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THE PERILOUS SITUATION OF MARSHAL BLUCHER IN THE BATTLE OF LIGNY.

their right-wing. Blucher put himself at the head of a battalion in person, and impelled them on the French with such success, that one end of the village was again occupied; and the Prussians regained possession of that part of the heights behind it, which, in consequence of Vandamme's success, they had been forced to abandon.

The village of Ligny, attacked and defended with the same fury and inveteracy, was repeatedly lost and regained, each party being alternately reinforced from masses of infantry, disposed behind that part of the village which they respectively occupied. Several houses inclosed with court-yards, formed each a separate redoubt, which was furiously attacked by the one party, and obstinately maintained by the other. It is impossible to describe the fury with which the troops on both sides were animated. Each soldier appeared to be avenging his own personal quarrel; and the slaughter was in proportion to the length and obstinacy of a five hours' combat, fought hand to hand, within the crowded and narrow streets of a village.

There was also a tremendous cannonade on both sides through the whole of the afternoon. But, in this species of warfare, the loss of the Prussians was much heavier than that of their antagonists, their masses being drawn up in an exposed situation upon the ridge and sides of the heights behind the villages, while those of the French were sheltered by the winding hollows of the lower grounds.

While this sanguinary contest continued, Buonaparte seemed to doubt of its ultimate success. To ensure the taking of St. Amand, he ordered the first corps of infantry, which was stationed near Frasnes, with a division of the second corps commanded by Girard, and designed to be a reserve either to his own army or to that of Marshal Ney, to move to the right to assist in the attack. Of this movement Ney complained heavily in a letter to Fouche, as having paralyzed his efforts, and nearly exposed his troops to destruction.

sible to surmount the difficulties attending a long march through bad roads and a difficult country. In the meau time, Buonaparte brought the engagement to a decision, by one of those skilful and bold manœuvres which had so often proved successful on former occasions.

Being now possessed of the village of Ligny, which fronted the centre of the Prussian line, he concentrated upon that point the imperial guards, whom he had hitherto kept in reserve. Eight battalions of these veteran troops, formed into one column, supported by four squadrons of cavalry, two regiments of cuirassiers, and the horse-grenadiers of the guard, traversed the village of Ligny at the pas de charge, threw themselves into the ravine, and began to ascend the heights, under a dreadful volley of musketry from the Prussians. Notwithstanding the effect of this fire, they continued to advance against the Prussian line, and made such an impression upon the masses of which it consisted, as threatened to break through the centre of their army, and thus cut off the communication between the two wings; the French cavalry, at the same time, charged and drove back that of the Prussians.

At this crisis, the cause of Europe had nearly suffered a momentous loss in the death or captivity of the heroic Blucher. This veteran had himself headed an unsuccessful charge against the French cavalry; and his horse being shot under him in the retreat, he was stunned by the fall, and both the fugitives and pursuers passed over him as he lay on the ground; an adjutant threw himself down beside his general, to share his fate; and the first use which the Marshal made of his recovered recollection was, to conjure his faithful attendant rather to shoot him than to permit him to fall alive into the hands of the French. The Prussian cavalry, in the mean time, had rallied, charged, and, in their turn, repulsed the French, who again galloped past the marshal, as he lay on the ground, covered with the cloak of his adjutant. He was then disengaged and remounted, and proceeded to organize the retreat, which was now become a measure of indispensable necessity.

The reinforcement, as it happened, was unnecessary, so far as the first corps was concerned; for, about seven o'clock, Vandamme had, after repeated efforts, surThe Prussian artillery, being dispersed along the mounted the resistance of the Prussians at St. Amand; front of an extended line, could not be easily withand Girard had taken possession of Ligny. Sombref, drawn, and several pieces fell into the hands of the upon the left of the Prussian line, was still successfully French. Blucher's official despatch limits the number defended by the Saxon general, Thielman, against of guns thus lost to fifteen, which Napoleon, in his Marshal Grouchy; and the Prussians, though driven usual gasconading style, extends to fifty. But the infrom the villages in front of the amphitheatre of hills, fantry, retiring regularly, and in masses impenetrable still maintained their position upon the heights them-to the cavalry of the pursuers, amply preserved that chaselves, impatiently expecting to be succoured, either racter of discipline, by which they had been so highly by the English, or by their own fourth division under celebrated in the campaigns of the preceding year. Bulow. But the Duke of Wellington was actively enIn their retreat, which they continued during the gaged at Quatre Bras; and Bulow had found it impos-night, they took the direction of Tilly; and, the next

morning, were followed by General Thielman with the | of Wellington. But this would have been to abandon

left wing, who, after evacuating the village of Sombref, which he had maintained during the whole of the preceding day, formed the rear-guard of Blucher's army. Being at length joined by the fourth corps, under General Bulow, the Prussian army was once more concentrated in the neighbourhood of the village of Wavre, ten miles behind the scene of their former defeat; and the utmost exertions were used to place it in a condition for renewing the conflict.

In this engagement, the Prussians lost upwards of twenty thousand men, with forty pieces of cannon, and several colours. The French bulletins confess a loss of three thousand men, but the actual number was at least four times as great.

Ney to imminent danger; since, if he was unable, on the preceding day, to make any impression on the van of the British army alone, it was not probable that he could withstand them, when supported by their main body, and joined by powerful reinforcements. In the supposed event of Ney's defeat, Buonaparte's rear would have been exposed to a victorious English army, while he knew, by experience, how speedily Blucher could rally his troops even after a severe defeat. He therefore resolved to direct his whole force against the English, leaving only Grouchy and Vandamme, with about twenty-five thousand men, to hang upon the rear of Blucher; and, by pursuing his retreat from Sombref to Wavre, to occupy his attention, and prevent him The most exaggerated statements were immediately from taking any share in the expected action. transmitted to Paris. Marshal Soult, in a despatch to It is probable that Napoleon expected to find the EngDavoust, says, "The emperor has succeeded in sepa-lish army upon the ground which it had occupied during rating the line of the allies. Wellington and Blucher the 16th. But the movement of his own forces from saved themselves with difficulty. The effect was thea- St. Amand and Ligny to Frasnes, had occupied a space trical. In an instant the firing ceased, and the enemy of time which was not unemployed by the Duke of was routed in all directions." Wellington. The retreat had already commenced, and the position at Quatre Bras was, about. eleven in the forenoon, only occupied by a rear-guard, sufficiently strong to protect the retrograde movement of the British.

Another despatch, speaking of the two battles, says, "The noble lord must have been confounded. Whole bands of prisoners are taken. They do not know what is become of their commanders. The route is complete on this side, and I hope we shall not hear again of the Prussians for some time, even if they should ever be able to rally. As for the English, we shall see now what will become of them. The emperor is there!"

The British troops had scarcely commenced their march when the masses of the enemy began to appear. Their advanced-guard consisted of lancers and cuirassiers, the latter of whom were all arrayed in armour. The events which we have just recorded had a mate- The front cuirass is in the form of a pigeon's breast, so rial influence on the plans of the geuerals on both as to effectually turn off a musket-shot, except fired sides. While the Duke of Wellington was proposing within twenty yards. The back cuirass is made to fit to follow up his advantage at Quatre Bras, by attacking the back. They weigh from nine to ten pounds each, Ney at Frasnes, he received intelligence, on the morn-according to the size of the man, and are stuffed ining of the 17th, that Blucher had been defeated on the preceding day, and was in full retreat. This left the duke no alternative but to fall back to such a corresponding position as might maintain his lateral communication with the right wing of the Prussians; since, to have remained in advance, would have given Buonaparte an opportunity either to have placed his army betwixt those of England and Prussia, or to have turned his whole force against the Duke's army, which was inferior in numbers. The British commander, therefore, resolved upon retreating towards Brussels; a movement which be accomplished in the most perfect order, the rear being protected by the cavalry under the gallant Earl of Uxbridge.

Buonaparte had also taken his resolution. The defeat of the Prussians would enable him, if he thought proper, to pursue them with his whole army, excepting those troops under Ney, who were in front of the Duke

side with a pad. They fit on by a kind of fish-scaled clasp, and are put off and on in an instant. The men have helmets like the English horse-guards, straight long swords and pistols, but no carbines, and, if there is a good horse to be found, they are sure to have it. They are all picked men, must be five feet seven inches French (above six feet English), have served in three campaigns, have been twelve years in the service, and of a good character.

In close action they were protected from the sabres of their antagonists by their armour, except the blow fell on the neck or limbs; but the shape and weight of the cuirass necessarily impeded the motion of their arms, and rendered them far inferior to the British in the dexterous use of the sabre.

The day was extremely stormy, the rain fell in torrents, the roads were almost impassable, and the open country could not be traversed even by the cavalry.

"Be not uneasy, my brother-officers; you had ample opportunity, of which you gallantly availed yourselves, of revenging yourselves on the 18th for the failure of the 17th; and, after all, what regiment, and which of us, individually, is certain of success. Be assured that I am proud of being your colonel, and that you possess my utmost confidence. "Your sincere friend,

On this account the French were unable to harass the | hussars. The impetuosity and the weight of the lifeflanks of the retiring army, and confined all their efforts guards, however, carried all before them. Whilst I to the centre, which proceeded on the high road.. exculpate my own regiment, I am delighted in being Several skirmishes took place with various success, able to bear testimony to the gallant conduct of the until the rear of the British army arrived at Gemappe. former. Lord Uxbridge halted on a plain beyond the town, and resolved to attack the enemy's squadrons as they issued from the place. The seventh hussars were ordered to commence the attack. They accordingly charged with impetuosity on the French; but, with their small horses and light arms, they were unable to make any impression on the heavy-armed troops to which they were opposed. They were repulsed in some disorder, and with considerable loss. Again they rallied and returned to the charge; but the massive columns of the enemy remained unbroken.. The heavy household-troops were now brought forward, and ordered to charge at full speed, and to strike only at the limbs. The French were dismayed at this novel mode of attack, and fled with precipitation.

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"MY DEAR BROTHER-OFFICERS,-It has been stated o me, that a report injurious to the reputation of our regiment has gone abroad, and I, therefore, do not lose a moment in addressing you on the subject. The report must take its origin from the affair which took place with the advanced-guard of the French cavalry near Gemappe, on the 17th, when I ordered the seventh to cover the retreat. As I was with you, and saw the conduct of every individual, there is no one more capable of speaking to the fact than I am. As the lancers pressed us hard, I ordered you (upon a principle I ever did and shall act upon) not to wait to be attacked, but to fall upon them. The attack was gallantly led by the officers; but it failed, because the lancers stood firm, and had their flanks completely secured, and were backed by a great mass of cavalry. The regiment was repulsed, but did not run away. No-it rallied immediately, and I renewed the attack. It again failed, from the same cause. It retired in perfect order, although it had sustained so severe a loss; but you had thrown the lancers into confusion, who, being in motion, I then made an attack upon them with the life-guards, who certainly made a very handsome charge, and completely succeeded. This is the plain truth. However lightly I think of lancers, under ordinary circumstances, I am of opinion that, posted as they were, they had a most decided advantage over the

(Signed) " ANGLESEA, Lieut.-Gen."

As the Duke of Wellington did not wish to bring on a general engagement, he contented himself with the check which the enemy's cavalry had received, and continued his retreat without further molestation to the entrance of the forest of Soignies, the appearance of which is thus described by an admired poet :—

Thy wood, dark Soignies, holds us now,
Where the tall beech's glossy bough,

For many a league around,

With birch and darksome oak between,
Spreads deep and far a pathless screen,
Of tangled forest-ground.

Stems planted close by stems defy
The adventurous foot-the curious eye,
For access seeks in vain;
And the brown tapestry of leaves,
Strew'd on the blighted ground receives,
Nor sun, nor air, nor rain."

At five o'clock, the British army arrived at its destined position, and occupied a rising ground, having in its front a gentle declivity. The extremity of the right wing was posted at Merke Braine. The enclosed country and deep ravines round this village defended the right flank, and rendered it impossible for the enemy to turn it. In the centre of the right, was the Chateau de Goumont, or Hougoumont, a house of the old Flemish architecture, having a tower and battlements. On one side was a large farm-yard, and, on the other, a garden fenced by a brick-wall. The house was loop-holed and strongly occupied; the garden and orchard were lined with light troops, and the wood, before the house, was defended by some companies of the guards. The front of the right, which was thrown back to avoid a ravine which would otherwise have exposed it, consisted of the second and fourth English divisions, the third and sixth Hanoverians, and the first of the Netherlands, under the command of Lord Hill. The centre was composed of the corps of the Prince of

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