

"Berthier, what do our spies tell us of the Prussian army?"

"Sire, there is a single corps, that of Ziethen, to our northeast, not far from Charleroi. There are two more corps, those of Pirch and Thielmann, within a day's march, and then there is Bulow's corps, on the outskirts of Liege. Say two days, or more, for them to come up."

"And Wellington?"

"His army is scattered across the landscape, we have many approaches to Brussels, my spies tell me that he thinks Mons is the most likely path we'll take, so he must cover a number of places. He is thin in many places trying to cover every approach. On the main road, the Brussels chaussée, there are mostly Belgians and Dutch, many of whom marched with us not that long ago."

Napoléon laughed, a harsh bark of a laugh, "Eh, perhaps they will rejoin us once we drive the English and their hirelings into the sea."

A few laughs came from the staff officers, but Soult and Davout didn't crack a smile.

Source

"I know you don't think much of the British, Sire, but when led by Wellington, and in sound defensive positions, they are nearly immoveable. I doubt they will run, more likely they will die to a man rather than retreat." Soult growled.

"Then die they shall," Davout stated.

Général de Division Gérard looked at the officer of the Imperial Guard barring his way to the Emperor's headquarters, set up in a large barn on the outskirts of Beaumont.²

"I insist on speaking to the Emperor. Now!"

The cavalry officer stared at the general, almost daring the man to make some sudden move.

From within the tent, the Emperor spoke, "It's alright, Hachette, I'll see the general. Please stay near, I may have a job for you."

Gérard gave the cavalryman a dirty look as he was ushered into the Emperor's presence.

"So Gérard, don't like the idea of being sent back to Paris, eh?"

"Sire, I have fought by your side for many years, why send me home now?"

With a sly look, Napoléon asked, "So, Bourmont, what did you see in that royalist that I did not?"

"He is, was, a most efficient officer, and ..."

"I suspected the man of working with Fouché and Talleyrand to the detriment of the Empire. You do not trust my judgement?"

"No, Sire, yes ..."

After a moments hesitation, Gérard stood tall and said, "Give me my corps, or give me a firing squad. If you don't trust me, shoot me!"

Abruptly Napoléon called out, "Berthier!"

The chief of staff leaned into the room, "Sire?"

"Have the orders relieving Gérard of the command of IV Corps been dispatched yet?"

"No Sire, I had a messenger advise the general that his relief was expected, though not yet official."

"Very well, thank you Berthier."

The Emperor stood up and clapped Gérard on the shoulder, "Go back to your command, Gérard. Betray me and I shall grant you your second request."

Gérard looked puzzled for a moment, "My second ..." then his face went pale as a sheet.

The general thanked the Emperor then spun on his heel. Berthier reentered the room.

"They can be like children, Berthier. But now, any word of Ney?"

¹ Napoléon had created the Charter of 1815 which laid out the new system of government. This charter wasn't much different from the constitution put forth by the government of Louis XVIII. See here.

² This town was in France in 1815, it is now in Belgium.