282] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



those traitorous and guilty Frenchmen who had betrayed their 

 King, and delivered over their country to the merciless sway of an 

 Usurper. Little did Buonaparte calculate Upon being compelled a 

 second time to feel the vengeance of an offended and stigmatized 

 people, to fly before her victors, and to sue for safety even at the 

 gates of Paris. The Earl of Uxbridge joined the army at Brussels, 

 where the British head-quarters were fixed. Whilst the most ex- 

 tensive preparations were^making in Flanders for the commence- 

 ment of hostilities, all was anxious suspense in England. The 

 chances of success and defeat were nicely calculated : if the Allies 

 came up in time, all would be well ; if not, it was feared that the 

 result might prove unfavourable. In the midst of these calcula- 

 tions at home, and preparations abroad, the storm suddenly burst, 

 and the demon of war stalked forth in all his gigantic fury. Buo- 

 naparte had left Paris at the head of an immense army, and was 

 already on the frontiers. The Prussians Were immediately attacked, 

 driven back, and ultimately compelled to re-cross the Sambre. 

 Buonaparte quickly forced Charleroi, and dealt destruction in 

 their discomfited ranks : they fled with precipitation. The four 

 Pussian corps on the line of the Sambre fell back upon Fleu- 

 rus, Namur, Cincy, and Hannut : one of these, under Ziethen, had 

 engaged the enemy with partial success. Blucher being apprized 

 of these movements, ordered the other three corps to make a forced 

 march to Sombref, where he intended to give the enemy battle next 

 day. Early on the morning of the 16th, the French army moved 

 forward, and soon discovered the Prussian army drawn up in con- 

 densed columns, and occupying a strong position, with its right on 

 the village of St. Amand, its centre at Ligny, and its left extend- 

 ing towards Sombref: a most sanguinary contest ensued, and 

 each of these places were taken and re-taken several times. This 

 was a day of blood : it is called the battle of Ligny. Buonaparte hoped 

 to accomplish the annihilation of the Prussian army at Ligny, and 

 afterwards bring his united strength against the English. These 

 movements led to the obstinate struggle at Quatre Bras. It 

 was at one o'clock on the morning of this day, that the bugle 

 sounded through the streets of Brussels to summon every soldier to 

 his rendezvous. On the repulse of the Prussians on the 15th, 

 Blucher had sent off intelligence of the state of things to the Duke 

 of Wellington, who had previously received information to the same 

 effect, but he did not consider it authentic. The troops were imme- 

 diately put in motion, and before ten o'clock in the morning 



