GROUCHY AFTER WATERLOO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 221, 4 December 1875, Page 16

GROUCHY AFTER WATERLOO.

On the 29th June, Grouchy, finding that Davoust and Fouche were determined to bring about a second restoration of the Bourbons, resigned the command of the army, and awaited at Paris the issue of events. In a few days the Marshal, seeing that peace was at hand, withdrew to his estates. There, learning that his name was included in the proscription list of the 24th July, he concealed himself for several weeks in an isolated hut. At length, fearing discovery, lie determined to quit Fi - ance, and after sevei'al adventures reached Guernsey. Not feeling safe even there, he embarked for the United States, where he spent nearly five yeai - s. Being of an ardent, restless disposition, and accustomed during the preceding twenty-four years of his life to an active career, he did not, as may be supposed, hear his exile with patience. Indeed, he suffered the whole time from home sickness, separation from his family, and indignation at the exceptionally severe treatment of which he was the victim. He admitted the Americans were kind to him, and lie does not seem to have been distressed for money, still lie was miserable. Dui’ing his exile he occupied himself with refuting the errors of General Gourgaud’s “ Mcmoires de Ste. Helene,” and plunged into a controversy with General Gerard about the campaign of 1815. He also published an answer to a work on the lattex - , and a newspaper article on the same subject. The Marshal’s reply to Gourgaud’s accusations and insinuations was published in the form of a pamphlet, and it is of value to the historian, seeing that the charges of Gourgaud were, in reality, those of Napoleon himself. At the same time, it must be remembered that the Marshal penned tlie i - eplyat a distance from most of thosewliose testimony might have been of use to him, and when unable to refer to either official documents or private memoranda. The result was at least one error of importance, which his adversai'ies did not fail to pounce upon in proving that his whole statement was untrustworthy. Grouchy urges that on the 17th June he only received the order to pursue tho Prussians at noon, and immediately afterwards directed Vandamme and Gerard to set themselves in motion. He declares that he did all in his power to stimulate these officei - s, and was, therefore, not responsible for their delay. As to the accixsation that he erred in marching on Gembloux instead of taking a road that would keep him nearer to the main army, he points out that he was ordered to pursue Bluehei - , and that Bluclier had i - etreated by the road which the Marshal adopted. Napoleon, lie declares, did not direct lxim to cover the right flank of his army. “ Gourgoud asks, * Why does not the Marshal publish the text of the orders which lie has received V The reason is simple. It is because they were only transmitted verbally. Those who have served under Napoleon know that he seldom gave them in writing ; and at the moment when he began to perceive the loss of a precious time (the morning of the 17th), less than ever did lie think of causing instructions to be taken down.”