Charleroi towards Bruxilles, and on the same evening, the 15th, attacked a brigade of the army of the Netherlands under the Prince de Weimar, posted at France, and forced it back to the farm-house on the same road, called, Les Quatre Bras."

"The Prince of Orange immediately reinforced the brigade with another of the same division under General Perpoucher, and in the morning early regained part of the ground which had been lost, so as to have the command of the communication leading from Nivelle and Bruxelles with Marshal Blucher's position.

"In the mean time, I had directed the whole army to march upon Les Quatre Bras, and the 5th division under Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton, arrived at about half past two in the day, followed by the corps of troops under the Duke of Brunswick, and afterwards by the contingent of Nassau.

"At this time the enemy commenced an attack upon Prince Blucher with his whole force, excepting the 1st and 2nd corps, and a corps of cavalry under General Kellerman, with which he attacked our post at Les Quatre Bras.

"The Prussian army maintained their position with their usual gallantry and perseverance, against a great disparity of numbers, as the 5th 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 the enemy 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 Major General 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 C. Halkel, 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 punished, and conducted themselves with the utmost gallantry. I must particularly mention the 28th, 42nd, 79th, and 92nd regiments, and the battalion of Hanoverians.

"Our loss was great,* and I have particularly to regret his Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick, who fell, fighting gallantly at the head of his troops.

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Although Marshal Blucher had maintained his position at Sambref; 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 concentrate his army upon Wavre, and he marched in the night after the action was

over.

"The movements of the Marshal's rendered necessary a corresponding one on my part, and I retired from the farm of Les Quatre Bras upon Genappe, and thence upon Waterloo the next morning the 17th, at ten o'clock.

"The enemy made no efforts to pursue Marshal Blucher. On the contrary, a patrole which I sent to Sambref in the morning, found all quiet, the enemy's videttes fell back as the patrole 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.

"This gave Lord Uxbridge an opportunity of charging them with the 1st Life-guards upon their debouche from the village of Genappe, upon which occasion his Lordship has declared himself to be well satisfied with that regiment.

"The position which I took up in the front of WaterJoo, crossed the high roads from Charleroi and Nivelle, and had its right thrown back to a ravine near Merke Brain, which was occupied, and its left extended to a height above the hamlet Fer le Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right centre, and near the Nivelle road, we occupied the house and garden of Hougoument, which covered the return of that flank, and in

* His Grace's Dispatches. London Gazette Extraordinary, June 22, 1815.

+

front of the left centre occupied the farm of La Haye Sainte. By our left we communicated with Marshal Prince Blucher, at Warre, though Ohaim and the Marshal had promised me, that in case we should have been attacked, he would support me with one or more corps, as might be necessary.

"The enemy collected his army with the exception of the third corps, which had been sent to observe Marshal Blucher on a range of heights in our front in the course of the night of the 17th, and the morning of the 18th, and about ten o'clock, he commenced a furious attack upon our post at Hougumont. I had occupied that post with a detachment from General Byng's brigade of guards, which was in position in its rear, and it was for some time under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Macdonel, and afterwards of Colonel Holme; and I am happy to add, that it was maintained throughout this day with the utmost gallantry by these brave troops, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of large bodies of the enemy to obtain possession of it.

"This attack upon the right of our centre, was accompanied by a very heavy cannonade upon our whole line, which was destined to support the repeated attacks of cavalry and infantry, occasionally mixed, but sometimes separate, which were made upon it. In one of these, the enemy carried the farm-house of La Haye Sainte, as the detachment of the light, battalion of the legion which occupied it, had expended all its ammunition, and the enemy occupied the only communication there was with them.

"The enemy repeatedly charged our infantry with his cavalry, but these attacks were uniformly unsuccessful; and they afforded opportunity to our cavalry to charge, in one of which Lord E. Somerset's brigade, consisting of the Life-guards, Royal Horse-guards, and first Dragoon-guards, highly distinguished themselves, as did that of Major General Sir W. Ponsonby, having taken many prisoners, and an Eagle.

"These attacks were repeated till about seven in the evening, when the enemy made a desperate effort with the cavalry and infantry, supported by the fire of artillery to force our left centre near the farm of La Haye Sainte, which after a severe contest, was defeated; and VOL. II,-43.

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having observed that the troops retired from this attack in great confusion, and that the march of General Bulow's corps by Ensepermont upon Planchnelle and La Belle Alliance, had begun to take effect, and as I could perceive the fire of the cannon, and as Marshal Prince Blucher had joined in person, with a corps of his army to the left of our line by Ohaim, I determined to attack the enemy, and immediately advanced the whole line of infantry supported by the cavalry and artillery. The attack succeeded in every point, the enemy was forced from his position on the heights, and fled in the utmost confusion, leaving behind him one hundred and fifty pieces of cannon with their ammunition, which fell into our hands. I continued the pursuit till long after dark, and then discontinued it solely on account of the fatigue of our troops, who had been engaged during twelve hours; and because I found myself on the same road with Marshal Blucher, who assured me of his intention to follow the enemy throughout the night: he has sent me word, that he had taken sixty pieces of cannon belonging to the Imperial guard, and carriages, &c. belonging to Bonaparte in Gemappe.

"I propose to move this morning upon Nivelles, and not to discontinue my operation.

"Such a desperate action could not be fought, and such advantages could not be gained without great loss. In Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton, his Majesty has sustained the loss of an officer, who has frequently distinguished himself in his service, and he fell gloriously leading his division to a charge with bayonets, by which one of the most serious attacks made by the enemy on our position, was defeated. The Earl of Uxbridge, after having successfully got through this arduous day, received a wound by almost the last shot fired, which will, I am afraid, deprive his Majesty for some time of his services.

"His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, distinguished himself by his gallantry and conduct, till he received a wound from a musket-ball through his shoulder, which obliged him to quit the field.

"It gives me the greatest satisfaction to assure your Lordship, that the army, never upon any occasion, conducted itself better. The division of guards under Lieutenant General Cooke, who is severely wounded, Major

General Maitland and Major General Byng set an example which was followed by all, and there is no officer, nor description of troops that did not behave well.

"I must, however, particularly mention for His Royal Highness's approbation, Lientenant General Sir H. Clinton, Major General Adam, Lieutenant General Charles Baron Alten, severely wounded. Colonel Ompteda, Colonel Mitchel, commanding a brigade of the 4th division, Major Generals, Sir James Kempt, and Sir Denis Pack, Major General Lambert, Major General Loret, E. Somerset, Major General Sir W. Ponsonby, Major General Sir C. Asgil, and Major General Sir H. Vivian, Major General Sir O. Vandeleur, Major General Count Domberg. I am also particularly indebted to General Lord Hill for his assistance and conduct upon this, as upon all former occasions.

"The artillery and engineer departments were conducted much to my satisfaction by Colonel Sir G. Wood, and Colonel Smyth; and I had every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the Adjutant General Major General Barnes, who was wounded; and of the Quarter Master General Colonel De Lancey, who was killed by a cannon-shot in the middle of the action. This officer is a serious loss to his Majesty's service, and to me at this moment. I was likewise much indebted to the assistance of Lieutenant Colonel Lord Fitzroy Somerset, who was severely wounded, and of the officers composing my personal staff, who have suffered severely in this action. Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. Sir Alexander Gordon, who has died of his wounds, was a most promising officer, and is a serious loss to his Majesty's service.

"General Kouse of the Nassau service, likewise conducted himself much to my satisfaction, as did General Trip, commanding the heavy brigade of cavalry, and General Vanhope, commanding a brigade of infantry of the King of the Netherlands.

"General Pozzo di Bargo, General Baron Vincent, General Muffling and General Alvoa were in the field during the action, and rendered me every assistance in their power. Baron Vincent is wounded, but I hope not severely, and General Pozzo di Bargo received a contusion.

"I should not do justice to my feelings, or to Marshal Blucher and the Prussian army, if I did not attribute the

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