63] 
time it appeared dubious whether 
the resistance against superior 
numbers of fresh troops could be 
Jonger persisted in. But the Prus- 
sians, who had themselves been 
attacked, and who found great 
difficulty in passing a defile be- 
tween their position and that of 
the British, began at length to 
appear. As soon as their cannon 
were heard, Wellington seized the 
moment, and advanced the whole 
line of infantry, supported by the 
cavalry and artillery. In every 
point this attack succeeded. The 
French were forced from their 
position on the heights, and fled 
in the utmost confusion, leaving 
behind them about 150 pieces of 
cannon~ with their ammunition. 
The British pursued till long after 
dark, and the General then halted, 
only on account of the fatigue of 
his troops, and because he found 
himself on the same road with 
marshal Blucher who promised 
to continue the pursuit during 
the night. 
The Prussians well performed 
their partinthis greatengagement, 
and the Duke of Wellington, with 
the liberality of au honourable 
miod, in his public despatches, 
made the fullest acknowledgement 
of their services. ‘I shouid not 
(said he) do justice to myfeelings, 
or to marshal Blucher and the 
Prussian army, if I did not at- 
tribute the successful result of 
this arduous day to the cordial 
and timely assistance F received 
from them. The operation of 
* General Bulow upon the enemy’s 
flank was a most decisive one; 
and even if IL had not found my- 
self in a situation to make the 
attack which produced the final 
result, it would-have forced the 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1815, 
enemy to retire if his attacks 
should have failed, and would 
have prevented him from taking 
advantage of them, if they should 
unfortunately have succeeded.” 
The Prussian pursuit was most 
active and vigorous. The Marshal 
had ordered that the last man and 
the last horse should join im it, 
and nothing could be more com- 
plete than the discomfiture of the 
French. “The causeway (says 
the Prussian narrative) was co- 
vered with an innumerable quan- 
tity of cannon, caissons, carriages, 
baggage, arms and wrecks of 
every kind. Those of the enemy 
who had attempted to repose for 
a time, and had not expected to 
be so quickly pursued, weredriven 
from more than nine bivouacs. 
The whole march was a continued 
chase. About 40,000 men, the 
remains of their whole army, sav- 
ed themselves retreating through 
Charleroi, partly without arms, 
and carrying with them only 27 
pieces of their numerous artil- 
lery.” 
Such was the battle of Waterloo, 
one of the most warmly contested, 
and most decisive, in modern mi- 
litary history. \ It shed the bright- 
est lustre on the British arms, 
and raised their great commander 
to thesummit ofmartial reputation. 
In his own modest narratives his 
name has rarely appeared ; but all 
the private accounts of this en- 
gagement were filled with anec- 
dotes of hisextraordinary coolness 
in the most trying circumstances, 
and of theintrepidity with whichhe 
exposed hiraself where the danger — 
was mosturgent. Such a victory 
was necessarily purchased at a- 
high cost ; and in no action of the 
present war has so bloody areturn 
