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Worcester women clearing the field of fire outside Worcester after the siege of 1643[edit]
the ordinary sort of women, out of every ward of the city, joined in companies, and with spades, shovels, and mattocks did begin to work on Tuesday last, the 30th day of June, who were to the number of 400 on a day, going in a warlike manner like soldiers, and did so behave themselves there in levelling all such fortifications as were left by the Earl of Essex, and throwing down ditches, that by their own industry and free service in imitation of the citizens of London, as they within one week perfected the levelling of the same, which was done the rather by the reason some of them were killed in the siege, though casually; also to ease the soldiers, who, being weary of their late hot service, desired some rest, and to prevent Sir Willium Waller's approach near if he should return suddenly against them.
JBD[edit]
w:Jean-Baptist Decoster (guide)[edit]
Brussels, 12th January, 1816.
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 Of what was done and said by Napoleon Bonaparte in the course of the 18th of June, 1815, during and after the Battle of Waterloo :—Drawn up from the Depositions of Jean Baptiste De Coster, who served him as Guide on that Day.[1] Jean Baptiste De Coster, aged about 53, born in the village of Corbeek-loo, near Louvain, has resided in the Walloon country for 33 years. He is 5 feet 10 inches high, and of robust appearance. He is intelligent, and answers the questions put to him with an air of great sincerity. He expresses himself with facility, and understands French very well. Before the invasion of Bonaparte, De Coster occupied a little inn, with about six acres of ground. On the approach of the French army on the 17th, he retired with his family, composed of his wife and seven children, into the wood of the abbey of Awyiers, where he spent the night between the Saturday and Sunday. At six in the morning, he left the wood to go to church, and from thence to the house of his brother, situated at Planchenoir. He found there three French generals, who asked him if he had lived long in the country, and if he was well acquainted with the neighbourhood. On his answering in the affirmative, one of them sent him to Napoleon, accompanied by a domestic, and with a letter. Napoleon had passed the night in the farm-house of Caillou, and had left it at six o'clock. De Coster found him in the farm house called Rossum, where he arrived at eight o'clock, and was immediately presented to Bonaparte, who was standing in a room about twenty feet long and sixteen broad, in the middle of a great many officers of his staff. Bonaparte asked him if he was well acquainted with the localities of the country, and if he was willing to act as his guide. De Coster having given a satisfactory answer, Napoleon told him that he should accompany him, adding, "Speak to me, my friend, with frankness, and as if you were among your children." The farm of Rossum is situated near that called La Belle Alliance. The Emperor stopped there till almost noon. During this time, De Coster was kept in view, in the courtyard of the farm, by a soldier of the guard, who, while walking with him, informed him of the strength of the army, telling him that it consisted, on passing the frontiers, of 150,000 men, of whom 40,000 were cavalry, among which latter troops were 9,000 cuirassiers, 7,000 of the young guard, and 8 to 9,000 of the old guard. This soldier bestowed great praise on the bravery which the English had displayed at Quatre Bras. He particularly admired the intrepid sang-froid of the Scotch Highlanders, "who would not budge," said he, in his military phrase," but when the bayonet was put to their posteriors." While De Coster thus remained in the courtyard of the farmhouse, Bonaparte made him be called three different times, to ask him information as to the maps of the country, which he was incessantly consulting. He questioned him chiefly on the distance of the different towns of Brabant from the field of battle, and made him say what were the towns he had seen in his youth. De Coster named fourteen, which seemed to please Bonaparte. He expressed also much satisfaction on hearing that De Coster was a Fleming, and that he spoke the Flemish and Walloon languages equally well. He recommended to him above all, to give nothing but certain information, and to answer to things of which he was not assured, merely by shrugging his shoulders. He frequently repeated these intimations, adding, that if he succeeded, his (De Coster's) reward should be a hundred times greater than he could imagine. He freed him also from any particular mark of respect, telling him, that, without taking off the night-cap which he wore, he had only to salute by putting his hand to his forehead. At noon, Bonaparte went out with his staff, and placed himself on an eminence by the side of the causeway, at a very little distance in rear of the farm, from whence he had a view of the whole field of battle. Persons very soon came to tell him, that the attack on the farm and chateau of Hougoumont, which he had ordered to commence at eleven o'clock had not succeeded.[2] At one o'clock the battle became general. Bonaparte remained in his first station, with all his staff, till five o'clock. He was on foot, and walked constantly backwards and forwards, sometimes with his arms crossed, but more frequently with his hands behind his back, and with his thumbs in the pockets of his slate coloured great-coat. He had his eyes fixed on the battle, and took out alternately his watch and snuff-box. De Coster, who was on horseback near him, frequently remarked his watch. Bonaparte, perceiving that he also took snuff, and that he had no more, frequently gave him some. When he saw that his attempts to carry the position of the chateau of Hougoumont had been vainly reiterated, he took a horse, quitted the farm of Rossum at five o'clock, and, moving forward, placed himself opposite to the house of De Coster, at the distance of a gun-shot from La Belle Alliance. He remained in the second station till seven o'clock. It was at that moment that he first perceived, by means of his glass, the arrival of the Prussians; he mentioned it to his aide-de-camp, who, having directed his glass towards them, saw them also. Some minutes afterwards, an officer came to inform him that the corps of Bulow was approaching: Bonaparte answered, that he knew it, and gave orders that his guards should make a movement on the centre of the English army. He himself, again moving forward at the gallop, went and placed himself, with his staff, in a ravine formed by the causeway, half way between La Belle Alliance and La Haye Sainte. This was his third and last position. Bonaparte and his suite had been in great danger before arriving at this ravine; a ball even carried away the pommel of the saddle of one of his officers, without either touching him or his horse. Bonaparte merely told him coldly, that he ought to keep within the ravine. There were at this place batteries on both sides of the road. Perceiving that one of the guns of the battery on the left was not making a good fire, he alighted from his horse, mounted on the height at the side of the road, and advanced to the third gun, the firing of which he rectified, while cannon and musket-halls were whistling round him. He returned with tranquillity, with his hands in the pockets of his great-coat, and took his place among the officers. In this position, he saw the eight battalions of the old guard, to whom he had given orders to penetrate the centre of the English army, advance upon La Haye Sainte. Three of these battalions were destroyed before his eyes, while crossing the causeway, by the fire from the farm-house and batteries; nevertheless the French made themselves masters of them, and the Hanoverians who occupied them were obliged to surrender for want of ammunition. To support his foot-guards, Bonaparte brought forward his horse-guards, composed of eight or nine regiments. He was waiting with the utmost anxiety the result of this charge, when be saw this i'liti', of his army annihilated in an instant, while ascending the bank on which La Haye Sainte is situated. This was the last attempt: when he saw the old guard destroyed, he lost all hope; and, turning to Bertrand, said, "All is now over—let us save ourselves." It was half an hour past eight. Without taking any measure,—without giving any orders,—and thinking only of escaping the Prussians, Bonaparte, accompanied by his staff, set off at full speed for Genappe, following the line of the causeway at a certain distance in the fields. Once only, in passing a battery of fourteen guns, he ordered, before abandoning it, fourteen shots to be fired from each gun. It was half past nine o'clock when he arrived at Genappe. The single street which forms this village was so choked up with caissons and cannon, that it took a whole hour for him and his staff to get through it, passing along the houses, which now were void of inhabitants. There was, however, no other road to take, because the left was occupied by the Prussians, and there was no other bridge but that of Genappe for crossing the river. From Genappe he directed his course towards Les Quatre Bras, pressing on with renewed haste, and always in the apprehension of being prevented by the Prussians. When he had passed this last place he was more tranquil; and when he arrived at Gossely, he even lighted from his horse, and went the rest of the way to Charleroi (that is to say, nearly a league) on foot. He passed through Charleroi on horseback, at about half past two in the morning, and went into a meadow called Mareenelle, beyond the town. There a large fire was made for him, and two glasses and two bottles of wine were brought, which he drank with his officers; he took no other refreshment. A sack of oats was scattered on the ground, which the horses ate, bridled as they were. At a quarter before five, after having taken another guide, (who received the horse which De Coster had used,) Bonaparte again mounted his horse, made an inclination of his head to De Coster, and went away. Bertrand gave De Coster a single Napoleon, which was all he received, and disappeared likewise, as did the whole staff, leaving De Coster alone, who was obliged to return home on foot. During the time that he had passed with Bonaparte, De Coster was not in any respect ill treated: only when, in their flight, they had arrived at Les Quatre Bras, one of the officers, who perceived that a second guide whom they had with them had made off, tied, by way of precaution, the bridle of De Coster's horse to the saddle of his own. Bonaparte, from the moment he began his retreat till he arrived in the meadow of Marcenelle, did not stop anywhere, and did not speak to anybody. He had taken no nourishment since leaving the farm of Rossum, and, as De Coster thinks, he had not even taken any thing since six o'clock in the morning. He did not appear at all moved by the dangers of the battle. De Coster, who was much afraid, often stooped on his horse's neck to shun the balls which he heard whistling over his head. Bonaparte repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction at this, telling him, that these movements made the officers believe he was hit;—and added, that he would not shun the balls any better by stooping down than by keeping upright. During the battle, he had frequent occasion to do justice to the bravery of the army which was opposed to him. He chiefly praised the Scotch Greys, and expressed regret at seeing them suffer so much, while they manoeuvred so well, and handled the sabre so dexterously. Till half past five he retained good hopes, and repeated every instant that all went well.—His generals partook of these hopes.—It may be added, that during the whole action he displayed the same calmness and sang-froid, that he never manifested any ill-humour, and spoke always with great gentleness to his officers. He never was at any time in danger of being taken; having had, even at the third station when** he was nearest the enemy, twelve pieces of cannon and three thousand grenadiers of hi* guard around him. He made no use of the observatory constructed six wt-CK± before the battle by the Dutch engineers. During the flight, he received pretty frequently news of the army, from officers who had succeeded in escaping from the pursuit of the allies. De Coster's house having been used by the French in their bivouac, the doors and windows, and all the wood it contained, were burnt. The rent which he paid for it was 100 francs; the proprietor, after having repaired it, has let it to another person for 125 francs. De Coster resides at present at the hamlet of Joli-Bois, on the high-road between Waterloo and Mount St Jean. This relation was drawn up at Waterloo on the 8th of January, 1816, in the Inn of Jean De Nivelles, from De Coster's answers to the questions put to him. It was read to him next day and corrected from his observations. Brussels, 12th January, 1816. References
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- Scott, Sir Walter (1850), The Miscellaneous Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott, Bart, R. Cadell, pp. 148–149, 341–346.
French Original
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APPENDIX, No. I. RELATION De ce gue Napoleon Buonaparte a fait et dit dans lajournee du 18 Juin, 1815, pendant et après la Bataille de Waterloo; rédigée sur les depositions de Jean-Baptiste de Coster, qui lui servit de guide dans cette journee. Jean-baptiste De Coster, age d'environ 53 ans, ne au village de Corbeek-loo près de Louvain, depuis 33 ans habite le pays Wallon. II a 5 pieds 10 pouces, et est d'une complexion assez robuste. Il est intelligent, et répond avec une grande apparence de vérité aux questions qu'on lui fait. Il s'exprime avec facilité, et comprend très-bien le Français. De Coster occupait, avant l'invasion de Napoleon, Uh petit cabaret, avec deux bonniers (environ six arpens) de terre. A l'approche de 1'armee franchise, le 17, il se retira, avec sa famille, composée de sa femme et de 7 enfans, dans le bois de l'abbaye d'Awyiers, où il passa la nuit du samedi au dimanche. A six heures du matin, il sortit du bois pour se rendre a 1'eglise, et de la, a la maison de son frere, situee a Planchenoit. I1 y trouva trois generaux frangais qui lui demandèrent s'il habitait le pays depuis long-tems, et s'il connaissait bien les environs. Sur sa réponse affirmative, l'un d'eux 1'envoya & Napoleon, accompagne d'un domestique, et avec une lettre. Napoleon avait passé la nuit dans la ferme le Caillou et en était parti à six heures. De Coster le trouva dans la ferme nommée Rossum, où il arriva à 8 heures, et fut de suite presente a Buonaparte, qui se tenait debout, dans une chambre d'environ 20 pieds de long sur 16 de large, au milieu d'un grand nombre d'officiers de son état-major. Buonaparte lui demanda s'il était bien instruit des localites du pays, et s'il voulait lui servir de guide. De Coster ayant répondu d'une manière satisfaisante, Napoleon lui dit qu'il l'accompagnerait, en ajoutant: "parlez-moi, mon ami, avec franchise, et comme si vous étiez avec vos enfans." La ferme Rossum est situee pres de cello nommee la Belle Alliance. L'Empereur s'y arreta jusqu'a pres de midi. Pendant ce tems, De Coster etait garde a vue, dans la cour de la ferme, par un soldat de la garde, qui, en se promenant avec lui, l'instruisit des forces de 1'armee, et lui dit qu'ils étaient, en passant les frontières, 150,000 hommes, dont 40,000 de cavalerie, parmi lesquels étaient 9000 cuirassiers, 7000 hommes de la jeune garde, et 8 à 9000 de la vieille. Ce même soldat louait beaucoup la bravoure que les Anglais avaient deployee aux Quatre Bras. Il admirait particulierement 1'intrepide sang-froid des Montagnards écossais, qui ne bougeaient, disait-il dans son langage militaire, que lorsqu'on leur mettait la baïonnette au derrière. Pendant que De Coster se tenait ainsi dans la cour de la ferme, Buonaparte le fit appeler, à trois reprises differentes, pour lui demander des renseignemens sur les cartes du pays, qu'il consultait constamment. Il le questionna principalement sur la distance des différentes villes du Brabant au champ de bataille, et lui fit dire quelles étaient les villes qu'il avait vues dans sa jeunesse. De Coster en nomma quatorze, ce qui parut faire plaisir à Buonaparte. II temoigna aussi beaucoup de satisfaction d'apprendre que De Coster etait flumand, et parlait également bien le flamand et le wallon. II lui recommandait sur-tout de ne lui donner que des renseignemens certains, et de répondre aux choses dont il ne serait pas assuré, en haussant simplement les epaules. D repetait souvent ces instructions, en ajoutant que s'il réussissait, sa récompense serait cent fois plus forte qu'il ne pouvait 1'imaginer. II I'affranchit aussi de toute marque particulière de respect, lui disant que sans ôter le bonnet de nuit qu'il portait, il n'avait qu'à saluer en mettant la main au front. A midi Buonaparte sortit avec son état-major, et se plaça sur une hauteur a cote de la chaussee, a une trespetite distance en arrière de la ferme, d'ou il dominait tout le champ de bataille. On vint bientôt lui dire que l'attaque de la ferme et du château d'Hougoumont, qu'il avait fait commencer all heures, n'avait pas eu de suc-ces.[1] A une heure la bataille devint generale. Buonaparte resta dans cette premiere station, avec tout son etat-major, jusqu'a cinq heures. II etait a pied, et marchait Cohstamment en long et en large, quelquefois les bras croises, le plus souvent les mains derriere le dos, en tenant les pouces dans les poches de sa redingotte, couleur d'ardoise. II avait les yeux fixes sur la bataille, et tirait alternativement sa montre et sa tabatiere. De Coster, qui etaii a cheval pres de lui, remarqua plusieurs fois sa montre. Buonaparte, s'apercevant qu'il prenait aussi du tabac, et qu'il n'en avait plus, lui en donna a plusieurs reprises. Lorsqu'il vit que ses tentatives pour enlever la position du chateau d'Hougoumont avaient etc vainement reiterees, il prit un cheval, quitta a cinq heures la ferme Rossum, et se portant en a van I, vint se placer vis-a-vis de la maison de Coster, a une portee de fusil de La Belle Alliance. II resta dans cette seconde station jusqu'a sept heures. C'est dans ce moment, que le premier, il apercut, au moyen de sa lunette, les Prussiens arriver. II en fit part a son aide-de-camp qui, ayant egalement dirige sa lunette de leur cote, les vit aussi. Quelques minutes apres, un officier vint lui annoncer que le corps de Bulow approchait; Buonaparte lui repondit qu'il le sa- vait bien, et donna des ordres pour que sa Garde fit un mouvement sur le centre de Parmee Anglaise. Lui-meme, se portant de nouveau en avant, et au galop, il alia se placer avec son etat-major, dans un ravin forme par la chaussee, a moitie chemin de La Belle Alliance a La Haye Sainte. Cette position fut la troisietne et la derniere. Buonaparte et sa suite avaient couru de grands dangers pour arriver a, ce ravin; un boulet emporta meme le pommeau de la selle d'un de ses officiers, sans toucher, ni lui, ni son cheval. Buonaparte se contenta de lui dire froidement qu'il fallait se tenir dans le ravin. II y avait dans cet endroit, des deux cotes de la route, une batterie; s'apercevant qu'un des canons de celle de gauche ne faisait pas bon feu, il descendit de cheval, monta sur la crete du chemin, et s'avan^a jusqu'a la troi«ieme piece, dont il rectifia le jeu, pendant que les boulets et les balles sifflaient autour de lui. II revint tranquillement, les mains dans les poches de sa redingotte, se remettre au milieu de ses officiers. Etant dans cette position, il vit les huit bataillons de la vieille Garde, a qui il avait donne ordre d'enfoncer le centre de Parmee Anglaise, se porter sur la Haye Sainte. Trois de ces bataillons furent detruits sous ses yeux, en traversant la chaussee, par le feu de la ferme et des batteries; neanmoins les Francais s'en rendirent maitres, et les Hanovriens qui Poccupaient, furent obliges de se rendre, faute de munition. Pour soutenir la Garde a pied, Buonaparte fit avancer sa Garde a cheval, composce de huit a neuf regimens. II attendait avec la plus vive anxiete le resultat de cette charge, lorsqu'il vit cette elite de son armee aneantie en un instant, en montant le coteau sur lequel est situee la Haye Sainte. Cette tentative fut la derniere ; en voyant sa vieille Garde detruite, il perdit tout espoir, et se tournant vers Bertrand, il lui dit: "a present c'est fini; sauvons nous." II etait huit heures et demie. Sans prendre aucune mesure, sans donner aucun ordre, et mettant tous ses soins a eviter les Prussiens, Buonaparte, accompagne de son etat-major, se mit a galoper jusqu'a Genappe, en longeant la chaussee a une certaine distance dans les terres. Seulement en passant devant une batterie de 14 pieces, qui etait pres de Pobservatoire, il ordonna qu'avant de 1'abandonner, on tirat 14 coups de chaque piece. Lorsqu'il arriva a Genappe, il etait neuf heures et demie. L'unique rue qui forme ce village, etait tellemeiit encombree de caissons et de canons, qu'il lui fallut une heure entiere pour la travei'ser lui et son etat-major, en longeant les maisons qui ne contenaient plus d'habitans. II n'y avait cependant pas d'autre chemin a prendre, a cause que la gauche etait occupee par les Prussiens, et qu'il n'y avait pas d'autre pont que celui de Genappe pour traverser la riviere qui y passe. De Genappe, il se dirigea sur les Quatre Bras, en pressant de nouveau le pas, toujours dans la crainte que les Prussiens ne le previnssent. II fut plus tranquille lorsqu'il eut passe ce dernier endroit, et meme, arrive a Gossely, il descendit de cheval et fit a pied le reste du chemin jusqu'a Charleroy; c'est-a-dire, a-peu-pres une lieue. II traversa Charleroy a cheval, a deux heures et demie environ, et entra dans une prairie nommee Marcenelle, de 1'autre cote de la ville. La, on lui fit un grand feu, et on lui apporta deux verres et deux bouteilles de vin qu'il but avec ses officiers. II ne prit aucune autre nourriture. On repandit sur la prairie un sac d'avoine que les chevaux mangerent tout brides. A cinq heures nioins un quart, apres avoir pris un autre guide, (a qui on donna le cheval dont s'etait servi De Coster,) il remonta a cheval, fit a De Coster une inclination de tete, et partit. Bertrand remit a De Coster pour tout salaire, un Napoleon simple et disparut egalement, ainsi que tout 1'etat-major, laissant seul De Coster, qui fut oblige de revenir chez lui a pied. Pendant tout le terns qu'il avait passe avec Buonaparte, De Coster ne fut aucunement mal traite; seulement, lorsque dans la fuite, ils furent arrives aux Quatre Bras, un des officiers, s'etant ape^u qu'un second guide qu'ils avaient avec euxj s'etait evade, attacha, par mesure de precaution, la bride du cheval de De Coster a la selle du sien. Depuis le moment qu'il avait commence" sa retraite jusqu'a son arrivee dans la prairie de Marcenelle, Buonaparte ne s'etait arrete nulle part, et n'avait parle a personne. II n'avait pris aucune nourriture depuis qu'il etait sorti de la ferme Rossum, et meme, a ce que pense De Coster, il n'avait rien pris depuis six heures du matin. Les dangers de la bataille ne paraissaient nullement 1'emouvoir. De Coster, que la peur agitait beaucoup, se baissait frequemment sur le cou de son cheval pour eviter les boulets qu'il entendait si filer au-dessus de sa tete. Buonaparte lui en témoigna plusieurs fois du mécontentement, en lui disant que ces mouvemens faisaient croire a ses officiers, qu'il etait atteint, il ajoutait qu'il n'eviterait pas plus les boulets en se couchant qu'en se tenant droit. Pendant la bataille, il lui arriva souvent de rendre justice a la bravoure de 1'armee qui lui etait opposee; il loua principalement les Chevaux-Gris écossais, et exprimait du regret de les voir tant souffrir, pendant qu'ils manoauvraient si bien, et qu'ils maniaient si adroitement le sabre. Jusqu'a cinq heures et demie, il avait conserve le meilleur espoir, et repetait a chaque instant que tout allait bien. Ses Généraux partageaient avec lui cet espoir. Au reste il a montré pendant toute 1'action le même calme et le même sang-froid, sans manifester jamais d'humeur, et parlant toujours avec une grande douceur a ses officiers. II n'a etc dans aucun moment en danger d'etre pris, ayant eu, meme a la troisième station, où il était le plus près de 1'ennemi, 12 pieces de canon et 3000 grenadiers de sa garde autour de lui. II ne fit aucun usage de 1'observatoire construit six semaines avant la bataille par les ingénieurs Hollandais. Dans la fuite il recevait assez fréquemment des nouvclles dc l'armee, par des officiers qui étaient parvenus a echapper a la poursuite des allies. La maison de De Coster, ayant servi au bivouac des Français, les portes et les fenêtres, et tous le bois qu'elle contenait, furcnt brules. Le loyer qu'il payait etait die 100 francs ; le proprietaire, apres Pavoir reparee 1'a louee a un autre pour 125 francs. De Coster demeure maintenant au hameau de Joli-Bois, sur la chaussee entre Waterloo et Mont Saint Jean. Cette relation a ete redigee a Waterloo, le 8 Janvier 1816, a 1'auberge de Jean De Nivelles, d'apres les reponses de De Coster aux questions qui lui furent faites. Elle lui a ete relue le lendemain, et corrigee sur ses observations. A Bruxelles, le 12 Janvier, 1816. TRANSLATION of APPENDIX No I. RELATION Of what was done and said by Napoleon Buonaparte in the course of the 18th of June, 1815, during and after the Battle of Waterloo:—Drawn up from the Depositions of Jean Baptiste De Coster, who served him as Guide on that Day. Jean Baptiste De Coster, aged about 53, born in the village of Corbeek-loo, near Louvain, has resided in the Walloon country for 33 years. He is 5 feet 10 inches high, and of a robust appearance. He is intelligent, and answers the questions put to him with an air of great sincerity. He expresses himself with facility, and understands French very well. Before the invasion of Buonaparte, De Coster occupied a little inn, with about six acres of ground. On the approach of the French army on the 17th, he retired with his family, composed of his wife and seven children, into the wood of the abbey of Awyiers, where he spent the night between the Saturday and Sunday. At six in the morning, he left the wood to go to church, and from thence to the house of his brother, situated at Planchenoir. He found there three French generals, who asked him if he had lived long in the country, and if he was well acquainted with the neighbourhood. On his answering in the affirmative, one of them sent him to Napoleon, accompanied by a domestic, and with a letter. Napoleon had passed the night in the farm-house of Caillou, and had left it at six o'clock. De Coster found him in the farm-house called Rossum, where he arrived at eight o'clock, and was immediately presented to Buonaparte, who was standing in a room about 20 feet long and 16 broad, in the middle of a great many officers of his staff. Buonaparte asked him if he was well acquainted with the localities of the country, and if he was willing to act as his guide. De Coster having given a satisfactory answer, Napoleon told him that he should accompany him, adding, " Speak to me, my friend, with frankness, and as if you were among your children." The farm of Rossum is situated near that called La Belle Alliance. The emperor stopped there till almost noon. During this time, De Coster was kept in view, in the court-yard of the farm, by a soldier of the guard, who, while walking with him, informed him of the strength of the army, telling him that it consisted, on passing the frontiers, of 150,000 men, of whom 40,000 were cavalry, among which latter troops were 9000 cuirassiers, 7000 of the young guard, and 8 to 9000 of the old guard. This soldier bestowed great praise on the bravery which the English had displayed at Quatre Bras. He particularly admired the intrepid sang-froid of the Scotch Highlanders, "who would not budge," said he, in his military phrase, "but when the bayonet was put to their posteriors." While De Coster thus remained in the court-yard of the farm-house, Buonaparte made him be called three different times, to ask him information as to the maps of the country, which he was incessantly consulting. He questioned him chiefly on the distance of the different towns of Brabant from the field of battle, and made him say what were the towns he had seen in his youth. De Coster named fourteen, which seemed to please Buonaparte. He expressed also much satisfaction on hearing that De Coster was a Fleming, and that he spoke the Flemish and Walloon languages equally well. He recommended to him above all, to give nothing but certain information, and to answer to things of which he was not assured, merely by shrugging his shoulders. He frequently repeated these intimations, adding, that if he succeeded, his (De Coster's) reward should be a hundred times greater than he could imagine. He freed him also from any particular mark of respect, telling him, that, without taking off the night-cap which he wore, he had only to salute by putting his hand to his forehead. At noon, Buonaparte went out with his staff, and placed himself on an eminence by the side of the causeway, at a very little distance in rear of the farm, from whence he had a view of the whole field of battle. Persons very soon came to tell him, that the attack on the farm and chateau of Hougoumont, which he had ordered to commence at eleven o'clock, had not succeeded.</ref>* De Coster thinks, that what hindered this attempt from succeeding, was a wall which surrounds the chateau in the inside, and which was concealed from the French by a hedge which surrounds it on the outside. Four thousand men found shelter behind this wall, while it was struck by the French balls.</ref> At one o'clock the battle became general. Buonaparte remained in his first station, with all his staff, till five o'clock. He was on foot, and walked constantly backwards and forwards, sometimes with his arms crossed, but more frequently with his hands behind his back, and with his thumbs in the pockets of his slate-coloured greatcoat. He had his eyes fixed on the battle, and took out alternately his watch and snuff-box. De Coster, who was on horseback near him, frequently remarked his watch. Buonaparte, perceiving that he also took snuff, and that he had no more, frequently gave him some. When he saw that his attempts to carry the position of the chateau of Hougoumont had been vainly reiterated, he took a horse, quitted the farm of Rossum at five o'clock, and, moving forward, placed himself opposite to the house of De Coster, at the distance of a gun-shot from La Belle Alliance. He remained in the second station till seven o'clock. It was at that moment that he first perceived, by means of his glass, the arrival of the Prussians; he mentioned it to his aide-de-camp, who, having directed his glass towards them, saw them also. Some minutes afterwards, an officer came to inform him that the corps of Bulow was approaching: Buonaparte answered, that he knew it, and gave orders that his guards should make a movement on the centre of the English army. He himself, again moving forward at the gallop, went and placed himself, with his staff, in a ravine formed by the causeway, halfway between La Belle Alliance and La Haye Sainte. This was his third and last position. Buonaparte and his suite had been in great danger before arriving at this ravine: a ball even carried away the pommel of the saddle of one of his officers, without either touching him or his horse. Buonaparte merely told him coldly, that he ought to keep within the ravine. There were at this place batteries on both sides of the road. Perceiving that one of the guns of the battery on the left was not making a good fire, he alighted from his horse, mounted on the height at the side of the road, and advanced to the third gun, the firing of which he rectified, while cannon and musket-balls were whistling round him. He returned with tranquillity, with his hands in the pockets of his great-coat, and took his place among his officers. In this position, he saw the eight battalions of the old guard, to whom he had given orders to penetrate the centre of the English army, advance upon La Haye Sainte. Three of these battalions were destroyed before his eyes, while crossing the causeway, by the fire from the farm-house and batteries; nevertheless the French made themselves masters of them, and the Hanoverians who occupied them were obliged to surrender for want of ammunition. To support his foot-guards, Buonaparte brought forward his horse-guards, composed of eight or nine regiments. He was waiting with the utmost anxiety the result of this charge, when he saw this elite of his army annihilated in an instant, while ascending the bank on which La Haye Sainte is situated. This was the last attempt: when he saw the old guard destroyed, he lost all hope; and, turning to Bertrand, said, "All is now over—let us save ourselves. It was half an hour past eight. Without taking any measure,—without giving any orders,—and thinking only of escaping the Prussians, Buonaparte, accompanied by his staff, set off at full speed for Genappe, following the line of the causeway at a certain distance in the fields. Once only, in passing a battery of fourteen guns, he ordered, before abandoning it, fourteen shots to be fired from each gun. It was half past nine o'clock when he arrived at Genappe. The single street which forms this village was so choked up with caissons and cannon, that it took a whole hour for him and his staff to get through it, passing along the houses, which now were void of inhabitants. There was, however, no other road to take, because the left was occupied by the Prussians, and there was no other bridge but that of Genappe for crossing the river. From Genappe he directed his course towards Les Quatre Bras, pressing on with renewed haste, and always in the apprehension of being prevented by the Prussians. When he had passed this last place he was more tranquil; and when he arrived at Gossely, he even lighted from his horse, and went the rest of the way to Charleroi (that is to say, nearly a league) on foot. He passed through Charleroi on horseback, at about half past two in the morning, and went into a meadow called Marcenelle, beyond the town. There a large fire was made for him, and two glasses and two bottles of wine were brought, which he drank with his officers; he took no other refreshment. A sack of oats was scattered on the ground, which the horses ate, bridled as they were. At a quarter before five, after having taken another guide, (who received the horse which De Coster had used,) Buonaparte again mounted his horse, made an inclination of his head to De Coster, and went away. Bertrand gave De Coster a single Napoleon, which was all he received, and disappeared likewise, as did the whole staff, leaving De Coster alone, who was obliged to return home on foot. During the time that he had passed with Buonaparte, De Coster was not in any respect ill treated: only when, in their flight, they had arrived at Les Quatre Bras, one of the officers, who perceived that a second guide whom they had with them had made off, tied, by way of precaution, the bridle of De Coster's horse to the saddle of his own. Buonaparte, from the moment he began his retreat till he arrived in the meadow of Marcenelle, did not stop anywhere, and did not speak to anybody. He had taken no nourishment since leaving the farm of Rossum, and, as De Coster thinks, he had not even taken anything since six o'clock in the morning. He did not appear at all moved by the dangers of the battle. De Coster, who was much afraid, often stooped on his horse's neck to shun the balls which he heard whistling over his head. Buonaparte repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction at this, telling him, that these movements made the officers believe he was hit;—and added, that he would not shun the balls any better by stooping down than by keeping upright. During the battle, he had frequent occasion to do justice to the bravery of the army which was opposed to him. He chiefly praised the Scotch Greys, and expressed regret at seeing them suffer so much, while they manoeuvred so well, and handled the sabre so dexterously. Till half past five he retained good hopes, and repeated every instant that all went well.—His generals partook of these hopes.—It may be added, that during the whole action he displayed the same calmness and sangfroid, that he never manifested any ill-humour, and spoke always with great gentleness to his officers. He never was at any time in danger of being taken; having had, even at the third station where he was nearest the enemy, twelve pieces of cannon and three thousand grenadiers of his guard around him. He made no use of the observatory constructed six weeks before the battle by the Dutch engineers. During the flight, he received pretty frequently news of the army, from officers who had succeeded in escapingfrom the pursuit of the allies. De Coster's house having been used by the French in their bivouack, the doors and windows, and all the wood it contained, were burnt. The rent which he paid for it was 100 francs; the proprietor, after having repaired it, has let it to another person for 125 francs. De Coster resides at present at the hamlet of Joli-Bois, on the high road between Waterloo and Mount St Jean. This relation was drawn up at Waterloo on the 8th of January, 1816, in the Inn of Jean De Nivelles, from De Coster's answers to the questions put to him. It was read to him next day, and corrected from his observations. Brussels, 12th January, 1816. |
- Scott, Sir Walter (1827), Miscellaneous Prose Works, pp. 409–.
- Scott, Sir Walter (1833), The Complete Works of Sir Walter Scott: With a Biography, and His Last Additions and Illustrations, Conner & Cooke, pp. 894–895. — original version in French.
- Sas, Niek van (2012), ""Walter Scott", in Dunthorne, Hugh & Wintle, Michael J., The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Britain and the Low Countries, BRILL, pp. 20–26, ISBN 978-90-04-24186-2, <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OQczAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA20>.
Translated from an attested Copy. Brussels, Jan. 16th, 1816
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Narrative of all that Napoleon Buonaparte said and did on the I8th of June, 1815, during and after the Battle of Waterloo, taken and corrected from the Deposition of John Baptiste De Coster, who served as his Guide on that day. Translated from an attested Copy. Brussels, Jan. 16th, 1816. J. B. de Coster is aged about 53; he was born in the village of Corbeek-loo, near Louvaine, and has inhabited Wallon for 33 years; he is five feet ten inches high, and of a robust florid complexion; he is intelligent, and there is great appearance of truth in the answers he makes to questions put to him; he understands French very well, and expresses his ideas with great facility. Before the invasion of Napoleon, De Coster occupied a small alehouse (cabaret), with about six acres of land. Upon the approach of the French army on the 17th of June, he retired with his family, consisting of his wife and seven children, into the wood of the Abbey d'Awyiers, where he passed the night (Saturday); at six o'clock on Sunday morning, he went to church, and from thence to his brother's, who lived at Planchenoit. He met there three French generals, who inquired of him if he had lived in the country a long time, and if he was well acquainted with the environs? Upon his answering in the affirmative, one of them sent him to Buonaparte with a letter, and accompanied by a servant. Buonaparte slept, on the 17th of June, at a farm called the Caillou, and left it at six next morning. De Coster found him at a farm called Rossum, where he (Buonaparte) arrived at eight a. m., and was immediately presented to Buonaparte, who was standing in a room about 20 feet by 16, in the midst of a great number of officers of his staff. Buonaparte asked him, if he was well acquainted with the local situation of the country, and if he would be his guide? De Coster having answered him satisfactorily, Buonaparte told him he should accompany him, adding, "Speak frankly with me, my friend, as if you were with your children." Rossum farm is near La Belle Alliance. The Emperor remained there till near mid-day. During this time De Coster was closely watched in the farm-yard by one of the garde, who, whilst walking with him, informed him of the force of the army (French), and told him, that upon passing the frontiers, they had an army of 150,000 men, of which 40,000 were cavalry, among which were 9,000 cuirassiers, 7,000 of the new, and 8 or 9,000 of the old guard. This soldier praised much the bravery displayed by the English at Quatre Bras. He particularly admired the sang-froid of the Scotch Highlanders, who (says he, in his military style,) "ne bougeoien que lorsqu'on leur mettait la baïonette au derrière." During this time, Buonaparte had De Coster called three different times, to obtain information as to the maps of the country, which he constantly consulted. He questioned him chiefly upon the distance of several towns of Brabant from the field of battle, and made him explain those he had seen in his youth. De Coster named fourteen, which appeared to please Buonaparte; he seemed very much satisfied to find that De Coster was Flemish, and that he spoke the same language; he advised him above all, to give only well-authenticated information, and not to answer for things of which he was uncertain, shrugging his shoulders at the same time. He repeated often these instructions, adding, "that if he (Buonaparte) succeeded, his recompense should be a hundred times greater than he could imagine." He dispensed with every particular mark of respect, telling him, that instead of taking oil" his cap, he need only put his hand to his forehead. At mid-day, Buonaparte went out with his staff, and placed himself upon a bank on the side of the road, which commanded a view of the field of battle. Shortly afterward, news arrived, that the attack upon the farm and chateau of Hougomont, which he had commenced at eleven o'clock, was unsuccessful. At one, the battle became general; Buonaparte remained in his first station with his staff until five; he was on foot, and constantly walked backwards and forwards, sometimes with his arms crossed, but chiefly behind his back, with his thumbs in the pockets of a dark-coloured great coat; he had his eyes fixed upon the battle, and pulled out his watch and snuff-box alternately. De Coster, who was on horseback near him, observed frequently his watch. Buonaparte perceiving that De Coster took snuff, and that he had none, gave him several pinches. When he found that his attempts to force the position of the Chateau of Hougomont had been made in vain, he took a horse, left the farm of Rossum at five p. m., and, riding foremost, halted opposite De Coster's house, about 100 yards from La Belle Alliance. He remained there until 7. At this moment, he, by means of a telescope, perceived the Prussian advance, and communicated it to an aide-de-camp, who upon turning his spying-glass saw them also. Some moments after, an officer came to announce that Bulow's corps approached. Buonaparte replied, that he knew it well, and gave orders for his Guard to attack the centre of the English army; and riding at full gallop, in advance, he placed himself, with his staff, in a hollow made by the road half way between La Belle Alliance and Haye Sainte. This was his third and last position. Buonaparte and his suite ran great risks to reach this hollow. A bullet struck the pommel of the saddle of one of his officers, without touching him or his horse. Buonaparte contented himself by coolly observing, "that they must remain in this hollow." Here there was on each side of the road a battery, and perceiving that one of the cannons of the left battery did not play well, he dismounted, ascended the height of the road, advanced to the third piece, and rectified the error, whilst the bullets were hissing around him. Whilst in this situation, he saw eight battalions of his old Guard, to whom he had given orders to force the centre of the English army, advancing upon Haye Saitite. Three of these battalions were annihilated in his sight, whilst crossing the road, by the firing from the farm and batteries. Nevertheless the French made themselves masters of the farm; and the Hanoverians who occupied it, were obliged to surrender for want of ammunition. To support the foot guards (gardes à pied) Buonaparte made his horse guards, composed of eight or nine regiments, advance: he waited the result of this charge with the greatest anxiety; but he saw the flower of his army destroyed in an instant, whilst ascending the rise upon which Haye Sainte is situate. This was his last trial; for on seeing his old Guard destroyed, he lost all hope, and on turning towards his officers, said: "A present c'est fini: sauvonsnous." (It is now finished, let us save ourselves). It was half past eight o'clock, and without pursuing any steps, or giving any orders, and taking all possible care to avoid the Prussians, he, accompanied by his staff, rode off, at full gallop, to Genappe. In passing a battery of 14 guns, that was near the Observatory, he ordered that, before they abandoned it to the enemy, they should fire fourteen rounds. When he arrived at Genappe, it was half past nine o'clock p. m. The only street which forms this village, was so encumbered with caissons and cannon, that it required an entire hour to pass them, alongside the houses; all the inhabitants had forsaken their dwellings. There was no other road to take, because the Prussians occupied the left, and there was no other bridge but that of Genappe, by which to pass the river that flowed there. From Genappe he advanced towards Quatre Bras, hastening his pace, always afraid the Prussians would arrive before him; he was more tranquil when he had passed this last place, and when arrived at Gosselies, he even dismounted and walked the remainder of the road to Charleroi (about one league). He traversed Charleroi on horseback for two hours and a half, and stopped in a meadow called Marcenelle, at the other end of the town. There they made a large fire, and brought two glasses and two bottles of wine, which he drank with his officers. He took no other nourishment. They spread upon the ground a sack of oats, which his horses eat, in their bridles. At a quarter before five o'clock, after having taken another guide (to whom he gave the horse that had served De Coster), he remounted, made a slight bow to De Coster, and rode off. Bertrand gave De Coster, for his services, a single Napoleon,[2] and disappeared, as did also the whole staff, leaving De Coster alone, who was obliged to return home on foot. During the whole time he was with Buonaparte, he was not ill-treated, except, whilst they were retreating, on their arrival at Quatre Bras, when one of the officers, finding that a second guide which they had with them had escaped, tied the bridle of De Coster's horse to his own saddle as a precautionary measure. From the moment that Buonaparte began to retreat, until his arrival in the meadow of Marcenelle, he did not stop, nor did he speak to any one. He had taken no nourishment from the time he left the farm Rossum, and De Coster even thinks he had taken nothing from six in the morning. The dangers of the battle did not seem to affect him. De Coster, who was greatly agitated through fear, lowered his head frequently on the neck of his horse, to avoid the balls which hissed over bis head. Buonaparte appeared displeased at it, and told him that those motions made his officers believe that he was wounded; and also added, that he would not escape the balls more by stooping, than by holding himself upright. During the battle, he often rendered justice to the opposing army: he principally praised the Scotch Greys, and expressed much regret to see them suffer so severely, when they manoeuvred so well, and wielded the sword so dexterously. He also noticed the black squares, (the Brunswickers.) Until half-past five p. m. he had the greatest hope of success, and repeated every moment, "All goes well." His Generals entertained the same hope. He was perfectly calm, and showed much sang-froid during the action without appearing out of humour, and always spoke very mildly to his officers. He was never in danger of being taken prisoner, being always surrounded; even in his third station, where he was nearest to the enemy, he had with him twelve pieces of cannon, and 3,000 grenadiers of his guard. He made no use of the Observatory, which had been constructed six weeks before by the engineers of Holland. (Previous to De Costers coming to Buonaparte, Buonaparte had mounted the Observatory, and was there for an hour, but never after; this the Editor is assured is the fact, from undoubted authority.) In his flight, he frequently received news from the army, by Officers who came up with him in their escape from the pursuit of the Allies. The house of De Coster having served as a bivouac for the French, they burnt all the doors, windows, and wood, that they could find. The rent that he paid was 100 francs. The proprietor, after having repaired it, has let it to another person for 125 francs. De Coster lives at present in a hamlet, called Joli Bois, situate upon the causeway between Waterloo and Mount St. Jean. This narrative was given at Waterloo, in the cabaret called Jean De Nivelles.[3] The next letter was from Extracts from the Journal of a Gentleman states on 16 July 1815 "John Baptiste Decoster was guide to Napoleon, in consequence of his knowing the county, and remained with him from Sunday at eight o'clock, till Monday at five; first went to Pont Marcenelle, a league beyond Charleroi; both were on horseback; gave him a Napoleon at parting". References
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- Booth, John (bookseller) (1817), The Battle of Waterloo: Also of Ligny, and Quatre Bras, Containing the Series of Accounts Published by Authority, British and Foreign, with Circumstantial Details Relative to the Battles, from a Variety of Original and Authentic Sources, with Connected Official and Private Documents, Forming an Historical Record by Those who Had the Honour to Share in the Operations of the Campaign of the Netherlands, 1815, J. Booth, pp. 116[1]. Another of Decoste's story this one 1817 and states the house was only 100 yards south of Belle Alliance.
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At a very short distance from the Hotel[La Belle Alliance], and also close to the road side, stood the little cottage represented in Plate XII. This house is remarkable from its having been one of Napoleon’s points of reconnoissance. Behind it there had been a garden and orchard, but these were utterly ruined: a few trees, indeed, remained, but their branches had been shivered to pieces by cannon and musket shot, and as to the others, of which nothing but vestiges of stumps were left, they had been cut down for the purpose of burning the dead, who were laying around the premises in heaps. The greenness of the wood, however, soaked too as it was by heavy rains, soon showed that this expedient was more tedious and troublesome than interment, or there might not have been left a tree round the spot for miles. Every article of furniture belonging to this cottage had been destroyed or taken away, and nothing remained therein but bricks, mortar, tiles, straw, tattered beehives, and other rubbish. It appeared to have been garrisoned, and hotly contested, for besides the ruined state of the tiling, there were bullets in abundance among the rubbish of the apartments and passage below. I saw an old woman pick out three. The upper story must have been an excellent observatory, for, till surrounded by hostile forces, its walls afforded ample protection from small shot, and it commanded all the views given in Plate XIII. The spaces between the rafters presented a view of the whole of that track of country along which part of the Imperial Guard, and other corps, under Counts D’Erlon, Lobau, &c. advanced to attack the left centre and extreme left of the British lines, and keep the Prussians in check. Through the front, or road side of the roof, every scene of action about Hougoumont, and towards Braine la Leud, &c. could be seen; and a small hole near the chimney’s side, where a few bricks had been removed, evidently for the purpose, completely overlooked the whole of the great road leading up by La Haye Sainte, towards Waterloo and Brussels. According to the narrative of Buonapart’s guide, La Coste, it appears, that his attention to the movements of the armies was directed through this opening, and through the rafters, from four o’clock till seven in the evening. Every spot, and circumstance, connected with the history of this extraordinary man, upon this most memorable occasion, must be interesting; and I have therefore given a representation of the interior of his observatory, in the same plate that exhibits the building which contained it. We must now consider the views which were taken from the rafters and gable-end of the house just described. The upper division of the folding Plate XIII, comprises nearly all that part of the field of battle which was occupied by the right and left centre of the British forces. The group of figures on horseback, and the waggon, towards the foreground on the left, have been so placed, because some of the country people pointed to the distant grounds immediately over them, as the spots occupied by the extreme right of the English cavalry and infantry. From plans published since, among which are the sketches of Captain Batty, whose correctness cannot be doubted, it appears that these indexes ought to have been under the right of the church-steeple; they would then have been placed too on the spot near which the Prince of Orange was wounded. The wood and orchard of Hougoumont are conspicuous in this view—the church, seen to the right of them, but considerably more distant, is at Braine La Leud. Meuke Braine, near which Lord Hill’s division was posted, lies rather still further to the right—and the rest of the subject extends towards La Haye Sainte, and Mount St. Jean. The two small subjects under that just referred to, would have been added to the left and right ends of it, if the size of my paper had allowed of such an arrangement: imagine them, therefore, so placed, and that while looking towards Hougoumont, the scenery represented in the lowest long slip is behind you, and, aided too by a reference to the cottage and its roof, these will furnish nearly as complete an idea of the whole field of battle as a panorama could afford. The high wooden building, conspicuous in one of the small subjects, has, in several plans of the field, been called Buonaparte’s observatory,[1] but improperly; for though, upon the retrograding of the allies, he may have used it, it was constructed by them two or three weeks before the battle, according to some accounts, under the directions of the Prince of Orange. It was of considerable height, as the sketch indicates, (about eighty feet) and consisted of open timber work, converging a little towards it upper stage, which, from the distance whence I viewed it, seemed to come prise a sort of box, or closely boarded apartment, to secure those within from any small shot that might be directed against them. Its situation was on the Charleroi side of Hougoumont. The other small subject, which would have been added to the right of the upper compartment, represents the Brussels road up to La Haye Sainte, as seen between the nearest cottages, which form part of the hamlet of La Belle Alliance. It was near this road’s side, that a party of our brave soldiers were en bivouac after the battle, when a body of Prussian Lancers, in passing, halted and saluted them, by their band, with “God Save the King.” The lowest division of the plate- exhibits the country occupied by that part of the French army which advanced towards the left of the British lines, by the posts of Blucher. Frischermont is seen in the distance (over the figures at plough): it was through this woody country that the vanguard of Bulow’s corps advanced,and completed the dismay and confusion of our enemies. Oppositie the hotel de La Belle Alliance, and at the distance of about half a‘rnile from the high road passing by it, stands the wood of Hougoumont, with the adjacent chateau, gardens and orchard of M. de Goumont.[2] This was a spot too memorable to be passed without other than distant observation, and we made our way to it across some ruined corn fields. References
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