The Waterloo Campaign, 1815 - William Siborne - Βιβλία Google

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NAPOLEON's instructions to GROUCHY previously to the Battle of

A Prussian Officer joins the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Army,

and reports that BüLow's Corps has reached St Lambert.

NAPOLEON passes along the French Lines

The Battle commences about half past eleven o'clock, with an attack

upon the Wood of Hougomont, by part of Prince JEROME'S

The cannonade is opened by the guns of SANDHAM's Foot Battery in

front of COOKE's Division .

The French gain possession of a portion of the Wood and other

inclosures of Hougomont

They are driven out

The French reconnoitre the Anglo-Allied Left .

JEROME renews his attack, supported by part of Foy's Division

Fire opened upon the attacking troops by the Batteries posted with

CLINTON'S Division

Signal service rendered by BULL'S Howitzer Battery

The French Skirmishers succeed in turning the Right of Hougomont,

and in forcing the great Gate; which, however, is soon closed

against the assailants

They then press forward against the Right of the Allied Front Line,

and force WEBBER SMITH's Horse Battery to retire into a hollow

The French gain the Wood

They are charged and driven back by four Companies of the Coldstream

Guards, under Lieutenant Colonel WOODFORD, which force then

joins the defenuers of Hougomont.

The French, on debouching from the Wood into the Great Orchard, are

gallantly charged and driven back by Lieutenant Colonel Lord

SALTOUN with the Light Companies of the First Brigade of Guards

The latter, being attacked in both front and flank, are compelled to

fall back upon the hollow way in rear of the Great Orchard

On being reinforced, by two Companies of the 3rd Regiment of

Guards; they resume the offensive, and clear the Orchard of the

NEY'S dispositions for a grand attack upon the Left Wing and Centre

of the Anglo-Allied Army .

NAPOLEON perceives troops in motion at some distance on his Right

He detaches DoMON's and SUBERVIE's Light Cavalry Brigades in that

He ascertains that the troops he has seen belong to the Prussian

Corps d'Armée of Count BÜLOW

His Orders to GROUCHY.

NAPOLEON neglects to adopt effectual measures for securing his Right

Commencement of the grand attack upon the Left Wing and Centre of

the Anglo-Allied Army

On the right of the attack the French gain possession of the Farm of

Papelotte; which, however, is soon retaken by the 3rd Battalion

of the 2nd Regiment of Nassau

Retreat of BYLANDT'S Dutch-Belgian Infantry Brigade

PICTON'S dispositions

Contest between Cuirassiers and the 2nd Life Guards in front of the

Right of KEMIT's Brigade

Attack upon La Haye Sainte by the Left Brigade of DONZELOT's

Advance of ROUSSEL's Cavalry Brigade by the French left of La Haye

UXBRIDGE decides upon charging the Enemy's attacking force with

SOMERSET'S and PONSONBY'S Cavalry Brigades

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The Greys capture the Eagle of the 45th French Regiment

They also charge and defeat a supporting Column of MARCOGNET'S

attacking force

The Royals capture the Eagle of the 105th French Regiment

The Inniskillings defeat and disperse the Columus to which they are

Disordered state of the two British Cavalry Brigades

They crown the Enemy's position, and cut down the Gunners and

horses of the French Batteries

At length they retire

The Left of their line suffers severely from a charge by JAQUINOT's Light

Cavalry Brigade

VANDELEUR's Light Cavalry advances in support upon the left

Charge by the 12th and 16th British Light Dragoons .

The French Cavalry is driven back

Advance of GRIGNY's Light Cavalry Brigade

VIVIAN moves his Brigade to the right, and opens a fire from two guns

of his Horse Artillery

The British Cavalry engaged in this affair sustains a heavy loss

Disposition of the troops on the Anglo-Allied Left and Centre

Tableau of the Battle at this period

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Attempted flank attack upon this Post completely defeated by Captain

CLEEVES'S Foot Battery of the King's German Legion

The principal buildings of Hougomont, including the Château, set on

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NEY, on being reinforced by KELLERMANN's Corps of Heavy Cavalry,

and GUYOT's Heavy Cavalry Division of the Guard, renews his

This is most successfully resisted

NEY directs another attack upon La Haye Sainte, and advances a heavy

Column of BACHELU's Infantry against the Centre of the Anglo-

Allied Right Wing.

WELLINGTON draws CHASSE's Dutch-Belgian Division from Braine

l'Alleud towards the principal scene of action, and moves

CLINTON'S Division into the Front Line

Contest at La Haye Sainte

The 5th and 8th Line Battalions of the King's German Legion, on

advancing to charge French Infantry in rear of La Haye Sainte,

are suddenly assailed in flank by French Cavalry, and the 8th

Battalion is almost entirely destroyed

Artillery in the Anglo-Allied Front Line reinforced

Attack by a Column of French Heavy Cavalry upon the Anglo-Allied

Right completely defeated by Major MERCER's Battery of British

Horse Artillery

A strong Column of French Infantry, supported by Cavalry, advances

against the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Right Wing

Major MERCER's Horse Battery

It is repulsed as before.

It is charged by SOMERSET's Heavy Cavalry Brigade
Conduct of TRIP's Dutch-Belgian Carabinier Brigade
Gallant charge by the 3rd Hussars of the King's German Legion
Renewed attack by the Column of French Heavy Cavalry in front of

WELLINGTON reinforces the right of his Front Line by DU PLAT'S
Infantry Brigade of the King's German Legion, accompanied by
Captain SYMPHER's Horse Battery of the same Service

It is attacked by French Cuirassiers

These are driven off by the Battalions of du Plat's Brigade
Renewed charge by the Cuirassiers equally unsuccessful

Failure of the French Cavalry attack upon the Right Centre of the
Anglo-Allied Line

ADAM'S British Light Infantry Brigade advances into the Front Line,

on the right of MAITLAND'S Brigade; crosses the ridge, and takes

up a position on the exterior slope.

The French assail the Post of La Haye Sainte with the utmost vigour

It falls into their possession

NAPOLEON directs NEY to follow up this advantage with a vigorous

attack upon the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line, and at the same

time to renew the assault upon Hougomont

NEY's views and dispositions

Attack upon ALTEN'S Division

The 5th Line Battalion of the King's German Legion, led by OMPTEDA,
gallantly charges French Infantry; but is furiously assailed in flank
by a Regiment of Cuirassiers, and nearly destroyed. OMPTEDA is
killed

Gallant repulse of an attack made upon portions of MAITLAND's and
ADAM's Brigades

British Squares in advance of the Duke's Line.

Renewed but unsuccessful attack upon Hougomont

ADAM'S Brigade withdrawn to the reverse slope of the main position

General view of the Anglo-Allied Line

Advance of the Prussians towards the Field of Waterloo

Difficulties and impediments attending their march

The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Prussian Brigades reach the Wood of

At half past four o'clock, BLÜCHER decides upon attacking the Right
Flank of the French Army with these Brigades, without waiting
for the arrival of more of his troops

Prussian Cavalry driven back by Donos

Three Prussian Battalions attack the Extreme Right of the French
general Front Line, near Smohain; but are compelled to retire into
the Village.

NAPOLEON detaches LOBAU's Corps in support of DOMON

The French Regiments of the Old and Middle Guard take up the
position, in reserve, on the Heights of La Belle Alliance, vacated
by LOBAU's Corps

LOBAU becomes engaged with BÜLOW

The remainder of Bülow's Corps reaches the Field

BLÜCHER'S dispositions.

Relative strength of Bülow's and LOBAU's forces

NAPOLEON detaches the Young Guard to Planchenoit, in support of

At about six o'clock, BLÜCHER is informed that THIELEMANN is attacked

by a superior force at Wavre

He does not allow this circumstance to deter him from his present

NAPOLEON detaches two Battalions of the Old Guard to Planchenoit

The Prussians are again driven out of the Village, and pursued as far

as their main position

French and Prussian Cavalry become engaged

NAPOLEON, perceiving preparations on the part of the Prussians for

renewing the attack upon Planchenoit, detaches General PELET

with another Battalion of the Old Guard to that Village.

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