June 18. Wellington fearlessly exposes himself all day.565

threatening appearance of the Enemy's Cavalry in that quarter. The latter, pursuing his errand, met the Duke of WELLINGTON moving at a quick pace, followed by a single individual, to whom Major BLAIR addressed himself, but who immediately checked him by remarking, "Monsieur, je ne parle pas un seul mot d'Anglais!" Major BLAIR theu explained to him, in French, the Order he had received, to which he replied, "Le Duc lui même a été voir; il n'y a rien à craindre;" whereupon the former returned to ADAM, with this satisfactory information.

Here, then, was the great Chieftain himself, still in the Battle's front, vigilantly watching, and eagerly seizing advantage of, the course of events; braving every peril, and acting solely upon his own personal observation; his Staff, and even Orderlies, almost all killed or wounded; the very few that remained untouched, carrying messages; his only attendant, a foreigner (Major Count DE SALES, a Sardinian Officer), attached to his suite!

At

It is impossible not to recognise in the extraordinary degree of security with which this great man so fearlessly exposed himself throughout the entire day, the protecting interposition of an all wise and merciful Providence. this moment, too, he was not only upon the track of his great antagonist; but, in all probability, within the shortest distance that ever separated these wonderful men from each other: the one, alone, and in front of his advancing Line, borne forward on the wings of victory, and upheld by the knowledge of his might and the fulness of his glory; the other, seeking shelter amidst his devoted, yet broken and dispirited, cohorts; abandoning himself to despair, and flying from the fatal Field on which the sceptre he had usurped was signally and irrecoverably struck from his iron grasp.

CHAPTER XV.

HE very forward movement of VIVIAN'S Brigade, and the vigorous attack which it made against the Centre of the French position, having rendered obvious the necessity of an immediate Support, VANDELEUR'S Brigade was despatched across the ridge in Column of Half Squadrons, Right in front, at the moment of the General Advance of the Line.

It proceeded at a smart trot along the east side of the Hougomont inclosures, and then descended into the valley in rear of the latter, passing VIVIAN'S Brigade on its left. Here it fell in with disordered Columns of the French Infantry in full retreat; as also Cavalry, of all kinds mixed together, the Cuirassiers throwing off their armour to facilitate their flight. In the midst of this confusion, however, there stood higher up the valley a large Column on the opposite side of the road which connects the Centre with the Left of the French position, forming Square, and seemingly determined to oppose the further advance of the Brigade. The latter, receiving the fire from the Column, charged; and the French giving way, the whole of them were taken or destroyed. In this charge the 11th Light Dragoons, forming the Right of the Brigade, captured a Battery on the Height to which the before mentioned road ascends. It was the last which had maintained the cannonade from the French Left Wing.

VANDELEUR'S Brigade continued to press forward, driving a host of fugitives before it. It was by this time in

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June 18.

Retreat of Pire's Light Cavalry Brigade. 567

advance, and rather in Right Front, of VIVIAN. Colonel Sir FELTON HARVEY, of the Staff, came up to its then Commander, Lieutenant Colonel SLEIGH, of the 11th Light Dragoons,VANDELEUR having taken the command of the Cavalry upon the fall of Lord UXBRIDGE,-and informed him that a French Cavalry Brigade was moving along the Heights on the right (or western) side of the Valley. The Cavalry did not, however, venture to descend into the lower ground, where it might have fallen upon SLEIGH's Right Flank; but continued its course along the high ground towards some point on the Charleroi road, quite in rear of the main French Army, apparently with the intention of protecting the retreat and rallying the fugitives. It was PIRE's Light Cavalry Brigade, that had been stationed throughout the day on the extreme Left of the French Line.

In this manner, VIVIAN's Brigade, which had not only broken, but completely pierced, the Centre of the French position, had its Right effectually protected; and due advantage was promptly taken of the disorder into which its bold and successful advance had thrown those French troops that had been moving in that quarter. At the same time, VIVIAN'S Left was secured by the advance of ADAM's Brigade, which continued to drive before it, along the left side of the Charleroi road, the Squares of the Guard, as also the Cuirassiers by whom the latter were supported. These Cuirassiers, it should be observed, had fronted and evinced a disposition to charge as the Brigade crossed the high road. ADAM, however, feeling secure in his four deep formation, continued pressing towards them; and when, along that part of his Line against which the attack was threatened, the British bayonets were lowered, the Cuirassiers declined the contest.

Having thus detailed the brilliant successes of these three

568 Three British Brigades: two Cavalry, one Infantry.

British Brigades, with which WELLINGTON had so boldly assailed the Centre, and effectually destroyed the last Reserves, of the Enemy; it is now time to consider their important consequences in conjunction with the General Advance of the Anglo-Allied Army; and for this purpose it will be necessary to take a more extended view of the prominent features which the Field of Battle presented at this period of the day.

On no part of the French Army, beyond the immediate sphere of action of the above Brigades, did the advance of the latter exercise so powerful an influence as on D'ERLON'S Corps, which constituted its Right Wing. The defeat of the Second attacking Column of the Imperial Guard, it will be recollected, involved in it the retreat of DONZELOT'S Division of that Corps; which, from the cover afforded it by the possession of La Haye Sainte, and from the hollow on its left of that Farm, had so furiously assailed the central portion of the Duke's Line, occupied by ALTEN'S Division. On the opposite side of the Charleroi road, from the Knoll above the Sand Pit, part of ALIX's Division was still maintaining a most destructive fire upon the remains of PICTON'S Division and of LAMBERT's Brigade posted along the Wavre road. The remainder of this Division, as well as that under MARCOGNET, were advancing across the valley which separated the Anglo-Allied Left, from the French Right, Wing; and presented an array of Columns between the Knoll on the left of La Haye Sainte and the Left of DURUTTE'S Division: which latter was now operating in concert with LOBAU's Corps in maintaining a defensive position against the advance of the Prussians.

When, therefore, WELLINGTON So suddenly launched forth VIVIAN'S Hussar Brigade against NAPOLEON'S Reserves,

June 18. Napoleon retreats in a Square of the Guard. 569

then posted close to La Belle Alliance in the very Centre of the French Army; and also pushed forward ADAM's Light Infantry Brigade past the Farm and Orchard of La Haye Sainte towards the eminence on which stood the three rallied Squares of the Imperial Guard; he completely turned the Left of D'ERLON'S Corps: and by means of the brilliant success which attended these movements, he gradually established himself in rear both of D'ERLON and of LOBAU ; the latter of whom was still defending himself against BLUCHER'S advance.

In like manner, the Columns of REILLE'S Corps, comprising the Left Wing of the French Army, and which were advancing through, and contiguously to, the Hougomont inclosures, were turned in their Right Flank.

Thus, by this bold and masterly manoeuvre, the whole Front Line of the French Army, which, a short time before, had presented so menacing an appearance, was thrown into disorder and confusion: and supported as that manœuvre was by the advance, at the right moment, of the Duke's entire Line; any attempt, on the part of the French, to rally and resume the offensive, was entirely frustrated. The firm, decided, and determined attitude which WELLINGTON had assumed, had, in fact, struck terror and dismay into the ranks of his opponent: who, perceiving the hasty and confused retreat of his troops, as also the extreme pressure upon his Right by the formidable and now more general attack on the part of BLÜCHER, became completely paralyzed; and conscious of the utter futility of attempting to stem the torrent, he threw himself for temporary shelter into the Square of the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Chasseurs of the Guard.

The Anglo-Allied Line continued its magnificent Advance; which was in truth a march of triumph, not of attack, since