"Blücher Comes West." Topic

"Prussia had been no less backwards than any of the other allies in gathering men to invade France in 1815. However deciding on a leader as usual was fraught with military and governmental politics. Prussia's greatest hero, 71 year old Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst von Wahlstatt had sent a letter of resignation to King Frederick Wilhelm on the 17th of March. The old general felt Prussia had been treated unfairly in the Congress of Vienna, for the Congress had been very backward in awarding many of the German principalities to her care.
Blücher was sensible of his reputation and that many in the army would not understand why he was trying to resign when Napoleon was on the loose, so he wrote to his trusted Chief of Staff in plain terms, he was honoured to have served in the last war but he was equally happy at having been left out of the peace, as "We drove in a fine old bull and have got in return a dried up old cow".
August Neidhardt von Gneisenau was an uncompromising soldier, as a young man he had travelled to America to fight Britain's colonial rebels, however he had missed the fighting and had subsequently distinguished himself in many conflicts since. The man eked the traditions of the officer corps from every pore, indeed he was the architect of it, and replied to his old chief in a like manner. "Permit me to make the following observation, Field Marshal's of the Prussian army are not allowed to resign"
King Frederick seemingly confirmed this by replying that he had been unable to grant his request, and on the 19th of March appointed him commander of the Army of the Lower Rhine massing under General Kleist. He accepted his post with great enthusiasm, all thoughts of retirement seemingly banished, he was determined to start hostilities as soon as was possible.
Blücher arrived at his headquarters on 21 April to find none of the organisational problems that beset Wellington, nor the manpower shortage that faced Napoleon. The main thing the other two leaders had in common was the diplomatic and political ones. For Wellington was deeply unpopular with his Dutch soldiers and the Hanoverians were resentful, and Napoleon didn't have a clue who he could trust or what would happen when his back was turned. Blücher's issue did not really come from any of these factors, but came largely from disgruntled national contingents within his own army and a lack of money…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Interesting find Armand, thanks for posting.

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Nice summary read, but needs some simple grammatical editing.