June 16.

Ney's advance on Quatre Bras.

143

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 PIRE'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 PIRE'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

144

The Dutch hold Gemioncourt.

June 16.

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 DutchBelgian 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 Gemioucourt. One of its limbers blew up, severely wounding an Officer, and occasioning the gun

June 16.

Arrival of Picton's Division.

145

attached to it to be relinquished. The French pressed forward with their Light Troops; and part of PIRE'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 Colonel Sir ANDREW BARNARD, was despatched in haste towards the Village of Piermont, of which it was to endeavour to gain possession.

The French, on perceiving the arrival of the British Infantry, opened a furious cannonade from their Batteries,

151. W.L. Siborne,

K