CHAPTER XVII.

T would be difficult to discover, in the whole history of the Wars of modern times, an instance in which so fine, so splendid, an

Army as that of NAPOLEON, one composed almost exclusively of veterans, all men of one nation, entirely devoted to their Chief, and most enthusiastic in his cause, became so suddenly panic stricken, so completely disorganised, and so thoroughly scattered, as was the French Army when it lost the Battle of Waterloo. A defeated Army usually covers its retreat by a Rear Guard, but here there was nothing of the kind: and hence that Army cannot be said to have retreated; but truly to have fled, from the Field of Battle. No attempt to rally was made on the Belgian soil, and it was not until some of the scattered fragments of the immense wreck had been borne across the French frontier that their partial junction on different points indicated the revival of at least some portion of that mighty mass of warriors; who, but three days before, had marched across this same frontier in all the pride of strength, and in all the assurance of victory.

The rearmost of the fugitives having reached the Sambre, at Charleroi, Marchienne, and Châtelet, by daybreak of the 19th, indulged themselves with the hope that they might then enjoy a short rest from the fatigues which the relentless pursuit by the Prussians had entailed upon them during the night; but their fancied security was quickly disturbed by the appearance of a few Prussian Cavalry, judiciously thrown

628 The Prussians pursue the French vid Charleroi.

forward towards the Sambre from the Advanced Guard at Gosselies. They resumed their flight, taking the direction of Beaumont and Philippeville.

It had been arranged by WELLINGTON and BLÜCHER, on the Field of Waterloo, that the Prussian Army, not having been so much crippled and exhausted by the Battle, should undertake the further pursuit, and proceed by Charleroi towards Avesnes and Laon; whilst the Anglo-Allied Army, after remaining during the night on the Field, should advance by Nivelles and Binche towards Peronne.

On the following morning, the pursuing Cavalry belonging to the First, Fourth, and partly to the Second, Prussian Corps d'Armée, reached the vicinity of Frasne and Mellet.

The Fourth Corps marched at daybreak from Genappe, where it collected together the Brigades which had been so much broken up by the continued pursuit. The 8th Prussian Hussars, under Major COLOMB, were detached from this Corps towards Wavre, to observe Marshal GROUCHY. They were supported by the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry; and, shortly afterwards, the 2nd Silesian Landwehr Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel SCHILL, also followed in the same direction.

After some hours' rest, the Fourth Corps d'Armée marched to Fontaine l'Evêque, where it bivouacked. It had received Orders to communicate from this place with Mons. The Advanced Guard, under General SYDOW, was pushed forward, as far as Lermes, on the road to Thuin; it being intended that this Corps should proceed by the road to Maubeuge, along the Sambre.

The First Corps d'Armée, which had from the beginning followed the Fourth as a Reserve, now advanced in pursuit of the Enemy by the direct road to Charleroi. The Light

Thielemann informed of Grouchy's retreat. 629

Cavalry at the head of the Column reached the passages of the Sambre at Châtelet, Charleroi, and Marchienne, without meeting any sort of opposition or impediment; nor did it perceive any thing of the Enemy on the other side of the river. The Corps halted for the night at Charleroi having its Advanced Guard at Marchienne, and its Outposts occupying the line from Montigny by Louveral as far as Châtelet. Detachments from the Reserve Cavalry were sent in the direction of Fleurus, to secure the Corps from any molestation on the part of GROUCHY; of whose proceedings nothing positive was Prussian Head Quarters.

then known at the

It was not until nearly five o'clock in the evening of the 19th, that General BORCKE, whose Brigade, the Ninth, was still in the vicinity of St Lambert, discovered the retreat of GROUCHY's troops. He immediately communicated the fact to General THIELEMANN, who ordered him to cross the Dyle the next day (the 20th) and march upon Namur. The French Rear Guard of GÉRARD's Corps d'Armée continued to occupy Limale until nightfall. THIELEMANN remained posted, during the night of the 19th, at St Achtenrode; having his Advanced Guard at Ottenburg.

On the evening of the 18th, PIRCH received Orders to march from the Field of Waterloo with his Corps d'Armée (the Second) in the direction of Namur; for the purpose of turning Marshal GROUCHY's Left Flank and intercepting his retreat upon the Sambre.

PIRCH made this movement during the night, passing through Maransart, where he was joined by his Seventh Brigade; and crossing the Genappe rivulet at Bousseval, as also, subsequently, the Dyle, on his way to Mellery: which place he reached at eleven o'clock in the forenoon

630 General Pirch I. misses Gérard's Corps. June 19.

of the following day. His Corps was much divided on this occasion. He had with him the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Infantry Brigades, and twenty four Squadrons of Cavalry but the Fifth Infantry Brigade, and the remaining fourteen Squadrons, were with that portion of the Prussian Army which was pursuing the Enemy along the high road to Charleroi. The Corps being greatly fatigued by the night march and its exertions on the previous day, PIRCH ordered the troops to bivouac and to betake themselves to rest.

During this march, Lieutenant Colonel SOHR had pushed on with his Cavalry Brigade, as an Advanced Guard; and now he was required to gain intelligence concerning the Enemy's movements, and to seek a communication with THIELEMANN. He found the Defile of Mont St Guibert strongly occupied by the Enemy, but could obtain no information respecting THIELEMANN's Corps.

When it is considered how very near to Mellery GÉRARD'S Corps d'Armée must have passed, in order to fall into the Namur road at Sombref; it seems extraordinary that PIRCH, who reached that place at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 19th, the same hour at which GROUCHY, then beyond Wavre, received the first intimation of the defeat of NAPOLEON, -should have permitted GÉRARD to continue his retreat unmolested. His troops required rest, it is true; but had he maintained a good look out in the direction of Gembloux, he would, in all probability, after the lapse of a few hours, have been enabled to fulfil his instructions so far as to have completely intercepted the retreat of a considerable portion of GROUCHY's Army. That part of the Enemy's force which Lieutenant Colonel SOHR observed at Mont St Guibert, was probably the Advanced Guard only of GÉRARD'S Corps d'Armée; since its Rear Guard remained at the Bridge of Limale until nightfall. Taking all the circumstances