552 
the next day. This may sérve to’ 
shew how jittle the battle of the’ 
16th had: disorganised the Prus- 
sianarmy, or weakened its moral 
strength. Thus ended the day 
of the 17th. 
BATTLE OF THE 18TH. 
At break of day the Prussian ar- 
my again began to move. The 4th 
and 2nd corps marched by St. 
Lambert, where they were to take 
a position, covered by the forest, 
near Frichemont, to take the ene- 
my in the rear, when the moment 
should appear favourable. The 
first corps was to operate by Ohain 
on the right flank of the enemy. 
The third corps was to follow 
slowly in order to afford succour 
in case of need. The battle be- 
gan about 10 o’clock in the morn- 
ing. The English army occu- 
pied the heights of Mont St. Jean; 
that of the French was on the 
heights before Planchenoit: the 
former was about 80,000 strong; 
the enemy had above 130,000. In 
a short time the battle became ge- 
neral along the whole line. It 
seems that Napoleon had the de- 
sign to throw the left wing upon 
the centre, and thus to effect the 
separation of the English army 
from the Prussian, which he be- 
lieved to be retreating upon Maés- 
tricht. For this purpose he had 
placed the greatest part of his 
reserve in the centre, against his 
right wing, and upon this point 
he attacked with fury. The Eng- 
lish army fought with a valour 
which it is impossible to surpass. 
The repeated charges of the Old 
Guard were batiled by the intre- 
pidity of the Scotch regiments ; 
and at evéry charge the French 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1815. 
cavalry was overthrown by the 
English cavalry. But the supe- 
riority of the enemy in numbers! 
was too great; Napoleon conti- 
nually brought forward: consider- 
able masses, and with whatever 
firmness the English troops main- 
tained themselves in their posi- 
tion, it was not possible but that 
such heroic exertions must have @ 
limit. 
Itwashalf-pastfouro’elock. The 
excessive difficulties of the passage 
by the defile of St. Lambert had 
considerably retarded the march 
of the Prussian columns, so that 
only two brigades of the fourth 
corps had arrived at the covered 
position which was assigned to 
them. The decisive moment was 
come ; there was not an instant to 
be lost. The Generals did not 
suffer it to escape. They resolved 
immediately to begin the attack 
with the troops which they had 
at hand. General Bulow, there- 
fore, with two brigades and a 
corps of cavalry, advancedrapidly 
upon the rear of the enemy’s right 
wing. The enemy did not lose 
his presence of mind ; hé instant- 
ly turned his reserve against us, 
and a murderous conflict began 
on that side. The combat re- 
mained long uncertain, while the 
battle with the English army still 
continued with the same violence. 
Towards six o'clock in the even- 
ing, we received the news that 
General Thielman, with the third 
corps, was attacked near Wavre 
bya very considerable corps of the 
enemy, and that they were already 
disputing the possession of the 
town. The Field Marslial, how- 
éver, did not suffer himself to be 
disturbed by this news; it was on 
the spot where he was; and: no 
