182 The French Cuirassiers are dispersed. June 16. 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 June 16. Napoleon's despatches to Ney. 183 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 manœuvre 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. 184 The fierce struggle at Piermont. June 16. 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 preeminent 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 June 16. Arrival of more Brunswickers. 185 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 manœuvre 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 186 Arrival of Cooke's Division. June 16, 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: The Prince of ORANGE, who had galloped along this road to meet the Guards, immediately ordered the Light |