32

Contents.

PAGE

Critical situation of NAPOLEON

.

He resolves on making a renewed and formidable attack upon

WELLINGTON's Line

WELLINGTON despatches Lieutenant Colonel FREMANTLE to the Left,
to seek for the Prussian forces expected on that Flank
Situation of the Duke, and state of the Anglo-Allied Troops
NAPOLEON'S dispositions for the attack

The Advanced Guard of ZIETEN's Corps approaches the Extreme Left

of the Anglo-Allied Line

VIVIAN'S and VANDELEUR'S Light Cavalry Brigades are removed from

that Flank to the Centre

503

503

505

505

507

508

509

510

Centre of the Duke's line vigorously assailed by the French troops

collected in and about La Haye Sainte

511

WELLINGTON's dispositions

Sudden and destructive fire opened upon KIELMANSEGGE's Brigade

from French guns brought up to the very crest of the Allied

position

The Prince of ORANGE is wounded whilst leading forward the

Nassau Troops to repel the French attack upon that part of the

Line

WELLINGTON reinforces the latter with five Battalions of Brunswick

Infantry

These, together with KIELMANSEGGE'S, OMPTEDA's, and KRUSE's

Brigades, are compelled to fall back a short distance

514

The Duke rallies the Brunswickers, who maintain their ground; as do

also the before mentioned Brigades

515

VIVIAN'S Hussar Brigade draws up in rear of these troops

KIELMANSEGGE, on whom the command of the Third Division has

devolved, succeeds in establishing the latter upon its former

position

516

Commencement of NAPOLEON's last grand attack upon WELLINGTON'S

Line

NAPOLEON stations himself so that the Guard may pass by him as it

advances to the attack

Disposition of D'ERLON'S and REILLE'S Corps

520

The leading Column of the Imperial Guard suffers severely from the
fire of the Allied Artillery, as it approaches the Duke's Line

Contest between the leading Column of the French Imperial Guards

and MAITLAND's Brigade of British Guards

521

523

The former completely defeated and dispersed .

Contest between HALKETT and the Imperial Guards

Conduct of D'AUBREME's Dutch-Belgian Brigade

Advance of the second attacking Column of the Imperial Guard

Charge upon French Cuirassiers by a Squadron of the 23rd Light

Dragoons

527

530

The second Column of the Imperial Guard charged in flank by the

52nd Regiment and 2nd Battalion 95th Regiment

532

532

Its defeat and dispersion by this charge

ADAM's Brigade continues its forward movement, supported on its

Right by a Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel HALKETT's Hanoverian

Brigade

State of D'AUBREME's Dutch-Belgian Brigade

Upon the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Line, the Skirmishers of
DURUTTE'S Division endeavour to establish themselves in the
houses and inclosures in the valley on that Flank, and become
engaged with the Prussians in and about Smohain

BLÜCHER'S dispositions.

Formation and advance of BÜLOW's Left Wing for the Third attack

535

537

538

539

upon Planchenoit, and of his Right Wing for a simultaneous

attack upon Lobau

Junction of the Advanced Guard of ZIETEN's Corps with the troops

constituting the Extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Army.

General view of the disposition of the Prussian forces relatively with

that of the Anglo-Allied troops

General view of the state of the Anglo-Allied Army at the period of

the attack and defeat of the French Imperial Guard

Prompt decision and admirable skill evinced by WELLINGTON in seizing

upon the advantage presented by the discomfiture of the French

Guards

Advance of VIVIAN'S Hussar Brigade to the attack of NAPOLEON'S

Reserves near La Belle Alliance

539

541

542

Charge by the 2nd Light Dragoons of the King's German Legion

ADAM'S Brigade, continuing its advance, reaches the nearest French

Height, intersected by the Charleroi road, and on which three

Squares of the Imperial Guard are posted

The Imperial Guard retires from the charge by ADAM'S Brigade

557

151. W.L. Siborne.

C

Gallant charge by the 18th British Hussars near La Belle Alliance

Charge by a Squadron of the 10th British Hussars upon a Square of the

Grenadiers of the Old Guard; which retires, and eventually

disperses

The Left and Centre Squadrons of the 10th Hussars, continuing their

pursuit, after the first charge, make another charge upon both

Infantry and Cavalry, on the right, and beyond La Belle Alliance

A party of the 18th Hussars makes a dashing but ineffectual charge

upon a Square, still further in advance

Lieutenant Colonel HALKETT, with the Osnabrück Landwehr Battalion,

pursues a Column of the Old Guard; and captures General

CAMBRONNE

Singular situation of the Duke of WELLINGTON

PAGE

559

560

561

562

563

565

CHAPTER XV.

Advance of VANDELEUR's Light Cavalry Brigade

566

It charges and disperses a large Column of French Infantry, and

captures a Battery

566

ADAM'S Brigade continues driving the Enemy before it along the left

side of the Charleroi road

567

Effect produced upon the Right Wing of the French Army by the

advance of ADAM's, VIVIAN'S, and Vandeleur's Brigades

568

569

NAPOLEON takes shelter within a Square of the Imperial Guard

Continuation of the advance of the Anglo-Allied Army

569

570

In the Centre, La Haye Sainte is retaken: on the Right, Hougomont is

cleared of the Enemy: on the Left, DURUTTE's Division, forming

the Right of the French Front Line, takes to flight

570

571

The Left Wing captures the opposite line of Batteries

Disorder and flight of the whole of D'ERLON's Corps along the rear of

LOBAU's Corps; which, being at the same time assailed by part of

BÜLOW's Corps, partakes of the panic, and mingles with the

fugitives

The British troops near La Belle Alliance fall into the line of fire from

a Prussian Battery, to which WELLINGTON sends directions to

cease firing.

French Infantry dispersed, and a Battery captured, by the 52nd British

Regiment

.

Capture of a Battery by the 71st British Regiment

Last French gun fired by ADAM's Aide de Camp

571

572

572

573

573

Contents.

A Battery captured by the Osnabrück Hanoverian Battery, under

HALKETT

The British Advanced Cavalry is in the midst of crowds of defeated

French soldiers

Bemarkable steadiness of the French Grenadiers à Cheval

Contest in Planchenoit .

Gallant conduct of PELET and a portion of the Chasseurs of the Guard
The French Troops that have been engaged at Planchenoit, retire in
disorder and confusion towards the high road between Rossomme
and Maison du Roi; the former of which points the British
Advanced Brigades have already reached

Partial collision between the 18th British Hussars and a Prussian
Regiment of Cavalry

35

PAGE

578

574

575

576

579

580

580

The 1st Hussars of the King's German Legion narrowly escape coming

into serious collision with the 11th and 16th British Light

Dragoons

WELLINGTON halts the main body of his Army upon the original

French position

BLÜCHER undertakes the pursuit

WELLINGTON having satisfied himself, by his observations from the

high ground beyond Rossomme, that the victory is secured beyond

a doubt, returns towards Waterloo

On reaching La Belle Alliance, he meets BLUCHER

Dispositions made by the latter for effecting a vigorous pursuit

The Prussian troops headed in advance by GNEISENAU, reach Genappe ;

where they capture a quantity of baggage, including NAPOLEON'S

travelling carriage.

NAPOLEON at Quatre Bras

Direction of the retreat of the French troops

NAPOLEON proceeds to Charleroi ; whence he despatches JEROME with

Orders to rally the troops between Avesnes and Maubeuge

GNEISENAU continues the pursuit, passing through Quatre Bras, and

not resting until he arrives beyond the Heights of Frasne.

Losses sustained by the respective Armies

Relative proportions in which the troops of the Anglo-Allied Army

Extent of the actual share taken in the Battle by the Prussians

594

Upon the appearance of VANDAMME's Corps in front of Warre;

THIELEMANN decides on maintaining the position at that point

instead of following the remainder of the Prussian Army towards

the Field of Waterloo

The Field of Wavre

Disposition of the different Brigades of THIELEMANN's Corps
Disposition of GROUCHY's forces

The Light Troops of VANDAMME's Corps gain possession of that

part of the town of Wavre which lies on the right bank of the

Dyle

GERARD makes an unsuccessful attack upon the Mill of Bierge
VANDAMME fails in his efforts to carry the Bridge of Wavre
GROUCHY, in person, leads another attack upon the Bridge of Bierge;
which proves as fruitless as the former attempt, and on which
occasion GERARD falls severely wounded

PAGE

602

608

605

606

607

608

609

610

PAJOL gains possession of the Bridge of Limale by a Cavalry attack

GROUCHY, having pushed a portion of GÉRARD's Corps across the

Dyle by Limale, disposes these troops so as to turn the Right of

THIELEMANN's Corps

They are attacked by the Prussians, who are defeated; and forced

fall back upon the Wood near Point du Jour

The contest for the possession of the Bridges and Town of Wavre is

continued until late in the night; the Prussians sustaining and

repelling thirteen assaults.

Disposition of the contending Forces on the morning of the 19th of

June

Contest between THIELEMANN's Right, and GROUOHY's Left, Wing;
during which the French gain possession of part of the Wood of
Rixansart

TESTE'S Division makes another attack upon Bierge

THIELEMANN takes up a second position

About eight o'clock he hears of the overthrow of NAPOLEON's Army at

He renews the attack, which is attended with complete success; and

retakes the Wood of Rixansert

The Wood again falls into the possession of the French

The latter capture the Village of Bierge

THIELEMANN decides upon effecting a retreat

The French cross the Dyle, both at Wavre and at Bierge

619

619

620

620

621

The retreat is covered by Cavalry under Colonel VON DER MARWITZ

621