Journal of the Waterloo campaign, vol. 2 (of 2) : $b kept throughout the campaign of 1815

"Journal of the Waterloo campaign, vol. 2 (of 2): kept throughout the campaign..." by General Cavalié Mercer is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. The work details the personal observations and experiences of General Mercer, who commanded the 9th Brigade Royal Artillery during the Waterloo campaign. The likely focus is on the daily life, logistics, challenges, and encounters of British forces and their allies as they advanced through France in the turbulent aftermath of the famous battle, providing both military and human perspectives. The opening of this journal offers a vivid chronicle of the Allied army’s arduous post-Waterloo march through northern France. Mercer describes in detail the chaotic congestion of troops, artillery, and baggage trains on muddy roads; tense interactions and even scuffles with allied contingents; and the often indifferent, rural peasantry who persist with their daily lives despite the foreign occupation. He captures scenes of makeshift bivouacs, the hardship of moving through monotonous landscapes, and the fragile discipline within the armies—contrasting British restraint with reports of Prussian and allied plundering. The narrative depicts moments of hospitality from local French families, the practicalities of finding food and shelter, and the poignant passage of King Louis XVIII amid grateful royalist citizens. As the journal progresses, Mercer’s reflections move between logistical frustrations, the beauty or desolation of the countryside, and the shifting morale and uncertainty among troops as they approach Paris, blending military movements with cultural observations and personal anecdotes.