Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
It was soon after this that NEY received another despatch from
NAPOLEON, dated at two o'clock. From its general tenor it was evidently
written previously to the departure of Colonel LAURENT with the Order
for the flank movement of D'ERLON's Corps, and therefore the bearer
of it must have taken longer time than was necessary in conveying it
to the Marshal. It announced that the Prussians were posted between
Sombref and Bry, and that at half past two GROUCHY was to attack
them with the Third and Fourth _Corps d'Armée_, and expressed the
Emperor's wish that NEY should also attack whatever Enemy might be in
his front, and, after having repulsed the latter, fall back in the
direction of Ligny, to assist in enveloping the Prussians. At the same
time it stated, that should NAPOLEON succeed in defeating the latter
beforehand, he would then manoeuvre in NEY's direction, to support
in like manner the Marshal's operations. It concluded by requesting
information both as to NEY's own dispositions and those of the Enemy
in his front. This despatch reached NEY at a moment when he was most
seriously engaged, when the issue of the battle was extremely doubtful,
and the probability of his being enabled to afford the support required
by NAPOLEON most questionable.
Upon the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied forces, the advance of the
French Light Troops from Piermont and its vicinity was met in a most
determined and gallant manner by the head of KIELMANSEGGE's Hanoverian
Brigade (which after having moved along the Nivelles road, exposed to
the continued fire from the Batteries on the French Heights, had just
reached that part of the field), in conjunction with the 1st Battalion
95th British Rifles, and the 2nd Brunswick Light Battalion. The most
determined efforts were made by the Enemy to turn the Anglo-Allied
Flank. The French Infantry had already gained the high road, and were
boldly pressing forward, when the British Rifles, the Brunswick Light
Infantry, and the Hanoverian Field Battalion Lüneburg (under Lieutenant
Colonel KLENCKE) dashed in amongst them. The contest was obstinate
and severe; but the Allied Light Troops having been reinforced by
the Hanoverian Field Battalion Grubenhagen (under Lieutenant Colonel
WURMB), gradually obtained the ascendancy, and, dislodging their
opponents from one inclosure after another, continued steadily
advancing, and gaining ground.
Along the whole front of the central portion of the Anglo-Allied
Army, the French Cavalry was expending its force in repeated but
unavailing charges against the indomitable Squares. The gallant, the
brilliant, the heroic, manner in which the remnants of KEMPT's and
PACK's Brigades held their ground, of which they surrendered not a
single inch throughout the terrific struggle of that day, must ever
stand pre-eminent in the records of the triumphs and prowess of British
Infantry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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