Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
In order to afford greater security to the Right Flank of the
Anglo-Allied Army, and also to keep open the communication with the
detached forces near Hal, and at Tubize, namely, the Corps of Prince
FREDERICK of Orange, and the Sixth British and Sixth Hanoverian
Brigades, under Lieutenant General Sir CHARLES COLVILLE; it was deemed
essential to occupy the small town of Braine l'Alleud, about three
quarters of a mile westward of Merbe Braine: and whence a road leads to
Tubize, which is distant between eight and nine miles.
With this view, the Third Division of the Netherlands, commanded by
Lieutenant General Baron CHASSÉ, was placed under the orders of General
Lord HILL; a part of whose Corps, as previously explained, formed
the extreme Right of the Anglo-Allied position. The First Brigade,
under Colonel DITMERS, occupied the town itself. It consisted of the
35th Battalion of Belgian Light Infantry, the 2nd Battalion of the
Dutch Line, and of the 4th, 6th, 17th, and 19th Battalions of Dutch
Militia. The 17th Battalion, detached a little to the left, kept up
the communication with CLINTON's British Division. The Second Brigade,
under Major General D'AUBREMÉ, occupied a good position about half a
mile in advance of Braine l'Alleud, upon a height on which stood the
Farm of Vieux Foriez.
* * * * *
It was at a very early hour of the 18th, that Lieutenant Colonel
TORRENS, Deputy Quartermaster General, reached Braine le Comte, and
delivered to Sir CHARLES COLVILLE the Order (see page 285), for his
falling back upon Hal. That General immediately put in motion his
two Brigades. These consisted of the Sixth British Brigade, under
Major General JOHNSTONE, and the Sixth Hanoverian Brigade, under
Major General Sir JAMES LYON, accompanied by Major BROME's British
Foot Battery. The remaining Brigade (the Fourth British, under
Colonel MITCHELL), as also the other Foot Battery, belonging to the
Fourth Division (Captain RETTBERG's Hanoverian), were on the Field
of Waterloo. On reaching Tubize, COLVILLE fell in with the Advance
of Prince FREDERICK's Corps: and as that was the point of junction
with the road leading by Braine le Château and Braine l'Alleud to
the position in front of Waterloo; he halted there, and despatched
Lieutenant Colonel WOODFORD, Assistant Quartermaster General to the
Division, to report his proceedings to the Duke. His Grace expressed
himself perfectly satisfied; and desired Lieutenant Colonel WOODFORD
to remain upon the Field of Waterloo, in order that he might be
prepared to return to Sir CHARLES COLVILLE with any instructions which
circumstances might induce the Duke to transmit to him.
* * * * *
The Artillery of the Anglo-Allied Army, commanded by Colonel Sir GEORGE
WOOD, was distributed in the following manner:--
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