Brigadier Gerard at Waterloo

Name: Brigadier Gerard at Waterloo
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Brigadier Etienne Gerard recounts how, though he was present at Waterloo, he was prevented from fighting and believes that his absence helped doom the French cause. Called from command of the Hussars of Conflans to join the Emperor’s staff, he observes Napoleon’s confidence in his veteran army and contempt for the immovable English infantry. During the battle, Napoleon mistakes an approaching force for Marshal Grouchy’s troops and sends Gerard to order Grouchy to attack the English flank and rear. Riding through the Wood of Paris, Gerard discovers that the supposed French column is actually the Prussian army. An innkeeper hides him in an attic while Prussian corps march past. From there Gerard overhears Marshal Blucher and Gneisenau planning to reinforce Wellington, and learns of a more dangerous scheme: Count Stein and eight selected Prussian horsemen are to avoid the main fighting, pursue Napoleon if the French are defeated, and capture or kill him. Gerard escapes the inn after the landlady saves him from an English aide-de-camp who tries to seize him. Disguised in the aide-de-camp’s black riding-coat, he bluffs his way through the Prussian army by shouting that he carries messages for Blucher and then for Bülow. He reaches the French lines in time to witness the Guard’s final advance against the British position. The Guard is driven back, the French army collapses into panic, and Gerard sees the field filled with dead, wounded, fugitives, and desperate soldiers. He briefly rejoins the shattered Hussars of Conflans, then leaves them to seek Napoleon. Gerard finds the Emperor retreating with Soult, Drouot, Lobau, Bertrand, five Chasseurs of the Guard, and a few attendants. He has not yet managed to warn them of Stein’s mission. When the party halts beyond Charleroi, the nine Prussian riders appear from the direction of France. Napoleon dismisses Gerard’s warning until the pursuing cavalry charge downhill toward them. Realizing that neither resistance nor flight by Napoleon is possible, Gerard instantly takes the Emperor’s grey coat and cocked hat, puts Napoleon into the carriage, and rides away on the Emperor’s white Arab. Bent forward to imitate Napoleon’s figure, he deliberately lures the Prussians after him, leaving the real Emperor free to continue his escape. The pursuit becomes a desperate race across fields, through the Sambre at a ford, along lanes, and through farmyards. Gerard kills one pursuing Hussar with Napoleon’s ornamental sword, loses that sword after an escape over a pigsty, recovers a heavy weapon from a dying French Cuirassier, and continues while Stein remains close behind. His borrowed horse is wounded by a drunken British soldier and steadily weakens, but Gerard recognizes the church of Gosselies and realizes that the farm of St. Aunay, appointed as the rallying point for his Hussars, is near. He reaches its open gate just ahead of Stein, crying for his comrades. The exhausted white Arab falls dead beneath him, and Gerard is thrown unconscious onto the farmyard stones. The Hussars of Conflans rescue him, believing for the moment that they are defending Napoleon. They kill three of the Prussian pursuers and capture Stein and an Uhlan. To preserve uncertainty about Napoleon’s whereabouts, the French do not reveal Gerard’s deception. Stein therefore continues to believe that he nearly captured the Emperor and praises “Napoleon” as the greatest horseman and swordsman he has ever seen, to Gerard’s private amusement.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1910 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Adventure Fiction · 17,464 words

First lines

Of all the great battles in which I had the honour of drawing my sword for the Emperor and for France there was not one which was lost. At Waterloo, although, in a sense, I was present, I was unable to fight, and the enemy was victorious. It is not for me to say that there is a connection between these two things. You know me too well, my friends, to imagine that I would make such a claim. But it gives matter for thought, and some have drawn flattering conclusions from it. After all, it was only a matter of breaking a few English squares and the day would have been our own. If the Hussars of Conflans, with Etienne Gerard to lead them, could not do this, then the best judges are mistaken. But let that pass. The Fates had ordained that I should hold my hand and that the Empire should fall. But they had also ordained that this day of gloom and sorrow should bring such honour to me as had never come when I swept on the wings of victory from Boulogne to Vienna. Never had I burned so brilliantly as at that supreme moment when the darkness fell upon all around me. You are aware that I was faithful to the Emperor in his adversity, and that I refused to sell my sword and my honour to the Bourbons. Never again was I to feel my war horse between my knees, never again to hear the kettledrums and silver trumpets behind me as I rode in front of my little rascals. But it comforts my heart, my friends, and it brings the tears to my eyes, to think how great I was upon that last day of my soldier life, and to remember that of all the remarkable exploits which have won me the love of so many beautiful women, and the respect of so many noble men, there was none which, in splendor, in audacity, and in the great end which was attained, could compare with my famous ride upon the night of June 18th, 1815. I am aware that the story is often told at mess-tables and in barrack-rooms, so that there are few in the army who have not heard it, but modesty has sealed my lips, until now, my friends, in the privacy of these intimate gatherings, I am inclined to lay the true facts before you.

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Genres

Historical Fiction — The story fictionalizes the Battle of Waterloo and its aftermath, incorporating real figures such as Napoleon, Wellington, Blücher, Grouchy, Ney, and Soult within an invented adventure.
Military Fiction — Its plot centers on campaigns, battlefield strategy, cavalry operations, military hierarchy, retreat, pursuit, and the experience of war from a soldier's perspective.
Adventure Fiction — Gerard undertakes a dangerous mission, evades enemy forces, infiltrates enemy lines, rescues Napoleon through deception, and survives an extended mounted pursuit.
Napoleonic Fiction — The narrative is specifically rooted in the Napoleonic Wars, glorifying and satirizing the martial culture, loyalties, and personalities associated with Napoleon's army.

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Brigadier Gerard at Waterloo is listed on Textopian as a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1910 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Napoleonic Fiction, War Fiction
Length: 17,464 words
Structure: 1 section, 161 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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