XXXIV.

THE 1 P.M.—JUNE 18th—ORDER TO GROUCHY.

La Tour d’Auvergne, p. 270.

Du champ de bataille de Waterloo, le 18 juin, à une heure après midi.

Monsieur le Maréchal,

Vous avez écrit, ce matin à deux heures, à l’Empereur, que vous marcheriez sur Sart-lez-Walhain; donc votre projet était de vous porter à Corbais ou à Wavre. Ce mouvement est conforme aux dispositions de Sa Majesté, qui vous out été communiquées. Cependant, l’Empereur m’ordonne de vous dire que vous devez toujours manœuvrer dans notre direction. C’est à vous de voir le point où nous sommes pour vous régler en conséquence et pour lier nos communications, ainsi que pour être toujours en mesure de tomber sur les troupes ennemies qui chercheraient à inquiéter notre droite et de les écraser.

Dans ce moment, la bataille est engagée sur la ligne de Waterloo; le centre ennemi est à Mont-Saint-Jean; ainsi manœuvrez pour joindre notre droite.

P. S. Une lettre qui vient d’être interceptée porte que le général Bülow doit attaquer notre flanc. Nous croyons apercevoir ce corps sur les hauteurs de Saint-Lambert; ainsi, ne perdez pas un instant pour vous rapprocher de nous et nous joindre, et pour écraser Bülow, que vous prendrez en flagrant délit.

Le maréchal duc de DALMATIE.

For translation, see _ante_, p. 270.

FOOTNOTES:

[838] Captain George Bowles (Guards).

[839] The original instructions issued to Colonel De Lancey were lost with that officer’s papers. These memorandums of movements have been collected from the different officers to whom they were addressed.

[840] The italics are ours.

[841] The text cited is from the Supplementary Despatches; but it seems to us quite possible that the reading of this passage given in the Appendix to C. D. Yonge’s “Life of Wellington,”—London; Chapman & Hall, 1860,—is the correct one. It there reads as follows:—

“He was at Quatre Bras before twenty-four hours on the 16th,”—that is by 3 P.M., on the 16th,—which was the fact. There are other points where these versions differ, but this is the most important one. See _ante_, p. 90.

[842] Clausewitz.

[843] About 1 o’clock, at the Windmill of Bussy, between Ligny and Brie: so Hardinge told me.—J. G.

[844] _Cf._ Siborne, vol. 1, p. 102, n.; Gomm, p. 352; Waterloo Letters; Gomm, p. 23.

[845] The italics are ours.

[846] The 1st division did not arrive on the field until after 6 P.M. (_ante_, pp. 183, 184), and the cavalry, not at all.

[847] That of Bachelu.

[848] That of Foy.

[849] A village on the Brussels turnpike half a mile north of Quatre Bras.

[850] Those of Jerome and Girard. This shows that Ney expected that Girard’s division would be returned to him.

[851] This mention of the 4th Corps, Gérard’s, must be an error.

INDEX.

A.

Adam, General Sir Frederick, commander British brigade, 35; his troops of the best quality, 315; his light brigade at Waterloo, 323-324, 332, 333, 335, 336.

Albemarle, Earl of, his _Fifty Years of My Life_, reports story of Napoleon’s secluding himself on forenoon of battle of Waterloo, 30.

Alison, Sir Archibald, his _History of Europe_ criticised by Wellington and the Earl of Ellesmere, 10; not a military authority, 10; his view that Napoleon intended to throw himself between the allied armies, 10.

Allies. (See ARMIES.)

Allix, General, commander division 1st French corps, 25; his division at Waterloo, commanded by Quiot, 302, 305.

Alten, Lieutenant-General Count, commander 3d British division, 38; arrival of two of his brigades gives Wellington an equality of force at Quatre Bras, 179, 183; position at Waterloo, 300; wounded, his division rallied by Wellington, 314.

Anglesea, Marquis of. (See UXBRIDGE.)

Anthing, commander brigade Dutch-Belgians, 36; his brigade ordered to Enghien, 83, 89; reported near Audenarde, at 7 A.M., June 16th, 108.

Appendices:— A. On some Characteristics of Napoleon’s Memoirs, 351-354. B. On Marshal Grouchy and the Bertrand Order, 355-361. C. Orders and Despatches, 362-389.

Arentsschildt, Colonel Sir F., commander cavalry brigade King’s German Legion, 35, 36.

ARMIES:—

ALLIED, in concert of action against Napoleon; troops of England, Belgium, Holland, Hanover, Brunswick, Nassau, and Prussia, 2-4; their cantonments on and behind the Belgian frontier, 3, 96; strength, organization, and internal economy of, 32-43.

ANGLO-DUTCH, positions in Belgium before the campaign, 2-4; their extended cantonments, 2, 96; commanded by the Duke of Wellington, 34; heterogeneous character of, 34, 294; organization, 34-35; troops employed on garrison duty, 35; strength and composition in detail, 35-37, 39; location of the various divisions, 38-39; merits and defects of, 39-40, 43; principal officers, 40; Wellington as a commander, 40-41; internal economy of, 41-42; positions of troops as given in the “Disposition,” at 7 A.M., June 16, 85, n. [186]; actual positions, 111-113; badly served with information from the front, 114; at Quatre Bras, 178-179, 183; strength at Quatre Bras 184; losses, 184; at Quatre Bras morning of 17th, 214; position, composition, and strength at Waterloo, 297-299; in the battle of Waterloo, 294 _et seq._; 18,000 men detached at Hal and Tubize, 339.

British, strength and composition in detail, 35; mainly relied upon by Wellington, 39, 298; at Quatre Bras, 178-179, 184; steadiness of infantry, 179; in the skirmish at Genappe, 216; strength at Waterloo, 298; positions at Waterloo, 299-300; charge of the Union brigade, 306-307; suffered severely in d’Erlon’s assault, 310; the brigades of Vivian and Vandeleur brought to the centre at a critical moment, 314; repulse of the Imperial Guard by the Guards, 319-321; skilful use of troops by Sir Colin Halkett and Colonel Elphinstone in support of the Guards, 322; services of the light brigade, 323-324, 332-336.

Brunswick contingent (see also BRUNSWICK, DUKE OF); strength and composition in detail, 37-38; in the action at Quatre Bras, 178-179, 183; broke in disorder, the Duke being killed, 179; strength at Waterloo, 299; position at Waterloo, 299-300; brought into action, 314; driven back by the French divisions of Donzelot and Quiot, 318.

Dutch-Belgians, strength and composition of, in detail, 36; positions of, 38; raw troops, 39; occupation of Quatre Bras, 101; occupation criticised by Maurice, 103; fully justified, 104; the first troops to receive the attack at Quatre Bras, 101, 178; suffered severely, 183; strength and composition at Waterloo, 299, 314; Bylandt’s brigade badly placed, 299; breaks in confusion, 306; Chassé’s division supports the British guards, 314; opportune employment of Van der Smissen’s battery, 320.

Hanoverians, strength and composition in detail, 36; raw troops, 39; at Quatre Bras, 179; fought stubbornly, 179; strength at Waterloo, 298; in the battle, 312.

King’s German Legion, strength and composition in detail, 35-36; positions, 38-39; relied upon by Wellington, 39, 298; strength at Waterloo, 298; position, 300.

Nassau contingent, strength and composition in detail, 37; in the reserve, 38; strength at Waterloo, 299; position, 300; suffered severely, 310; driven back by divisions of Donzelot and Quiot, 318.

PRUSSIANS (allied), positions in Belgium before the campaign, 2-4; extended cantonments, 2, 96; strength and composition in detail, 32-33; locations of different corps, 33; composed mainly of veterans, 33; temper and spirit of, 34; Marshal Blücher, 34; internal economy of, 42; ordered to concentrate at Sombreffe on the 14th, 70, 143; strength and positions at Ligny, 143-144, 151-152, 172; in the battle of Ligny, 154-159; losses, 159; Blücher disabled, 158, 226, 229; retreat towards Wavre, 159, 226 _et seq._; Blücher decides to join Wellington, 230; admirable conduct of commanders after the battle of Ligny, 231; pledged to support Wellington, 234, 237; delay in the march to support Wellington, 262, 264; the combat at Wavre, 264-265; in the battle of Waterloo, 307-309, 311, 313-314, 324-328, 336, 339-342. (See also Battles of LIGNY, WAVRE, and WATERLOO.)

FRENCH, condition of, upon Napoleon’s return from Elba, 1, 16, 17; Soult made chief of staff, 17; confidence in Napoleon, 17; the corps commanders, 18; estimates of general officers, 19; what Napoleon expected of his lieutenants, 20; Ney sent for at last moment, 20; Grouchy suddenly appointed to command of right wing, 21; Napoleon’s mistake in leaving Davout at Paris, 22; estimate of the army, 24-25; strength and composition in detail, 25-28; internal economy of, 41; assembled near Charleroi, 44-45; addressed by Napoleon at Avesnes on the 14th, 45; general order of movement, 45-46; desertion of Bourmont, 47; operations on the 15th, 47-69; arrival of Ney, 49; delays in movement, 46, 50-53, 55, 118-119, 121-122, 125-127, 130-132, 138, 139-140, 157, 161, 163 _et seq._, 176-178, 180-187, 197 _et seq._, 211-212, 252-254, 256-257; the 2d corps attacks the Dutch-Belgians at Quatre Bras on the 15th, 101; operations on the morning of the 16th, 116-142; in the battle of Ligny, 152-175; strength at Ligny, 154, 171; losses, 159; in the battle of Quatre Bras, 176-196; strength at Quatre Bras, 184; losses, 184; operations on the 17th, 197-225; force detached with Grouchy, 212, 220; pursuit of the English on the 17th led by the Emperor in person, 214; skirmish at Genappe, 216; Grouchy’s march on Wavre, 211-213, 245-262, 264-267, 272, 279, 288; the combat at Wavre, 264-265; position at Waterloo, 301; strength and composition, 301; in the battle of Waterloo, 289-342; unwieldy formation of d’Erlon’s troops, 304-307; the great cavalry charges upon the English centre, 308-311; the charge of the Imperial Guard, 315-326, 331-338; tactics employed at Waterloo, 329-331; the rout of the French army due to vigorous attack of Zieten’s corps at close of the day, 340. (See also Battles of LIGNY, QUATRE BRAS, WAVRE, and WATERLOO.)

Audenarde, on the Scheldt, one limit of Lord Uxbridge’s cantonment, 79.

Austria, concentrates a formidable force on the eastern frontier for ultimate coöperation against Napoleon, 2.

Auvergne. (See LA TOUR D’AUVERGNE.)

Avesnes, Napoleon issued stirring order here “to conquer or die,” on the evening of June 14th, 45; Marshal Mortier detained here by illness, June 14th, 46.

B.

Bachelu, General, commander division 2d French corps, 25; advance to Frasnes, 49; at Quatre Bras, 178; position at Waterloo, 302; in the attack upon Hougomont, 304; Ney neglects to use this division to support his cavalry charge, 309; or in support of the charge of the Guard, 337.

Baring, Major, his battalion of the King’s German Legion occupies farmhouse of La Haye Sainte, 300.

Battle of Ligny, 143-175; Prussian strength and position, 143-144, 151; Napoleon’s plan of battle, 152, 153; position of the French, 153, 154; battle begins at 2.30, 154; orders to Ney, 154, 155; fought with determination on both sides, 156; nearly all the Prussian divisions under fire, 156; Napoleon decides to put in the Guard, 156, 157; delay caused by d’Erlon’s corps, 157; the Guard breaks Prussian centre, 158; Prussians fall back to Brye and Sombreffe, 159; Prussian desertions, 159; losses, 159; non-employment of the 6th French corps, 159, 160; extent of the French victory, 161, 162; discussion of the battle, 163-175.

Battle of Quatre Bras, 176-196; attack begun by Ney at 2 P.M., 178; at that hour only Perponcher’s Dutch-Belgian division opposed him, 178; at 2.30 Wellington arrived and took command, 178; arrival an hour later of Picton’s division followed by the Duke of Brunswick’s corps, 178; the Dutch-Belgians retire after two hours’ fighting, 179; the Brunswickers break, the Duke being killed, 179; at 5 P.M. two brigades of Alten’s division arrive, 179, 183; Ney even then has in action only half the force assigned him, 179; and is therefore unable to execute Napoleon’s orders, 183; Kellermann’s gallant charge, 183, 184; arrival of Cooke’s division of the English guards, 184; the French retire, 184; forces engaged, 184; losses, 184; defeat of the French due to diversion of d’Erlon’s corps, 184; and to Ney’s disregard of orders, 187; Wellington’s skilful handling of his troops, 187, 188; discussion of the battle, 189-196.

Battle of Waterloo, 289-342; the field surveyed before the campaign by English engineers, 296; strength and composition of the Anglo-Dutch army, 298, 299; positions, 297, 299-301; strength of the French army engaged, 301; position, 301, 302; relative strength and efficiency of the two armies, 302; Napoleon’s plan of battle, 302; the French attack upon Hougomont, 303-304; d’Erlon’s assault upon the allied centre, 304-307; unwieldy formation of his troops, 305, 306; gains the crest of the British position, 306; deadly fire and bayonet charge of Picton’s division, 306, 307; the charge of Ponsonby’s British cavalry, 306, 307; repulse of d’Erlon’s charge, 307; the French capture La Haye Sainte at great sacrifice, 307; Bülow’s corps (Prussian) advances and threatens Planchenoit, requiring Napoleon’s withdrawal from the field, 309; Ney left in command, 309; splendid onsets of French cavalry, 309-311; repulse of Bülow, 311; return of Napoleon to the front, 314; Alten’s British division rallied by Wellington, 314; the Brunswick troops brought forward, 314; Chassé’s Dutch-Belgian division placed in rear of British guards, 314; the light cavalry brigades of Vivian and Vandeleur brought to the centre, 314; the English troops exhausted, the allies discouraged, much artillery dismounted, 314; the reserves, with Maitland’s guards and Adam’s brigade combined at centre, 315; Ney ordered to collect infantry and cavalry to support an attack by the Imperial Guard, 315; the attack upon the Anglo-allied line by Donzelot and Quiot, 318; the broken lines rallied by Wellington, 318; steady advance of the Imperial Guard, 318, 319; destructive repulse of the Guard, 319 _et seq._; persistency of the rear battalions of the Guard, 323-324; timely charge of the 52d regiment, supported by the rest of Adam’s brigade, 324; the rout of the Guard complete, 324; Zieten’s attack, 324, 325; the French right wing shattered, 325; charge of the British cavalry brigades of Vivian and Vandeleur, 325; Wellington orders his whole line to advance, 325; the French routed, 326; Napoleon borne away in one of the squares of the Guard, 326; the victory of the allies complete, 326; discussion of the battle, 329-342.

Battle of Wavre, Thielemann’s corps left to defend the town, 264; Grouchy’s attack without skill, 264; the troops of Vandamme entangle themselves in the attempt to carry the lower bridges, 264-265; the 4th French corps in vain attack the Mill of Bierges, above the town, 265; Gérard wounded, 265; Pajol carried the bridge of Limale, 265; battle conducted gallantly by the French, but without method, 265; resistance of the Prussians worthy of all praise, 265.

Batty, Captain, _Historical Sketch of Campaign of 1815_, cited, 333.

Baudus, Lieutenant-Colonel de, his _Études sur Napoléon_, cited, 193, 194, 195, 196, 279, 292.

Beaumont, headquarters of Napoleon on the evening of June 14th, 45.

Belgium, acts in concert with other nations of Europe against France and Napoleon, 2-4 (see also ARMIES ALLIED); territory occupied by the cantonments of the allied armies, 3, 74; Brussels the headquarters of Wellington, 3; daylight in, from before sunrise at 4 A.M. until 9 P.M., 52, 251.

Bernhard, Prince. (See SAXE-WEIMAR.)

Berthier, Marshal, Napoleon’s old chief of staff, retired into Belgium with Louis XVIII., 17.

Berton, General, commander French brigade, reports to Napoleon the discovery of a Prussian corps at Gembloux, 209; his _Précis, historique, militaire et critique, des batailles de Fleurus et de Waterloo_, cited, 258, 286, 338.

Bertrand, Grand Marshal (French), to whom Napoleon dictated order to Grouchy, 209, 210. (See GROUCHY.)

Bierges, Mill of, Gérard wounded in attack upon, 265.

Blücher, Field-Marshal Prince, commander of the Prussian army, 32; his character as an officer, 34; hatred of Napoleon, 34; chose the line of the brook of Ligny as a possible battle-field, 70; orders concentration of his army at Sombreffe, 70, 143; his understanding with Wellington, 70 _et seq._, 91, 100, 143-145; advises Müffling of the concentration of the Prussian army at Sombreffe, 78; his cantonments too greatly extended, 96 _et seq._; hears from Wellington, 144; determines to fight Napoleon at Ligny on independent grounds, 143-147; his reasons for accepting battle, 148-150; his position, 151; battle formation and force, 151, 152; his position criticised by Wellington, 155, n. 15; leads cavalry charge against the French and narrowly escapes capture, 158; key to his position taken by the French Guard, 158; falls back to Brye and Sombreffe, 159; result of accepting battle with but three-fourths of his force unsupported by Wellington, 162; held Brye and Sombreffe until after midnight, 204; his retreat toward Wavre, 159, 226, 231-233; not in communication with Thielemann and Bülow after defeat of the corps of Zieten and Pirch I., 226, n. [516]; his age at time of the battle, 229, n. [526]; decides to join Wellington, 230, 234; assures Wellington of support at Waterloo, 234, 237 _et seq._; he as well as Wellington desired to close the campaign with a great battle, 235; advises Müffling that though ill he will lead his army in person at Waterloo, 263.

Bonaparte, Jerome, commander French division, 2d corps, 25; had nominal command only, 25, n. [35]; at Quatre Bras, 178, 179; his division in the attack on Hougomont, 303, 304.

Bonaparte, Joseph, advised by Napoleon on morning of June 14th of his intended movement on Charleroi, 45.

Bourmont, General, deserted with his staff to the enemy, succeeded by Hulot, 26, n. [36], 47.

Braine-le-Comte, sixteen miles west of Quatre Bras, 82; headquarters of the Prince of Orange, 102.

Braine-la-Leud ordered to be intrenched by Colonel Smyth, 296, 297.

Brunswick, Duke of, commander Brunswick corps, 38; arrives opportunely at Quatre Bras, 178; killed at Quatre Bras, 179.

Brussels, Wellington’s headquarters, 3, 74; chief objective of Napoleon next to the dispersion of the allied armies, 142.

Brye, place of conference between Wellington and Blücher, 108, 144, 146.

Bullock, R. H., _Journal of_, cited, 113.

Bülow, General, commander 4th Prussian corps, 33; had in 1813 won the battle of Dennewitz against Ney, 34; ordered to Ligny, 70; not fully informed of situation, delayed execution of order, 73; his arrival expected by Blücher, 151, 172; his non-arrival, 231; on the march to Waterloo, 262, 263; attacks the right flank of the French army, 308, 309; attacks Planchenoit and is repulsed, 311; capture of Planchenoit, 325; assures the allied victory, 340.

Bylandt, Major-General Count de, commander Dutch-Belgian brigade, 36; at Quatre Bras, 102, 114; dangerous position of his brigade at Waterloo, 299, 300.

Byng, Major-General Sir John, commander brigade British guards, 35; position at Waterloo, 300.