CHAPTER X: THE BATTLE OF LIGNY:

BLÜCHER’S DECISION TO ACCEPT BATTLE NOT DEPENDENT ON WELLINGTON’S ASSURANCE OF SUPPORT 143

Blücher concentrated his army without receiving any assurance of support from Wellington 143

He got Wellington’s letter about noon of the 16th 144

Wellington arrived at Brye at 1 P.M. 144

Their conversation 144

Wellington gave no unconditional promise 145

Blücher’s decision to fight was arrived at before he heard from or saw Wellington 146

And on entirely independent grounds 147

NOTE TO CHAPTER X 148

Blücher’s reasons for deciding to accept battle at Ligny as given by Damitz 148

He was unwilling to retreat 148

Suggestions of Ollech and Delbrück not of any value here 149

Blücher expected to concentrate his whole army of 120,000 men 149

And was unwilling to change his decision when he found he could not count upon Bülow’s arrival 150