570 Advance of the Anglo-Allied Left. June 18. all fled before its approach. In the Centre, LAMBERT's Brigade, together with the 1st or Royal Scots, crossed to the Charleroi road, and took possession of La Haye Sainte; which was found entirely abandoned to the wounded and the dying, who constituted its sole but numerous occupants. The troops that had stood in rear of Hougomont, now poured into its inclosures, aiding and supporting those who had so bravely maintained that important Post in completely clearing it of its assailants; as many of the latter in the Wood, ignorant of what was passing in the open Field, still endeavoured to hold their ground. The Light Troops on the right of Hougomont crossed the Nivelles road without opposition: not only the Infantry in their front having retired, but PIRE'S Light Cavalry Brigade, which had formed the extreme Left of the French Army during the whole day, having been ordered to proceed to the rear of the Centre to cover the general retreat. The extreme Left of the Line was flanked by the Prussian Regiments of Cavalry, belonging to ZIETEN'S Corps, previously mentioned as having joined shortly before the General Advance; and the Battalions of the First Prussian Infantry Brigade, together with the Nassau Brigade under Prince BERNHARD of Saxe Weimar, were pressing up the Heights against the Left of DURUTTE'S Division posted at the apex of the angle of potence on which stood the extreme Right of the French Army. As the Allied Left descended the outer slope of the position, those Columns of D'ERLON'S Corps which had advanced to attack it, were hastily retiring; part of them, indeed, along and near the Charleroi road, had already fallen back in disorder the moment they became aware of the defeat of the troops on the other side of that road, and of the advance of ADAM'S Brigade, by which their Left Flank was completely turned, June 18. Allied Left capture the French Batteries. 571 and their rear most seriously endangered. DURUTTE'S Division, forming, as before observed, the Right of D'ERLON'S Corps, and posted in the angle of potence, perceiving in its direct rear, the retreat of the Imperial Guard, followed by British Infantry; as also that of the Columns of its own Corps on its Left, followed by the Anglo-Allied Line; besides the attack of the Prussians in its Front and on its Right, and which was increasing every moment in vigour and effect; at once saw the certainty of its being cut off if it remained in its present attitude and hence, aware of its own helplessness, it took to flight. In the next moment the renewed cheering along the Anglo-Allied Left Wing, announced that it had reached and captured the strong Line of Batteries; by the fire of which, maintained during the entire day, its ranks had been so awfully diminished. ZIETEN'S Battalions took possession, also, of the Batteries which had protected the apex of the angle of potence, and which had been covered by DURUTTE'S Division. Notwithstanding the confused retreat of the Flank Columns of D'ERLON's Corps, those which constituted the central portion of his Line had hitherto retired in some little degree of order: but now they began rapidly to dissolve as the Allied Line approached; and, soon spreading out, they broke forth into one general crowd of fugitives. The flight of these troops immediately along the rear of LOBAU'S Line, at the very moment of its being most vigorously assailed by the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Infantry Brigades of BÜLOW's Corps, covered by an overpowering cannonade, involved its ranks in the general panic which had become uncontrollable. The whole Corps rushed wildly into the stream of fugitives which, with overwhelming force, had set in towards Rossomme and Maison du Roi, on the Charleroi road, the direct line of retreat. 572 It was about 8.15 p.m. June 18. By this time (about a quarter past eight o'clock), ADAM'S Brigade, pursuing its course on the left side of the high road, was ascending the higher ground in rear of La Belle Alliance. Here it fell into the line of fire of one of BÜLOW's Batteries; which had immediately followed up the retreat of LOBAU's Corps, and opened a cannonade from the previous position of the latter, at a distance of about seven hundred yards. WELLINGTON, perceiving that this fire might occasion serious injury to his advancing troops, directed Count DE SALES (who was still his sole attendant) to proceed to the Prussian Battery, and cause it to cease firing; its Commanding Officer not being aware that its shot were falling among British troops. BÜLOW, on becoming acquainted with this circumstance, immediately checked the fire of his Artillery; and, at the same time, ordered the Infantry of his Right to refrain from firing during its forward movement. The road which leads from the chaussée across the Height in rear of La Belle Alliance, towards Planchenoit, becomes, after a distance of about a hundred yards, a complete hollow way. As it was approached by ADAM'S Brigade, a Column of Artillery and Infantry, from the French Right, was hastily retreating up that part of it which was in front of the 52nd Regiment, quite unaware of its having fallen into the immediate vicinity of British Infantry. Astonished by the sudden appearance of the latter along the bank, the Column hesitated for a moment what course to adopt. The Infantry at first presented some little show of defence; but soon threw down their arms, dispersed and escaped as best they could. The Artillery made a dash at the opposite bank, but some of the horses of each gun were instantly brought down by a fire from the British, and the attempt failed. The Commanding Officer of the Battery, as if in a fit of desperation, standing June 18. The last French gun fired at Waterloo. 573 in the centre of his guns, waved his sword above his head in defiance. A soldier from the 52nd Regiment sprang forward, parried his thrust, closed with him, threw him on the ground, and bayoneted him. The guns were immediately abandoned. On the Right of the Brigade, the 71st Regiment having gained the Height on which a Reserve Battery of the Imperial Guard had been posted the entire day, and had just made an attempt to draw off into the high road, it was captured by that Corps; when some men of the Right Flank Company of the latter (Captain REED's), under Lieutenant TORRIANO, immediately turned round one of the guns, which was then discharged into the retiring Columns of the Imperial Guard by Captain CAMPBELL, Aide de Camp to Major General ADAM, and was, there is reason to believe, the last French gun fired on that day. Lieutenant Colonel HALKETT, who, with the Hanoverian Battalion Osnabrück, had entered the Charleroi road, near La Belle Alliance, continued to press before him the two Battalions of the Chasseurs of the Old Guard, under the protection of which, NAPOLEON with several of his principal Staff Officers were retiring from the Field. HALKETT SOON found himself in the midst of a great but disordered mass of the Enemy's Cavalry, which menaced the Battalion in a most vociferous manner; but, after receiving the fire from the latter, it went off in all directions. Further on, perceiving several guns in full retreat, he sent the Sharpshooters of the Battalion, supported by a Company, amongst them; who, by their fire, increased the confusion, and then made many prisoners, and cut the traces of the horses from the eading guns. The Regiments of Prussian Cavalry belonging to ZIETEN'S Corps, before mentioned as having joined the Left of the 574 The rage and mortification of French fugitives. Anglo-Allied Army, after crossing the valley and ascending the French position, had got somewhat in advance of the Left of the Anglo-Allied Infantry, taking the direction of Rossomme; but they soon found their progress most seriously obstructed and retarded by the vast crowds of fugitives of all Arms intermingled in the wildest confusion. Such was also the case with the much more advanced British Light Cavalry Brigades under VANDELEUR and VIVIAN on the right of the Charleroi road. In fact, the Cavalry thus situated in the Van of the Duke's victorious Army, had now become almost helpless it seemed as if carried aloft on the billows of the agitated sea, yielding rather to its impulses than controlling the angry element. As might have been expected, there were innumerable instances in which the rage and disappointment of the conquered foe gave rise to covert assaults, which, however, were speedily repressed; more especially by the Prussians, against whom a word or look sufficed to draw down their vengeance upon an Enemy whom they held in detestation. The 10th and 18th British Hussars of VIVIAN'S Brigade, whilst endeavouring to re-form between La Belle Alliance and Rossomme, found themselves in the midst of an immense crowd, composed partly of defeated soldiers of the Imperial Guard; who could but ill conceal their mortification, and who seized every opportunity that afforded to gratify their hatred and revenge. Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. HENRY MURRAY, commanding the 18th, was very nearly bayoneted by one of them; and his Orderly was compelled, for the security of his master, to cut down five or six in rapid succession. A remarkable exception to the general disorganisation of the French Army was manifested about this time in front of VANDELEUR'S Brigade, which was the furthest in advance |