CHAPTER XVI.

T was explained at the conclusion of the Eighth Chapter that THIELEMANN, who had been ordered by BLUCHER to defend the position of Wavre in the event of the Enemy advancing in force, or, if otherwise, to follow the main Army in the direction of Couture, was on the point of fulfilling the instructions appertaining to the latter contingency, when VANDAMME's Corps arrived in front of that position, about four o'clock in the afternoon, and its Artillery immediately opened a cannonade upon the Prussian troops.

All the Brigades (the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth) of THIELEMANN's Corps, had, at that time, received the Order to commence the general movement to the right. A Detachment of only two Battalions (the Fusilier Battalions of the 30th Regiment and of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr), under Colonel ZEPELIN, from the Ninth Brigade, which had not yet crossed the Dyle, was to be left in occupation of Wavre. The Twelfth Brigade was already in full line of march, and the Eleventh had been just put in motion.

When General BORCKE, who commanded the Ninth Brigade, fell back upon Wavre, for the purpose of carrying out his instructions, he found the Bridge already barricaded, and therefore proceeded with his Brigade to Bas Wavre : and having crossed the Dyle at this point, left a Detachment there, consisting of the Sharpshooters of the Fusilier Battalion of the 8th Regiment, and of those of the 1st Battalion of the 30th Regiment, under Major DITFURTH; whom he directed

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Thielemann prepares to defend Wavre.

June 18.

to destroy the Bridge immediately. He then detached the 2nd Battalion of the 30th Regiment and his two Squadrons of the Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry, as a reinforcement to Colonel ZEPELIN at Wavre; and, with the remainder of his Brigade, continued his march.

In the mean time, French Tirailleurs were observed extending along the opposite Heights; and, in their rear, considerable masses of the Enemy's troops appeared advancing. It soon became manifest that they contemplated forcing the passage of the river.

THIELEMANN, judging by the want of vigour displayed in the French pursuit; and by the Enemy not having attempted to secure the passage of the Dyle at Moustier, Limelette, and Limale, that it was only a weak Detachment of the Enemy that was advancing upon Wavre, confining itself to the design of creating some little uneasiness by its movement along this road to Brussels, had hitherto been of opinion that the occupation of Wavre by a few Battalions, as directed by BLUCHER, would be quite sufficient: but he now plainly saw that the moment had arrived which required him, in pursuance of his instructions, to maintain the position at Wavre; and he accordingly ordered the halt of his whole Corps for this purpose.

The town of Wavre is situated on the left bank of the Dyle having a suburb on the opposite side of the river, with which it is connected by two stone Bridges; the principal one leading towards the middle, and a small one towards the upper end, of the Town. Higher up the stream, at the Mill of Bierge, at Limale, and at Limelette; as also below the town at Bas Wavre, there are wooden Bridges. The river is not deep, but at the period of the Battle it was swollen by the recent heavy rain. The low range of Heights on either side of the Valley is covered in many places with

June 18.

Thielemann's dispositions.

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wood. The Heights on the right bank are generally more elevated, but those on the left have steeper declivities, and offer a greater command of the river and its passages. The shortest road from Namur to Brussels passes through the town, besides which there are numerous cross roads practicable for the movement of all Arms. The great number of hollow ways forms a prominent feature in the vicinity; and these, being in a miry state from the rain, were unfavourable to the progress of troops passing through them.

The position was thus occupied :—the Twelfth Brigade (Colonel STULPNAGEL), with the Horse Battery No. 20, was posted on the Height in rear of Bierge. The Bridge in front of this Village was barricaded, and the Mill occupied for the defence of the Bridge. The Tenth Brigade (Colonel KÄMPFEN) stood upon the Height in rear of Wavre, its Right resting on a Wood which lay between it and the Twelfth Brigade. The Eleventh Brigade (Colonel LUCK) was formed across the Brussels road. The Reserve Cavalry was drawn up, near La Bavette, in Columns of Squadrons. The Artillery was distributed along the Heights. The Horse Battery No. 18 remained in reserve.

That part of the town of Wavre which lies on the right bank, or, more properly, the suburb, was occupied by Light Troops only. The great Bridge was barricaded as well as time and circumstances would admit. The houses adjoining the left bank of the river were hastily loopholed. The smaller Bridge was left perfectly open. A Detachment of two Companies of Light Infantry, under Major BORNSTÄDT was detached to reinforce the troops at the Bridge of Bas Wavre.

THIELEMANN intended that the Ninth Brigade should be posted in rear of this general disposition of his troops, so that its services might be made available according as

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Relative strength of the Combatants.

June 18.

attack upon the Anglo-Allied Centre and Left Wing, and took no further active part in the Battle. The remainder of the above ten Battalions in the service of the King of the Netherlands, were three Battalions forming the 2nd Regiment of the Nassau Contingent, and two Battalions of Orange Nassau, under Prince BERNHARD of Saxe Weimar, and occupied the houses and inclosures in the valley in front of the extreme Left of the Allied Line. These troops

behaved extremely well.

Of the Squadrons above mentioned, a large proportion, nearly one third, consisted of the Dutch-Belgian Cavalry; but although their numbers serve to augment the amount of the Anglo-Allied Cavalry on paper, the actual value of their services in the Battle was by no means commensurate with their display of strength: and hence it was that the brunt of the Cavalry contest devolved almost exclusively upon the British and German Dragoons. The same observation applies in an equal degree to the Artillery.

About six o'clock, the relative strength of the contending forces was altered, on the part of the French Army, by the detaching of LOBAU'S Corps and the Young Guard to oppose the Prussians; and on that of the Anglo-Allied Army, though somewhat later, by the bringing into the Field of CHASSE'S Dutch-Belgian Division; so that they stood about that time as follows::

Of the assistance derived by the Duke of WELLINGTON from this augmentation of the twelve Dutch-Belgian Battalions, a sufficient estimate may be deduced from the foregoing History of the Battle one half of them were with great difficulty prevented from abandoning the Field,