uncovered. The line of battle was perpendicular to the causeway of Namur, Quatre Bras, and in the direction of Sombref to that of Gosselies; the point of Quatre Bras was perpendicular behind the middle of the line. It is evident that Marshal Blucher did not expect to be attacked on that day; he thought there would be time to complete the assembling of his troops, and that he would be supported on his right by the Anglo-Belgian army, which was to march on Quatre Bras by the causeways of Brussels and Nivelles on the 17th.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the third corps attacked the village of St. Amand. In a quarter of an hour afterwards, the fourth corps attacked that of Ligny, while Marshal Grouchy drove back the left of the Prussian army. All the positions and houses situated on the right of the ravine were carried, and the enemy's army thrown on the left bank. The remainder of the third corps of the Prussian army arrived during the battle, through Sombref; this increased the force of the enemy's army to ninety thousand men, The French army, including the sixth corps, which remained constantly in reserve, was seventy thousand men; less than sixty thousand men engaged the enemy. The village of Ligny was taken and retaken four times. It was here that Count Gerard acquired such imperishable glory, displaying no less intrepidity than talent. The attack was more feeble than St. Amand, which was also taken and retaken; but it was carried by General Girard, who, having received an order to advance by the left of the ravine, with his division, the third of the second corps, manifested that intrepidity, of which he had given so many examples in his previous military career. He overthrew all who attempted to oppose his march, by the bayonet, and had taken possession of half the village when he fell mortally wounded.

All the reserves of the enemy were repulsed by the bayonet, the centre of his line was pierced, forty pieces of cannon, eight colours or standards, a great number of prisoners, were the trophies of this day. Marshal Grouchy, Generals Excelmans and Pajol, excited admiration by their intrepidity. General Monthion was, in the night, charged with the pursuit of the Prussian left wing. In the official reports, the enemy estimated his loss at twenty

five thousand men killed, wounded, or prisoners, without reckoning twenty thousand men, who disbanded themselves and ravaged the banks of the Meuse to Liege. The guard and the sixth corps suffered no loss; but the fourth corps and General Excelmans' corps of cavalry, as also that of General Pajol, suffered considerably. The loss sustained by the third corps was by no means so great. Girard's division of the second corps was that which suffered most. The total loss was nearly six thousand nine hundred and fifty men killed or wounded. Many of the enemy's generals were killed or wounded. Marshal Blucher was thrown down by a charge of cuirassiers, and trampled on by the horses; but the cuirassiers continued their charge without seeing him. It was already night; by which circumstance this officer, bruised and maimed, succeeded in saving himself.*

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. The Prince of Orange, whose headquarters were at Braine le Compte, did not receive the Duke of Wellington's order to unite his troops before daybreak on the 16th. He then marched with the second brigade of the third Belgian division to Quatre Bras, to support one of the brigades commanded by Prince Bernard of Saxony, who, after having defended Frasne, had taken post between Quatre Bras and Genappe. Since the 15th, the Prince of Orange had remained on this important position all the morning, with eight or nine thousand Belgians, or troops of Nassau, infantry, cavalry, and artillery. He knew that all the cantonments of the Anglo-Belgian army had moved, and directed their march on Quatre Bras, by the roads of Brussels and Nivelles. He also felt the importance of this position; for if the Allies lost it, all their cantonments, coming by the causeway of Nivelles, would be obliged to effect their junction by the cross road, and in the rear of Genappe. If, therefore, Marshal Ney had executed his orders, and marched on Quatre Bras with his forty-three thousand men, at day-break on the 16th, he would have taken possession of this position, and easily routed the enemy's division with his numerous cavalry and light artillery; what is still more, he would have been enabled

to attack the divisions of the English army on their march, and while isolated on the causeways of Nivelles and Brussels.

At noon, this Marshal, having received the fresh orders which the Emperor sent him from Fleurus, marched with three divisions of infantry of the second corps, a division of light cavalry, and a division of Kellerman's cuirassiers, in all, sixteen thousand infantry, three thousand cavalry, and fortyfour pieces of cannon, (twenty-one or twenty-two thousand men). He left the first corps, consisting of sixteen thousand infantry, General Lefebvre Desnouettes's division of light cavalry of the guard, and a division of Kellerman's cuirassiers, forming a total of sixteen thousand infantry, four thousand five hundred cavalry, and sixtyfour pieces of cannon in reserve before Gosselies, to observe Fleurus and secure his retreat. His skirmishers commenced firing at two, but it was not until three o'clock, when the cannonade of the battle of Ligny was heard, that he fairly attacked the enemy. The Prince of Orange, and his division, was very soon overthrown; but it was supported by the division of the Duke of Brunswick, and the fifth English division, which arrived in great haste and bad order. These two divisions had set out from Brussels at ten o'clock in the morning, and marched eight leagues; they had neither artillery nor cavalry. The contest was warmly renewed; the enemy had the superiority as to numbers, for the second line of Marshal Ney was three leagues in the rear; but the artillery and cavalry of the French were much more numerous. These troops, repulsed like those of Nassau, left dead on many the field, and amongst others, the reigning Prince of Brunswick. The forty-second, or Highland regiment of Picton's division, having formed into a square to sustain a charge of cuirassiers, was broken through and cut to pieces; its colonel killed, and colours taken. The French sharp-shooters had already reached the farm of Quatre Bras, when the first division of the English guards, and Alten's division, the 3rd, arrived, marching in double quick time, on the causeway of Nivelles. These divisions were also without artillery or cavalry. It was then that Marshal Ney felt the want of his second line. He sent for it; but the troops could not reach the field of battle before eight; and it was

now six o'clock, and therefore too late. However, the Marshal fought with his usual intrepidity, and his troops covered themselves with glory. The enemy, although double as to infantry, continuing to be very inferior in artillery and cavalry, could not make any progress, but he profited by the wood which flanked his position, and kept it until night. Marshal Ney took up his head-quarters at Frasne, a thousand toises from Quatre Bras, with his line of battle, at the distance of two cannon shots from the enemy's army. He was joined by the first corps, commanded by Count d'Erlon; the arrival of which was retarded half an hour only, by the movement towards St. Amand. The loss of the Anglo-Belgian army was by the official returns, estimated at nine thousand men. The loss of the French army was three thousand four hundred men. This disproportion of losses can easily be accounted for; the AngloBelgian army remained en masse, from three o'clock in the afternoon till eight in the evening, under the grape shot of fifty pieces of cannon, which did not cease firing the whole of that time.

The Emperor visited the field of battle, and caused every assistance to be given to the wounded. The loss of the Prussians was enormous. Six of their dead bodies were seen for one of the French: a great number of the wounded who had received no medical aid were succoured; all the pages, and many officers having remained to attend them.

BATTLE OF MOUNT ST. JEAN.

During the night, the Emperor gave all the necessary orders for the battle of next day, although every thing indicated that it would not take place. During the four days that hostilities had continued, he had, by the most skilful manoeuvres, surprised the enemy's armies, gained a brilliant victory, and separated the two armies. This was much for his glory, but not enough for the situation in which he was placed. The three hours delay which the left (under Ney) had experienced in its movements, prevented him from attacking, as he intended, the Anglo-Belgian army, in the afternoon of the 17th; which would have crowned his campaign. As things now were, it was probable that the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blucher would profit by the night to cross the forest of Soignes, and unite before Brussels; after this junction, which might be effected before nine o'clock in the

morning,

morning, the position of the French army would become extremely critical! The two armies would then be reinforced by all the forces left in their rear: six thousand English were disembarked at Ostend within a few days; these troops returned from America. The French army could not hazard crossing the forest of Soignes, to encounter more than double its force, already in position; nevertheless, the other armies, Russian, Austrian, Bavarian, &c. were about to pass the Rhine, and march on the Marne; while the fifth corps, left for the defence of Alsace, was only twenty thousand strong!

Full of meditation on these important subjects, the Emperor went out on foot, at one o'clock in the morning, accompanied by his Grand Marshal; his design was to follow the English army in its retreat, and to endeavour to attack it, notwithstanding the obscurity of the night, as soon as it should commence its march. He visited the whole line of main guards. The forest of Soignes appeared like one continued blaze; the horizon between that forest, Braine-la-Leude, the farms of La Belle Alliance and La Haye, were resplendent with the fires of numerous bivouacs; the most profound silence reigned. The Anglo-Belgian army was wrapt in sleep, owing to the fatigues which it had undergone on the preceding days. Arrived near the wood of Hougoumont, he heard the noise of a column in march: it was then half past two o'clock; so that the rearguard ought to quit its position, if the enemy was in retreat. This illusion was short-the noise ceased, and rain fell in torrents. Several officers, sent to reconnoitre, and others who returned to head-quarters at half past three, confirmed the opinion, that the AngloBelgian army had made no movement. At four o'clock the scouts brought in a peasant, who had served as a guide to a brigade of English cavalry, which went to take position on the left, at the village of Ohain. Two Belgian deserters, who had just quitted their regiment, reported that their army were preparing for battle, and that no retrograde movement had taken place; that Belgium prayed for the success of the Emperor; while the English and the Prussians were equally unpopular there. The British General could have done nothing more contrary to the interests of his party and of his nation, or to the general spirit of this campaign, and MONTHLY MAG. No. 342.

even to the most obvious rules of war, than to remain in the position which he occupied. He had in his rear the defiles of the forest of Soignes, so that, if beaten, retreat was impossible!

The French troops bivouacked in the midst of a deep mud, and the officers thought it impossible to give battle on the following day; the grounds we're so moistened that the artillery and the` cavalry could not possibly manœuvre in them, and it would require twelve hours of fine weather to dry them. The dawn having begun to appear, the Emperor returned to his head-quarters, full of satisfaction at the great fault committed by the enemy's General; though very apprehensive that the bad weather would prevent him from profiting by it. But the atmosphere became more clear, and at five o'clock he perceived some feeble rays of that sun, which, before setting, was to witness the ruin of his opponents—the British oligarchy would be overthrown!-France was about to rise again, more glorious, powerful, and grand than ever!

The forces shewn by the enemy were estimated differently; but the officers most accustomed to these calculations considered them, including the corps of flankers, to amount to ninety thousand men, which agreed with the general accounts that were given. The French army was only sixty-nine thou sand strong, but, still, victory appeared to be certain. These sixty-nine thousand men were good troops; whereas in the enemy's army, the English only, amounting to forty thousand at most, could be reckoned as such.

At eight o'clock the Emperor's breakfast was served up: to this many general officers sat down. "The enemy's army," said Napoleon, " is superior to our's by nearly a fourth; there are, notwithstanding, ninety chances in our favour to ten against us." "Without doubt," said Marshal Ney, who had just entered," if the Duke of Wellington were simple enough to wait for your Majesty; but I come to announce that his columns are already in full retreat, and are disappearing in the forest of Soignes.' You have seen badly," replied the Emperor; "it is too late, he would expose himself to certain ruin by such a step; he has thrown the dice they are now for us! ! !"? At this moment officers of artillery, who had rode over the plain, stated that the artillery could manœuvre, although with difficulty, which would be greatly 4L diminished

diminished in an another hour. The Emperor mounted immediately, and went to the skirmishes opposite La Haye Sainte, again reconnoitred the enemy's line, and directed the General of Engineers, Haxo, a confidential officer, to approach it nearer in order to ascertain whether any redoubts were thrown up, or entrenchments made; the General soon returned to report that he had observed no trace of fortifications. After some moments' reflection, the Emperor dictated the order of battle, which was taken down by two Generals, seated on the ground. The aide-de-camps took it to the different corps, already under arms, full of impatience and of ardour. The army now moved forward, marching in eleven columns.

These eleven columns were to be arranged as follows; viz.-four to form the first line, four the second, and three the third. The four columns of the first line were, that of the left, formed by the cavalry of the second corps; the second, formed by three divisions of infantry of the second corps; the third, by the four divisions of infantry of the first corps; the fourth, by the light cavalry of the first corps.

At nine o'clock, the heads of the four columns forming the first line arrived where they had to form: at the same time were perceived, at unequal distances, the seven other columns, which descended from the heights; they were in march; the trumpets and drums sounded" to the field," and the bands struck up airs which recalled the memory of a hundred victories to the minds of the soldiery: -the earth seemed proud of being trodden by such intrepid combatants! The spectacle was really magnificent; and the enemy, so placed as to be able to distinguish every invidual, must have been also struck with the sight-the army would even have appeared double its real number, viewed from Mont St. Jean.

The eleven columns formed with so much precision that no confusion what ever arose, each occupying the place designated for it in the mind of the Chief: never had such large masses moved with so much facility. The

light cavalry of the second corps, which formed the first column of the left of the first line, formed in three lines, across the causeway from Nivelles to Brussels, nearly at the height of the first woods at Hougoumont, scouring all the plain by the left, having main guards near Braine-la-Leude, and its

battery of light artillery on the causeway of Nivelles. The second corps, under the orders of General Reille, occupied the space comprehended between the causeway of Nivelles and that of Charleroi, embracing an extent of from nine hundred to one thousand toises; the division of Prince Jerome keeping the left, near the causeway of Nivelles and the wood of Hougoumont; General Foy the centre, and General Bachelu the right, which extended to the causeway of Charleroi, near the farm of La Belle Alliance. Each division of infantry formed two lines; the second at thirty toises from the first, having its artillery in front, and its parks of artillery in the rear, near the causeway of Nivelles. The third column, formed by the first corps, and commanded by Lieutenant - General Count d'Erlon, formed its left towards La Belle Alliance, on the right of the causeway leading to Charleroi, and its right opposite the farm of La Haye, where the enemy's left was posted. Each division of infantry formed two lines, the artillery filling up the intervals of the brigades. The light cavalry, which formed the fourth column, spread to the right, observing La Haye and Frichermont, and having small parties to watch the enemies flankers; the artillery was placed on its right.

The Emperor now went through the ranks; it would be difficult to express the enthusiasm which animated all the soldiers; the infantry elevated their caps on their bayonets; the cuirassiers, dragoons, and light cavalry, their helmets on their sabres. Victory appeared certain; the old soldiers, who had been present at so many engagements, admired this new order of battle; they endeavoured to penetrate the ulterior views of their general, discussing the point and manner of the attack. Meanwhile, the Emperor gave his last orders, and proceeded at the head of his guard, to the summit of the six W's, on the heights of Rossome, where he dismounted. From this spot, he had a complete view of the two armies, as the prospect extended far to the right and left of the field of battle.

A battle is a dramatic action, which has a commencement, a middle, and an end. The order of battle which the two armies assume, the first movements which are made to engage, may be called the opening scene: the counter movements, made by the party attacked, form the under plot; this leads to new incidents;

incidents; these bring on the crisis, from which proceeds the catastrophe. As soon as the attack by the centre of the French army was unmasked, the enemy's general would execute counter movements, either by his wings or behind his line, to make a diversion, or hasten to the succour of the point attacked. None of these movements could escape the experienced eye of the French Monarch, from the central position in which he placed himself; while he had all the reserve at hand, to send them where the urgency of the circumstances might happen to require their presence.

Marshal Ney, obtained the honour of commanding the grand attack of the centre; it could not be confided to a braver man, or one more accustomed to this species of service. He sent one of his aide-de-camps, to say that every thing was ready, and that he only waited for the signal. Before giving it, the Emperor wished to throw a last glance over the whole field of battle, and perceived, in the direction of St. Lambert, a dark mass, which appeared to him like troops. Upon this, he asked the Adjutant General what he saw near St. Lambert? "I think, I see five or six thousand men," replied the General, "it is probably a detachment from Grouchy." All the glasses of the staff were now fixed in that direction. The weather was rather foggy. As it generally happens on such occasions, some maintained, that there were no troops, but merely trees which were perceived; while others said, columns were in position there; some, that they were troops in march. In this state of uncertainty, and without further deliberation, he sent for Lieutenant General Daumont, and ordered him to scour the right with his divisions of light cavalry, and that of General Subervie; also to communicate promptly with the troops which were moving on St. Lambert, to effect a junction if they belonged to Marshal Grouchy, and keep them in check if they were enemies. These three thousand cavalry had only to make a wheel to the right by fours to be out of the lines; they marched rapidly, and in the greatest order, to a distance of three thousand toises, and formed in line of battle on the right of the army.

A quarter of an hour afterwards, an officer of chasseurs brought in a Prussian black hussar, who had been just made prisoner by the scouts of a flying colump of three hundred chasseurs, which

scoured the country between Wavres and Planchenoit. This hussar was the bearer of a letter; he was also very intelligent, and gave all the information that was required. The column perceived at St. Lambert, was the advanced guard of the Prussian General, Bulow, who was coming up with thirty thousand men ; this was the fourth Prussian. corps which had not been engaged at Ligny. The letter was in fact the announcement of its arrival, and a request from Bulow to the Duke of Wellington for ulterior orders. The hussar said, that he had been at Wavres in the morning; that the three other Prussian corps were encamped there; that they had passed the night between the 17th and 18th in that town: that there were no French troops before them; that he supposed the French had marched on Planchenoit; that a patrole of his regiment had during the night approached within two leagues of Wavres, without meeting any French corps whatever. The Duke of Dalmatia immediately dispatched the intercepted letter, and the report of the hussar to Marshal Grouchy, to whom he reiterated the order to march without a moment's delay on St. Lambert, and to take General Bulow's corps in the rear. It was now eleven o'clock, the officer had only to proceed four or five leagues to reach Marshal Grouchy, and he promised to be with that officer in an hour. By the last communication received from the Marshal, it was known that he meant to march on Wavres at day-break; but from Gembloux, where he was, to Wavres, the distance is only three leagues. Whether he had received the orders which had been dispatched to him in the night from the imperial quarters or not, he should most certainly have been engaged at this very time before Wavres. Those who reconnoitred in that direction saw no troops; not a gun was heard. A short time after, General Daumont sent to say, that some well mounted scouts that preceded him, had met patroles of the enemy in the vicinity of St. Lambert; and that there was no doubt of the troops which were seen there being enemies; that he had sent chosen patroles in various direc-tions, to communicate with Marshal Grouchy, for the purpose of conveying orders and reports.

The Emperor immediately caused an order to be given to Count Lobau to cross the causeway of Charleroi, by a change of direction to the right by divisions, and to support the light cavalry

towards