[7] Colonel de Wissel, of the 1st German hussars, reported the fact to general Vivian, who went to the outposts next day, and, finding the enemy ready to attack, informed the Duke.
[8] See the following page, and the beginning of [chap. XI.]
[9] See Gurwood, Dispatches, vol. XII, page 290.
[10] One would say, after such language as this to his devoted and enthusiastic followers, and maintaining as Napoleon did, that Frederick the Great was right in carrying poison about his person to put an end to his existence in case of a great reverse of fortune, “He was right, he was right, it would have been dastardly indeed to live like a wretch (pleutre) after having once attained to the highest pinnacle of fame;” the Emperor would have brought his actions more in unison with his words, if, when on finding the day of Waterloo going against him, he had, in person, led his Imperial guard to attack our position.
[11] See [Outline map of the Waterloo campaign].
[12] Had general Zieten been equally alert in making the duke of Wellington acquainted with the attack of the French, as he was in communicating the intelligence to Blücher, the battle of Ligny might have either not been fought at all, or would have terminated less disastrously to his countrymen. (Gleig’s Story of the Battle of Waterloo.)
[14] A pity the poet did not put, Soigné.
[15] What appears most astonishing is, that the real line of retreat of the Prussian columns was not discovered by the victorious French until the afternoon of the 17th.
[16] The road by which the Prussians retreated upon Wavre, was examined by lieutenant-colonel Jackson, of the Royal staff corps, and a report thereof sent to the Prussian head-quarters, before the campaign opened.