CHAPTER XIV.

Commencement of NAPOLEON's last grand attack upon WELLINGTON's Line 518

NAPOLEON stations himself so that the Guard may pass by him as it advances to the attack 519

Disposition of D'ERLON's and REILLE's Corps 520

The leading Column of the Imperial Guard suffers severely from the fire of the Allied Artillery, as it approaches the Duke's Line 521

Contest between the leading Column of the French Imperial Guards and MAITLAND's Brigade of British Guards 523

The former completely defeated and dispersed 523

Contest between HALKETT and the Imperial Guards 524

Conduct of D'AUBREMÉ's Dutch-Belgian Brigade 526

Advance of the second attacking Column of the Imperial Guard 527

Charge upon French _Cuirassiers_ by a Squadron of the 23rd Light Dragoons 530

The second Column of the Imperial Guard charged in flank by the 52nd Regiment and 2nd Battalion 95th Regiment 532

Its defeat and dispersion by this charge 532

ADAM's Brigade continues its forward movement, supported on its Right by a Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel HALKETT's Hanoverian Brigade 535

State of D'AUBREMÉ's Dutch-Belgian Brigade 537

Upon the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Line, the Skirmishers of DURUTTE's Division endeavour to establish themselves in the houses and inclosures in the valley on that Flank, and become engaged with the Prussians in and about Smohain 538

BLÜCHER's dispositions 539

Formation and advance of BÜLOW's Left Wing for the Third attack upon Planchenoit, and of his Right Wing for a simultaneous attack upon LOBAU 539

Junction of the Advanced Guard of ZIETEN's Corps with the troops constituting the Extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Army 541

General view of the disposition of the Prussian forces relatively with that of the Anglo-Allied troops 542

General view of the state of the Anglo-Allied Army at the period of the attack and defeat of the French Imperial Guard 542

Prompt decision and admirable skill evinced by WELLINGTON in seizing upon the advantage presented by the discomfiture of the French Guards 542

Advance of VIVIAN's Hussar Brigade to the attack of NAPOLEON's Reserves near La Belle Alliance 546

Disposition of these Reserves 548

Brilliant charge by the 10th British Hussars 549

Charge by the 2nd Light Dragoons of the King's German Legion 551

ADAM's Brigade, continuing its advance, reaches the nearest French Height, intersected by the Charleroi road, and on which three Squares of the Imperial Guard are posted 552

General advance of the Anglo-Allied Line 553

The Duke orders ADAM to attack the Squares of the Imperial Guard 555

The Earl of UXBRIDGE falls, severely wounded 556

The Imperial Guard retires from the charge by ADAM's Brigade 557

Gallant charge by the 18th British Hussars near La Belle Alliance 559

Charge by a Squadron of the 10th British Hussars upon a Square of the Grenadiers of the Old Guard; which retires, and eventually disperses 560

The Left and Centre Squadrons of the 10th Hussars, continuing their pursuit, after the first charge, make another charge upon both Infantry and Cavalry, on the right, and beyond La Belle Alliance 561

A party of the 18th Hussars makes a dashing but ineffectual charge upon a Square, still further in advance 562

Lieutenant Colonel HALKETT, with the Osnabrück Landwehr Battalion, pursues a Column of the Old Guard; and captures General CAMBRONNE 563

Singular situation of the Duke of WELLINGTON 565