CHAPTER X.
While the preparatory dispositions, alluded to in the preceding Chapter, were in progress, NAPOLEON ordered the following despatch to be forwarded to Grouchy:--
"En avant de la Ferme "In front of the Farm de Caillou, de Caillou, le 18 Juin, 18th June, à 10 heures du matin. at 10 o'clock in the morning.
"Monsieur le Maréchal, "Monsieur Marshal,
"L'Empereur a reçu votre "The Emperor has received dernier rapport daté de Gembloux. your last report dated from Vous ne parlez à sa Majesté que des Gembloux. You only speak to His deux Colonnes Prussiennes qui ont Majesty of the two Prussian passé à Sauvenières et Sarra Walin; Columns and Sarra Walin; however qu'une troisième Colonne, qui the reports say that a third était assez forte, a passé à Gery Column, which was pretty strong, et Gentinnes, se dirrigeant sur has passed by Gery and Gentinnes, Wavres. directing itself on Wavre.
"L'Empereur me charge de vous "The Emperor charges me to prévenir, qu'en ce moment S.M. va inform you, that at this moment faire attaquer l'Armée Anglaise qui His Majesty is going to attack the a pris position à Waterloo, près de English Army which has taken up a pris position à Waterloo, près de a position at Waterloo, near the a pris position à Waterloo, près de Forest of Soignies; so His Majesty la Forêt de Soignes; ainsi S.M. desires that you would direct your désire que vous dirigiez vos movemens movements on Wavre in such a sur Wavres, afin de vous manner as you may approach us, so rapprocher de nous, vous mettre en as to put yourself in touch with rapport d'opérations et lier les the operations and to knit up the communications, poussant devant vous communications; pushing before les Corps de l'Armée Prussienne you the Corps of the Prussian qui ont pris cette direction et qui Army which has taken that auraient pu s'arrêter à Wavres, ou direction, and which may have vous devez arriver le plus tôt halted at Wavre, where you should possible. arrive at the earliest possible moment.
Vous ferez suivre les Colonnes You will cause the Enemy's Ennemies qui ont pris sur votre Columns which have taken (the droite par quelques Corps Légers, road) on your right to be afin d'observer leur mouvements followed by some Light Corps, in et ramasser leurs fuyards; instruisez order to observe their movements moi immédiatement de vos and to collect their fugitives. dispositions et de votre marche, Instruct me immediately of your ainsi que des nouvelles que vous dispositions and of your march, as avez sur les Ennemis, et ne négligez well as of the news you may have pas de lier vos communications avec of the Enemy, and do not neglect to nous; l'Empereur désire avoir très knit up your communications with souvent de vos nouvelles. us. The Emperor desires to receive news from you very frequently.
"Le Major Général "The Major General DUC DE DALMATIE." DUKE DE DALMATIA."
It will thus be seen that GROUCHY's report, despatched from Gembloux on the previous night, was well calculated to inspire the Emperor with great confidence as to the result of his present plan of operations, notwithstanding the very little progress that had hitherto been made in that quarter; and which, as already remarked, must be ascribed principally to his own inactivity during the early part of the 17th. He approved of the movement upon Wavre, in pursuit of the great mass of the Prussian Army: but at the same time expressed his desire that it should be executed in such a manner as to draw the Detached Force more within the sphere of the operations of the main French Army; and above all, he enforced the necessity of maintaining a close communication with the latter.
Some time before the Battle commenced, a Prussian Patrol reached the Village of Smohain, in which was posted the Picquet of the 10th British Hussars, under Captain TAYLOR; whom the Officer accompanying the Patrol desired to report to the Duke of WELLINGTON that General Count BÜLOW was at St Lambert, and advancing with his _Corps d'Armée_. Captain TAYLOR immediately despatched Lieutenant LINDSEY, of the 10th, with the intelligence to Head Quarters, as directed. The Prussian Officer was certainly ignorant of the very slow progress made by the main body of BÜLOW's Corps; and the information which he thus conveyed to the Duke, before the Battle had commenced, naturally led the latter to calculate upon a much earlier arrival of the Prussians than could possibly take place: for, in point of fact, it was only BÜLOW's Advanced Guard which had then reached St Lambert.
* * * * *
The formation of the French Lines was scarcely completed when the magnificent and animating spectacle which they presented was heightened in an extraordinary degree by the passing of the Emperor along them, attended by a numerous and brilliant Staff. The troops hailed him with loud and fervent acclamations. There was depicted on their brows a deep rooted confidence in his ability, with such an Army, to chain victory to the car in which he had already advanced in triumph to within a few miles of the capital of Belgium. They exulted in the idea that they were now fairly ranged in battle array, under the Chief of their choice, and the idol of their devotion, against the Army of that nation which of all others had proved the most inveterate and the most enduring in its hostility to France; a nation which had not only by its wealth cemented and held together the great European league which had once precipitated that idol from the throne, but had also flung into the scale her own native strength and valour, by which the Fleets of the Empire had been destroyed, its Armies driven out of the Peninsula, and the sceptres of Spain and Portugal wrested from its grasp. They appeared as if excited by the assurance, that the hour had arrived in which the disasters of the Nile and Trafalgar, of Salamanca and Vittoria, were to be cast into the dark shade of oblivion, by the dazzling splendour of the triumph about to be achieved.
Never throughout the whole of his career had NAPOLEON received from his soldiers more unequivocal demonstrations of attachment to his person, of unlimited confidence in his power, of complete devotion to his cause, and of absolute submission to his will, than were manifested in this short and fatal Campaign by which that career was terminated. With an Army thus animated by one sentiment, and presenting in appearance and material all that his practised eye could desire, it may readily be conceived that he fully participated in the general confidence of a signal victory.
* * * * *
WELLINGTON's dispositions remained as previously described. Shortly before the action commenced, he rode down to Hougomont, and, proceeding by the Lane which crosses the Wood in the direction of La Belle Alliance, remained a few minutes at the point where the Lane reaches the eastern boundary of the Wood. Having made his observations upon that portion of the Enemy's Line which came under his view, he ordered the Light Companies of the British Guards that were in the Wood to be relieved by the Nassau Battalion and the Hanoverian Light Infantry. The former were then withdrawn to the Great Orchard, where the Light Companies of the First Brigade remained, while those of the Second Brigade moved on, along the rear of the inclosures, to the Lane which passes between the right of the Buildings and the Kitchen Garden, and leads into the Wood on that side.
The Duke next rode up to the high ground on the Nivelles road, unaccompanied by his Staff, to reconnoitre the Enemy's Left. He then rode along to the Left of his own Line as far as La Haye. When the action began, he was in front of the Left of the First Brigade of Guards.
* * * * *
NAPOLEON, having completed the inspection of his troops, proceeded to take up his own station upon the Height in rear of La Belle Alliance, which afforded him a commanding view of the whole Field. The Infantry Brigades speedily formed Lines of Battalion Columns respectively. The state of the ground was reported practicable for the movements of Artillery. All was in perfect readiness.
The anxiously looked for moment had now arrived.
The Emperor sent an Order to REILLE to begin the Battle by an attack upon Hougomont; and it was about half past eleven o'clock when, from the right of Prince JEROME's Division, a Column, advancing towards the south-western boundary of the Wood, rapidly extended itself into a strong line of Skirmishers. As they approached the Wood, a few straggling shots from behind the outermost trees and hedges gave warning that the defenders were prepared for resistance, and announced to both Armies that the Battle had actually commenced. The French, hastening their advance to obtain a better view of their opponents, began to single them out; and the shots from both sides, quickening in succession, speedily increased into a brisk and well sustained fire of musketry.
JEROME's supporting Columns had not advanced far when the Duke of WELLINGTON, with his Staff, galloped up to the spot on which the Coldstream Guards were formed; and having directed his glass upon the French Columns, the guns of Captain SANDHAM's Foot Battery, attached to COOKE's Division, were ordered to the front. They instantly unlimbered and opened the cannonade from the Anglo-Allied position. The first discharge was from a howitzer, the shell of which burst over the head of a Column moving towards the Hougomont inclosures. The shots from the remaining guns in succession also took effect; and the Battery was soon in full play. It was immediately followed up by an equally well directed fire from Captain CLEEVES's Foot Battery of the German Legion, in front of ALTEN's Division.
The Batteries of REILLE's Corps now opened in their turn, to draw off the fire from their Columns. NAPOLEON sent an Order to KELLERMANN to push forward his twelve pieces of Horse Artillery into the Front Line, facing Hougomont. The intervals between the reports from the guns on either side rapidly diminished: in a brief space of time no intervals could be distinguished; and the cannonade, increasing in violence every moment, now thundered forth in one continual roar.
"----deep throated engines belch'd, whose roar Imbowel'd with outrageous noise the air."
The French Columns, as they moved towards Hougomont, were twice checked by the fire from the British Batteries; which, having been given with remarkable precision, appeared to cause considerable loss and disorder among them. At length they effected their advance. The French Skirmishers, followed by fresh Supports, had, in the mean time, made good their entrance into the Wood; and such was the boldness of their advance that they soon drove the Nassau Battalion and Hanoverian Riflemen before them. They were also pushing forward in considerable force across the inclosures adjoining the left of the Wood.
At this moment, WELLINGTON gave Orders, in person, to Major BULL's British Howitzer Horse Battery, which had just been drawn up on that part of the main ridge which was immediately in rear of the Great Orchard of Hougomont, to dislodge the Enemy's Infantry from those inclosures by means of shells. This service, which, considering the proximity of the Allied troops in the Wood, was of a very delicate nature, was executed with admirable skill, and attended with the desired effect. The Enemy was forced to abandon the fields in front of the Great Orchard; from which the Light Companies of the First Brigade of Guards now moved on, as did also those of the Second Brigade, from the Lane and Kitchen Garden on the right, to relieve the Nassauers and Hanoverians in the Wood. They dashed forward with the most determined resolution, blazing away in the very faces of their opponents, whose further advance they completely checked; and then gallantly pressing on, they gradually succeeded in clearing the Wood of the French Skirmishers.
With the exception of the cannonade maintained between the French Left and the Anglo-Allied Right Wing, and which was gradually extending towards the opposite extremities of the hostile Lines, the action was as yet confined to the Post of Hougomont.
About this time, a body of French Cavalry, issuing from the low ground near Papelotte, approached that part of the Anglo-Allied Left Wing which was occupied by BEST's Hanoverian Infantry Brigade, and Captain RETTBERG's Hanoverian Foot Battery. It was a strong _reconnaissance_, made by the French to ascertain whether the summit on which the above Battery was posted had really been intrenched, its appearance, as viewed from the opposite Heights, having induced a supposition that such was the case. BEST, expecting to be attacked, immediately formed his Brigade into Battalion Squares; but the French Cavalry speedily retired.
JEROME now moved down fresh Columns to reinforce his Skirmishers. They were directed more against the Allied Right of the Wood, while a part of FOY's Division was ordered to support the attack by a simultaneous advance against the front. The descent of JEROME's troops was observed from the position of the extreme Right of the Allied Second Line, which afforded a partial view up the valley on that side of Hougomont. Two guns were therefore detached, under Captain NAPIER, from Captain BOLTON's Battery, to open a fire upon the advancing Columns; but they were instantly cannonaded by the Batteries on the French Extreme Left, particularly by the Horse Battery of PIRÉ's Light Cavalry, on the Height intersected by the Nivelles road. The remaining guns of the Battery were brought into action, as were also those of Major SYMPHER's Hanoverian Horse Battery; and a vigorous fire was now maintained against both the attacking troops and the French guns. Lieutenant Colonel WEBBER SMITH, whose British Horse Battery was also with CLINTON's Division, but lower down the slope, commenced firing up the valley, across the Nivelles road, at one of JEROME's Columns; but on ascertaining that the latter was somewhat beyond the effectual range of his six pounders, he detached an Officer to the right of the Front Line in rear of Hougomont, to discover whether a more commanding position could be obtained for his Battery on that part of the Field.
In the mean time, JEROME's Skirmishers, having been very strongly reinforced, renewed their attack upon the Wood, in conjunction with FOY's Infantry on their right. The Light Companies of the British Guards presented a stout and desperate resistance, but were forced to yield to an overwhelming superiority of numbers. Retiring from tree to tree, and frequently hazarding a bold and obstinate stand, by which they suffered most severely, they at length withdrew from the unavailing contest: those of the Coldstream and 3rd Regiment seeking shelter partly in the Lane adjoining the right of the Château, and partly behind a Haystack which fronted the Wood near the south-west angle of the buildings; while those of the 1st Regiment fell back into the Great Orchard, on the left.
The French Skirmishers, finding themselves relieved for the moment from any immediate pressure upon their front, now rapidly advanced towards the Buildings and Garden. The hedge which lined the Wood on this side appeared to them, as it gradually presented itself to their view, to form also the boundary of the Great Garden. In the full confidence that this important post was now within their grasp, they rushed forward at the _pas de charge_ to force an entrance. They were instantly and fatally undeceived. A deadly fire bursting forth from the loop holes and platforms along the Garden Wall, which was parallel to, and about thirty yards distant from, the hedge, laid prostrate the leading Files. Those which came up in rapid succession were staggered by the sudden and unexpected appearance of this little fortress. Not venturing upon an escalade, they were forced to take advantage of such cover as was afforded by the hedge and trees; whence they kept up a popping fire, though at fearful odds, with opponents so well concealed by the wall, as also by a row of apple trees which ran along its exterior.
The French Infantry were pushing forward through the Wood in support of this attack, when Major BULL's Horse Battery recommenced its fire; and a shower of howitzer shells fell amongst them, causing the greatest destruction and confusion in their ranks.
Again the defenders dashed forward from the Flanks, and regained a considerable portion of the Wood; whereupon Major BULL ceased firing in that direction, and pointed his guns on strong Columns of French Infantry in support, which he succeeded in causing to retrograde; notwithstanding the very galling fire to which he was himself at that time exposed, not only from the Batteries in his front, but also from PIRÉ's Horse Battery on the French Height adjoining the Nivelles road, by which his own Battery was completely enfiladed.
The French that were in the Wood having rallied, and obtained a vast preponderance of force, now advanced in a most determined manner against the Light Infantry of the British Guards, and compelled the latter to retire to their former posts on the Flanks of the Château and Gardens. At the same time, JEROME's Light Troops were advancing rapidly, and in great force, against the right of the Buildings. That portion of the Light Companies of the Coldstream and 3rd Regiment of Guards which was outside the Farm made a gallant stand, under cover of the Haystack, and from the Lane before mentioned. The Haystack itself was set on fire by the French in one of their attacks, and was now in full blaze. These Guardsmen held their ground with the greatest bravery until they saw themselves completely outflanked, and in danger of being cut off from all retreat.
They then hastily withdrew into the great Court Yard by the Gate which faces the Allied position; and which they instantly closed and endeavoured to block up with ladders, posts, barrows, or whatever was nearest at hand. The French, however, succeeded in forcing the Gate; but the defenders betook themselves to the nearest cover, whence they poured a fire upon the intruders, and then rushing forward, a struggle ensued which was distinguished by the most intrepid courage on both sides. At length, Lieutenant Colonel MACDONELL, Captain WYNDHAM, Ensigns GOOCH and HERVEY, and Sergeant GRAHAM, of the Coldstream Guards, by dint of great personal strength and exertions, combined with extraordinary bravery and perseverance, succeeded in closing the Gate against their assailants. Those of the latter who had entered the Court Yard fell a sacrifice to their undaunted and conspicuous gallantry.
The remainder of the French Skirmishers, passing on by the Left and to the Rear of Hougomont, and, crossing the Avenue leading to it from the Nivelles road, and the adjacent rivulet, spread themselves over some broken ground partially covered with brushwood. They were now immediately under the position to which Lieutenant Colonel SMITH had moved his Battery from its former station on the other side of the Nivelles road, and which was in front of the Extreme Right of the First Line of the Anglo-Allied Army. This Battery had just been hotly engaged with, and had suffered severely from, the Horse Battery posted in front of PIRÉ's Light Cavalry Brigade; which had previously directed its fire upon BULL's guns, and which maintained the cannonade with Lieutenant Colonel SMITH's Battery for the purpose of covering the advance of these Light Troops. SMITH had succeeded in silencing the fire of his opponent; when the French Skirmishers, taking advantage of both the broken ground and the high corn beyond it, suddenly opened upon his Battery a popping fire so destructive in its effects, that in a few moments several of the Gunners and horses were killed, and so much damage was sustained by the limbers, that it became absolutely necessary to withdraw the guns into a little hollow way that led from the rear of the Battery into the Nivelles road, and in which it remained some time for the purpose of refitting and getting into order.
This daring onset of the French Skirmishers was checked by the advance of four Companies of the Coldstream Regiment of Guards, under Lieutenant Colonel WOODFORD. They then fell back to the wall of the Farm yard, near which they collected a considerable force, when Colonel WOODFORD charged them. They gave way immediately, and withdrew from the contest; which afforded Colonel WOODFORD an opportunity of entering the Farm with a part of the reinforcement by the side door in the Lane. The remainder of the detached force occupied the inclosures between the Château and the Nivelles road.
During this advance of the French Skirmishers against the extreme Right of the Allied Front Line, the troops which formed their Support attempted again to force open the rear Gate of Hougomont. The individuals before mentioned as having closed the Gate, were, at the time, occupied in rendering it more secure by placing against it some pieces of ash timber that lay in the yard. The French failing in their endeavours to push in the Gate, a brave Grenadier volunteered to climb over and open it from the inside. Captain WYNDHAM, on perceiving the latter at the top of the gate, instantly desired Sergeant GRAHAM, whose musket he was holding whilst the latter was bringing forward another piece of timber, to drop the wood, take his firelock, and shoot the intruder. The Order was instantly obeyed; and the intrepid assailant, who, for any useful result, ought to have been accompanied by a score of his comrades, fell beneath GRAHAM's deadly aim. It was at this moment that the French Skirmishers who had advanced against the main position, were falling back upon their Support; and the whole of these troops were driven off by the advance of the four Companies of the Coldstream Guards, detached from the main position, as previously described.
In the mean time, the French Infantry in the Wood, finding their advance against the Garden so suddenly checked, endeavoured to turn it by its Left. With this view they were debouching through a large gap in the fence, forming an outlet from the Wood into the Orchard; when Lieutenant Colonel Lord SALTOUN, seizing the favourable opportunity, made a most gallant charge upon the head of the Column with the Light Companies of the First Brigade of Guards, and succeeded in driving the Enemy back into the Wood.
Shortly afterwards, a large body of the Enemy's Light Troops began to advance stealthily along the eastern hedge of the Hougomont inclosures, communicating at the same time with the Infantry in the Wood on their Left. This was immediately followed by a direct front attack upon the Orchard; which compelled Lord SALTOUN gradually to withdraw his greatly reduced force, from tree to tree, until he reached the hollow way in rear of that inclosure.
The Light Troops in front of ALTEN's Division, having perceived the French creeping along the hedge so as to turn the Left Flank of Hougomont, were on the point of forming to oppose them; but on the latter being pointed out to the Prince of ORANGE, who had just come to the front to make his observations, he coolly remarked:--"No, don't stir--the Duke is sure to see that movement, and will take some step to counteract it." He had scarcely spoken, when two Companies of the 3rd Regiment of British Guards, detached from the Allied Line, were seen advancing along the same hedge, in an opposite direction, to meet them.
Lord SALTOUN being thus reinforced upon his Left, and the French Skirmishers in his front having become exposed to a sharp flanking fire from the Guards lining the eastern Garden Wall, he resumed the offensive; cleared the Orchard of the Enemy, and reoccupied its front hedge: while the Detachment on the Left drove the French along the outer hedge, and down into the hollow whence they had debouched; and then joined the troops in the Great Orchard. The front Hedge of the Orchard, the front Wall of the Garden, with the Lane and Avenue on the right, constituted at this time the Outer Line of the defence of Hougomont.
* * * * *
During the progress of the contest of Hougomont, NEY had been occupied in making his preparatory dispositions for carrying into execution NAPOLEON's intended grand attack upon the Centre and Left of the Anglo-Allied line. The troops destined for this service consisted of the whole of D'ERLON's _Corps d'Armée_, and of ROUSSEL's Division of KELLERMANN's Cavalry Corps. Their advance was to be covered and supported by no less than ten Batteries, which were now brought forward and posted along a ridge that intervened between the French Right and the Allied Left Wing, affording the guns a range of from six hundred to eight hundred yards of the Duke's Line. These Batteries consisted of the three twelve-pounder Batteries of the First, Second, and Sixth Corps, drawn up with their Left close upon the Charleroi road; of the four Divisional Foot Batteries; of the Horse Battery belonging to JAQUINOT's Light Cavalry Brigade; and of the two Horse Batteries of MILHAUD's Corps of _Cuirassiers_, which stood in Second Line, in rear of D'ERLON's Corps--altogether seventy four guns.
This imposing force of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, exclusive of the ample Cavalry Reserves at hand, was not more than commensurate with the importance of the object which NAPOLEON had in view. His aim was not only to turn the Allied Left, but also to force the Centre of the position; and, by gaining possession of the Farms of La Haye Sainte and Mont St Jean, to cut off WELLINGTON's main line of communication by the high road to Brussels, and, at the same time, to prevent any contemplated junction of the Prussian and Anglo-Allied Armies.
This appeared to him preferable to any plan of operation against the Allied Right, where the skilful dispositions made by the Duke would require such a plan to embrace the attack and repulse of the troops occupying Braine l'Alleud, and the Post of Vieux Foriez, as well as the forcing of the position, _en potence_, held by Lord HILL; a consideration which, combined with a knowledge of the existence of a considerable body of Allied troops near Hal, and the fear of allowing himself to be induced into too great an extension of his own force towards his Left, caused him to resign all idea of attempting any movement of importance in that quarter.
He felt, moreover, that even a successful attack upon the Right would, in all probability, induce the Duke to fall back upon the Prussians; and thus effect that junction which it was his great object to frustrate: whereas, an attack upon the Anglo-Allied Left, which was not so strong, if successful, held out to him the prospect of his being enabled, by aid of the presumed vigorous co-operation on the part of GROUCHY, and the momentarily expected arrival of a portion of that Marshal's forces on his own Right, to defeat both Armies in detail.
The Batteries had been regularly posted and fully prepared for action, and the Infantry Columns had advanced to the inner brow of the intervening ridge, when NEY sent word to the Emperor that the preliminary arrangements were completed, and that he only waited His Majesty's Orders to commence the attack. NAPOLEON immediately took a general view of the Field of Battle, and continuing his observations beyond his Right, in order to discover, if possible, any indication of the approach either of GROUCHY or of a hostile force, he perceived in the direction of St Lambert an indistinct mass, having the appearance of a body of troops; and pointing out the object to SOULT, who was near him at the time, asked his opinion; whereupon the Marshal observed, that he really conceived it to be a Column on the march, and that there was great reason to believe it was a Detachment from GROUCHY. All the Staff directed their telescopes upon the point indicated; and, as the atmosphere was not very clear, different opinions were entertained: some asserting that what had been taken for troops were trees; others that they were Columns in position; whilst several agreed with SOULT, that they were troops on the march.
In this state of uncertainty and suspense, the Emperor sent for General DOMON, and desired him to proceed instantly with a strong reconnoitring party to the right, and procure correct intelligence; to put himself quickly in communication with the troops approaching from St Lambert; to effect a junction with them, if they belonged to Marshal GROUCHY, and to impede their advance if they proved to be Enemies. At the same time, the two Light Cavalry Divisions of DOMON and SUBERVIE proceeded some distance in the direction of the Wood of Paris; and were then drawn up _en potence_ to the Right of the French Army.
Not long after DOMON's departure, NAPOLEON's impatience to ascertain the precise character of the distant Column was relieved by the arrival of an Officer of _Chasseurs_ with a Prussian Hussar, who had just been taken prisoner; and who was the bearer of a letter, addressed by the Prussian General BÜLOW to the Duke of WELLINGTON, to acquaint the latter with his arrival at St Lambert. The prisoner stated that the Column which was perceptible in the vicinity of this Village, was the Advanced Guard of BÜLOW's Corps, which had not been engaged at Ligny; that he had been in the morning at Wavre; that the three other Prussian Corps were stationed close to that town, and had passed the previous night there, without perceiving any indication of an Enemy in their front; and that a Patrol of his own Regiment had advanced, during the night, as far as two leagues from Wavre without encountering any body of French troops.
SOULT who had just at that moment written the following letter to GROUCHY, in reply to his Second Report from Gembloux, immediately added a postscript, referring to the above intelligence, and sent off the despatch, accompanied by the intercepted communication and the Hussar's report.
"Du champ de Bataille "On the Field of Battle de Waterloo, le 18, à at Waterloo, the 18th, at une heure après midi. one o'clock in the afternoon.
"Monsieur le Maréchal, "Monsieur Marshal,
"Vous avez écrit ce matin, à "You wrote at two o'clock this deux heures, à l'Empereur que vous morning to the Emperor that you marcheriez sur Sart à Wallain; would march on Sart à Wallain; donc votre projet était de vous consequently your plan was to porter à Corbaix ou à Wavres: ce proceed to Corbaix or to Wavre. This mouvement est conforme aux movement is in accordance with the dispositions qui vous ont été dispositions which have been communiquées: cependant l'Empereur communicated to you: however the m'ordonne de vous dire que vous Emperor orders me to say to you devez toujours manoeuvrer dans that you ought always to manoeuvre notre direction; c'est à vous à voir in our direction. It is for you to le point où nous sommes pour vous consider our present position in régler en conséquence et pour lier order to guide yourself accordingly, nos communications, ainsi que pour and to knit up our communications être toujours en mesure pour in such a way as to be always tomber sur quelques troupes within limits to fall upon some Ennemies qui chercheraient à inquiéter of the Enemy's troops which would notre Droite, et les écraser. endeavour to annoy our Right, and En ce moment la bataille est engagée to crush them. At this moment sur la ligna de Waterloo. the Battle has commenced on the Le Centre de l'Armée Anglaise est line of Waterloo. The Centre of the à Mont Saint Jean, ainsi manoeuvrez English Army is at Mont St Jean, pour joindre notre Droite. so manoeuvre to join our Right.
"Le Duc DE DALMATIE. "The Duke of DALMATIA.
"P.S.--Une lettre qu'on vient "P.S.--A letter which has just d'intercepter porte que le Général been intercepted states that General BÜLOW doit attaquer notre Flanc. BÜLOW is about to attack our Flank. Nous croyons apercevoir ce Corps We believe we see this Corps on sur les Hauteurs de Saint Lambert; the Heights of Saint Lambert; ainsi ne perdez pas un instant pour therefore lose not an instant in vous rapprocher de nous et nous coming nearer to us and joining us, joindre, et pour écraser BÜLOW and in crushing BÜLOW whom you que vous prendrez en flagrant délit." will take in the very act."
The above letter is of much historical importance. Although conveying NAPOLEON's approval of GROUCHY's movement upon either Corbaix or Wavre, it clearly indicates the commencement of that anxiety and uneasiness of mind which the Emperor experienced through the fear of even the possibility of a want of just conception on the part of the Marshal, of the true spirit in which the combination of his movements with those of the main Army should be carried on. He draws the Marshal's attention to the necessity of his manoeuvring so as to prevent the execution of any hostile design against the Right Flank of the main Army, which is then engaged with WELLINGTON's forces, and names Mont St Jean, the Centre of the Duke's position, as a guiding point. This anxiety was naturally augmented very considerably by the discovery of BÜLOW's troops, and the postscript accordingly enjoins still more urgently the necessity of a close and active co-operation.
Very shortly after the Officer who was the bearer of this despatch had started, a message was sent in by General DOMON to the effect that his Scouts had fallen in with Detachments from the Enemy in the direction of St Lambert; and that he had just sent out Patrols towards other points to obtain intelligence of Marshal GROUCHY, and to communicate with him, if practicable.
It is to be observed, however, that the troops discovered by the French Cavalry did not belong to BÜLOW's main body, but merely to his Advanced Guard. The former was the mass first seen from La Belle Alliance, when it was moving across the Heights of St Lambert, on the right or opposite bank of the Lasne; but as explained in a preceding Chapter, it encountered great obstruction and much delay during its march towards the Field: whilst the latter, awaiting its arrival, rested concealed in the Wood of Paris, near Lasne.
Thus it appears that both Commanders were deceived as to the proximity of any considerable body of Prussians at this period of the day. Nevertheless, the conviction of such a proximity, while it imparted increased confidence to WELLINGTON, in regard to the speedy execution of the plan of combined operation which he had preconcerted with BLÜCHER, compelled NAPOLEON to employ additional vigilance and circumspection upon his Right Flank.
Great, however, as was the necessity for such vigilance; the measures that were adopted were lamentably deficient in energy, vigour, and judgement. Considering that the main body of BÜLOW's Corps was on the point of entering the Defile of St Lambert, in which it had to overcome the greatest difficulties; it appears unaccountable that the Officer employed in reconnoitring and patroling beyond the extreme Right of the French Army should not have urged the occupation of the Wood of Paris with a detached body of Infantry, with a view to impede BÜLOW's advance, and compel him to take a more circuitous route. In this manner the Prussian co-operation might have been so far obstructed or delayed as to secure to NAPOLEON the power of advancing against WELLINGTON with almost the entire of his force; and of thus, perhaps, accomplishing his grand object of defeating both Armies in detail.
No disposition of this kind was made; but, in place of it, DOMON's and SUBERVIE's Light Cavalry Divisions were moved to the right, _en potence_ to the Front Line, their Picquets not extending beyond the plateau in front of the Wood of Paris. Whether this culpable neglect arose from the want of due penetration and foresight on the part of General DOMON; or from this Officer having been instructed not to act as if in command of a detached Corps, but only to take up a position, within a prescribed distance, _en potence_ to the general Front Line; or, from an over confident expectation on the part of NAPOLEON of approaching aid from GROUCHY; are points not easily determined: but there can be no doubt that the error of not occupying the Wood of Paris with a strong body of Infantry, flanked and supported by the Cavalry, was fatal to the development of NAPOLEON's original design. One Infantry Division, combined with Domon's and SUBERVIE's Cavalry Divisions, would have sufficed for obstructing the debouching of BÜLOW's Corps from the almost impassable Defile of St Lambert; and compelling it to move by its right, into the line of march of ZIETEN's Corps, which did not reach the field before seven o'clock in the evening. To move by its left, along the deep and miry valley of the Lasne, would have been impracticable so long as the Wood of Paris and its vicinity continued to be occupied by the French.
In short, the importance of seizing upon the means that presented themselves for materially retarding, if not of completely frustrating, the co-operation of the principal portion of the Prussian forces, was of so vital a nature, that the French Emperor would have been justified in detaching the whole of LOBAU's Corps, along with the Cavalry already mentioned, under an experienced and enterprising General, such as LOBAU himself, to operate against the Prussians whilst these were occupied in passing the Defiles which led to his Right Flank. None of those troops were engaged with the Anglo-Allied Army during any part of the day; so that, without diminishing the numbers actually opposed to the latter, they might have been detached in the manner suggested: instead of remaining, as was the case, drawn up _en potence_ on the immediate Field of Action, to be attacked by the Prussians, who were permitted to pass the Defiles without interruption, to collect their forces under cover of the Wood of Paris, to debouch from the latter successively and at their leisure, and to organise their movements of attack in perfect security, and with the most systematic order and regularity.