The Waterloo Campaign, 1815

CHAPTER IV.

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ZIETEN ascertains and communicates to the Allied Commanders the assembling of French troops in his front, and that there is every probability of an attack by the Enemy on the 14th or 15th of June 94

BLÜCHER's dispositions 96

Extent of information gained by WELLINGTON and BLÜCHER immediately previous to the commencement of hostilities 97

Position of the First Prussian _Corps d'Armée_ under ZIETEN 97

Advance of the French Army into Belgium on the 15th of June 98

The French force the Prussian Outposts; cross the Sambre, and gain possession of Charleroi 98

Retreat of the different Brigades of ZIETEN's Corps upon Fleurus 104

Affair at Gilly 106

ZIETEN's Corps concentrates in position between Ligny and St Arnaud 110

Losses experienced by this Corps on the 15th 111

The Second and Third Prussian _Corps d'Armée_, under PIRCH and THIELEMANN, concentrate and bivouac on the night of the 15th; the former between Onoz and Mazy not far from Sombref, the latter in and around Namur 111

BÜLOW is desired to concentrate the Fourth Prussian _Corps d'Armée_ at Hannut 112

Cause of this operation being deferred until the 16th 113

NEY joins the French Army, and receives from NAPOLEON the command of a detached Corps destined to operate by the Brussels road from Charleroi 114

The Advanced Post at Frasne, upon the extreme Left of the Duke of WELLINGTON's Army, receives intelligence of the French attack 115

Consequent movements of DE PERPONCHER's Dutch-Belgian Division 115

The Anglo-Allied Post at Frasne is driven in by the Advanced Guard of NEY's Corps; the progress of which is checked by Prince BERNHARD of Saxe Weimar's Dutch-Belgian Brigade in front of Quatre Bras 116

Disposition of NEY's forces in the night of the 15th of June 118

WELLINGTON is informed of NAPOLEON's advance, and makes his dispositions accordingly 119

Order of the movements of the Anglo-Allied Army 120

Disposition of the Centre and Right Columns of the French Army during the night of the 15th 123

Remarks on the result of NAPOLEON's operations on the 15th of June 123