approaches by the road to Mons. One of these corps, commanded by M. Gen. Sir Charles Colville, was posted near to Tubise, the other at Clabbeek and Braine-leChâteau, under the command of H. R. H. Prince Frederick of the Low Countries. The army occupied a very extended line, the principal position crossed in the centre the highways to Charleroi, Nivelles, and Brussels, which join at the hamlet of Mont St. Jean, in the form of a fork, the handle of which points towards Waterloo, at the distance of three-quarters of a league, along a part of the forest of With respect to the action, the true Soignies, that the army had its rear to. centre was crossed by the road to Charleroi, where there was (B) a remarkable tree, near to which the Duke of Wellington often stood with his staff. The heights which the French army occupied in front of the position of the Allies are separated at a distance nearly parallel of about 1300 yards, the ground less elevated, but more undulating. In the rear of the position the ground elevates itself in the form of an amphitheatre to the farther side of the wood of Callois and Neuve-Cour; in the first is a trigonometrical observatory, where Napoleon for a short time ascended to view the pontoons early in the morning of the 18th. The French army (present at Waterloo) amounted to near 78,000 combatants, which comprised about 15,000 cavalry. It was composed of the 1st and 2d corps of the army, 8 divisions. The 6 corps, deficient 2 div. Two div. more of the Old Guard, and one division of the Young Guard, composed the reserve. The cavalry consisted of two corps, or 4 div. of heavy cav.; 2 div. more of the Guards, and 3 div. of the light cav. attached to the different corps of infantry. The 1st corps of infantry (N), commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Count D'Erlon, supThe light cav. (tt) ported its left on La Belle Alliance; its right extended towards Smohain. Its artillery mounted about 80 pieces, comprising the reserve. attached to this corps was in the rear on the right. The second corps of inf. (0) Its artillery mounted commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Count Reille, supported its right at La Belle Alliance; its left had in front the wood of the Château Gomont. about 60 pieces. The div. of light cav. (zz) attached to this corps was sent in observation to Mont Plaisir. In the second line were placed at intervals the two corps of heavy cav., two div. of which (ss, rr) commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Milhaud, two div. (xx, yy) by Lieut.-Gen. Kellerman. The 6th corps (P), commanded by Lieut.-General Count de Lobau, with about 30 pieces of artillery, and the div. of light cav. (a) was in reserve behind the right wing, also the Young Guard (Q) under Gen. Duhesme, for the defence of Planchenoit, which, from an intercepted letter, they expected to see attacked by 15,000 Prussians. The Old Guard (R) took position on the heights behind the 2d corps; the Horse Guards (e, f), part on the right and part on the left of the chaussée. The park of artillery in reserve of the Guard, about forty 12-pounders, remained near La Maison du Roi, and the baggages of the head-quarters (b) at Caillou. The Duke of Wellington had already on the 11th of April organised his army The 1st corps was in two grand corps with the artillery attached. Two English div. the 5th and 6th, with the contingent of Brunswick, composed the reserve. commanded by H. R. H. General the Prince of Orange; the 2d corps by Lieut.Gen. Lord Hill. All the cavalry of the army was under the orders of Lieut.-Gen. the Earl of Uxbridge. But some part of these corps, having received another destination, or being themselves intermixed on the ground, we must confine ourselves to describing the troops as they were respectively placed. The corps of the different troops reunited on the field of battle made a total of about 51,500 infantry, and 13,000 cav., including the artillery belonging to a train of about 150 pieces of cannon. Among these combatants there were 13,000 infantry and 3000 cavalry, with 4 brigades of artillery of the kingdom of the Netherlands; about 6000 horse and foot, with two batteries of the troops of Brunswick, and 3000 inf. of the contingent of Nassau-Usingen. The British army (including the Hanoverians and the King's German Legion) formed the strongest body. The following was the position of the corps at noon. In the centre, principally under the orders of the Prince of Orange; the 1st div. (A) English Foot Guards, commanded by M. G. Cooke, leaned with its right on the highway to Nivelles, having the Château of Gomont a little in advance of the right front. The 3d div. (B) of L. G. Count Alten joined on the left, having the 3 brigades deployed to the highway to Charleroi, and La Haye Sainte in the bottom, a little in advance of the left front. Between the brigades of this 3d div. was placed the contingent (g) of Nassau-Usingen; G. Kruse, part in reserve, part in the first line between the 1st div. of Guards, was placed (f) the Brunswick corps, G. M. Olfermans, with the two batteries in advance, and the cav. of this corps on the sides. The different batteries in the centre took their positions according to the sinuosities and undulations of the ground. For the details of the corps generally, consult the references preceding; as also the Circumstantial Details. Lord Hill, commanding the right wing, had not his 2 corps of the army complete and present (one part was in observation on the road to Mons); consequently the 3rd div. (D) of the K. of the Netherlands, L. G. Baron Chassé (of the first corps), passed this day under his orders, and took their position at Braine-la-Leud, occupying the plateau (E) at the farm of Vieux Foriez. To guard the right flank of the centre, the 2d div. of L. G. Sir H. Clinton with his artillery, and the 4 brig. of the 4 div. (M. G. Colville) was placed en potence behind the right on the plateau (C), difficult of access, being protected by a ravine, which extends towards Merbe-Braine. This fine position rendered dangerous every attempt of the enemy to outflank the right. The left wing of the army, deployed along the road towards Ohain and Wavre, had two div., viz. the 5 British div. (G), commanded by L. G. Sir T. Picton, having on his right, leaning on the road to Charleroi, the 10 brig. (bb) detached from the 6th div. The 2 R. div. of the Dutch, commanded by L. G. Baron de Perponcher, had its two brig. separated by a part of the 5 div. before mentioned. The 2 brig., Col. Prince de Saxe Weimar, composed of the troops of Nassau (in the service of the Dutch), was charged with the defence of the hamlet of Smohain, at the extreme left. The artillery was ranged at small intervals along the road bordered with a hedge. The defence of La Haye Sainte, an important post, the key of the centre, was confided to the 2 brig. K. G. L. of Col. Ompteda, who occupied the farm and the orchards, with the 2 bat. of Chasseurs, L. Col. Baring. They loopholed the walls of the garden and château of Gomont; the raised banks planted with hedges round about the fields and orchards, formed little natural ramparts. The 1 div. of Guards was charged with the defence of this very important post, which was the key of the right. Three comp. under L. Col. Macdonnell of the Coldstream, of the 2 brig., M. G. Sir J. Byng, established themselves at first in the château and garden, and were successively reinforced by 4 comp. of the same regt., and the 4 light comp. of all the div. These different detachments were conducted by Cols. Woodford and Hepburn, and L. Cols. Home and Lord Saltoun. These light comp. occupied the wood and the orchards in concert with the 1 bat. of the 2 regt. of Nassau, and one light bat. of Brunswickers. Between nine and ten o'clock, the weather having cleared up a little, Napoleon advanced towards the farm Rossomme, and established himself near to it on a little hill (N), remarkable by its fine raised position on the border of the chaussée. It was there that he directed the battle till about three o'clock, having always near him 4 squadrons of his bodyguard. About half-past eleven, the tirailleurs of the 1 div. (O) of Jerome Buonaparte commenced the attack on the wood of Gomont, whilst at the same period the advanced posts were engaged at the extreme left before Papelotte. The first cannon was then fired from the plateau of Mont St. Jean, and the cannonading took place immediately on all sides; at noon the cannons roared dreadfully. Whilst 200 pieces of artillery on both sides spread death in the immoveable ranks, the whole of Jerome Buonaparte's div. advanced upon Gomont. The intrepid Voltigeurs had soon passed the ravine, and penetrated into the wood; but the defence was as obstinate as the attack was vigorous: nevertheless, the enemy gained ground. After two hours of a bloody combat, the advanced posts in the wood and the adjacent field were obliged to yield to the French impetuosity, and fell back by degrees, part in the château, part behind the hedge of the orchard, and at length into the hollow way which goes along the orchard. As every inch of ground had been disputed with fury, the French perceived too late that a well-directed fire, by a handful of brave men, through the loopholed wall of the garden (concealed by a hedge), had doubled their loss: they redoubled their fury to dislodge them and take the château by force, but in vain; although they for a moment forced a gate of the yard, they were soon repulsed with the bayonet; and this important post, defended with an heroic bravery, was maintained all the day, although the château was surrounded on three sides, and became the prey of the flames. A part of the divisions of Generals Bachelu and Foy experienced great loss in attempting to support Jerome's div. by his right, on the side of the plain; a deluge of case-shot, from the advanced batteries of the centre, often dispersed them. Napoleon, seeing his efforts were vain to carry the post of Gomont, whilst his right wing was thundered upon by the opposite batteries, ordered a formidable attack against the left wing, with the double design (without doubt) of throwing the left back on the centre, and preventing the communication with the Prussian army. Nevertheless, the 2 brig. (F) of the 2 div. Dutch (troops of Nas.), though sharply attacked at different times by the 4 div. Durutte, bravely preserved the point of junction by Frichermont and Smohain. Gen. C. D'Erlon reunited a strong column (T), composed of a part of the 2 and 3 div. of the 1 corps, and conducted it in person, protected by 80 pieces of artillery. Favoured by a deep ravine, it rapidly approached at the head of the column (represented by m on the plan) and soon attained the height. Although battered by the case-shot, the intrepid enemy charged without hesitation the 1 brig. of the 2 div. Dutch, who, deployed in line to occupy more ground, could not withstand that formidable mass, and was repulsed with loss. It soon rallied with the 5 bat. of Militia (in reserve, having suffered much and distinguished itself at Quatre Bras), and advanced. In this interval the 8 Brit. brig. (aa) of M. G. Sir J. Kempt made a vigorous resistance, whilst the 9 brig. (z) of M. G. Sir D. Pack rushed with fixed bayonets on the right flank of the column. This bold charge, executed by the valiant Scotch, routed the enemy, who had already penetrated. The brave Gen. Sir T. Picton, so beloved by the English army, was among the number of the killed in this bloody contest. The brig. of heavy cav. (cc) of M. G. Sir W. Ponsonby rushed immediately on the regiments which had advanced so boldly, and cut them in pieces. The Scotch Greys and Inniskillings carried off two eagles belonging to the 45 and 105 reg. The column was repulsed by the infantry, and charged in flank by the brig. of light cav. (dd) of M. G. Sir J. Vandeleur, and that of G. M. Ghigny, of the div. (o) of cav. of the Low Countries. About 2000 men remained prisoners. The Roy. Drag., the Scotch Greys, and Inniskillings, G. Ponsonby at their head, dispersed the enemy to a great distance (n), and precipitated themselves with unexampled boldness on the batteries (0) at the right of the 1 corps, put the cannoneers to the sword (then little supported), and dismounted 30 pieces. But the Cuirassiers of L. Gen. Milhaud, having advanced towards the chaussée to support the attack of inf. which had failed, the brig. of G. M. Travere from one side, and the 4 reg. of Lancers coming from the other, fell at the same time on these brave Drag. (p), who, not being able to resist this terrible shock, were cut to pieces and repulsed with considerable loss. The brave Gen. Ponsonby was killed by the Lancers, boldly attempting to join the greater body of his brig., from which he found himself separated. While this fine exploit and the reverse experienced by the inf. had disorganised a great part of the right wing, a desperate attack was directed against La Haye Sainte. In this attempt, for a long time fruitless, one brig. of the 2 div. was almost wholly destroyed, but soon reinforced by a part of the 1 div. supported by the Cuirassiers of L. G. Kellerman; on this occasion the heavy brig. (k) of Lord E. Somerset made some brilliant charges to maintain this important post, defended with obstinacy and protected by the artillery of the centre and of the left. The 2 bat. of Chasseurs, K. G. L., after having exhausted its ammunition, defended itself with the bayonet, but was at length obliged to fall back, and La Haye Sainte fell into the power of the enemy. This advantage procured him the means of re-assembling by degrees his strong masses of cavalry, almost sheltered from the fire of the cannon in the bottom (U). It was from this period that they commenced those charges so often repeated on the centre. At this period there took place for three dreadful hours the severest combat of cavalry, the most frightful confusion of all arms, of which history offers example! Napoleon had caused his Old Guard to advance to (S), and went at three o'clock towards (N 2), on the bank of the chaussée near to La Belle Alliance. After the disasters experienced by his right, he ran through the ranks, rallied the dispersed brigades, and animated them by his presence. He ordered the artillery of Gen. Nourri, attached to the 6 corps, to replace the dismounted batteries on the right, where the firing began again. In this interval they had perceived at a distance some troops débouching from the side of the Wood of Paris, in the rear of Frichermont, which Napoleon (returned to N 2) took at first for the advanced guard of Marshal Grouchy. This report quickly spread itself through the whole army, and was communicated by Col. Labedoyère to the left wing, which in vain exhausted its forces against the Château of Gomont. But, far from thence, Marshal Grouchy with 36,000 inf. and 6000 cav. was fighting at Wavre with the 3 Prussian corps of Gen. V. Thielman. It was not long before their error was known; they were two regts. of Pruss. Drag. escorting their intrepid Field-marshal: this respected warrior, impatient of waiting the arrival of his corps upon the march, had already advanced to reconnoitre the ground. It is not explained how Napoleon could neglect to cause the openings of this wood to be occupied! However, he took his measures. The Count de Lobau with the 6 corps, supported by the Young Guard, was to defend Planchenoit to the last extremity; part of the artillery of this corps, of which he had disposed, was replaced by that of his guard. The cav. of G. d'Aumont went into the plain before the village. At three o'clock the Old Foot Guard, 3 regt. formed itself into squares (S) on both sides of the highway, and the Horse Guards, 4 regt. approached again from the plateau of Mont St. Jean with all the heavy cavalry. It did not escape the penetrating eye of the English General, that Napoleon alone aimed at breaking the centre before the arrival of the Prussians. The noble Duke, seeing his right not in the least threatened, caused to advance at about three o'clock, the 2 div. of G. Sir H. Clinton, with his batteries, and the 4 brig. of the 4 div. from plateau (C), towards the right of the centre (u), to support the Guard and cannon at Gomont; the brig. of Gen. Adam on the left, and brig. of Colonels Halket and Duplat, more to the right. One of the enemy's batteries had advanced upon (j) to raise the wall of the garden of Gomont, but was dislodged by the 4 brig. of Col. Mitchell, supported by the Brunswick cav. The 3 regts. Dutch, L. G. Chassé, was marched from Braine-la-Leud towards the The 1 brig. of Col. Detmers, having taken the village, proceeded first towards the plateau (C), 4 bat. marched in squares, perceiving the enemy's cav., the two others kept their posts and rejoined them afterwards. The 2 brig. G. M. d'Aubremé, who with the artillery of that div. had occupied the plateau (E), advanced by Merbe-Braine. The whole of the div. towards six o'clock took a second position (w) in reserve along the highway to Nivelles. centre. In the meanwhile one part of the 4 Prussian corps approached by Lasne, under the orders of L. G. Count de Bulow, after having surmounted many obsta cles to pass the defiles of St. Lambert. Towards four o'clock advanced through the Wood (called of Paris) the 15 brig. of Gen. v. Losthin, with a bat. of 12pounders, and the 2 regt. of Huss. of Silesia. The 16 brig. of Col. v. Hiller, followed close, as well as the artillery of reserve, and all the cav. under the orders of H. R. H. Prince William of Prussia. Without staying for his reinforcements, P. Blücher resolved to attack, and caused these two brig. to débouch first; the 15 by the left, the 16 by the right. The 18 regt. of the line, and the 3 regt. of Militia of Silesia, were detached towards Frichermont, to effect the junction with the left of the army of Wellington. The French turned some batteries (N) against the Prussians: the combat was less serious on this side. P. Blücher considered at first that it was on the reserve that he ought to strike the grand blow; in consequence Gen. Bulow proceeded immediately towards (K), before Planchenoit with a great body of his cavalry. Soon after the 13 brig. of L. G. v. Hacke, and the 14 brig. of M. G. v. Ryssell, rejoined the 4 corps, of which they made a part, having at first formed themselves in (L), and advanced afterwards towards (M), to attack the village, which the Gen. Count Lobau with the 6 corps, supported by the Young Guard, defended with a bravery the more remarkable, as his corps was less numerous. At six o'clock the engagement became general. As soon as La Haye Sainte was taken, the Heavy Cav., Cuirassiers, Carabineers, Drag., and the Cav. of the Guard, were thrown into the plateau of the centre, with the design of mutually supporting each other. From that time this intrepid cav. made charges one after another on the numerous squares ranged by échelons on the inclination behind the height. Notwithstanding these squares were often assailed on every side, and harassed without ceasing, they remained unshaken, and resisted with an heroic constancy the violent shock of these impenetrable Cuirassiers. The Allied cav. precipitated itself immediately on their squadrons, dispersed and drove them to a distance: 1 but suddenly rallying, they soon returned to the charge. It was thus that the Lord Somerset's heavy brig. performed many signal feats of valour. In one The British hero, always present where danger was most imminent, remained unhurt, as by miracle, in the midst of his staff, which was for the most part killed or wounded. The squares of the Engl. Guards, Gens. Maitland and Byng, in the middle, opposed an impenetrable rampart of bayonets; their fire spread destruction in the fine squadrons of Horse Grenadiers of the Guard and Carabineers, of which they received the principal charges. (Gen. Cooke commanding the div. was severely wounded.) By the example of the Guards, all the troops in the centre rivalled each other in courage and constancy. The 3 div. of G. Count Alten (who was also wounded) being much exposed by its position, had to repulse innumerable charges; let it suffice to cite for example, that the square a little advanced of the 30 and 73 Engl. regt. (making part of the brig., M. G. Sir Colin Halket always present) was charged eleven times without the least success, by the Lancers of the Guard and the Cuirassiers. The fury of a combat may be supposed, when, after three hours of unspeakable efforts on both sides, a horrible carnage was its only result. In the mean time, the attack on Planchenoit was carried on with equal fury. The village was taken and retaken twice, and these courageous efforts of the 4th corps were often fruitless. The Count D'Erlon, having rallied one brig. of his 1 corps, sustained the left of the 6 corps, and pushed in advance, to prevent the communication with the left of Wellington, and to separate the two armies. Napoleon had already sent G. Duhesme with the Young Guard, 4 regts. on the right to reinforce the 6 corps, which the 16 Prussian brig. constantly endeavoured to outflank. The Young Guard had again penetrated into the village, and retook the churchyard, which the 15 regt. of the line, and the 1 regt. of Militia of Silesia, had occupied. Two bat. of the old Guard (coming from S) were again sent to support it. The formidable battery of 12-pounders of the Guard in reserve, came from the advance, and thundered over the village. At this period, the French were successful, and acted for a time on the offensive. The intrepid Prussians were obliged to exert all the energy which characterises them to resist. The 2 and 8 regt. of Hussars vigorously repulsed the attack of some light cav. of the 1 and 6 corps. In the mean time, the arrival of the 5 brig. and two bat. of the 2 corps, commanded by L. G. Pirch, who went to the right (M), restored the Although his reserve was threatened with equilibrium, and they again assumed the offensive with redoubled fury. The army consisted of about 35,000 men. a very probable reverse, and his free retreat very much endangered, Napoleon persisted in his bold project of pushing in advance. Marshal Grouchy had not arrived. So many fruitless efforts could scarcely presage any great success. Whilst his most able Generals, and Marshal Ney, considered the battle very hazardous, Napoleon, always immovable, despaired of nothing-not even of victory! He advanced at seven o'clock, with 4 regts. of his Guard, towards Mont St. Jean, and placed at the situation (N 3), where the chaussée is increased in the declivity of the height before La Haye Sainte, having on his right and on his 1eft two batteries of his Guard (of which he levelled several pieces himself). One battery was already established a good deal in advance on the side of the garden of this farm, and made a murderous fire. Seeing the elite of his cavalry fatally engaged on the plateau, he ordered a fourth attack on the centre, with which he |