3,500 Hanoverians, 8,000 from Belgium, Nassau, and Brunswick,-total of the English army, 22,500; Prussians 38,000, making together 60,500. The loss of the French army, even including that in the retreat, and until it had arrived near Paris, was 41,000 men.

The imperial guards maintained their old reputation; but they were beset by unfortunate incidents. They were out-flanked on their right, and their left was crowded by the flying and enemy. If those guards could have fought with their flanks supported, they would have repelled the efforts of the enemy's two united armies. For upwards of four hours, 12,000 French cavalry, were masters of part of the enemy's battle ground. They fought against all their infantry, and repulsed every charge of their cavalry, amounting to 18,000. Lieutenant General Duhesme, an old soldier, covered with wounds, and of the greatest bravery, was taken prisoner in attempting to rally a rear guard. Count Lobau was also taken. Cambronne, General of the guards, remained, severely wounded, on the field of battle. Of twenty-four English Generals, twelve were either killed or wounded. The Holland

ers lost three Generals. The French General, Duhesme, was assassinated on the nineteenth, by a Brunswick hussar, although a prisoner. This crime remains unpunished. He was an intrepid soldier,

a consummate general, always firm, either in good or bad fortune.

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CHAPTER VII.

RALLYING.

I. Rallying of the French army at Laon.-II. Retreat of Marshal Grouchy.-III. Resources left to France.-IV. Effects of the Emperor's abdication.

I. The road to Charleroy is very large, sufficiently so for the retreat of the army. The bridge at Genappe is of the same size; five or six files of wagons might cross abreast; but on the arrival of the first fugitives, the baggage trains and parks there barricadoed themselves, by placing wagons overturned, on the road, so as to leave a passage of only three toises. The confusion soon became terrible. Genape is situated in a hollow. The advance of the Prussian troops, in pursuit of the army, having arrived on the heights which command it, at eleven at night, succeeded in dispersing a handful of brave men, rallied by the intrepid General Duhesme, and entered

the village. Among the baggage they took, was the Emperor's post-chaise, which he had not used since he left Avesne. It had been customary for it to follow the Emperor to the field of battle, behind the reserve of guards. It always contained a change of apparel, a sword, a cloak, and an iron bed. At one o'clock in the morning the Emperor arrived at Quatre Bras, dismounted at a bivouac, and despatched several officers to Marshal Grouchy, to inform him of the loss of the battle, and to order him to retreat towards Namur. The officers who had been sent from the field of battle, to bring up Girard's division from Ligny to Quatre Bras, and if time permitted, as far as Genappe, brought the distressing intelligence, that it was impossible to find that division. The General of artillery, Negre, an officer of great merit, was at Quatre Bras, with the parks of reserve; he had however only a small escort. A few hundred cavalry rallied; Count Lobau placed himself at their head, and took every possible measure to organize a rear guard. The soldiers of the first and second corps, who, a few days before, had crossed the Sambre on the bridge of Marchiennes, bent their course to this

bridge. They left the turnpike road at Quatre Bras or Gosselies, to take the cross road. The guards and the sixth corps retired towards Charleroy. The Emperor sent Prince Jerome to Marchiennes, with orders to rally the army between Avesne and Maubeuge. He himself went to Charleroy. When he arrived there at six in the morning, a great number of men, particularly cavalry, had already crossed the Sambre, and were making towards Beaumont. He stopped an hour on the left bank, despatched a few orders, and then directed his route to Philippville, in order the better to form a communication with Marshal Grouchy, and to send his orders to the frontiers of the Rhine. After having remained four hours in this town, he with all possible despatch repaired to Laon, where he arrived on the twentieth, at four o'clock in the afternoon. He had a conference with the prefect; directed his aid-de-camp, Count Bussy, to superintend the defence of that important place; sent Count Dejean to Guise, and Count Flahaut to Avesne. He awaited despatches from Prince Jerome. By these he was informed, that the Prince had rallied upwards of 25,000 men in rear of Avesne, and fifty pieces of can

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