CHAPTER VIII.
At daybreak of the 17th, the Prussian Army commences its retreat upon Wavre 287
ZIETEN's Corps retires by Mont St Guibert, and reaches Wavre about mid day 287
PIRCH's Corps follows the same route, and takes post upon the right bank of the Dyle 287
THIELEMANN, having collected together the Brigades of his Corps, begins to retire from the Field of Ligny at two o'clock in the morning 288
He halts in rear of Gembloux 289
BÜLOW retires by Walhain and Corbaix to Dion le Mont, near which he takes up a position 290
THIELEMANN resumes his march at two o'clock in the afternoon, and arrives at the position of Wavre late in the evening 290
Prussian Head Quarters established at Wavre 291
BLÜCHER receives a message from WELLINGTON 291
While the Prussians are effecting their retreat during the early part of the morning, the French continue quietly in their bivouac 292
PAJOL, with the Light Cavalry Division, seeks the Prussians along the Namur road; followed by Lieutenant General TESTE's Infantry Division, in support 292
Other troops detached towards Gembloux, near which traces of the Prussian retreat are discovered 293
Remarks upon the extraordinary degree of inactivity on the part of NAPOLEON 293
About noon, NAPOLEON proceeds to collect, in advance of Marbais, on the high road to Quatre Bras, a portion of the troops that had fought at Ligny; and detaches the remainder, under GROUCHY, in pursuit of the Prussians 296
NAPOLEON's instructions to Grouchy 297
The troops assembled near Marbais advance upon Quatre Bras, which they reach about two o'clock 298
The Corps of VANDAMME and GÉRARD do not reach Gembloux until late in the evening 299
GROUCHY's dispositions 300
Disposition of the Prussian troops during the 17th 302
Influence of the defeat at Ligny upon the _morale_ of the Prussian Army 305
BLÜCHER is informed of the position of the Anglo-Allied Army 306
His instructions to BÜLOW 306
On the 18th, VANDAMME's and GÉRARD's Corps commence the march from Gembloux, at nine o'clock, upon Wavre, preceded by the Heavy Cavalry under EXCELMANS, and supported on their left by MAURIN's Light Cavalry 307
At half past ten o'clock, EXCELMANS' Advanced Guard comes in contact with the Prussian Rear Guard 307
At Sart à Wallain GROUCHY's attention is called to the sound of a heavy cannonade in the direction of Mont St Jean 308
GÉRARD suggests to GROUCHY the expediency of marching towards the cannonade 308
GROUCHY's reasons for rejecting this proposal 309
The march upon Wavre continued 309
At daybreak on the 18th, BÜLOW quits his position near Dion le Mont to march through Wavre upon St Lambert, and thus commences the flank movement of the Prussians in support of the Anglo-Allied Army at Waterloo 310
BLÜCHER communicates to WELLINGTON his intention of immediately attacking the Enemy's Right Flank 311
Dispositions made for giving security to this movement 312
BLÜCHER directs that as soon as BÜLOW's Corps has proceeded beyond Wavre, ZIETEN's Corps is to commence its march by Fromont and Ohain to join the Left Wing of WELLINGTON's Army 312
PIRCH's Corps to follow BÜLOW's in the direction of St Lambert; and THIELEMANN's to follow ZIETEN's as soon as its presence at Wavre is no longer essential 312
The march of BÜLOW's Corps through Wavre delayed by an accident 313
BÜLOW's Advanced Guard crosses the Defile of St Lambert, and halts in the Wood of Paris 313
PIRCH, having strengthened his Rear Guard in consequence of the approach of the French, effects the passage of his Corps across the Dyle at Wavre 314
BLÜCHER's instructions to THIELEMANN 316
Remarks upon GROUCHY's movements during the 17th, and the early part of the 18th 316
Their influence upon the Battle of Waterloo 321