Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
A second Officer, Lieutenant MASSOW, had been despatched from the
Prussian to the Anglo-Allied Head Quarters; and it was about this
time that he reached the Duke, with a verbal communication respecting
the retreat upon Wavre, and the position intended to be assumed in
that quarter. It was of a nature which, taken altogether, was so far
satisfactory, that WELLINGTON immediately sent a verbal message by
this Officer to BLÜCHER, acquainting him with his intended retrograde
movements, and proposing to accept a battle, on the following day, in
the position in front of Waterloo, provided the Prince would detach two
Corps to his assistance.
* * * * *
The following is the manner in which the retreat of the Anglo-Allied
Infantry, then in full operation, was executed. It was an important
matter to mask the retreat as much as possible, so as to gain time
for the free and unimpeded movement of the Army along the high road
leading to the position in front of Waterloo. For this purpose, the
Light Troops continued to maintain the line of Outposts, until their
respective Supports, which had remained stationary sufficiently long to
conceal the retreat of the troops in their rear, began also to retire.
The First and Fifth British Divisions, and the Second Dutch-Belgian
Division, as also the Brunswick Corps, effected their retreat in
excellent order, notwithstanding the delay that was created by the
narrowness of the bridge and street of Genappe. Their retreat was
covered by ALTEN's Division, to which were added for this purpose, the
1st Battalion of the 95th British Rifles, the 2nd and 3rd Brunswick
Light Battalions, the Brunswick Advanced Guard Battalion, and the Light
Companies of BYNG's Brigade of Guards.
The main body of ALTEN's Division commenced its retreat about eleven
o'clock. OMPTEDA's Brigade of the King's German Legion was withdrawn
to Sart à Mavelines, which it immediately occupied, as also the Wood
of Les Censes in its front. HALKETT's British Brigade then retired
secretly until it reached some favourable ground, a little distance
in rear of OMPTEDA's Brigade, upon which it was immediately drawn
up. KIELMANSEGGE's Hanoverian Brigade was withdrawn still further to
the rear, and occupied a third position. Thus posted, the Division
was ordered, in the event of being attacked, to retire by Brigades
alternately.
It was a little before midday when the Light Troops of ALTEN's Division
began to retire. They occupied the advanced line, commencing from
the southern extremity of the Wood of Bossu on the right, extending
along Gemioncourt and the inclosures of Piermont, and crossing the
Namur road on the left: from which line they gradually and slowly fell
back upon OMPTEDA's Brigade, in a manner evincing admirable skill,
steadiness, and regularity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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