With the early dawn of the 16th of June, the whole of the Duke of
WELLINGTON's forces were in movement towards Nivelles and Quatre
Bras. Previously to starting from Brussels for the latter point, his
Grace despatched an Order for the movement of the Cavalry and of
CLINTON's British Division upon Braine le Comte, as also of the troops
under Prince FREDERICK of the Netherlands, consisting of STEDMANN's
Dutch-Belgian Division, and of ANTHING's Dutch-Belgian (Indian)
Brigade, from Sotteghem to Enghien, after leaving 500 men, as before
directed, in Audenarde.
PICTON's Division quitted Brussels by the Charleroi road about two
o'clock in the morning; and the Duke of BRUNSWICK's Corps somewhat
later. KRUSE's Nassau Brigade received Orders to follow along the
same road, but having been dispersed in extended cantonments between
Brussels and Louvain, it required some considerable time to collect
together, and did not therefore reach Quatre Bras sufficiently early to
take part in the action.
The disposition made by Colonel the Prince BERNHARD of Saxe Weimar
at this point, on the night of the 15th, with the Second Brigade of
PERPONCHER's Dutch-Belgian Division, has already been described.
Soon after ten o'clock on that evening, Major Count LIMBURG STIRUM,
Dutch Aide de Camp to the Prince of ORANGE, left Braine le Comte for
Nivelles, with a Verbal Order from the Dutch-Belgian Quartermaster
General, enjoining General PERPONCHER to hold his ground to the last
extremity, to support his Second Brigade by the First, and even
to ask for aid from the Third Anglo-Allied Division, and from the
Dutch-Belgian Cavalry Division; and, at all events, to send an Officer
to acquaint the Commanders of these Divisions with the state of
affairs. This message appears to have reached Nivelles about midnight.
Previously to this, that is, between nine and ten o'clock in
the evening, Captain CRASSIER's Company of the 27th Battalion
of _Chasseurs_ moved out from Nivelles towards Quatre Bras _en
reconnaissance_. About two o'clock in the morning, PERPONCHER himself
followed with the remainder of the _Chasseurs_, which body reached
Quatre Bras at four o'clock. General BYLANDT, who commanded the First
Brigade, ordered the remaining Battalions of the latter, and his
Artillery, to commence their march from Nivelles at five o'clock. The
7th Dutch Line Battalion was directed to remain at Nivelles until
relieved by ALTEN's Division.
At three o'clock in the morning, PERPONCHER arrived at Quatre Bras,
and after having reconnoitred the position, immediately commenced
operations for recovering the ground lost on the previous evening. Just
at this time a detachment of about fifty Prussian Hussars of the 2nd
Silesian Regiment, under Lieutenant ZEHELIN, who, on the previous day,
had been driven back from near Gosselies, and had retreated towards
Hautain le Val, gallantly advanced to the front, attacked the Enemy's
Outposts, forced them to retire, and then formed a chain of Vedettes.
As soon as the Dutch-Belgian troops had advanced to within a short
distance of these Prussian Hussars, the latter moved off by their left
towards Sombref.
Prince BERNHARD of Saxe Weimar's Brigade penetrated deeper into the
Wood of Bossu, and secured the entrances into it from the French side.
PERPONCHER directed the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Nassau to
take post on an eminence in advance towards Frasne, and stationed the
3rd Battalion of this Regiment more to the left. The latter, however,
was soon relieved by the 27th Chasseurs, which Battalion, on reaching
Quatre Bras, at four o'clock in the morning, had detached two Companies
to the left. These moved steadily forward in extended order towards the
Wood of Delhutte, outside of which the Enemy showed his Light Troops.
They succeeded in forcing back the French into a hollow way bordering
the Wood, where the latter maintained themselves for some little time,
and then retired into the Wood itself. Taking advantage of the cover
afforded by the edge of the Wood, the French now poured a deadly fire
upon their assailants, who retreated to some favourable ground a little
in advance of their Battalion.
The Prince of ORANGE arrived at Quatre Bras about six o'clock, and
immediately reconnoitred the position of the Enemy, and that occupied
by his own troops. Having expressed his perfect satisfaction with
all the arrangements and dispositions which had been made, both on
the previous evening and on that morning, he ordered the troops then
present to take up a position more in advance, for the purpose of
imposing upon the Enemy; enjoining at the same time, all unnecessary
firing, it being desirable under then existing circumstances, to avoid
bringing on prematurely an attack by the Enemy.
* * * * *
NEY, having quitted Charleroi at a very early hour in the morning,
returned to Gosselies, where he communicated with REILLE, whom
he ordered to assemble the force then with him, consisting of two
Infantry Divisions and their Artillery, and to advance upon Frasne:
to which point the Marshal repaired in person. Here he collected all
the information which the Generals and other Officers had been able
to obtain respecting the Enemy; and being naturally anxious to make
himself acquainted with the details of the force placed so suddenly
under his orders, he desired Colonel HEYMÈS, his first Aide de Camp, to
repair to every Regiment, and note down their strength and the names of
the Commanding Officers; after the performance of which duty, Colonel
HEYMÈS laid before the Marshal a return of the troops in the Field.
The uncertainty in which NEY was placed as to the amount of force
concentrated by the Allies during the night in rear of Quatre Bras,
and the conviction which he had reason to entertain that the Prussians
were in strong force at no very great distance on his right, and that
therefore any check experienced by the Main Column under NAPOLEON,
would endanger his Right Flank and even his line of communication,
rendered him cautious in attacking a point so considerably in advance
of the Emperor's Left, without ample means at hand to enable him, in
case of disaster, to maintain that line, or, in the event of success,
to effectually establish himself at Quatre Bras, and derive every
possible advantage from its possession, by checking, if not defeating
in detail, any body of troops that might be approaching it as a point
of concentration from either Nivelles or Brussels.
Hence he became extremely anxious for the arrival of D'ERLON's Corps
and the promised Third Corps of Heavy Cavalry under KELLERMANN; the
more so, as although LEFÈBVRE-DESNOUETTE's Light Cavalry of the Guard
was nearer at hand, he had been desired by NAPOLEON not to make
use of it. Officers of the _Chasseurs_ and Lancers of the Guard (in
consequence of the deficiency of Staff Officers) were sent to the rear
in the direction of Marchienne au Pont, with Orders to hasten the march
of the First Corps upon Frasne; while NEY himself was busily occupied
in reconnoitring the Enemy's position and movements.
Whilst so employed, a despatch reached him from the Emperor,
acquainting him that he had just ordered KELLERMANN's Dragoons to march
to Gosselies, where they would be at his disposal; stating, at the same
time, his intention to withdraw LEFÈBVRE-DESNOUETTE's Light Cavalry of
the Guard from the force under his command; and expressing a wish to
be informed of the exact disposition of the First and Second Corps,
and of the Cavalry Divisions attached to them, as also of the probable
strength of the Enemy, and of the particulars which had been obtained
concerning him.
* * * * *
The 5th Battalion of Dutch Militia, which arrived at Quatre Bras about
seven o'clock, was ordered, some time afterwards, to occupy the Farm of
Gemioncourt. The other Battalions of BYLANDT's Brigade, as they arrived
in succession, formed a Reserve, extending itself from the point of
intersection of the two high roads along the Nivelles road, and in rear
of the Wood of Bossu. About nine o'clock, Captain STIEVENAAR's Foot
Battery attached to BYLANDT's Brigade also arrived at Quatre Bras.
Aided by these reinforcements, the Prince of ORANGE made his
dispositions for impeding as much as possible the expected French
attack, and maintaining his ground in front of Quatre Bras until the
arrival of the Allied troops, which he knew were rapidly approaching
from Brussels and Nivelles. The arrival of the First Brigade induced
him to make a further advance, and extension to the right, of the
Second Brigade; retaining a firm hold of the Wood of Bossu.
He disposed of his Artillery in the following manner: upon the high
road, in advance of his Centre and in front of Frasne, he placed two
guns of PERPONCHER's Divisional Horse Artillery; three guns a little in
left rear of these, and three guns towards the left, so as to keep the
road to Namur in view. He also placed six guns of the Divisional Foot
Artillery a little to the right of, and in line with, the advanced guns
of the Horse Battery, and the remaining two guns on the Right Wing of
his First Line.
His Royal Highness had unfortunately no Cavalry in the Field; yet such
was the firm countenance which he displayed in the arrangement of
his nine Battalions and sixteen guns that the Enemy, unaware of this
circumstance, and probably misled by the appearance, at an early hour,
of the chain of Vedettes formed by the Prussian Detachment of Hussars,
to which allusion has previously been made, and also conceiving that
a considerable force had already assembled at Quatre Bras, made no
vigorous attempt, until the afternoon, to dislodge him from his
position.
Between ten and eleven o'clock, the Duke of WELLINGTON arrived in
person at Quatre Bras, where he joined the Prince of ORANGE, of whose
dispositions he fully approved. He reconnoitred the ground; observed
only a few of the Enemy in front, who occasionally fired a shot; saw
that there was a little popping musketry, but that nothing more serious
was at that time threatened in this quarter.
Conceiving that the Enemy was not in any great force at Frasne, while
at the same time, accounts reached him that Prince BLÜCHER, in his
position at Ligny, was menaced by the advance of considerable masses;
the Duke, accompanied by his Staff and a small escort of Cavalry,
shortly afterwards rode off to hold a conference with the Prussian
Commander, whom he found at the Windmill of Bussy, between Ligny and
Bry; whence he had an opportunity of observing the French preparatory
dispositions for attack.
These having led the Duke to conclude that NAPOLEON was bringing the
main force of his Army to bear against BLÜCHER, he at once proposed
to assist the Prince by first advancing straight upon Frasne and
Gosselies, as soon as he should have concentrated sufficient force,
and then operating upon the Enemy's Left and Rear, which would afford
a powerful diversion in favour of the Prussians, from the circumstance
that their Right Wing was the weakest and most exposed, and considering
the object of NAPOLEON's movement, the one most likely to be attacked.
Upon a calculation being made, however, of the time which would
elapse ere the Duke would be able to collect the requisite force for
undertaking this operation, and of the possibility of BLÜCHER being
defeated before it could be carried into effect, it was considered
preferable that WELLINGTON should, if practicable, move to the support
of the Prussian Right by the Namur road. But a direct support of
this kind was necessarily contingent on circumstances, and subject
to the Duke's discretion. The latter having expressed his confident
expectation of being enabled to afford the desired support, as also of
his succeeding in concentrating, very shortly, a sufficient force to
assume the offensive, rode back to Quatre Bras.
* * * * *
It was nearly eleven o'clock when General FLAHAUT, an Aide de Camp of
the Emperor, after passing through Gosselies, arrived at Frasne, with
the following letter from the latter to the Marshal:
"Au Maréchal NEY. "To Marshal NEY.
"MON COUSIN--Je vous envoie MY COUSIN--I send you my
mon Aide de Camp, le Général Aide de Camp, General FLAHAUT;
FLAHAUT, qui vous porte la présente who brings you the present letter.
lettre. Le Major Général a dû vous The Major General [SOULT] will
donner des Ordres; mais vous give you the Orders; but you will
recevrez les miens plus tôt, parceque receive mine sooner, because my
mes Officiers vont plus vite Officers go quicker than his. You
que les siens. Vous recevrez will receive the Order of Movement
l'Ordre du Mouvement du Jour; of the Day: but I wish to write to
mais je veux vous en écrire en you respecting it in detail,
détail, parceque c'est de la plus because it is of the highest
haute importance. importance.
"Je porte le Maréchal GROUCHY "I direct Marshal GROUCHY with
avec les 3e et 4e Corps d'infanterie the Third and Fourth Corps of
sur Sombref. Je porte ma Garde Infantry on Sombref. I direct
à Fleurus, et j'y serai de ma personne my Guard to Fleurus, and I shall
avant midi. J'y attaquerai be there personally before noon.
l'Ennemi si je le rencontre, et I shall attack the Enemy there
j'éclairerai la route jusqu'à Gembloux. if I meet with him, and I shall
La d'après ce qui ce clear the road as far as Gembloux.
passera, je prendrai mon parti There, according to what will
peutêtre à trois heures après midi, happen, I shall make my decision;
peutêtre ce soir. Mon intention perhaps at three o'clock in the
est que, immédiatement après que afternoon, perhaps this evening.
j'aurai pris mon parti, vous soyez My intention is that, immediately
prêt à marcher sur Bruxelles, je after I shall have made my
vous appuierai avec la Garde qui decision, you may be ready to
sera à Fleurus ou à Sombref, et march on Brussels. I will support
je désirerais arriver à Bruxelles you with the Guard which will be
demain matin. Vous vous mettriez at Fleurus or at Sombref; and I
en marche ce soir même si je would desire to arrive at Brussels
prends mon parti d'assez bonne to-morrow morning. You would march
heure pour que vous puissiez en this evening even if I make my
être informé de jour et faire ce decision at a sufficiently early
soir trois ou quatre lieues et être hour that you may be informed of
demain à sept heures du matin à it in daylight, and traverse this
Bruxelles. evening three or four leagues,
and be at Brussels to morrow at
seven o'clock in the morning.
"Vous pouvez donc disposer vos "You may then dispose your
troupes de la manière suivante:- troops in the following manner:-
Première Division à deux lieues First Division at two leagues in
en avant des Quatre Chemins s'il front of Quatre Bras, if in doing
n'y a pas d'inconvénient. Six so there is no inconvenience. Six
Divisions d'infanterie autour des Divisions of Infantry about Quatre
Quatre Chemins, et une Division Bras; and one Division at Marbais,
à Marbais, afin que je puisse so that I may draw it to myself at
l'attirer à moi à Sombref, si j'en Sombref, if I should have need of
avais besoin. Elle ne retarderait it. It would not otherwise retard
d'ailleurs pas votre marche. Le your march. The Corps of the
Corps du Comte DE VALMY, qui a Count DE VALMY, which has 3,000
3,000 Cuirassiers d'Élite, _Cuirassiers d'Élite_, at the
à l'intersection du chemin des intersection of the Roman road with
Romains et de celui de Bruxelles, that of Brussels, in order that I
afin que je puisse l'attirer à moi, may draw it to myself if I should
si j'en avais besoin; aussitot que have need of it: as soon as my
mon parti sera pris, vous lui decision is made, you will send
enverrez l'Ordre de venir vous him the Order to rejoin you. I
rejoindre. Je désirerais avoir avec would desire to have with me the
moi la Division de la Garde que Division of the Guard commanded by
commande le General LEFÈBVRE DESNOUETTES,
Général LEFÈBVRE-DESNOUETTES, and I send you the two Divisions
et je vous envoie les deux Divisions of the Corps of the Count DE
du Corps du Comte DE VALMY VALMY to replace it. But in my
pour la remplacer. Mais dans mon present design, I prefer to place
PROJET ACTUEL, JE PRÉFÈRE PLACER LE the Count DE VALMY in such a
Comte DE VALMY de manière à le manner as to be able to recall him
rappeler si j'en avais besoin, et ne if I should have need of him; and
point faire de fausses marches au not to make false marches for
Général LEFÈBVRE-DESNOUETTES; General LEFÈBVRE DESNOUETTES:
puisqu'il est probable que je me since it is probable that I shall
déciderai ce soir à marcher sur decide this evening to march on
Bruxelles avec la Garde. Cependant, Brussels with the Guard. However,
couvrez la Division LEFÈBVRE cover LEFÈBVRE's Division
par les deux Divisions de Cavalrie with the two Cavalry Divisions of
D'ERLON et de REILLE, afin de D'ERLON and REILLE, in order to
ménager la Garde; et que, s'il y spare the Guard; and that, if there
avait quelque échauffourée avec shall be any affray there with the
les Anglais, il est préférable que English, it may be with the Line
ce soit sur la Ligne que sur la rather than with the Guard.
Garde.
"J'ai adopté comme principe I have adopted as a general
général pendant cette Campagne, principle during this Campaign
de diviser mon Armée en deux to divide my Army into two
Ailes et une Réserve. Votre Aile Wings and a Reserve. Your Wing
sera composée des quatre Divisions will be composed of the four
du 2e Corps, de deux Divisions Divisions of the Second Corps,
de Cavalerie Légère, et de deux the two Light Cavalry Divisions,
Divisions du Corps DE VALMY. and the two Divisions of the Corps
Cela ne doit pas être loin de 45 à 50 DE VALMY. That ought not to be
mille hommes. far from 45,000 to 50,000 men.
"Le Maréchal GROUCHY aura à "Marshal GROUCHY will have
peu près la même force, et nearly the same force, and will
commandera l'Aile Droite. La Garde command the Right Wing. The
formera la Réserve, et je me porterai Guard will form the Reserve, and
sur l'une ou l'autre Aile, I shall repair to one or other
selon les circonstances. Le Major Wing according to circumstances.
Général donné les Ordres les plus The Major General is giving the
précis pour qu'il n'y ait aucune most precise Orders that there
difficulté sur l'obéissance à vos may be no difficulty as regards
Ordres lorsque vous serez détaché; obedience to your Orders when
les Commandants de Corps devant you will be detached; the
prendre mes Ordres directement Commanders of Corps must take
quand je me trouve présent. Selon my Orders directly from me, when
les circonstances, j'affaiblirai l'une I am present. According to
ou l'autre Aile en augmentant ma circumstances, I shall weaken the
Réserve. one, or the other, Wing in
augmenting my Reserve.
"Vous sentez assez l'importance "You will sufficiently perceive
attachée à la prise de Bruxelles. the importance attached to the
Cela pourra d'ailleurs donner lieu capture of Brussels. That will
à des accidents, car un mouvement otherwise give occasion to
aussi prompt et aussi brusque incidents: for a movement equally
isolera l'Armée Anglaise de Mons, prompt and abrupt will isolate the
Ostende, etc. Je désire que vos English Army from Mons, Ostend,
dispositions soient bien faites pour &c. I would desire that your
qu'au premier Ordre, vos huit dispositions may be well made
Divisions puissent marcher rapidement, that, at the first Order, your
et sans obstacle sur Bruxelles. eight Divisions may march rapidly
and without obstacle upon Brussels.
"N." "N."
"Charleroi, le 16 Juin, 1815." "Charleroi, 16th June 1815."
This letter, which was intended to convey to NEY a general notion
of NAPOLEON's intentions, prescribed to him, at the same time, as a
principle, that he was to consider his movements subordinate to those
of the Emperor. The latter intimated his purpose of attacking the
Enemy at Fleurus, should he find him there, and of pushing on as far
as Gembloux, where he would decide upon his plan of further operation,
"perhaps at three o'clock in the afternoon, perhaps in the evening;"
immediately _after_ which NEY was to be ready to march upon Brussels,
supported by NAPOLEON with the Guards, it being the Emperor's desire to
reach that capital in the morning.
The idea of advancing upon Gembloux, and of capturing Brussels by a
_coup de main_, which could only be effected by a vigorous repulse
and signal defeat of the Corps of ZIETEN, and by a successful turning
and partial dispersion of those of PIRCH and THIELEMANN, as also by
the rapid march of a closely collected force under NEY, proves that
NAPOLEON had either been insufficiently informed as to the general
dispositions of his opponents, or had greatly miscalculated the degree
of energy and promptitude required in his movements for the execution
of such a design.
Very shortly afterwards, NEY received the official Order of Movement
to which NAPOLEON adverted in his letter as having been sent by SOULT.
It instructed him to put the Second and First _Corps d'Armée_, as also
the Third Corps of Cavalry which had been placed at his disposal, in
movement upon Quatre Bras; to take up a position at that point; thence
to push forward reconnaissances as far as possible on the roads to
Brussels and Nivelles, _d'où probablement l'Ennemi s'est retiré_; to
establish, should he meet with no impediment, a Division with some
Cavalry at Genappe; and to detach another Division towards Marbais, in
order to cover the interval between Sombref and Quatre Bras. He was
also to desire the General Officers commanding the two _Corps d'Armée_
to assemble their troops, collect the stragglers, and order up all the
waggons belonging to the Artillery and to the Hospitals that might
still be in the rear.
In pursuance of these instructions, NEY despatched Orders of Movement
to Counts REILLE and D'ERLON.
The former was desired to put the Second Corps immediately on the
march, for the purpose of taking up the following position:--the Fifth
Division in rear of Genappe, upon the Heights which command that
town, the left _appuied_ upon the high road; one or two Battalions
covering all the _débouchés_ in advance on the Brussels road; the Ninth
Division, following the movement of the Fifth, to take up a position
in second line on the Heights to the right and left of the village of
Bauterlet; the Sixth and Seventh Divisions at Quatre Bras.
It was at the same time intimated to REILLE that the three first
Divisions of D'ERLON's Corps were to take post at Frasne; the Right
Division to establish itself at Marbais along with PIRÉ's Division
of Light Cavalry; that the former was to cover his (REILLE's)
march towards Brussels, and both his Flanks; that two Divisions of
KELLERMANN's Corps were to take post at Frasne and Liberchies; and that
the Regiments of the Guard under Generals LEFÈBVRE-DESNOUETTES and
COLBERT were to remain in their actual position at Frasne.
This Order had scarcely been sent off to REILLE when NEY received from
the latter a despatch, dated Gosselies, 16th June, a quarter past ten
A.M., announcing his having just received from GIRARD (whose Division
was still at Heppignies) a verbal report by one of his Officers, to the
effect that the Enemy continued to occupy Fleurus with Light Cavalry;
that hostile masses were observed advancing along the Namur road, the
heads of their Columns reaching as far as St Amand; that these troops
were gradually forming, and gaining ground; that as far as could
be judged at that distance, the Columns appeared to consist of six
Battalions each; and that movements of additional troops were perceived
in their rear. REILLE added that General FLAHAUT, in passing through
Gosselies, had made him acquainted with the purport of the Orders he
was conveying to the Marshal, whereupon he had communicated with Count
D'ERLON, in order that the latter might follow the movement which he
(REILLE) had intended to commence as soon as the Divisions were under
arms, but that in consequence of this report from GIRARD he would wait
for the Marshal's further instructions, holding the troops ready to
march.
About the same time, Orders reached NEY from NAPOLEON, desiring him to
unite the Corps under REILLE and D'ERLON, and the Cavalry Corps under
KELLERMANN, which latter, it was stated, was on the point of commencing
its march towards him; remarking also, that with these troops he ought
to be able to destroy whatever forces the Enemy might bring forward;
that GROUCHY was going to advance upon Sombref; and that the Emperor
was setting off for Fleurus, to which place the Marshal was to address
his reports.
[Illustration]
In consequence of these instructions, NEY became anxious for the
speedy concentration of his troops, and again sent Orders to REILLE
and D'ERLON to move up their Divisions. The information which he had
obtained concerning the Enemy in his front, and GIRARD's report of the
assembling of troops in front of Fleurus, induced him to be cautious in
his proceedings, and not to attempt any impetuous onset until he could
have all his force more in hand, instead of the greater portion of
it being, as it then was, lengthened out in Columns of Route along the
Charleroi high road; and, in this respect, his views were in perfect
accordance with the last despatch which he had received from the
Emperor, enjoining him in the first instance, to unite the two Corps of
REILLE and D'ERLON. Hence, in debouching from his position at Frasne,
about one o'clock, his advance was by no means vigorous: it was limited
to a gradual pressing forward of the Light Troops, and amounted to
little more than a reconnaissance.
About two o'clock, NEY, calculating that D'ERLON's Corps could not
be far in his rear, and hoping that the sound of his cannonade
would hasten its march, resolved to attack the Enemy's forces which
intercepted his advance upon Quatre Bras. PIRÉ's Light Cavalry,
constituting a strong line of Skirmishers with well disposed Supports,
covered the advance of the Infantry Divisions of BACHELU and FOY,
whilst that of JEROME followed as a Reserve.
The force with which NEY thus entered the field, consisted of Three
Divisions of REILLE's Corps, of PIRÉ's Light Cavalry, of 4 Batteries of
Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery: altogether--
16,189 Infantry
1,729 Cavalry
38 Guns.
The Prince of ORANGE's force consisted of DE PERPONCHER's Division
(with the exception of the 7th Dutch Line Battalion); of 1 Battery of
Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery: altogether--
6,832 Infantry
16 Guns.
It was not long after two o'clock when the Duke of WELLINGTON returned
to Quatre Bras from the Prussian Army. He observed attentively, with
his glass, the movements of the French, and told the Prince of ORANGE
he would be attacked directly.
In a few minutes, the French advanced, and the Dutch-Belgian troops
gradually retired; but the Prince, aware of the great advantages
which the position of Quatre Bras would derive from the possession
of the Farm of Gemioncourt, adjoining the Charleroi road, as also of
the Wood of Bossu on the Right, and of the inclosures of Piermont
on the Left Flank, endeavoured, with that view, to make a stand, as
soon as his Centre reached the first named point. The 5th Battalion
of Dutch Militia which occupied this Post, successfully withstood
several attacks, during which NEY drew up his forces along the ridge
which, intersecting the high road in the immediate (French) rear of
Gemioncourt, extends on one side towards the Wood of Bossu, and on the
other in the direction of Piermont.
The vast preponderance of force on the part of the French, was now
quite manifest to the Prince of ORANGE, who found himself compelled
to withdraw the main body of his troops into the Wood of Bossu, still
retaining, however, the Post of Gemioncourt. He gave an Order to
Captain STIEVENAAR's Foot Battery to fall back and take up a flanking
position near the Wood. Here this Officer, who possessed the highest
merit, lost not a moment in reopening his fire, but scarcely had he
done so when he was mortally wounded. At the same moment one gun
was damaged so as to become useless. The Enemy rapidly advanced in
such superior force as to compel the Battery to resume its retreat.
Captain BYLEVELD's Horse Battery retired by the opposite side of
Gemioncourt. One of its limbers blew up, severely wounding an Officer,
and occasioning the gun attached to it to be relinquished. The French
pressed forward with their Light Troops; and part of PIRÉ's Light
Cavalry, seizing a favourable opportunity, gallantly charged the 27th
Dutch Light Infantry, threw it into confusion, and made many prisoners.
At this time a portion of BACHELU's Infantry Division on the right
advanced towards the village of Piermont.
* * * * *
It was about half past two, or perhaps a quarter before three o'clock,
when the Prince of ORANGE, whose situation had become extremely
critical, as he directed his anxious looks towards that point of the
horizon which was bounded by the elevated ground about Quatre Bras,
had the inexpressible satisfaction of recognising, by their deep red
masses, the arrival of British troops upon the field.
These comprised the Fifth Infantry Division, commanded by Lieutenant
General Sir THOMAS PICTON, and consisting of the Eighth British
Brigade, under Major General Sir JAMES KEMPT, the Ninth British
Brigade, under Major General Sir DENIS PACK, and of the Fourth
Hanoverian Brigade, under Colonel BEST. The head of the Column, leaving
Quatre Bras on its right, turned down the Namur road, along which the
Division was speedily drawn up; the British Brigades in Front, and
the Hanoverian Brigade in Second Line. Captain RETTBERG's Battery of
Hanoverian Foot Artillery took post on the right, and Major ROGERS's
Battery of British Foot Artillery on the left, of the Division. The 1st
Battalion of the 95th British Regiment, commanded by Colonel Sir ANDREW
BARNARD, was despatched in haste towards the Village of Piermont, of
which it was to endeavour to gain possession.
[Illustration]
The French, on perceiving the arrival of the British Infantry, opened
a furious cannonade from their Batteries, with a view to disturb its
formation, while NEY, anxious to secure the vantage ground of a Field
which he plainly foresaw, was likely to become the scene of a severe
contest, renewed his attack upon Gemioncourt, still bravely defended
by the 5th Dutch Militia. Hereupon, PERPONCHER, having received an
Order to advance this Battalion along the high road, immediately
placed himself at its head, as did also the Prince of ORANGE himself,
who rode up to it at the same moment. The manner in which His Royal
Highness personally led on his National Militia on this occasion,
was distinguished by the most resolute and conspicuous gallantry.
The Battalion was exposed to a most destructive fire from some guns
which the Prince seemed determined to capture. Placing himself
frequently at its head, and waving his hat, he presented in his own
person so brilliant and heroic an example, that for a considerable
time the Battalion maintained its ground most bravely against the far
superior number of the Enemy. It was composed, however, of young and
inexperienced soldiers, who had not attained sufficient confidence to
fight in anything like deployed order; and, therefore, when, a few
minutes afterwards, a swarm of Cavalry rushed upon it, it soon lost its
compactness, and broke into a confused and hasty retreat; whilst the
French Infantry succeeded in obtaining possession of the Farm, in which
they firmly established themselves.
The Duke of WELLINGTON, who now assumed the command, was so much alive
to the importance of maintaining Gemioncourt and its inclosures, that
he gave directions for its immediate occupation by a British Regiment,
but the one destined for this service having by some accident been
otherwise disposed of, some delay occurred, and the 28th British
Regiment, commanded by Colonel Sir CHARLES PHILIP BELSON, was then
marched down towards that point, under the guidance of Lieutenant
Colonel GOMM, on the Staff of the Fifth Division. As the Battalion
approached the Farm, the latter was discovered to be already occupied
by the French, whereupon it was withdrawn to its Division.
The Third Dutch-Belgian Light Cavalry Brigade, under General VAN
MERLEN, had shortly before this reached the Field, and now advanced to
the support of the Dutch Infantry retiring from Gemioncourt; but they
were met and defeated by PIRÉ's Cavalry, and pursued along the high
road nearly to Quatre Bras, where they arrived in great disorder; a
portion of them coming in contact with the Duke of WELLINGTON himself,
and carrying his Grace along with them to the rear of Quatre Bras. The
latter, however, succeeded in arresting their further flight, and in
bringing them again to the front. The French Cavalry did not, on this
occasion, follow up the pursuit, evidently hesitating to approach very
near to the Allied Infantry, the latter appearing well formed, and
fully prepared to receive them. The Dutch-Belgian Infantry retreated
to the Wood of Bossu, abandoning four guns to the Enemy, who closely
pursued them, and now began to penetrate into the Wood.
Meanwhile, BACHELU, on the French Right, threw a considerable force
into Piermont in sufficient time to secure its possession before the
1st Battalion 95th British Regiment had approached the Village, and
was pushing forward another strong body towards a small Wood that lay
still more in advance, on the opposite side of the Namur high road, the
possession of which along with that of Piermont would have effectually
cut off the direct communication between Quatre Bras and Ligny. Here,
for the first time in this Campaign, the troops of the two nations
became engaged. The Skirmishers who successfully checked the further
advance of the French, and secured the Wood, were the 1st Battalion of
the British 95th Rifles, whom the old Campaigners of the French Army,
at least those who had served in the Peninsula, had so frequently found
the foremost in the fight, and of whose peculiarly effective discipline
and admirable training they had had ample experience.
The possession of Gemioncourt proved of the utmost importance to NEY's
position, which now assumed a definite character, and, in a purely
tactical point of view, offered great advantages. The southern portion
of the Wood of Bossu was occupied by his extreme Left, while his
extreme Right was in full possession of Piermont; and these points were
connected by a narrow valley extending along his whole front, bounded
on either side by a hedgerow, and intersecting the Charleroi road close
to Gemioncourt. The outer fence was strongly occupied by his Light
Troops, ready to cover the formation and advance of his Columns of
Attack, for the support of which by Artillery, the Heights constituting
his main position in rear of Gemioncourt, offered every facility.
Scarcely had PICTON's Division taken up its ground, when the Duke of
BRUNSWICK's Corps arrived upon the field. It was not complete; its
Artillery (under Major MAHN) and the 1st and 3rd Light Battalions
(commanded by Major HOLSTEIN and Major EBELING), having been stationed
in distant cantonments, had not yet joined. The 2nd Light Battalion
(under Major BRANDENSTEIN) was immediately detached to the Wood near
Piermont on the left of the position, and of which the possession had
already been secured by the 1st Battalion of the British 95th Regiment:
the two Rifle Companies of the Advanced Guard Battalion (under Major
RAUSCHENPLATT) were moved into the Wood of Bossu; on the right of which
some detachments of Cavalry were posted for the purpose of observing
the Enemy's dispositions in that quarter. The remainder of these
troops, by a movement to their left, when close upon Quatre Bras,
deployed in rear of, and in a direction parallel to, the Namur road,
thus forming a Reserve to PICTON's Division. The absent portion of the
Corps reached the field in the course of the action, as will hereafter
be explained.
The Duke of WELLINGTON's force in the Field at this moment was as
follows:--
+------------------------------------------------+--------+-------+----+
| |Infantry|Cavalry|Guns|
+ +--------+-------+----+
|British {|Eighth Infantry Brigade | 2,471| | |
| {|Ninth do. do. | 2,173| | |
| | | | | |
|K.G. Legion |Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 6|
| | | | | |
|Hanoverians {|Fourth Infantry Brigade | 2,582| | |
| {|Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 6|
| | | | | |
|Brunswickers {|Advanced Guard Battalion | 672| | |
| {|2 Battalions of the Light | | | |
| {| Infantry Brigade | 1,344| | |
| {|Line Infantry Brigade | 2,016| | |
| {|Regiment of Hussars | | 690| |
| {|Squadron of Lancers | | 232| |
| | | | | |
|Dutch-Belgians {|Second Infantry Brigade | 6,832| | |
| {|Third Cavalry Brigade | | 1,082| |
| {|Half Battery of Horse Artillery| | | 2|
| {|Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 8|
| {| Do. Horse do. | | | 8|
| | +--------+-------+----+
| | | 18,090| 2,004| 30|
+----------------+-------------------------------+--------+--------+----+
The following is the amount of force which Marshal NEY had actually in
the Field:--
+-----------------------------+---------+--------+-----+
| |Infantry.|Cavalry.| Guns|
| +---------+--------+-----+
|Fifth Infantry Division | 5,003| | |
|Sixth do. do. | 6,591| | |
|Ninth do. do. | 4,595| | |
|3 Divisional Foot Batteries | | | 24|
|1 Reserve Foot Battery | | | 8|
|Second Cavalry Division | | 1,729| |
|1 Battery of Horse Artillery | | | 6|
| +---------+--------+-----+
| | 16,189| 1,729| 38|
+-----------------------------+---------+--------+-----+
The cannonade which had opened against the Fifth British Division as it
took up its ground, continued with unabated vigour. The French Light
Troops were now observed advancing from the inclosures that skirted
the foot of their position, and to meet them the Light Companies of
the different Regiments of PICTON's Division were immediately thrown
forward. On the French extreme Right all further progress was checked
by the gallant manner in which the 1st Battalion 95th British Regiment,
though opposed by a much superior force, retained possession of the
Namur road, which they lined with their Skirmishers, while the Wood
in rear was occupied by the Battalion Reserve and the 2nd Brunswick
Light Battalion. On the French Left, however, the incessant rattle of
musketry in the Wood of Bossu plainly indicated by its gradual approach
in the direction of Quatre Bras, that the Dutch-Belgian Infantry were
yielding to the fierce onset of the Enemy in that quarter.
The protection which the French would derive from the possession of
the eastern portion of this Wood for the advance of their masses
over the space between it and the Charleroi road, instantly became
apparent to the British Commander; in fact, the previous pursuit of
the Dutch-Belgian Cavalry along this road proved the expediency of
establishing some restraint to such facility for a hostile advance
in that direction; and he therefore requested the Duke of BRUNSWICK
to take up a position with a part of his Corps between Quatre Bras
and Gemioncourt, so as to have his Left resting upon the road, and
his Right communicating with PERPONCHER's Division, part of which was
deployed along the skirt of the Wood.
The Duke of BRUNSWICK immediately ordered forward the Guard Battalion
(under Major PRÖSTLER), the 1st Line Battalion (under Major METZNER),
and the two Light Companies of the Advanced Guard Battalion, which
he posted in Close Columns upon, and contiguous to, the road, on the
ground indicated, and threw out a line of Skirmishers connecting these
Columns with the two _Jäger_ Companies in the Wood. As an immediate
Support to the Infantry, he stationed the Brunswick Hussars (under
Major CRAMM) and Lancers (under Major POTT) in a hollow in their rear;
while as a Reserve to the whole, the 2nd and 3rd Line Battalions (under
Major STROMBECK and Major NORRMANN) were posted _en crémaillère_
contiguously to the houses of Quatre Bras, which important point they
were to defend to the last extremity.
Whilst this disposition on the Anglo-Allied Right was in progress,
two heavy French Columns were observed descending into a valley below
Gemioncourt, where, under cover of the strong line of Skirmishers,
which had been for some time engaged with those of PICTON's Division,
they were divided into separate smaller Columns of Attack. The
cannonade from the French Heights, which now sensibly quickened, was
telling fearfully amidst the Fifth British Division; and a fresh
impulse having been given to the Enemy's Light Troops by the near
approach of their own attacking Columns, the British Skirmishers,
overpowered by numbers only, were seen darting, alternately and at
short distances, to the rear, through the line of smoke that had been
raised midway between the contending Armies.
At this critical moment, when the rapid progress of the French in
the Wood of Bossu, and their imposing advance against his Left Wing,
threatened to compromise his disposal of the Brunswick troops on the
right of the Charleroi road, WELLINGTON, by one of those electric
inspirations of his master mind with which he had been wont in former
Campaigns to frustrate the best devised plans of his opponents,
resolved not to await the attack, but to meet it. He instantly ordered
the advance of KEMPT's and PACK's Brigades, with the exception of the
92nd Regiment, which (under the command of Lieutenant Colonel CAMERON)
was to continue at its post on the Namur road, close to Quatre Bras.
During the advance of these two Brigades, which was made with admirable
steadiness and in the best order, the Skirmishers fell back upon
their respective Battalions, all of which now presented a clear front
to the Enemy. From the heads of NEY's Columns, as well as from the
thick lines of Skirmishers by which they were connected, a severe and
destructive fire was opened and maintained against the British line,
along which the gallant PICTON, the far famed Leader of the no less
renowned "Fighting Division" of the British Army in the Peninsular
Campaigns, was seen galloping from one Regiment to another, encouraging
his men, and inciting them by his presence and example. The troops
significantly responded to his call by those loud and animating
shouts with which British soldiers are wont to denote their eagerness
to close with their enemies. The interval between the adverse lines
was rapidly diminishing: the fire from the French suddenly began to
slacken; hesitation, quickly succeeded by disorder, became apparent in
their ranks; and then it was, that, animating each other with redoubled
cheers, the British Regiments were seen to lower their bristling
bayonets, and driving everything before them, to pursue their opponents
down to the outer fence of the valley, whence the French line had
advanced in the full confidence of triumph.
KEMPT's Brigade, in consequence of the greater proximity of its
original position to that of the Enemy, was the first to overthrow
the French Infantry. The 79th Highlanders, on the left of the line
(commanded by Lieutenant Colonel DOUGLAS), made a gallant charge down
the hill, dashed through the first fence, and pursued their opponents,
who had advanced in two Battalion Columns, not only across the valley,
but through the second fence; and, carried on by their ardour, even
ventured to ascend the Enemy's position. By this time, however, their
ranks were much broken: they were speedily recalled, and as they
retraced their steps across the valley, they derived considerable
support from the adjoining Battalion in the line, the 32nd Regiment
(commanded by Lieutenant Colonel MAITLAND), which was keeping up from
the first hedge a vigorous fire against the French, who now lined the
second fence. The remaining Regiments of both Brigades had all in like
manner charged down as far as the nearest hedge, whence they inflicted
a severe loss upon their Enemies as these precipitately retired, with
their ranks completely broken and disordered on passing through the
inclosure.
On the right of the line, the 42nd Highlanders (commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Sir ROBERT MACARA), and 44th Regiment (commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel HAMERTON), had advanced to within a very short distance of
Gemioncourt, in which, and behind the hedges lining the valley, the
French were seeking shelter.
During the progress of this contest on the Anglo-Allied left of the
Charleroi road, the Brunswick troops were not permitted to remain
in quiet possession of their advanced position on the right, which
indeed was well calculated to attract NEY's attention. A Battery was
immediately drawn up on the opposite Height westward of Gemioncourt,
from which, as also from the incessant fire maintained by the Enemy's
Skirmishers posted at no great distance from the front of the
line, a very destructive fire was maintained against the Brunswick
troops. The Regiment of Hussars particularly suffered, standing in
line, and frequently receiving an entire discharge from the Battery.
The Brunswickers were, for the most part, young and inexperienced
soldiers--in every sense of the word, _raw_ troops: and the numerous
casualties which befel their ranks in this exposed situation might have
produced a fatal influence upon their discipline, but for the noble
example of their Prince, whose admirable tact and calm demeanour were
most conspicuous on this trying occasion. Quietly smoking his pipe in
front of his line, he gave out his Orders as if at a mere field day;
and was only restrained from taking offence at the representations made
to him by some of his Staff of the imminent danger to which he was
exposing himself, from a consciousness of the kindly motives by which
they were dictated.
At length, the continued havoc created amongst his devoted followers by
the fire from the French Heights, excited the impatience of the Duke
himself for at least the means of retaliation; and as his own Artillery
was still upon the march from its cantonments, he sent to the Duke of
WELLINGTON a request to be furnished with some pieces of cannon.
[Illustration]
This was immediately acceded to, and four guns were moved forward and
posted on the right of the Brunswick Infantry; but they had scarcely
fired a few rounds when the Enemy's cannonade was redoubled; two of the
guns were quickly disabled, and several of the horses attached to the
limbers were killed. At the same time, two Columns of French Infantry
were seen advancing in succession along the edge of the Wood of Bossu,
preceded by a Battalion in line, and supported by some Cavalry, of
which description of force there also appeared to be a considerable
mass advancing along the Charleroi road. As the French Infantry rapidly
approached the right of the line of the Brunswick Skirmishers, the
latter were forced to retire, as were also the Dutch-Belgian Infantry
that lined the Wood at this part of the field. The Duke of BRUNSWICK,
perceiving that the bend of the wood in rear of his Regiment of Hussars
was likely to impede the freedom of its movements, immediately ordered
the latter to proceed to the opposite side of the Charleroi road,
and retire towards Quatre Bras, there to remain in readiness to act
according to circumstances. Then, placing himself at the head of his
Lancers, he gallantly charged the advancing Infantry, which, however,
received them with so much steadiness and good order, and opened upon
them so destructive a fire, that the attack completely failed, and the
Regiment withdrew to Quatre Bras.
Finding the strength of the Enemy's forces to be so overpowering, the
Duke now ordered the Infantry posted contiguously to the Charleroi
road, also to retire upon the main position. The 1st Line Battalion
moved hastily along the road, while the Guard Battalion, with which
the Duke himself was at this time present, retired across the fields
eastward of the isolated House upon the Charleroi road, towards the
Allied line, posted upon the road to Namur. Major PRÖSTLER, who
commanded the Guard Battalion, rendered himself conspicuous by his
exertions to execute this movement in as orderly a manner as possible,
but the eager and close pursuit by the French Light Troops, now
emboldened by success, a shower of round shot upon the Column, and
the approach of the Enemy's Cavalry, spread such a panic among these
young troops that they fled in confusion, some through Quatre Bras,
and others through the Anglo-Allied line on the left of that point;
and it was in the moment of attempting to rally his soldiers, not far
from the little garden of the House before mentioned, that the Duke
of BRUNSWICK was struck from his horse by a shot which terminated the
career of this gallant Prince.
In the mean time the Brunswick Hussars were ordered forward to cover
the retreat of the Infantry, and repel the advance of the French
Cavalry, which was now seen in rapid motion along the Charleroi
road, as if incited and emboldened by the loud shouts of triumph
sent forth by their Light Troops in front. The Hussars, whose order
while advancing, was quickly disturbed by a straggling fire from the
French Infantry, to which their Right Flank became exposed, failed in
producing the slightest check upon the Cavalry, and were soon seen
wheeling about and in full flight, closely pursued by their opponents.
To the 42nd Highlanders and 44th British Regiment, which were posted on
a reverse slope, and in line, close upon the left of the above road,
the advance of French Cavalry was so sudden and unexpected, the more so
as the Brunswickers had just moved on to the front, that as both these
bodies whirled past them to the rear, in such close proximity to each
other, they were, for the moment, considered to consist of one mass of
Allied Cavalry. Some of the old soldiers of both Regiments were not
so easily satisfied on this point, and immediately opened a partial
fire obliquely upon the French Lancers, which, however, Sir DENIS PACK
and their own Officers endeavoured as much as possible to restrain;
but no sooner had the latter succeeded in causing a cessation of the
fire, than the Lancers, which were the rearmost of the Cavalry, wheeled
sharply round, and advanced in admirable order directly upon the rear
of the two British Regiments.
The 42nd Highlanders having, from their position, been the first
to recognise them as a part of the Enemy's forces, rapidly formed
Square; but just as the two Flank Companies were running in to form the
rear face, the Lancers had reached the Regiment, when a considerable
portion of their leading division penetrated the Square, carrying
along with them, by the impetus of their charge, several men of
those two Companies, and creating a momentary confusion. The long
tried discipline and steadiness of the Highlanders, however, did not
forsake them at this most critical juncture: these Lancers, instead of
effecting the destruction of the Square, were themselves fairly hemmed
into it, and either bayoneted or taken prisoners, while the endangered
face, restored as if by magic, successfully repelled all further
attempts on the part of the French to complete their expected triumph.
Their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sir ROBERT MACARA, was
killed on this occasion, a lance having pierced through his chin until
it reached the brain; and within the brief space of a few minutes,
the command of the Regiment devolved upon three other Officers in
succession: Lieutenant Colonel DICK, who was severely wounded, Brevet
Major DAVIDSON, who was mortally wounded, and Brevet Major CAMPBELL,
who commanded it during the remainder of the Campaign.
If this Cavalry attack had fallen so unexpectedly upon the 42nd
Highlanders, still less had it been anticipated by the 44th Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel HAMERTON, perceiving that the Lancers were rapidly
advancing against his rear, and that any attempt to form square would
be attended with imminent danger, instantly decided upon receiving
them in line. The low thundering sound of their approach was heard
by his men before a conviction they were French flashed across the
minds of any but the _old_ soldiers who had previously fired at them
as they passed their Flank. HAMERTON's words of command were, "Rear
rank, right about face!"--"Make ready!"--(a short pause to admit
of the still nearer approach of the Cavalry)--"Present!"--"Fire!"
The effect produced by this volley was astonishing. The men, aware
of their perilous position, doubtless took a most deliberate aim
at their opponents, who were thrown into great confusion. Some few
daring fellows made a dash at the centre of the Battalion, hoping to
capture the Colours, in their apparently exposed situation; but the
attempt, though gallantly made, was as gallantly defeated. The Lancers
now commenced a flight towards the French position by the Flanks of
the 44th. As they rushed past the Left Flank, the Officer commanding
the Light Company, who had very judiciously restrained his men from
joining in the volley given to the rear, opened upon them a scattering
fire; and no sooner did the Lancers appear in the proper front of the
Regiment, when the front rank began in its turn to contribute to their
overthrow and destruction.
Never, perhaps, did British Infantry display its characteristic
coolness and steadiness more eminently than on this trying occasion.
To have stood in a thin two deep line, awaiting, and prepared to
receive, the onset of hostile Cavalry, would have been looked upon at
least as a most hazardous experiment; but, with its rear so suddenly
menaced, and its flanks unsupported, to have instantly faced only one
rank about, to have stood as if rooted to the ground, to have repulsed
its assailants with so steady and well directed a fire that numbers of
them were destroyed--this was a feat of arms which the oldest or best
disciplined Corps in the world might have in vain hoped to accomplish;
yet most successfully and completely was this achieved by the gallant
2nd Battalion of the 44th British Regiment, under its brave Commander,
Lieutenant Colonel HAMERTON.
In this attack occurred one of these incidents which, in daring, equal
any of the feats of ancient chivalry, which makes the wildest fables
of the deeds of the knights of old appear almost impossible; which
cause the bearing of an individual to stand out, as it were, in relief
amidst the operations of the masses; and which, by their characteristic
recklessness, almost invariably insure at least a partial success.
A French Lancer gallantly charged at the Colours, and severely
wounded Ensign CHRISTIE, who carried one of them, by a thrust of his
lance, which, entering the left eye, penetrated to the lower jaw.
The Frenchman then endeavoured to seize the Standard, but the brave
CHRISTIE, notwithstanding the agony of his wound, with a presence of
mind almost unequalled, flung himself upon it--not to save himself,
but to preserve the honour of his Regiment. As the Colour fluttered in
its fall, the Frenchman tore off a portion of the silk with the point
of his lance; but he was not permitted to bear the fragment beyond the
ranks. Both shot and bayoneted by the nearest of the soldiers of the
44th, he was borne to the earth, paying with the sacrifice of his life
for his display of unavailing bravery.
In the mean time, the leading portion of PIRÉ's Light Cavalry, from
which the Lancers that attacked the 42nd and 44th British Regiments had
been detached, as already described, continued its advance along the
high road towards Quatre Bras, driving in the Brunswick Hussars, who
were now galloping confusedly upon the 92nd Highlanders then lining
the ditch of the Namur high road contiguous to Quatre Bras. Pursued by
the _Chasseurs à Cheval_, and finding no opening for their passage,
they made for the Right Flank of the Regiment: and, as they were flying
past, the Grenadier Company was wheeled back upon the road so as to
oppose a front at that point to the flank of the pursuing Cavalry, upon
which the Highlanders now poured a most destructive volley. The shock
thus occasioned to the French Cavalry was immediately perceptible; but
though thrown into confusion, the main body soon reformed, and retired
with much steadiness and regularity.
The front of the Column, however, impelled by the furious ardour with
which it had advanced, or, perhaps, imagining itself still followed
and supported by the main body, dashed in amongst the houses of Quatre
Bras, and even advanced to some distance beyond them, cutting down
several stragglers whom they found there, principally belonging to
the routed Brunswick Infantry, as also groups of wounded. Many of
them rushed through the large opening into the Farm Yard of Quatre
Bras, which was situated immediately in rear of the Right of the 92nd.
A few daring fellows finding they had proceeded too far to be able
to retire by the same direction in which they had advanced, wheeled
round suddenly at the point where the high roads intersect each other,
and galloped right through the Grenadier Company of the Highlanders,
shouting, and brandishing their swords, and receiving a fire from some
of the rear rank of the Regiment as they dashed along the road. None of
them escaped: one, an Officer of the _Chasseurs à Cheval_, had already
reached the spot where the Duke of WELLINGTON was at that moment
stationed in rear of the Highlanders. Some of the men immediately
turned round and fired: his horse was killed, and at the same moment
a musket ball passed through each foot of the gallant young Officer.
Those of the French _Chasseurs_ who had entered the Farm Yard, finding
no other outlet, now began to gallop back, in small parties of two or
three at a time, but few escaped the deadly fire of the Highlanders.
About this time, KELLERMANN reached the Field, with the Eleventh Heavy
Cavalry Division under Lieutenant General L'HERITIER. This augmented
NEY's forces to the following amount:
+-----------------------------+----------+-----------+-----+
| |Infantry. | Cavalry. |Guns.|
| +----------+-----------+-----+
|Force already in the Field | 16,189| 1,865| 38|
|Eleventh Cavalry Division | | 1,743| |
|1 Battery of Horse Artillery | | | 6|
| +----------+-----------+-----+
| | 16,189| 3,608| 41|
+-----------------------------+----------+-----------+-----+
The French Infantry upon the extreme Left had by this time possessed
themselves of the greater portion of the Wood of Bossu, from the Allied
rear of which numerous groups of wounded and runaways were now seen
to emerge; indeed, it soon became evident that no dependance could be
placed on the continued occupation of the Wood by the Dutch-Belgian
forces, and that the whole brunt of the Battle would have to be borne
by the British, Hanoverian, and Brunswick forces. Upon the extreme
French Right, all attempts to turn the opposite Flank of the Allies
were successfully checked by the steadiness and gallantry of the 95th
British Regiment, supported by the 2nd Brunswick Light Battalion.
NEY, although he had failed in his first general attack upon the
Anglo-Allied line, had fully ascertained that the raw troops of which
the Dutch-Belgian and Brunswick Cavalry in the Field were composed,
were totally incapable of competing with his own veteran warriors of
that Arm, and he therefore determined to take advantage of KELLERMANN's
arrival for the execution of a vigorous Cavalry attack. Retaining
General PIQUET's Brigade in reserve, he combined, for this purpose,
General GUYTON's Brigade, consisting of the 8th and 11th _Cuirassiers_,
with PIRÉ's Light Cavalry Division; and also taking advantage of his
greatly superior Artillery force, he caused the attack to be preceded
and covered by a tremendous cannonade, occasioning great havoc in the
ranks of the Anglo-Allied Infantry, the range for which the French
Gunners had by this time ascertained with fearful precision.
It was not long before the British Battalions most in advance were
warned of the approach of hostile Cavalry by the running in of their
Skirmishers; and scarcely had they formed their Squares when the
Batteries respectively opposed to them having ceased their fire,
a rushing sound was heard through the tall corn, which, gradually
bending, disclosed to their view the heads of the attacking Columns;
and now began a conflict wherein the cool and daring intrepidity with
which British Infantry are accustomed to defy the assaults of Cavalry
was exemplified in a manner that will ever reflect honour and glory
upon the Regiments to whose lot it fell, on this memorable Field, to
assert and maintain their country's prowess. A rolling fire from the
muskets of the 42nd Highlanders and 44th British Regiment, given at a
moment when the Enemy's horsemen were almost close upon their bayonets,
though most destructive in its effects upon their own immediate
opponents, checked not the ardour and impetuosity of the general
attack. These two diminutive Squares, now completely surrounded by the
French Cavalry, seemed destined to become a sacrifice to the fury with
which a rapid succession of attacks was made upon them; no sooner was
one Squadron hurled back in confusion, than another rushed impetuously
forward upon the same face of a Square, to experience a similar fate;
and sometimes different faces were charged simultaneously.
[Illustration]
A strong body of _Cuirassiers_ now passed the Right Flank of the two
Regiments, along the high road, with an evident intention of making
another attempt upon Quatre Bras.
PICTON, who had been watching with intense anxiety the contest
maintained by the 42nd and 44th British Regiments in their exposed
situation, and who had become convinced of the utter hopelessness of
obtaining any efficient support from the Allied Cavalry then in the
field, could no longer restrain his impatience to fly to the rescue
of the devoted Squares; and, as a substitute for Cavalry, he decided
upon immediately assailing that of the Enemy with his own oft tried
Infantry. With this view, he united the Royals (under Lieutenant
Colonel COLIN CAMPBELL) and the 28th Regiment, both of which Corps were
at that moment standing in Column at quarter distance. Led on by both
PICTON and KEMPT, the united Column, with loud shouts, boldly advanced
into the midst of the Enemy's Cavalry; the whole extent of ground along
its front appeared to swarm with Lancers, _Chasseurs à Cheval_, and
_Cuirassiers_, a considerable portion of whom were now seen rapidly
forming for an attack upon the Column; but PICTON constantly on the
alert, and at the same time desirous of arriving at such a distance
as would enable him to present an efficient flank fire in support of
the 44th Regiment, continued advancing until the last moment, when he
suddenly formed it into Square.
The repeated and furious charges which ensued, were invariably repulsed
by the Royals and the 28th, with the utmost steadiness and consummate
bravery; and although the Lancers individually dashed forward and
frequently wounded the men in the ranks, yet all endeavours to effect
an opening, of which the succeeding Squadron of Attack might take
advantage, completely failed. The ground on which the Square stood
was such that the surrounding remarkably tall rye concealed it in
a great measure, in the first attacks, from the view of the French
Cavalry until the latter came quite close upon it; but to remedy this
inconvenience, and to preserve the impetus of their charge, the Lancers
had frequently recourse to sending forward a daring individual to plant
a lance in the earth at a very short distance from the bayonets, and
they then charged upon the lance flag as a mark of direction.
The advance of the Royals and the 28th had been almost immediately
followed, under the same form, by that of the 32nd Regiment, which,
having reached a convenient distance, halted, and formed Square so as
to support, at the same time, by a flank fire, the Royals and 28th, and
the Square of the 79th Highlanders, which latter Regiment constituted a
connecting link with the 95th British Regiment upon the extreme Left.
Upon the advance of the Regiments belonging to KEMPT's and PACK's
British Brigades, BEST's Hanoverian Brigade occupied the Namur road in
their rear, along which the Landwehr Battalions Lüneburg, Osterode, and
Münden (respectively commanded by Lieutenant Colonel RAMDOHR, Major
REDEN, and Major SCHMID) were deployed, while the Landwehr Battalion
Verden (under Major DECKEN), also in line, was posted somewhat in
advance.
In this position, PICTON's Division sustained repeated assaults of the
French Cavalry, which attacked the Squares simultaneously, and in every
direction: as a portion rushed upon one Square, other Squadrons passed
on to assail the next; some parties, taking advantage of sinuosities
of the ground, awaited, like birds of prey, the favourable moment
for pouncing upon their victims; no sooner was one attacking Squadron
driven back and dispersed by a stream of musketry from the face of a
Square, than a fresh party would rush from its cover upon the same
ranks, in the vain hope that the means of breaking its onset had been
expended; but a reserved fire never failed to bring down upon it a
similar fate. Viewed from a little distance, the British Squares could
at times be scarcely discerned amidst the surrounding Cavalry; and as
the latter was frequently observed flying back from sudden discharges
of musketry, a spectator might easily have imagined the Squares to
be so many immense bombs, with every explosion scattering death and
confusion among the masses that rushed so daringly into their fatal
vicinity.
The French Cavalry, by its repeated failures to make any impression
on the British Infantry by the manner in which it had passed through
and through the intervals between the Squares, and in which the
charging Squadrons when dispersed had got intermingled, was now in
great disorder--Lancers, _Chasseurs_, and _Cuirassiers_, were mixed
together and crossing one another in every direction, seeking out their
respective Corps. To retire and reform had therefore become with them
an absolutely necessary measure; but this afforded no respite to the
devoted Squares, against which the Batteries upon the French Heights
now played with terrific effect.
* * * * *
During the French attack of the British Squares on the eastern side
of the Charleroi road, a considerable body of _Cuirassiers_ advanced
along the latter, with the evident design of making another attack upon
the Anglo-Allied Centre at Quatre Bras. The Belgian Cavalry, which was
again ordered forward, endeavoured to check this movement, but with
no better effect than that which attended its former attempt; in fact,
it retired sooner, charged and pursued by the _Cuirassiers_, against
whom a rapid fire was now opened from the 92nd Highlanders, who still
lined the ditch of the Namur road, close to Quatre Bras, a fire so
destructive in its effects that the steel clad warriors were completely
staggered, and the order of their advance so thoroughly shaken that
they were compelled to retire in confusion.
* * * * *
In addition to the furious cannonade to which they were subjected, the
foremost of PICTON's British Battalions, more especially the 42nd and
44th Regiments, were exposed to a rapid and destructive fire, which, as
soon as the Enemy's Cavalry had been withdrawn, was opened upon them
by the French troops advancing from the inclosures of Gemioncourt.
To check this, Skirmishers were thrown forward, but from the want of
sufficient ammunition, they could reply but very feebly to the fire of
their opponents, who, not suffering the same disadvantage, were picking
them off as fast as they could load. Their line soon became fearfully
thinned, and finally their ammunition was totally exhausted, to which
circumstance the Officer on whom the command of them had devolved
(Lieutenant RIDDOCK, 44th Regiment) called the attention of Sir DENIS
PACK, who ordered him to close his men to their centre and to join his
own Regiment.
He had just executed the first part of the Order, when the French
Cavalry having rallied and reformed, renewed their attacks upon the
British Squares. Squadrons of _Cuirassiers_ and Lancers, in their
onward course, swept past Lieutenant RIDDOCK and his party, while
others intercepted his direct line of retreat. He instantly formed four
deep, and with his front rank at the charge, he made good his way
through the Enemy's Cavalry, as far as the south face of the Square
formed by the 44th Regiment; which, however, was so hotly pressed at
the moment as to be unable to receive him, whereupon he ordered his men
to lie down close to their bayonets, until a favourable opportunity
should offer for their admission within the Square.
A repetition of the former scene on this part of the Field now took
place, and the attacks, which were conducted with similar impetuosity,
were met by a resistance equally undaunted. As if to overawe the Square
formed by the Royals and 28th British Regiments, the French Cavalry now
made a simultaneous attack upon three of its faces, and these consisted
mainly of the latter Corps. PICTON, who was again in the Square, upon
perceiving the approach of this apparently overwhelming force, suddenly
and emphatically exclaimed, "28th! remember Egypt!" They answered him
with a loud cheer, and reserving their fire until the Cavalry had
approached within a few yards of the Square, their muskets were coolly
and deliberately levelled at their assailants, who in the next moment
were hurled back in wild disorder, horses and riders tumbling over
one another, and creating indescribable confusion. Similar in their
results were all the attacks made upon the other British Squares, which
maintained their ground with the same unshaken steadiness and gallantry.
These repeated charges by the French Cavalry, though conducted by
veteran soldiers, with admirable order and compactness, and though
affording innumerable instances of individual gallantry and daring,
were certainly not carried on in a manner calculated to ensure success
over Infantry distinguished by such high training and such undaunted
bravery as the British proved themselves to possess on this memorable
occasion. There was no indication of a systematic attack upon any
particular point by a rapid succession of charging Squadrons--no
_forlorn hope like_ rush upon the opposing bayonets by the survivors of
a discharge of musketry levelled at a leading Squadron, and that rush
followed up with lightning-like rapidity by the next Squadron, which,
in spite of the intervening space encumbered with the bodies of men and
horses overthrown in the first charge, would thus obtain the greatest
chance of effecting by its own weight and compact order, a breach in
the Square at the point originally selected for the assault.
No such system of attack was attempted; but, on the contrary, it almost
invariably happened that the leading Squadron no sooner received the
fire from the point attacked, than it either opened out from the centre
to the right and left, and retired, or, it diverged altogether to one
flank, leaving the succeeding divisions, in both cases, to observe the
same movement; and, in this manner, the whole of the attacking force
exposed itself to a far more extended range of fire and consequent
loss, than if it had pursued the more daring, and at the same time,
more decisive, mode of attack just described.
* * * * *
Whilst a considerable portion of the French Cavalry was thus
fruitlessly assailing the British Squares, a body of Lancers, which
had advanced considerably in the rear of those Squares, made a sudden
and unexpected charge upon the Hanoverian Landwehr Battalion Verden,
which was then, as previously explained, deployed a short distance in
front of the Namur road: it was completely successful, and the greater
part of the Battalion was cut down by the Lancers, who, emboldened by
this triumph, were preparing to cross the Namur road, where a well
directed fire opened upon them by the Landwehr Battalions Lüneburg and
Osterode, lying concealed in the ditch by which it was lined, threw
them into disorder, and forced them to a precipitate retreat.
The whole of the French Cavalry was now withdrawn for the purpose of
reforming its broken and disordered ranks, leaving the Anglo-Allied
Infantry to be again assailed by a vigorous cannonade from the Heights
above Gemioncourt. The only movement on the part of the Anglo-Allied
forces was the advance of the Brunswick Guard Battalion and 2nd Line
Battalion in front of Quatre Bras, by the right of the Charleroi
road, as a precautionary measure against any flank attack that might
be attempted from the Wood of Bossu upon the advanced Battalions of
PICTON's right.
* * * * *
It was long past five o'clock. The French Infantry in the Wood of
Bossu was continually making progress towards the Namur road, across
which increased numbers of the Dutch-Belgian troops, to whom the
defence of the Wood had been entrusted, were seen hastily retiring.
In Piermont, the French Light Troops had been reinforced, and they
were now evidently preparing for a more vigorous attack upon the
extreme Left of WELLINGTON's forces; whilst certain movements in the
vicinity of Gemioncourt gave intimation of an intended renewal of the
attack upon Quatre Bras. All prospect of the Anglo-Allied Cavalry
encountering NEY's veteran Dragoons with any chance of success had
entirely vanished; whilst, on the other hand, the latter were on the
point of being reinforced by the arrival of another Cavalry Division.
PACK's Brigade had expended nearly the whole of its ammunition; its
exposed position, and the continued Cavalry charges in its rear having
precluded the transmission of the necessary supply. The Brunswickers
had been greatly discouraged by the death of their gallant Prince; and
the losses sustained by all the troops engaged had already been truly
frightful.
It was at this very moment, when WELLINGTON's situation had become so
extremely critical, that two Infantry Brigades of the Third Division,
under Lieutenant General Sir CHARLES ALTEN, most opportunely reached
the Field of Action by the Nivelles road. They were the Fifth British
Brigade, commanded by Major General Sir COLIN HALKETT, and the First
Hanoverian Brigade, under Major General Count KIELMANSEGGE; and were
accompanied by Major LLOYD's Battery of British Foot Artillery, and by
Captain CLEEVES's Battery of Hanoverian Foot Artillery.
By the arrival of these troops WELLINGTON's force was augmented as
follows:--
+------------------+---------------------------+--------+-------+----+
| | |Infantry|Cavalry|Guns|
| | +--------+-------+----+
| |Force already in the Field | 18,090| 2,004| 30|
| | | | | |
|British { |Fifth Infantry Brigade | 2,254| | |
| { |Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 6|
| | | | | |
|K.G. Legion | Do. do do. | | | 6|
| | | | | |
|Hanoverians |First Infantry Brigade | 3,189| | |
| | | | | |
|Dutch-Belgians |7th Dutch Line Battalion | 731| | |
| | +--------+-------+----+
| | | 24,264| 2,004| 42|
+------------------+---------------------------+--------+-------+----+
About the same time, NEY's troops were reinforced by the remaining
Division of KELLERMANN's Corps of Heavy Cavalry, so that his whole
force was constituted as follows:--
+-----------------------------+----------+-----------+-----+
| |Infantry. | Cavalry. |Guns.|
| +----------+-----------+-----+
|Force already in the Field | 16,189| 3,472| 44|
|Eleventh Cavalry Division | | 1,502| |
|1 Battery of Horse Artillery | | | 6|
| +----------+-----------+-----+
| | 16,189| 4,974| 50|
+-----------------------------+----------+-----------+-----+
NEY, on perceiving the arrival of this reinforcement to the
Anglo-Allied troops, despatched a peremptory Order to D'ERLON to hasten
to his support and join him without a moment's delay; and having well
calculated the advantages he still retained, he resolved upon a bold
and vigorous effort to secure the victory.
The greater portion of the Wood of Bossu was now in his possession; and
this circumstance appeared to him to present the means of establishing
himself at Quatre Bras, and of thus enabling him effectually to
turn WELLINGTON's Right Flank, and cut off his line of retreat upon
Brussels. With this view he had already greatly reinforced his
Infantry in the Wood through which he had even ordered the advance of
two Batteries, in a direction parallel to, and within a very short
distance of, its eastern boundary, so that they might be prepared to
act upon the plain, as soon as circumstances rendered such a proceeding
advisable or expedient. He now also threw forward additional Light
Troops to strengthen his extreme Right in the vicinity of Piermont;
whilst his Cavalry, so vastly superior, both in numbers and in
efficiency, to that which the British Commander had brought into the
Field, constituted his main central force, and compensated in a great
measure for the deficiency created in this point of his line by the
drawing off of the Infantry to the Flanks.
The two French Batteries above alluded to as having advanced along the
interior of the Wood of Bossu, suddenly opened a destructive fire from
the edge of the latter upon the Brunswick troops posted on the right of
the Charleroi road, just as LLOYD's Battery arrived at Quatre Bras. The
Duke instantly ordered the advance of this Battery into the open space
between the Charleroi road and the Wood, for the purpose of silencing
the French guns; but before the British Artillerymen could unlimber,
several horses of the Battery were killed, wheels were disabled, and,
from the proximity of the Enemy's guns, some of the Gunners were
literally cut in two by the round shot with which they were so closely
assailed. Nevertheless, the Battery succeeded, not only in silencing
its opponents, but also in forcing back into the wood a French Column
of Infantry, which, advancing directly towards the Brussels road, had
endeavoured to turn its Right Flank: after which brilliant services,
LLOYD, perceiving no adequate Support, judged it prudent, in the then
crippled state of his Battery, to retire to his former Post, abandoning
two guns for which he had not a sufficient number of horses remaining,
and which consequently could not be recovered until the termination of
the action.
HALKETT's Brigade, shortly after passing Quatre Bras, was ordered to
bring up its left shoulders; and, entering the rye fields in front
of the Namur road, it proceeded some little distance in advance, and
halted.
KIELMANSEGGE's Brigade continued its march along the Namur road, and
received Orders to strengthen the extreme Left, as also to support,
and, where necessary, to relieve the exhausted British Battalions,
which had so bravely withstood the fiercest onsets of a most daring and
well organised Cavalry, and had so unflinchingly endured the incessant
cannonade maintained against them by the well served Batteries on the
French Heights.
It was during the advance of the Third British Division to take up its
ground--HALKETT proceeding directly to the front, and KIELMANSEGGE
moving along the Namur road to the left--and under cover of the heavy
cannonade which was maintained against the Allied line at this time,
that again a Column of French Infantry advanced from out of the Wood,
towards the Brussels road, and entering the latter by the isolated
House southward of Quatre Bras, established itself in and about that
building and its inclosures.
Shortly afterwards, another Column advanced in support of the former
one, which then emerged from its cover, and began to ascend that part
of the Anglo-Allied position occupied by the 92nd Highlanders. On
perceiving this, Major General BARNES, Adjutant General to the British
forces, who had just ridden up to the right of the Regiment, placed
himself very conspicuously at the head of the Highlanders, waving his
hat, and exclaiming, "92nd, follow me!" In an instant the latter sprang
out of the ditch in which they had hitherto been posted, and with great
gallantry and steadiness charged down the slope. The French Infantry
hastily fell back, until having gained the partial shelter afforded
them by the isolated House and its inclosures, they opened a most
destructive fire upon the Highlanders, who nevertheless slackened not
their pace, but drove the French out of their cover. Their Commanding
Officer, Colonel CAMERON, here received his death wound, and having
lost the power of managing his horse, the latter carried him at its
utmost speed along the road until he reached Quatre Bras, where his
servant was standing with his led horse, when the animal, suddenly
stopping, pitched the unfortunate Officer on his head. The supporting
Column, however, securing the garden opposite to the House and on the
right of the road, seemed resolved to make a stand against the further
advance of the Highlanders; but the latter, by a judicious disposition
of their force in three divisions--one towards each flank of the
garden, and the other directly to the gate in front--and again uniting
as soon as these points were secured, once more rushed upon their foes
with the bayonet, displaying, under a terrific fire, the most undaunted
bravery.
As soon as the French turned their backs, the 92nd poured upon them
a volley which proved most destructive, and continued their advance,
pursuing the Enemy along the edge of the Wood, into which they finally
retired upon perceiving a disposition on the part of the French Cavalry
to charge, and finding themselves exposed to a heavy cannonade which
was rapidly thinning their ranks to a fearful extent. Subsequently, in
consequence of their very severe loss, they were withdrawn through the
Wood to Quatre Bras.
Again the French Skirmishers were creeping up the slope from the
Gemioncourt inclosures, and PACK, who had united the remains of the
42nd and 44th Regiments into one Battalion, made the best show of
resistance in his power to their teazing _tiraillade_; but being aware
how very small a quantity of ammunition remained in his men's pouches,
his anxiety on this point became extreme, the more so as he had good
reasons for apprehending fresh attacks of Cavalry. His advanced
position in the immediate proximity of the formation of the Enemy's
Columns of Attack, naturally kept him on the look out for effective
British support; and on observing the head of HALKETT's Brigade, as
the latter was advancing from Quatre Bras, he instantly despatched an
Aide de Camp to that General, with a message, that his own Brigade
had expended nearly the whole of its ammunition, and that if he did
not offer him a Support, he would be under the necessity of almost
immediately abandoning his position. HALKETT at once acceded to the
proposal by sending forward the 69th British Regiment, and desiring its
Commanding Officer, Colonel MORICE, to obey any Orders he might receive
from General PACK.
In pursuance of Orders received from the Duke, HALKETT moved the
remainder of his Brigade into the space between the Wood of Bossu and
the Charleroi road, fronting the French Left Wing. Here he found
the Brunswick Infantry retiring with precipitation: he immediately
put himself in communication with their Commanding Officer, Colonel
OLFERMANN, and by aid of the support which his Brigade presented to
their view, he succeeded in bringing them up under cover, in the ditch
which, traversing the space between the Wood and the high road, ran
nearly parallel with the Enemy's line.
Leaving his Brigade in the position he had taken up, in support of the
Brunswickers and of PACK's Brigade, and pending the arrival of further
instructions from the Duke, HALKETT galloped to the Front, nearly
beyond the Farm of Gemioncourt, for the purpose of ascertaining, if
possible, the disposition and intentions of the Enemy. He was not kept
long in suspense, NEY's arrangements for another general attack having
been concluded; and, observing the Cavalry destined to advance against
the Allies on both sides of the Charleroi road in motion, he turned
round his horse and hastened to dispose his Brigade in such a manner
as to render it fully prepared to brave the coming storm. On his way,
he sent an intimation to PACK of his discovery, and Orders to the 69th
Regiment to prepare forthwith to receive Cavalry.
A sudden and heavy cannonade had already opened from the French
Heights--a sure prelude to the attack which was about to take
place--and the 69th Regiment was in the act of forming Square, when the
Prince of ORANGE rode up to it and asked what it was doing. Colonel
MORICE explained that he was forming Square in pursuance of the
instructions he had received; upon which His Royal Highness, remarking
that he did not think there was any chance of the Cavalry coming on,
ordered him to reform Column, and to deploy into line. During this
last movement a strong body of French _Cuirassiers_, taking advantage
of the surrounding high corn, and of the circumstance of the Regiment
lying in a hollow, approached unperceived quite close to the spot, and
rushing suddenly and impetuously upon a Flank, succeeded in completely
rolling up the Regiment, riding along and over the unfortunate men, of
whom great numbers were cut down, and in the midst of the confusion
thus created, captured and carried off one of the Colours; in defence
of which Major LINDSAY, Lieutenant PIGOT, and Volunteer CLARKE,
highly distinguished themselves, and were desperately wounded. Some
Officers and men took shelter in the Square formed by the 42nd and 44th
Regiments; the mounted Officers gained the other side of the road,
pursued by about twenty of the Enemy, and escaped by riding through one
of the Hanoverian Battalions lining the Namur road.
The 30th Regiment, which had also been deployed into line by the Orders
of the Prince of ORANGE, most fortunately discovered, in sufficient
time, the approach of Cavalry (notwithstanding the extraordinary height
of the rye, which greatly impeded all observation), formed Square
with remarkable rapidity, and, reserving their fire until the very
last moment, they completely dispersed and drove off a body of PIRÉ's
Lancers, and a portion of KELLERMANN's _Cuirassiers_, which troops had
made a charge upon them, enveloping two faces of their Square. PICTON,
who, from the opposite side of the high road, was an eye witness of
this scene, was so much pleased with the perfect steadiness of the
Regiment, that, seizing a favourable opportunity of galloping up to
it, he called for the Commanding Officer, and told Lieutenant Colonel
HAMILTON that he should report to the Duke the gallant conduct of
his Corps. Indeed the steadiness and gallantry of the 30th in this
Battle were so conspicuous as also to draw upon them the well merited
commendations of the Prince of ORANGE, and Generals ALTEN, HALKETT, and
KIELMANSEGGE.
The 73rd Regiment (under Colonel HARRIS), and the Brunswickers, were
equally on the alert; but the French Cavalry, on finding them prepared,
diverged towards the high road.
The 33rd Regiment (under Lieutenant Colonel ELPHINSTONE), had formed
Square upon its leading Company (the Grenadiers) at the moment the
latter had reached some rising ground; in which position it became a
conspicuous mark for the fire, at point blank distance, of a French
Battery which opened upon it with great spirit. It was deemed advisable
to deploy it into line, in which formation the Regiment advanced
towards the two Brunswick Battalions then fiercely engaged with the
Enemy's Light Troops near the skirt of the Wood; but upon approaching
the latter, a report was spread along the line that French Cavalry was
in its rear, whereupon the Regiment rushed precipitately into the Wood,
within which it was speedily reformed.
* * * * *
Whilst that portion of KELLERMANN's Dragoons which had dispersed the
69th Regiment, were sweeping gallantly onwards in their bold career
along the high road towards Quatre Bras, the greater body of this
Corps advanced into the open space on the right of that road. Here
PICTON's gallant little bands found themselves again involved in one
general onset of Cavalry, made with a violence and fury which seemed
to betoken a desperate resolve to harass the devoted Squares to the
last extremity, and to carry every thing by main force. At the same
time a dense cloud of Skirmishers, bursting forth from the inclosures
of Piermont, threatened to turn the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied
Army; whilst the French Infantry in the Wood of Bossu, close upon the
northern boundary of the latter, equally endangered its extreme Right.
At this moment, NEY's prospects were bright enough to justify his hopes
of success, and he hailed the captured Colour, presented to him by the
_Cuirassier_ LAMI of the 8th Regiment, as the harbinger of victory.
In fact, on whatever point of his line NEY now directed his view, his
operations were full of promise as to the result.
It was certainly a most anxious moment to the British Chief: but
frightfully crippled as were his resources by the failure and hasty
retreat of the great bulk of the Dutch-Belgian Infantry, by the
evident inferiority and utter helplessness of his Cavalry, and by the
dreadfully severe losses already inflicted upon his British Regiments,
he calmly surveyed the field of slaughter, and deliberately calculated
upon the extent to which the heroic valour and admirable spirit so
unequivocally displayed by the British and German Infantry would
enable him to bear up against the storm that now spread its fury along
his whole line, until his eagle glance might detect some favourable
opening, seize some critical moment, to deal the stroke that, by a
combination as sudden as the launching of the thunderbolt of the storm
itself, should avert its fury, or oppose to it a barrier that might
exhaust its strength.
The arrival of LLOYD's British, and CLEEVES's German, Batteries,
attached to ALTEN's Division, had already made a most important
addition to the Duke's Artillery force; the former took post in front
of Quatre Bras on the right, the latter on the left, of the Charleroi
road.
Almost immediately afterwards, Major KUHLMANN's Battery of Horse
Artillery of the King's German Legion, belonging to the First
Division, which it had preceded on the Nivelles road, reached the
Field, and moved rapidly to the point of intersection of the Brussels
and Nivelles road, where it came into action, at the very moment the
_Cuirassiers_ who had fallen upon HALKETT's Brigade were advancing
in mass along the former road towards Quatre Bras. Two guns under
Lieutenant SPECKMANN were posted so as to bear directly upon the French
Column, and completely to enfilade the road; and as the Cuirassiers
approached with the undaunted bearing that betokened the steadiness
of veterans, and with the imposing display that usually distinguishes
mailed Cavalry, a remarkably well directed fire was opened upon them:
in an instant the whole mass appeared in irretrievable confusion; the
road was literally strewed with corses of these steel clad warriors and
their gallant steeds; KELLERMANN himself was dismounted, and compelled
like many of his followers to retire on foot.
* * * * *
It was at this moment that Colonel LAURENT, who had been despatched
from the Imperial Head Quarters, reached NEY, with a pencilled note
requiring the Marshal to detach the First Corps towards St Amand.
Having fallen in with the head of the Column of that Corps, he had
taken upon himself to alter the direction of its march; and, on coming
up with Count D'ERLON, who had preceded his Corps, and was then in
front of Frasne, he showed him the note, and explained to him where
he would find the head of his Column. Shortly afterwards, General
D'ELCAMBRE, Chief of the Staff to the First Corps, arrived to report
the movement which was in course of execution.
NEY now saw clearly that at the very moment he required the aid
of D'ERLON's Corps, not only to counterbalance the arrival of
reinforcements which had joined WELLINGTON, but to give an efficient
support to the renewed general attack he had projected, that Corps had
been placed beyond his reach, and that he must, in all probability,
continue to fight the battle without any addition to the force he had
already in the Field. Nevertheless, he did not allow the circumstance
to suspend the execution of his operations; and, with the hope of
yet securing the assistance of the First Corps, he sent back General
D'ELCAMBRE, with a peremptory Order for its return towards Quatre Bras.
It was soon after this that NEY received another despatch from
NAPOLEON, dated at two o'clock. From its general tenor it was evidently
written previously to the departure of Colonel LAURENT with the Order
for the flank movement of D'ERLON's Corps, and therefore the bearer
of it must have taken longer time than was necessary in conveying it
to the Marshal. It announced that the Prussians were posted between
Sombref and Bry, and that at half past two GROUCHY was to attack
them with the Third and Fourth _Corps d'Armée_, and expressed the
Emperor's wish that NEY should also attack whatever Enemy might be in
his front, and, after having repulsed the latter, fall back in the
direction of Ligny, to assist in enveloping the Prussians. At the same
time it stated, that should NAPOLEON succeed in defeating the latter
beforehand, he would then manoeuvre in NEY's direction, to support
in like manner the Marshal's operations. It concluded by requesting
information both as to NEY's own dispositions and those of the Enemy
in his front. This despatch reached NEY at a moment when he was most
seriously engaged, when the issue of the battle was extremely doubtful,
and the probability of his being enabled to afford the support required
by NAPOLEON most questionable.
Upon the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied forces, the advance of the
French Light Troops from Piermont and its vicinity was met in a most
determined and gallant manner by the head of KIELMANSEGGE's Hanoverian
Brigade (which after having moved along the Nivelles road, exposed to
the continued fire from the Batteries on the French Heights, had just
reached that part of the field), in conjunction with the 1st Battalion
95th British Rifles, and the 2nd Brunswick Light Battalion. The most
determined efforts were made by the Enemy to turn the Anglo-Allied
Flank. The French Infantry had already gained the high road, and were
boldly pressing forward, when the British Rifles, the Brunswick Light
Infantry, and the Hanoverian Field Battalion Lüneburg (under Lieutenant
Colonel KLENCKE) dashed in amongst them. The contest was obstinate
and severe; but the Allied Light Troops having been reinforced by
the Hanoverian Field Battalion Grubenhagen (under Lieutenant Colonel
WURMB), gradually obtained the ascendancy, and, dislodging their
opponents from one inclosure after another, continued steadily
advancing, and gaining ground.
Along the whole front of the central portion of the Anglo-Allied
Army, the French Cavalry was expending its force in repeated but
unavailing charges against the indomitable Squares. The gallant, the
brilliant, the heroic, manner in which the remnants of KEMPT's and
PACK's Brigades held their ground, of which they surrendered not a
single inch throughout the terrific struggle of that day, must ever
stand pre-eminent in the records of the triumphs and prowess of British
Infantry.
To relieve them as much as possible from the severe pressure they
experienced, now that their ammunition was almost entirely exhausted,
some of the Hanoverian Battalions were judiciously thrown forward so
as to afford them a close, immediate, and efficient, support, while
others continued to line the Namur road; a disposition for which the
arrival of KIELMANSEGGE's Brigade had presented the ready means, and
which imposed an impregnable barrier to any further advance of the
French Cavalry, whose ranks were now thoroughly disordered, and their
numbers greatly diminished, by their perseverance in a contest the
hopelessness of which began to appear but too evident.
* * * * *
During that part of the Battle just described, NEY received a further
despatch from the Emperor by Colonel FORBIN JANSON. It was dated a
quarter past three, and announced to the Marshal that NAPOLEON was at
that moment seriously engaged. It desired NEY to manoeuvre immediately
so as to turn the Right of the Prussians and fall upon their Rear, and
contained the remark that the latter would thus be taken _en flagrant
délit_ at the moment they might be endeavouring to join the English.
The impossibility of NEY's complying with these directions was already
sufficiently apparent.
* * * * *
At this time, WELLINGTON received an addition to his forces by the
arrival of the 1st and 3rd Brunswick Light Battalions, and the
Brunswick Brigade of Artillery under Major MAHN, consisting of a
Battery of Horse, and another of Foot, Artillery. The guns were
immediately posted close upon the Namur road, at a short distance to
the left of Quatre Bras; and their fire, combined with that of the
British and German Batteries, soon produced a very perceptible effect
upon the French Artillery. The Infantry reinforced the 1st and 3rd
Brunswick Line Battalions occupying the houses of Quatre Bras.
The most important reinforcement, however, was the arrival, at nearly
the same moment--about half past six o'clock--of the First British
Division, under Major General COOKE, consisting of the First Brigade of
Guards, commanded by Major General MAITLAND, and the Second Brigade of
Guards, commanded by Major General Sir JOHN BYNG.
Their line of march having been by the Nivelles road, they came very
opportunely upon the most critical point of the Anglo-Allied position,
namely, its extreme Right, just at the moment when the French Light
Troops, having driven out the Dutch-Belgian Infantry, showed themselves
in force along the northern boundary of the Wood of Bossu, and some of
their Skirmishers had almost gained the high road.
WELLINGTON's force was still further augmented by the recently arrived
troops as follows:--
+-------------+-----------------------------+---------+--------+-----+
| | |Infantry.|Cavalry.|Guns.|
| | +---------+--------+-----+
| |Force already in the Field | 24,264 | 2,004 | 42 |
| | | | | |
|British {|First Infantry Division | 4,061 | | |
| {|Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 6 |
|K.G. Legion | Do. Horse do. | | | 6 |
| | | | | |
|Brunswick {|1st and 3rd Light Battalions | 1,344 | | |
| {|Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 8 |
| {| Do. Horse do. | | | 8 |
| | +---------+--------+-----+
| | | 29,669 | 2,004 | 70 |
+-------------+-----------------------------+---------+--------+-----+
NEY's force actually present continued as before:--
+---------+--------+-----+
|Infantry.|Cavalry.|Guns.|
+---------+--------+-----+
| 16,189 | 4,974 | 50 |
+---------+--------+-----+
The Prince of ORANGE, who had galloped along this road to meet the
Guards, immediately ordered the Light Companies under Lieutenant
Colonel Lord SALTOUN, to enter the Wood. They rushed forward with a
loud cheer, and commenced a brisk fire on their opponents, who were
soon made sensible of the superior description of force now brought
against them. The remainder of the Brigade speedily followed, and the
loud, sharp, animated rattle of musketry, which was progressing rapidly
into the very heart of the Wood, plainly indicated that even in this
quarter, where the French had hitherto been the most successful, and
whence they might not only have molested the Anglo-Allied troops on
the eastern boundary of the Wood, but have most seriously endangered
the Right of the British position, they were now encountering a most
vigorous and determined resistance.
* * * * *
HALKETT's Brigade, with the Brunswickers, resolutely maintained the
ground on which they had been charged by the French Cavalry. As the
latter retired, the Light Companies of the Brigade, with a portion
of the Brunswickers on the right, and some Hanoverian Riflemen on
the left, advanced in pursuit. The French threw forward a line of
_Tirailleurs_ to check them, and a brisk fire was maintained on both
sides. The cannonade on this side of the field was also kept up with
great spirit. At length the French Cavalry advanced, forcing back
HALKETT's Skirmishers upon their respective Columns, on which they then
charged. Their attack, however, was not made with much energy, and,
upon their being uniformly repulsed, the Light Troops resumed their
former ground. HALKETT pushed forward his Battalions to the line of his
Skirmishers, and then moving towards his right, in the direction of the
ravine, which descends from the Wood, drove across the rivulet a body
of French Infantry, from which a portion of his Brigade had suffered a
severe fire. In this part of the affair one of PICTON's Battalions--the
Royals--co-operated. The two Brunswick Battalions continued boldly to
advance even beyond this line, resting their right close upon the Wood.
* * * * *
In the meantime, BYNG's Brigade had closely followed up MAITLAND's
in support, having previously sent forward its Light Companies under
Lieutenant Colonel MACDONELL round by Quatre Bras, skirting the
eastern border of the Wood. The spirited and determined nature of the
advance of the British Guards not admitting of that restraint which,
considering the many intricate parts of the Wood, was essential for the
preservation of order, led to great confusion in their ranks by the
time they reached the southern extremity, after having fairly driven
out the French; and in this state they ventured to pursue the Enemy on
the open ground, but were quickly repulsed by his Reserves; and the
French Artillery poured so destructive a fire into this portion of the
Wood, that MAITLAND deemed it advisable to withdraw the 2nd Battalion
(under Colonel ASKEW) to the rivulet, where it was immediately joined
from the rear by the other Battalion of his Brigade (the 3rd, under
Colonel the Hon. WILLIAM STUART).
The time which would have been occupied in restoring the order and
regularity that had been so completely lost during the progress of
these Battalions through the Wood, was considered too precious for
that purpose at such a moment, and the Brigade was ordered to form
line to its left, outside the Wood, the men falling in promiscuously
as fast as they emerged from their cover, and extending the line into
the plain between the Wood and the Brussels road. Thus formed, the line
advanced, though but for a short distance, when it opened and continued
a brisk fire, under which the French Infantry, in its immediate
front, deployed with the utmost steadiness and gallantry. This advance
had been followed by the Brunswick Guard Battalion, which was now
manoeuvring to form on the left of MAITLAND's Brigade.
The French Cavalry, which had been watching for an opportunity to
charge the Brigade, now made a dash at its Left Flank. When the
irregular formation of the latter, which has been already explained,
is considered, it is evident that any attempt to form Square at
that moment would have involved the British Guards in inextricable
confusion, and have rendered them an easy prey to the French horsemen.
Rapid as was the advance of the latter, its object was frustrated
in a manner which testifies the extraordinary discipline of the men
of that Brigade. Mere discipline it was not; it was an instinctive
momentary impulse, which seemed to animate the whole Corps with the
sole conviction, that the only step to be taken, the only chance left
for safety, consisted in a general and instantaneous movement to the
ditch which bounded the Wood on their right. This was accomplished
with complete success, and the French Cavalry, which had advanced in
full confidence of an easy triumph, were hurled back in confusion by a
volley from the ditch, which the Brigade had lined with a rapidity, a
dexterity, and a precision, quite wonderful; while at the same moment,
the Brunswick Battalion threw itself into Square, and received the
Cavalry with a degree of coolness, steadiness, and gallantry, which
won for it the warmest admiration and encomiums of the British who
witnessed the manoeuvre. The flanking fire which was thus brought to
bear so suddenly on the French Cavalry by the Brunswickers, and the
destructive front fire so deliberately poured in amongst them by the
British Guards from the ditch, fairly drove them out of this part of
the Field.
* * * * *
More to the left, the French were retiring before HALKETT in perfect
order, covered by their Skirmishers. As that General's Brigade neared
the Farm House of Gemioncourt, Major CHAMBERS of the 36th Regiment, an
experienced Officer, incited by the desire of capturing a Post which
had been throughout the day a _point d'appui_ to the French Centre, led
on two Companies of his Corps towards it. They made a gallant rush into
the courtyard, but were met by a smart fire which forced them back.
Major CHAMBERS, however, rallied his men in the orchard; and having
instructed them how to proceed in their attack, the place was instantly
carried.
The further advance upon the Anglo-Allied Left had, in the meantime,
kept equal pace with that on the Right. NEY had been compelled to
yield the strongholds by aid of which he had hoped to force the
Duke's position: his Infantry had been driven out of Piermont and the
inclosures in front of his Right, as also out of the Wood of Bossu on
his Left: Gemioncourt, also, in front of his Centre, had been captured;
while the plain between the two positions, over which his Cavalry
had executed innumerable charges--charges that were occasionally
suspended merely that the scattered bands might rally afresh to renew
the onslaught with redoubled vigour, and that his Artillery might pour
upon the devoted Squares its destructive missiles, by which each was
shattered to its very centre,--was now completely cleared from the
presence of a single horseman.
It was long after sunset, and darkness was sensibly approaching, when
WELLINGTON, now that his Flanks and Centre were relieved, in the
manner already described, from the severity of a pressure of such
long duration, led forward his victorious troops to the foot of the
French position. The loud shouts which proclaimed the triumphant
advance of his forces on either Flank were enthusiastically caught up
and responded to by those who constituted the main central line, and
who had so nobly and so resolutely withstood and defied the impetuous
battle shock by which they had been so repeatedly and so pertinaciously
assailed.
NEY, convinced of the utter futility, if not imminent hazard, of
protracting the contest, withdrew the whole of his forces, and
concentrated them on the Heights of Frasne, throwing out a strong
line of Picquets, to which WELLINGTON opposed a corresponding line,
having the southern extremity of the Wood of Bossu on the Right, the
inclosures south of Piermont on the Left, and Gemioncourt in the
Centre, for its main Supports.
The French Picquets manifested an extraordinary degree of vigilance;
the slightest movement on the side of the Anglo-Allied Picquets
instantly attracted attention, and was noticed by a concentrated fire
from the watchful Sentries of the Enemy. No movement, however, of any
consequence was made on either side during the night. The wearied
combatants sought that rest of which they stood so much in need, and
the silence in which the Anglo-Allied bivouac soon became hushed, was
only disturbed by the arrival of additional reinforcements, consisting
principally of British Cavalry.
* * * * *
NEY was joined by the First Corps, after the termination of the action.
At nine o'clock, D'ERLON presented himself to the Marshal for the
purpose of reporting to him his proceedings, and of receiving his
Orders, after which the Corps was bivouacked in the rear of Frasne;
with the exception, however, of DURUTTE's Division (the Fourth), and
JAQUINOT's Light Cavalry Brigade, which D'ERLON had left on the Field
of Ligny; in front of the extreme Right of the Prussian Army; a measure
which he had deemed advisable in order to prevent the Enemy from
debouching into the plain between Bry and the Wood of Delhutte.
[Illustration:
BATTLE OF
QUATRE BRAS
at 8 o'clock, p.m.]
It is singular that NAPOLEON, who at Fleurus held so powerful a Reserve
as that consisting of the Imperial Guard and the Sixth Corps, and who
was in perfect ignorance of the true state of affairs at Quatre Bras,
should have ventured to withdraw from NEY a force amounting to more
than one half of that which he had originally placed at his disposal.
It was decidedly a false step, from which no advantage resulted on his
own Field of Battle, whilst there can be very little doubt that it lost
him that of Quatre Bras.
* * * * *
The losses sustained in this Battle by the Anglo-Allied Army in killed,
wounded, and missing, were as follows:--
British 2,275
Hanoverians 369
Brunswickers 819
------
3,463 men.
To these must be added the loss of the Dutch-Belgian troops, amounting
probably to about 1,000 killed and wounded, which makes the entire loss
of the Anglo-Allied Army equal to about 4,463 men.
The French loss amounted to about 4,000 killed, wounded, and missing.
* * * * *
Such was the Battle of Quatre Bras: a battle in which the British,
the Hanoverian, and the Brunswick, Infantry, covered itself with
imperishable glory; to estimate the full extent of which we must
constantly bear in mind, that the whole brunt of the action fell upon
that Infantry; that throughout the greater part of the day it was
totally unaided by any Cavalry, that Arm of the Allies in the field
having, at the outset, proved itself incompetent to engage with the
French; and, lastly, that it was completely abandoned in the latter
part of the action by the Second Dutch-Belgian Infantry Division,
amounting to no less than 7,533 men.
When the imagination dwells upon that which constitutes one of the
most prominent features of the Battle--the manner in which the gallant
PICTON, on finding there was no Cavalry at hand wherewith to charge
effectively that of the Enemy, led on the British Infantry, and dashed
into the midst of the French masses, stoutly maintaining his ground in
defiance of their oft repeated assaults, invariably scattering back
their charging Squadrons in confusion, and this, too, in the face
of a splendid Cavalry, animated by the best spirit, and headed by a
KELLERMANN, whose fame and merit were so universally acknowledged--with
what exulting pride and heartfelt gratitude must not the British nation
reflect on the heroic valour displayed by her sons in their noble
fulfilment of the desires and expectations of her Cambrian Chief!
The zealous and cordial support which the Hanoverians and the
Brunswickers afforded to their British brethren in arms, the devotion
with which they commingled with them in the thickest of the fight, are
indelibly engraven in the grateful memory of every true German, and
remain recorded as a lasting theme of admiration in the history of
their fatherland.
The defeat sustained by the French was certainly not attributable,
in the slightest degree, to any deficiency on their part, of either
bravery or discipline. Their deportment was that of truly gallant
soldiers, and their attacks were all conducted with a chivalric
impetuosity, and an admirably sustained vigour, which could leave no
doubt on the minds of their opponents as to the sincerity of their
devotion to the cause of the Emperor.
* * * * *
In a strategical point of view, both parties gained certain important
advantages, and lost others which had been comprised within their
respective plans of operation.
NEY had succeeded in preventing the junction of the Anglo-Allied Army
with the Prussians, and might have obtained still more important
results, had he not been deprived of the services of D'ERLON's Corps,
the arrival of which he had been so fully led to expect.
WELLINGTON, though he had been compelled to relinquish all hope of
being enabled to afford that aid to BLÜCHER which, in the morning, he
had proffered to him, yet, by maintaining his ground at Quatre Bras
sufficiently long to admit of the arrival of reinforcements which
enabled him to obtain a brilliant victory, he completely succeeded in
frustrating the grand object of NEY's movements, which had been to
defeat the Anglo-Allied troops thus advancing, in detail, and also
to operate upon BLÜCHER's Right Flank. The Duke's success gave ample
and convincing evidence of the sagacity and foresight with which his
plans had been devised and matured, as also of the soundness of those
calculations by which he had for some time previously placed himself,
with the confident security of a master of his art, in a posture of
defence, fully prepared to meet every emergency, from whatever point,
or however suddenly, the coming storm might arise. And now that he
had gained the Battle, and secured the important point of Quatre Bras,
upon which the remainder of his troops were advancing, and where the
greater portion of them would arrive in the evening and during the
night, he was perfectly ready and willing, should the Prussians prove
victorious at Ligny, to renew the contest on the following morning, by
attacking NEY with his collected force; and then, if successful (of
which little doubt could be entertained), by a junction with BLÜCHER's
Right, to operate upon NAPOLEON's Left, so as to bring the great mass
of the combined Armies to bear directly upon the main body of the
French; or, in case of a defeat of the Prussians, to make good his
retreat along his principal line of operation, in such a manner, as
to secure a position between Quatre Bras and Brussels, favourable for
a co-operation of BLÜCHER's forces with his own, and for presenting a
bold and determined stand against the further advance of the French
Emperor.
Orders were now forwarded for the movement of CLINTON's Division on the
following morning, at daybreak, from Nivelles to Quatre Bras: and of
COLVILLE's Division, at the same hour, from Enghien to Nivelles. The
Reserve Artillery was directed to move at daybreak, on the following
morning, to Quatre Bras, there to receive further orders; and the Tenth
Infantry Brigade, under Major General Sir JOHN LAMBERT, was directed to
march, at the same hour, from Assche to Genappe, there to remain until
further orders.
* * * * *
The tremendous roar of Artillery in the direction of Ligny gave a
sufficient intimation to the Duke that a great Battle had taken place
in that quarter, but as it seemed to continue stationary, and only
ceased as night set in, he was doubtful of the result, and remained
in this state of suspense and uncertainty until the following morning;
the Officer who had been despatched in the night to Quatre Bras from
the Prussian Head Quarters with the expected communication, having been
surprised in the dark, and made a prisoner by the French.
[Illustration:]