“The Prussian army maintained their position with their usual gallantry and perseverance, against a great disparity of numbers, as the 4th corps of their army, under general Bulow, had not joined; and I was not able to assist them as I wished, as I was attacked myself, and the troops, the cavalry in particular, which had a long distance to march, had not arrived. “We maintained our position also, and completely defeated and repulsed all the enemy’s attempts to get possession of it. The enemy repeatedly attacked us with a large body of infantry and cavalry, supported by a numerous and powerful artillery. He made several charges with the cavalry upon our infantry, but all were repulsed in the steadiest manner. “In this affair, his Royal Highness the prince of Orange, the Duke of Brunswick, and lieutenant-general sir Thomas Picton, and majors-generals sir James Kempt and sir Denis Pack, who were engaged from the commencement of the enemy’s attack, highly distinguished themselves, as well as lieutenant-general Charles baron Alten, major-general sir Colin Halkett, lieutenant-general Cooke, and major-generals Maitland and Byng, as they successively arrived. The troops of the 5th division, and those of the Brunswick corps, were long and severely engaged, and conducted themselves with the utmost gallantry. I must particularly mention the 28th, 42d, 79th, and 92d regiments, and the battalion of Hanoverians. “Our loss was great, as your Lordship will perceive by the enclosed return; and I have particularly to regret his Serene Highness the duke of Brunswick, who fell fighting gallantly at the head of his troops. “Although marshal Blücher had maintained his position at Sombreffe, he still found himself much weakened by the severity of the contest in which he had been engaged, and, as the 4th corps had not arrived, he determined to fall back and to concentrate his army upon Wavre; and he marched in the night, after the action was over. “This movement of the marshal rendered necessary a corresponding one upon my part; and I retired from the farm of Quatre-Bras upon Genappe, and thence upon Waterloo, the next morning, the 17th, at ten o’clock. “The enemy made no effort to pursue marshal Blücher. On the contrary, a patrol which I sent to Sombreffe in the morning found all quiet[81]; and the enemy’s vedettes fell back as the patrol advanced. Neither did he attempt to molest our march to the rear, although made in the middle of the day, excepting by following, with a large body of cavalry brought from his right, the cavalry under the earl of Uxbridge.