CHAPTER XVI.

It was explained at the conclusion of the Eighth Chapter that THIELEMANN, who had been ordered by BLÜCHER to defend the position of Wavre in the event of the Enemy advancing in force, or, if otherwise, to follow the main Army in the direction of Couture, was on the point of fulfilling the instructions appertaining to the latter contingency, when VANDAMME's Corps arrived in front of that position, about four o'clock in the afternoon, and its Artillery immediately opened a cannonade upon the Prussian troops.

All the Brigades (the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth) of THIELEMANN's Corps, had, at that time, received the Order to commence the general movement to the right. A Detachment of only two Battalions (the Fusilier Battalions of the 30th Regiment and of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr), under Colonel ZEPELIN, from the Ninth Brigade, which had not yet crossed the Dyle, was to be left in occupation of Wavre. The Twelfth Brigade was already in full line of march, and the Eleventh had been just put in motion.

When General BORCKE, who commanded the Ninth Brigade, fell back upon Wavre, for the purpose of carrying out his instructions, he found the Bridge already barricaded, and therefore proceeded with his Brigade to Bas Wavre: and having crossed the Dyle at this point, left a Detachment there, consisting of the Sharpshooters of the Fusilier Battalion of the 8th Regiment, and of those of the 1st Battalion of the 30th Regiment, under Major DITFURTH; whom he directed to destroy the Bridge immediately. He then detached the 2nd Battalion of the 30th Regiment and his two Squadrons of the Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry, as a reinforcement to Colonel ZEPELIN at Wavre; and, with the remainder of his Brigade, continued his march.

In the mean time, French _Tirailleurs_ were observed extending along the opposite Heights; and, in their rear, considerable masses of the Enemy's troops appeared advancing. It soon became manifest that they contemplated forcing the passage of the river.

THIELEMANN, judging by the want of vigour displayed in the French pursuit; and by the Enemy not having attempted to secure the passage of the Dyle at Moustier, Limelette, and Limale, that it was only a weak Detachment of the Enemy that was advancing upon Wavre, confining itself to the design of creating some little uneasiness by its movement along this road to Brussels, had hitherto been of opinion that the occupation of Wavre by a few Battalions, as directed by BLÜCHER, would be quite sufficient: but he now plainly saw that the moment had arrived which required him, in pursuance of his instructions, to maintain the position at Wavre; and he accordingly ordered the halt of his whole Corps for this purpose.

The town of Wavre is situated on the left bank of the Dyle: having a suburb on the opposite side of the river, with which it is connected by two stone Bridges; the principal one leading towards the middle, and a small one towards the upper end, of the Town. Higher up the stream, at the Mill of Bierge, at Limale, and at Limelette; as also below the town at Bas Wavre, there are wooden Bridges. The river is not deep, but at the period of the Battle it was swollen by the recent heavy rain. The low range of Heights on either side of the Valley is covered in many places with wood. The Heights on the right bank are generally more elevated, but those on the left have steeper declivities, and offer a greater command of the river and its passages. The shortest road from Namur to Brussels passes through the town, besides which there are numerous cross roads practicable for the movement of all Arms. The great number of hollow ways forms a prominent feature in the vicinity; and these, being in a miry state from the rain, were unfavourable to the progress of troops passing through them.

The position was thus occupied:--the Twelfth Brigade (Colonel STÜLPNAGEL), with the Horse Battery No. 20, was posted on the Height in rear of Bierge. The Bridge in front of this Village was barricaded, and the Mill occupied for the defence of the Bridge. The Tenth Brigade (Colonel KÄMPFEN) stood upon the Height in rear of Wavre, its Right resting on a Wood which lay between it and the Twelfth Brigade. The Eleventh Brigade (Colonel LUCK) was formed across the Brussels road. The Reserve Cavalry was drawn up, near La Bavette, in Columns of Squadrons. The Artillery was distributed along the Heights. The Horse Battery No. 18 remained in reserve.

That part of the town of Wavre which lies on the right bank, or, more properly, the suburb, was occupied by Light Troops only. The great Bridge was barricaded as well as time and circumstances would admit. The houses adjoining the left bank of the river were hastily loopholed. The smaller Bridge was left perfectly open. A Detachment of two Companies of Light Infantry, under Major BORNSTÄDT was detached to reinforce the troops at the Bridge of Bas Wavre.

THIELEMANN intended that the Ninth Brigade should be posted in rear of this general disposition of his troops, so that its services might be made available according as circumstances might require; but through some misunderstanding in the transmission of the Order, General BORCKE was induced, after having moved along the Brussels road until near La Bavette, thence to turn off to his left, and continue his march, according to his original instructions, in the direction of Fromont, Bourgeois, and St Lambert, towards Couture; being under the impression that the whole Corps had already commenced this march, in pursuance of the general plan, and that his Brigade was destined to cover the movement. The departure of the Brigade was not immediately discovered; and thus, by this misunderstanding, THIELEMANN's force suffered an unexpected reduction of six Battalions and the Foot Battery No. 18; and consisted, therefore, of only 15,200 men; with which number he had now to contend against Marshal GROUCHY's force, amounting altogether to 33,765 men.

THIELEMANN's position was certainly a very favourable one, and the occupation of it was arranged with great skill. As it was impossible to foresee in what manner the attack upon it would be conducted; whether it would be directed against one particular Bridge, or against all the Bridges, with the design of carrying the whole Line by storm: THIELEMANN limited the occupation of the town and of the line of the river to the number of Light Troops which might be sufficient for sustaining any sudden assault; taking care to have Supports close at hand for that purpose: but disposing his Reserves, which comprised his main force, so that they might become available at any point which might be pressed; or, should the Enemy develop greatly superior numbers, as was subsequently the case, serve to guard against any flank attack.

* * * * *

As before explained, it was VANDAMME's Corps which arrived in front of Wavre between three and four o'clock. Two Batteries, of which one consisted of twelve pounders, were drawn up on the right of the road overlooking the valley, and opened the cannonade. These were subsequently reinforced by a third Battery, posted on the left of the road. EXCELMANS' Cavalry Corps was posted in right rear of VANDAMME. GÉRARD, with the Fourth French Corps, was still in the rear on the march; and PAJOL, with his Light Cavalry, had only just passed through Tourrines, situated scarcely half way between Gembloux and Wavre. Marshal GROUCHY sent word to both these Officers to accelerate their march.

Whilst the French Skirmishers were gradually forcing back the Prussian Light Troops into the valley, GROUCHY, hearing a powerful cannonade in the distance to his left, rode off a little way in that direction; and concluding that NAPOLEON was closely engaged with WELLINGTON, conceived that as he had now reached the Prussians, he would best fulfil his instructions by vigorously attacking them, so as to prevent their detaching reinforcements to the Anglo-Allied Army. He was quite ignorant as to the strength of the Enemy in his front, and was in doubt whether the whole Prussian Army was before him, or merely a strong Detachment. Of the fact that three Prussian Corps were on the march to co-operate with WELLINGTON's forces, he of course knew nothing. In this state of uncertainty, and with his troops _aux prises_ with the Prussians, he was fearful of detaching to his left; since by so doing, he would expose himself to the risk of his main force becoming overpowered by superior numbers, and his Detachment cut off.

Independently of other considerations which might have assisted in dissuading GROUCHY from detaching a portion of his force at this period, such as the length of time his troops had been upon the march, along bad and miry roads; he was perfectly justified, under all the circumstances of his then position, in adopting this course of proceeding. And even if he had been fully cognisant of the actual disposition of the Prussian Army, he could at this time have rendered no essential service to NAPOLEON; the opportunity for doing so had been suffered to pass by, as was fully explained in Chapter VIII.

His total ignorance, however, of BLÜCHER's proceedings, and of all that was then taking place between Wavre and the Field of Waterloo, afforded undeniable proof of his having completely failed in acting up to the spirit of the instructions he had received, not to lose sight of the Prussians, and in exercising that degree of enterprise, energy, and decision, which NAPOLEON had so naturally anticipated from a General of GROUCHY's note and experience; especially when entrusted with so important a command, under such highly critical circumstances.

A message having reached GROUCHY from PAJOL, communicating his having fallen into the Marshal's line of operation, he directed that General to move upon Limale. His Right Flank, however, continued to be protected by the 17th Dragoons, detached from General BERTON's Cavalry Brigade (of EXCELMANS' Corps) _en reconnaissance_, towards the high road leading from Namur to Louvain.

In the mean time, a vigorous cannonade was maintained between VANDAMME's and the Prussian Batteries across that part of the valley in which lay the town of Wavre. Under cover of the French guns, the Skirmishers pressed down upon that portion of the town situated upon the right bank of the river, and of which they soon gained possession; the Prussians having previously decided upon not making any effort to retain it. On reaching the river, however, they were met by a most destructive fire of musketry from the opposite houses and the Bridge. The contest now became desperate, and the defence of the Dyle was obstinately maintained by the Prussians. The Skirmishers rapidly extended on either Flank along both banks of the river from Bierge as far as Bas Wavre. All the Prussian Brigades pushed forward their Sharpshooters. Those of the 4th Kurmark Landwehr took up the Line between the Town and Bas Wavre, those of the 3rd Kurmark Landwehr took post in the Town, between the two Bridges; on the right of the latter stood the Sharpshooters of the Tenth Brigade; and those of the Twelfth Brigade formed the Right Wing of the whole Line at Bierge.

This _tiraillade_ had continued about an hour, when General HULOT's Division of GÉRARD's _Corps d'Armée_ reached the Field; and received Orders to take possession of the Mill at Bierge, and to cross the Dyle at that point. A Battalion of VANDAMME's Corps was at the time vainly attempting to effect a passage. Upon the Height opposite Bierge were several guns of the Third Corps, endeavouring to keep down the fire from the Prussian Batteries on the other side of the valley.

GROUCHY desired GÉRARD to relieve the Battalion attacking the Mill at Bierge by one of his own Corps; whereupon the latter directed General HULOT to push forward with a Battalion of the 9th Light Infantry for that purpose. The Battalion descended into the valley, covered by the fire from the guns on the Height. Its advance was much impeded by the swampy nature of the ground at the foot of the declivity, and by the numerous broad and deep drains by which the valley is intersected: and its order was still further deranged by the fire from the Artillery on the opposite Heights, as also by that of the Prussian Skirmishers posted along the left bank of the river, and strongly occupying the Mill. The banks of the river at this part, more particularly the left bank, are mostly lined with trees; which tended still further to increase the means of resistance on the part of the Prussians to the advance of the French troops. The latter on reaching the Mill, and relieving VANDAMME's troops, made an attack; but without success.

GROUCHY was on the point of ordering this attack to be renewed, when he received, between six and seven o'clock, SOULT's despatch, addressed to him from the Field of Waterloo at one o'clock in the afternoon: and desiring him to manoeuvre always in that direction, to maintain a close communication with the main Army, and to lose not a moment in joining the latter, and attacking BÜLOW's _Corps d'Armée_; which, it added, could then be seen upon the Heights of St Lambert.

The circumstances in which GROUCHY found himself at the time this despatch reached him, held out no prospect of his being able to fulfil, even partially, the instructions which it contained. VANDAMME's efforts to force the Bridges of Wavre, and to capture the Town, were completely frustrated by the most gallant defence maintained on the part of the Prussians. The issue of the attack upon the Mill of Bierge appeared very doubtful. Neither the main body of GÉRARD's Corps, nor General TESTE's Division of the Sixth Corps, nor even PAJOL's Light Cavalry, had as yet arrived.

GROUCHY, becoming impatient, rode hastily towards La Baraque, accompanied by GÉRARD, to meet the first mentioned force; and on coming up with the Columns, directed their march upon Limale, his object now being to turn the Right of THIELEMANN's position, and to prevent the retreat of the latter upon Brussels, and at the same time open his direct road to St Lambert. This he might succeed in effecting; but it is sufficiently evident from the above view of his position, at so late an hour of the day, that any important diversion on his part in favour of NAPOLEON, was quite out of the question.

On returning with GÉRARD to Wavre, GROUCHY found that notwithstanding the furious assaults that were made in rapid succession upon the Bridges, supported by the vigorous cannonade from the Heights, and the incessant fusillade along the banks of the river, no further progress was effected. As if determined that the passage should be forced, he dismounted from his horse, and placing himself at the head of a Battalion, led on another attack upon the Mill of Bierge. But the bravery of the troops, though so strongly excited by the noble example of the Marshal, could avail nothing against the indomitable resistance of the Prussian defenders of this important Post. GÉRARD, who had accompanied the Marshal in this attack, fell severely wounded by a shot which struck him in the breast.

GROUCHY now decided upon leaving VANDAMME's Corps and EXCELMANS' Cavalry in front of Wavre and Bierge; and proceeding himself with that portion of GÉRARD's troops which was at hand, along the right bank of the Dyle, towards Limale, and uniting them to the remainder of the Corps which had been ordered to march in the direction of that point from La Baraque. This movement occupied considerable time, in consequence of the difficulties opposed to the march of troops along the side of the river. At length, having, arrived in front of Limale, and formed a junction with PAJOL's Cavalry, preparations were made for an attack.

Limale was at that time occupied by Lieutenant Colonel STENGEL with the three Battalions of the 19th Prussian Regiment, two Squadrons of the 6th Uhlans, and one Squadron of the Westphalian Landwehr Cavalry. It was the Detachment left by ZIETEN for the purpose of covering the Left Flank of the Third _Corps d'Armée_. It had unaccountably neglected to adopt any measures for barricading the Bridge; the defence of which, if conducted with the same energy and resolution by which that of the Bridges lower down the stream had been distinguished, might have been the means of preventing the French from crossing the Dyle at all on that day.

PAJOL, having reconnoitred the place and discovered his neglect, succeeded in gaining possession of the Bridge by means of a brisk Cavalry attack. HULOT's Infantry Division of GÉRARD's Corps reached it shortly afterwards; and it was soon made manifest to Lieutenant Colonel STENGEL that he was attacked by a force much superior to his own. Nevertheless he continued to fall gradually back, in good order, until THIELEMANN pushed forward the Twelfth Brigade to his support. Three Battalions of the Tenth Brigade moved into the position thus vacated by the Twelfth: and a general movement was made to the right by all the troops that could be spared from the defence of Wavre and Bierge. The 4th Kurmark Landwehr, belonging to the Eleventh Brigade, crossed the Brussels road. The Reserve Cavalry was ordered to move upon Limale, in support of the Twelfth Brigade.

When Colonel STÜLPNAGEL was ordered to move his Brigade (the Twelfth) upon Limale, he left three Battalions for the defence of Bierge. With the remaining six Battalions he came up close to the Enemy, who was posted on a Height in advance of Limale, his Left thrown considerably forward and covered by his Cavalry, and his Right resting upon some houses which he had occupied with Infantry. This Line, which was perpendicular to the direction of the original position of the Prussians, had been taken up with great skill by GROUCHY, notwithstanding the difficulties with which the movement had been attended. His troops had to ascend the Heights during the obscurity of the night, in rear of Limale, by a narrow, rugged road, in the immediate proximity of the Prussians, whose fire reached the head of the Defile: and he was fully occupied until a very late hour, in posting the Battalions in their proper places, as they filed out of the road, on reaching the Height; whilst, in the mean time, PAJOL's Light Cavalry pushed rapidly round by the left.

Colonel STÜLPNAGEL posted the Fusilier Battalion of the 5th Kurmark Landwehr, and his Battery, in reserve, in rear of the small Wood on the right of Bierge, and advanced to the attack, late as it was, with his five remaining Battalions, having Lieutenant Colonel STENGEL with his Detachment on the right. The darkness of the night prevented the Prussians from correctly ascertaining the position and strength of the French; but nevertheless it was decided that an attempt should be made to regain Limale, and drive back the Enemy across the Dyle.

The attack was thus formed. Two Battalions in front, closely followed by the remaining three Battalions. Both the Brigade Squadrons joined the three Squadrons under Lieutenant Colonel STENGEL; and the whole of the Reserve Cavalry formed in support. In this movement, however, the mutual connection of the advancing troops was greatly impeded by the darkness of the night. The two Battalions in Front Line were on the point of passing a hollow way when they received a volley from two French Battalions on the opposite side, by which their further advance was checked. The three Battalions of the Second Line had inclined too much to the left, where they became engaged with French _Tirailleurs_. Lieutenant Colonel STENGEL's Detachment, in attempting to push forward, was checked by the French Cavalry; and as the latter made a disposition which menaced his Right Flank, that Officer fell back with his Detachment as far as the Wood near Point du Jour.

The decided failure of the attack induced Colonel STÜLPNAGEL to withdraw all his troops to the Wood, leaving only the 1st Battalion of the 6th Kurmark Landwehr in support of the chain of Advanced Posts. The Reserve Cavalry bivouacked in rear of the Wood. Thus ended the contest on this part of the Field. The Prussian and French Picquets were so close to one another during the night, that the Patrols were constantly clashing, and the whole Line kept upon the _qui vive_.

* * * * *

Upon the Prussian Left, the conflict for the possession of the town and Bridges of Wavre continued to be carried on with unabated fury on both sides until late in the night. VANDAMME devoted the whole of his Corps to the attack; constantly pushing forward fresh troops to relieve those who had failed in their attempts to dislodge the Prussians. The latter, who exhibited on this occasion an extraordinary degree of bravery and resolution, succeeded in repelling no less than thirteen different assaults; and even dislodged, in five instances, the French from the houses they occupied, from the commencement, on the right bank of the Dyle. At one time the French had already gained possession of the great Bridge and some houses on the left bank, when they were driven back again to their own side of the river by the Prussian Reserves--these having advanced to the relief of their comrades. The struggle was desperate, and apparently interminable. When the French attacked the houses nearest the Bridge they succeeded in bursting open the doors, and by superiority of numbers, in possessing themselves of the ground floors. But even this did not induce the heroic defenders to relax their exertions; on the contrary, with increased fury, they defended the upper storeys of the houses, and held out most gallantly until relieved by the arrival of their Supports.

This brilliant defence of Wavre was distinguished, on the part of the Prussians, not only by the unflinching bravery of the troops, but also by the judicious disposal of the Reserves; by means of which the Enemy was foiled in every attempt to gain a permanent footing in the town. While the Skirmishers and their Supports were posted along the Dyle and the adjacent houses, the Reserves were concealed in the nearest streets, that lay in a direction parallel with that of the river: and at the moment the French Columns of Attack, already crippled by the fire concentrated from the Skirmishers, endeavoured to force the Bridge; these Reserves rushed forward from their cover in the side streets, and presenting themselves in mass before the Enemy, invariably drove them back with great slaughter.

It was in this manner that the Fusilier Battalion of the 30th Regiment, under Major SPRENGER, and the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr, under Major BORNSTÄDT, constantly repulsed, with admirable bravery, the attacks made with such superior numbers during the earlier part of the contest. One of these attacks having been attended with a somewhat favourable result, the 2nd Battalion of the 30th Regiment, under Major BEAUFORT, was brought forward; and, at a similarly critical moment, the 1st Battalion of the 4th Kurmark Landwehr, under Major GROLMAN, came up; when both Battalions succeeded in compelling the Enemy to retire.

These Battalions then took post in the streets lying parallel with the river, in the manner before explained; and, with heroic courage, overcame every renewed attempt on the part of the French to establish themselves in the town. When, finally, it is considered that from four o'clock until night, four Prussian Battalions successfully maintained their ground against a whole _Corps d'Armée_, with which they were constantly and desperately engaged during the whole of that period; the merits of Colonel ZEPELIN and his brave troops are beyond all praise, and present one of the brightest examples of the defence of a town and of the passage of a river, recorded in military history.

Both the Bridges of Wavre remained in the possession of the Prussians, and the smaller one was barricaded during the night.

At a late hour, as the fire on both sides began to slacken, the combatants bivouacked on their respective sides of the river. Upon the Prussian extreme Left at Bas Wavre, the French had only shown one Battalion. This occupied an isolated building, and was supported by two Squadrons and a piece of artillery. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to gain the Bridge; which, at nightfall, continued in the possession of the Prussians.

GROUCHY was occupied late in the night in making his preparations for renewing the attack on the following morning. General TESTE's Division of the Sixth Corps having at length arrived, his Left Wing, which was thus considerably reinforced, bivouacked upon the Height westward of Bierge; separated by this Village and the Dyle from his Right Wing which lay in front of Wavre. He had not yet received any intelligence of NAPOLEON's signal defeat at Waterloo; and was therefore resolved upon following up, at daybreak, the advantages he had already gained, by forcing back the Prussian Right Flank.

THIELEMANN, on the contrary, having despatched an Officer of MARWITZ's Cavalry Brigade _en reconnaissance_ to the right, ascertained through this means that the Allied Armies had gained a complete victory; and he therefore fully expected that GROUCHY would be compelled to effect an immediate retreat.

With the first dawn of the 19th of June, Colonel STENGEL, whose Detachment was posted on the extreme Right of THIELEMANN's Corps, took upon himself to march off by St Lambert, to join his _Corps d'Armée_ (the First); the grounds for which proceeding remain to the present time as unaccountable as his neglect on the previous day to secure the Bridge of Limale. In consequence of this movement, the Twelfth Brigade was necessitated to extend its Line too much to the right and to retain a Reserve of only three weak Battalions upon the road leading through the Wood to Point du Jour. The Wood to the right was occupied by a Battalion and two Companies from each of the remaining Regiments of the Twelfth Brigade. The Left Wing of this Line, which rested upon Bierge, was formed by six Battalions of the Tenth Brigade.

Colonel LUCK, commanding the Eleventh Brigade, was directed to support this Division, which was much too weak, with the three Battalions of the 3rd Kurmark Landwehr; but to leave the two Battalions of the 4th Kurmark Landwehr, as also the Brigade Squadrons, in rear of Wavre, in a hollow near the Windmill, where they served to cover the twelve pounder Battery No. 7.

The Mill of Bierge was occupied by two Battalions of the Twelfth Brigade: Wavre and Bas Wavre were held by the same troops which defended those points on the previous day. The barricades and preparations for defence were rendered more complete.

Lieutenant Colonel LEDEBUR, whose Detachment, consisting of the 10th Hussars, a Squadron of Landwehr Cavalry, and two guns from the Horse Battery No. 12, had formed on the 18th the Advance of the Rear Guard which THIELEMANN's Corps was considered to constitute, having reached St Lambert before GROUCHY's attack became so decided, remained there during the night.

Early on the 19th, GROUCHY sent off three Cavalry Regiments to his left to watch these troops. They showed no indication of an intention to attack; and when, later in the day, they retired and disappeared from LEDEBUR's view, the latter passed the Defile, for the purpose of proceeding to join his _Corps d'Armée_ (the Fourth), which, however, he did not reach before the 20th.

This, as well as Colonel STENGEL's Detachment, thus withdrew from the Field, without any apparent necessity, reducing THIELEMANN's numbers, already too weak, and taking up a line of march, along which their services were comparatively useless.

THIELEMANN, concluding from the account that he had received of the defeat of NAPOLEON, that the French would commence a retreat, renewed the combat at daybreak by an attack with his Cavalry. Colonel MARWITZ was sent forward, with the 8th Uhlans and two Squadrons of the 6th Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry, towards the plateau above Limale, occupied by GROUCHY's Left Wing: whilst General HOBE followed this movement with the 5th and 7th Uhlans, and formed up on the left of the Advanced Cavalry. The 5th Uhlans were immediately afterwards advantageously posted in a hollow in support of Colonel MARWITZ.

The Horse Battery No. 20, subsequently reinforced by the Foot Battery No. 18, opened a cannonade upon the Enemy's Columns at the plateau; which displayed a great superiority of numbers, and were supported by a considerable force of Cavalry. The preponderating number of guns in the Enemy's Line answered the fire of the Prussians with great vigour; and as the intervening space was very limited, the numbers of killed and wounded were very great. The Prussian Artillery lost five guns on this occasion.

GROUCHY delayed not a moment in making dispositions for an attack on his part. His force on this side of the Field consisted of the three Divisions of GÉRARD's Corps, and of TESTE's Division of the Sixth Corps. The latter and two of the former were posted in Front Line; the remaining Division, in Reserve. He formed three Columns of Attack. That on the right consisted of TESTE's Division, and was directed upon Bierge; the central Column was put in motion against the Prussian Centre; and that on the left against the Right of the Prussian formation.

The head of each Column was accompanied by a Battery, and preceded by a swarm of Skirmishers. At the same time, PAJOL put his Cavalry in motion, and threatened to turn the Prussian Right.

THIELEMANN resolved upon not only offering to the Enemy a vigorous opposition; but also upon assuming the offensive himself, and immediately gave the necessary Orders for that purpose. He also reinforced his Right with two more Companies, and his Left with an additional Battalion.

It was soon made manifest, however, that this attack failed to check the forward movement of the Enemy. The ten Prussian Battalions were forced to give way to the advance of twenty two French Battalions, which were followed by six more in support. The French gained possession of that part of the Wood of Rixansart which was on the right of the Prussian position, and drove back the Twelfth Brigade. The Battalions of the latter collected again immediately in rear of the Wood, under the protection of the three before mentioned Battalions of the Eleventh Brigade and of a Battery of fifteen guns.

General TESTE's Division had in the mean time attacked Bierge, which was bravely defended by the two Battalions of the Kurmark Landwehr. Whilst the engagement continued at this point, THIELEMANN took up a second position in rear of the first, with four Battalions of the Tenth Brigade, and occupied the small Wood in rear of Bierge. The Prussian Cavalry Brigade, under Colonels MARWITZ and Count LOTTUM, comprising twelve Squadrons, secured the right towards Chambre.

About eight o'clock, just as this position had been taken up, THIELEMANN received, through General PIRCH, the decisive and authentic intelligence that a great victory had been gained by the Allies on the previous day, as also a communication of the fact of the Second _Corps d'Armée_ having marched to intercept GROUCHY's retreat upon the Sambre. Advantage was immediately taken of these joyful tidings to raise the spirits of the troops, and to excite them to a renewed attack. With loud cheers the Prussian Batteries advanced to the attack; which was attended with complete success, and even the Wood of Rixansart was again taken.

The Enemy appeared irresolute, and as if impressed with the idea that THIELEMANN had received reinforcements; but observing that no further progress was made, he renewed the attack on his part, and retook the Wood of Rixansart.

It was not until about this time--towards nine o'clock--that TESTE's Division gained possession of the Village of Bierge; on which occasion General PENNE, an Officer of considerable distinction in the French Army, was killed. The French were prevented for some time from debouching from the place, by the determined opposition of the _Tirailleurs_ of the 31st Prussian Regiment, under Major NATZMER.

THIELEMANN had now done all which could possibly have been expected from any General under similar circumstances--with a force not equal to one half of that of the Enemy, he had endeavoured, whenever an opportunity offered, and in defiance of superior numbers, to force back the French Left Wing upon the Dyle; but now that he had failed in effecting this object, and that Bierge, the key of his position, had been taken from him, whilst the French Left was pressing forward with increased numbers to gain the Brussels road, he saw very plainly that to attempt to maintain his ground any longer would be to expose himself to the imminent risk of total overthrow, and that no other course was left to him but to order a general retreat.

* * * * *

It was about ten o'clock in the morning when the Prussian troops began to retire from the Field. The Town of Wavre had not been attacked on the 19th, and Colonel ZEPELIN abandoned it without being much pressed upon his line of retreat. Colonel MARWITZ was ordered to form the Rear Guard, which was furnished from the 7th and 8th Uhlans, and the 3rd and 6th Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry. It was accompanied by three Batteries of Horse, and one of Foot, Artillery. With these troops Colonel MARWITZ took Post, at first, in front of the Brussels road; placing three Batteries on his Left, and the remaining one in Reserve. THIELEMANN gave the Rear Guard an express Order not to march off until Wavre had been completely evacuated.

In the mean time, GÉRARD's _Corps d'Armée_ had crossed the Dyle both at Bierge and at Wavre. The two Battalions of the 4th Kurmark Landwehr, which had been posted in the hollow in rear of the Town, for the protection of the twelve pounder Battery, became closely pressed in consequence of this movement. One of the Battalions under Major SCHMADE had advanced against an Enemy's Column near the Brussels road; when it unexpectedly received the fire of three French Battalions, which were pushing forward under cover of an eminence, and followed by some Cavalry. The Battalion succeeded in reaching the small Wood near La Bavette; and as the Enemy attempted to turn the latter, it suddenly attacked and drove him back, after which it came up with the Rear Guard. The other Battalion, commanded by Major SCHWERIN, attacked a French Battalion which was advancing against it, threw it back in confusion, and then continued its retreat. The gallantry and steadiness displayed in this affair by the Kurmark Landwehr acquired for the latter great and well merited renown.

The French Cavalry debouched from the Wood of Rixansart and drew up, with its Left resting upon Chambre. VANDAMME now advanced the Columns of his Corps towards the Heights of La Bavette, and pushed forward some Cavalry along the high road. The latter, however, was driven back by Colonel MARWITZ.

It has been explained that General BORCKE, instead of posting his remaining six Battalions in rear of the position at Wavre, as intended by THIELEMANN, proceeded on his march to Couture, by St Lambert. This place he reached about nightfall, when he despatched an Officer to BLÜCHER to report his arrival. The latter, in reply, desired him to bivouac on the spot where he was, and to await further Orders on the following morning. The Brigade was still in its bivouac at seven o'clock the next morning, when Colonel STENGEL passed through St Lambert with his Detachment. The latter informed General BORCKE that he had defended the Bridge of Limale, and had been followed by the Enemy's troops.

BORCKE, on hearing this, immediately broke up his bivouac, and decided upon securing the Wood which extends from St Rober as far as Rixansart. He deployed two Battalions of the 8th Regiment along the edge of the Wood, and held the remaining four Battalions of his Brigade, then with him, in reserve. Perceiving French Cavalry, at the time of their first attack, marching into the Wood of Rixansart for the purpose of advancing through it upon Chambre; he opened a fire upon them from his Battery, with the hope of checking their movement. The only effect it produced was that of their detaching three Regiments of Cavalry towards his Brigade. These, however, contented themselves with watching his movements. It is curious that the Ninth Brigade, as if bent upon continuing the blunder committed the previous day of detaching itself from its Corps, should not have attempted, with its six Battalions, to effect a more important diversion upon the Enemy's extreme Left, from which it was not more than three thousand paces distant. It was then eight o'clock, and the Battle was maintained until about eleven; and yet General BORCKE allowed the three Cavalry Regiments to move off and join the remainder of the French Cavalry, towards ten o'clock, at Chambre, without even attempting to molest their movement.

THIELEMANN effected his retreat, in several Columns, by Ottenburg and St Achtenrode; at which latter place (about half way to Louvain) he took up a position. The French Cavalry followed as far as the Brussels road, and the Infantry occupied the Heights of La Bavette.

Between Wavre and Louvain the country assumes a new character, being covered with hedges, hollow ways, ditches, and gardens, and is altogether much intersected. From Ottenburg as far as St Achtenrode, there is almost one continued defile. In this, Cavalry cannot act with advantage; and it was therefore fortunate for the Prussian Cavalry that it was followed but slowly by the French.

The loss experienced by THIELEMANN's _Corps d'Armée_ in this Battle of the 18th and 19th of June, amounted to 2,476 men. No returns whatever of the losses sustained by GROUCHY's Army are forthcoming, but they could not have been less than those of the Prussians.

* * * * *

Such was the Battle of Wavre; a Battle the result of which was of no advantage to NAPOLEON on the 18th, and of positive disadvantage to him on the 19th. On the former day it did not prevent the march of the great mass of the Prussian Army towards the Field of Waterloo; and, on the 19th, the continuance of the contest, while NAPOLEON was in full flight, exposed this, the only remaining intact, portion of the French Army, to the imminent risk of being completely cut off from all retreat. Nor can this defeat of THIELEMANN be looked upon as having shed additional lustre upon the French arms, when it is considered how long and successfully the Prussians battled against them with less than half their strength.

The errors which led to the circumstance of the force under GROUCHY--constituting, as NAPOLEON himself has been pleased to term it, the Right Wing of the French Army--becoming exclusively occupied in attacking a single Corps of the Prussian Army; whilst the remaining three Corps of the latter were wending their way unmolested towards the decisive Field of Battle, have already been sufficiently discussed: and now that their result has been fully exhibited, it is scarcely necessary to draw attention to the proof which the latter affords of the entire ignorance of each other's proceedings which characterised the conduct of NAPOLEON and GROUCHY, great Generals as they were, in this memorable Campaign. The former received intelligence, before he began the Battle with WELLINGTON, that the Right Wing was to follow the Prussians to Wavre, and to act in such a manner as to prevent these from detaching towards the Anglo-Allied Army; and therefore felt satisfied that his general plan of operations was in successful progress. But in less than two hours from the commencement of the Battle, the fatal consequence of both Generals having unaccountably neglected to maintain a vigilant reconnaissance and an uninterrupted communication, was made manifest; and the first intimation NAPOLEON received of the advance of the Prussians towards La Belle Alliance was the distant view which he himself had, from his own Field, of BÜLOW's Corps descending the Heights of St Lambert, at about one o'clock.

The leading principle of the French Emperor's plan was to endeavour, by all means in his power, to beat the Armies opposed to him _in detail_. It was therefore incumbent on him, in order to insure the success of that plan, to adopt such precautionary measures as should procure for him the earliest and the clearest information concerning the movements of his Enemies. If he found it necessary temporarily to divide his force, and act upon two lines; those measures became still more indispensable, and at the same time admitted the greater facility of execution. Several reconnoitring parties, both upon the Flanks of the Army and in front of the interval between the two lines of operation, under the guidance of experienced, active and intelligent Officers, would have obtained for both Generals that insight into the movements and designs of their opponents which was so essential for the attainment of their common object: whilst parties detached from each Wing, for the sole purpose of maintaining a close and direct communication between them, would have afforded the ready means of regulating each other's proceedings according to the circumstances under which they might have found themselves respectively placed.

That there should have been so total a disregard of any measure of the kind appears almost incredible; yet such was the fact; and hence it came to pass that the despatch sent to GROUCHY, at one o'clock, from the Heights in rear of La Belle Alliance did not reach him until seven in the evening; at which time, as before explained, it was too late to admit of the instructions it conveyed being fulfilled: and hence, also, GROUCHY was left battling with his entire force--not less than a third of the whole French Army--against a single incomplete Prussian Corps, under THIELEMANN, from daybreak until about eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 19th, when he was first made acquainted with the fact that during the whole of that time the Army under NAPOLEON, having been most signally defeated and completely scattered on the preceding evening, was flying across the frontier in the wildest confusion.

On receiving this latter intelligence, GROUCHY's first idea was to march against the rear of the main body of the Prussian Army: but, calculating that his force was not adequate for such an enterprise, that the victorious Allies might detach to intercept his retreat, and that he should be closely followed by that portion of the Prussians which he had just defeated; he decided on retiring upon Namur, where he would regulate his further operations according to the intelligence he might gain in that quarter concerning the real state of affairs.