WATERLOO DIARY® 
321 
tlie ranks of our Infantry immediately on our right were thinned, as 
was apparent from the increased space caused by closing the files, 
between its left and our right. At about between four and five o’clock 
in the evening the Prussians did appear, and after some delay they 
formed and advanced briskly to attack the French right in front of 
Papelotte. We could see some columns and Artillery of the French 
immediately wheel to the right and repulse this attack, and these Prus¬ 
sians made no further progress or attempt to push on. At about 
half-past eight o’clock more of the Prussian Army appeared, and some 
of their Cavalry and Artillery taking up the ground we had maintained 
the whole day, Sir Hussey Vivian moved his brigade towards the right, 
crossed the Pave road, and formed in line in rear of the Brunswick In¬ 
fantry, who were in line, advancing firing—-the smoke was so dense we 
could, for a time, see nothing immediately before us, while thus at the 
distance of about 15 paces supporting what proved to be at length, an 
attack from our side, and a total overthrow of the French. We could, 
however, perceive' that the right of the French was engaged in, and 
opposed by, a heavy cannonade on their right rear, which could only 
be another body of the Prussians, although from the distance, and dusk, 
which at this time was commencing, we could discern nothing with the 
eye but the flashes and smoke of their cannon, and the sound even 
extended beyond where we could see, and it was evident the French 
were engaged in rear of the heights on which they showed their 
front to us. 
About this time, while crossing the Pave, Sir Robert Gardiner and 
Dyneley (Captain) both expressed their distrust of present appear¬ 
ances, they did not like them, and bearing in mind everything I 
had gathered from what Colonel Delaney said in my hearing to Sir 
H. Vivian, as to the time and occasion, when his Brigade would move 
and be brought to support the centre, I held and expressed a contrary 
opinion, that it was the Duke’s turn and that he was now attacking 
their centre, his time for doing which evidently having depended upon 
the Prussians making their appearance in force on the right flank of 
the French. 
A short while afterwards the Infantry in our front, which had con¬ 
tinued steadily advancing and firing, halted and ceased firing, and we 
then perceived the French, both those immediately in our front and 
those on other parts of their positions, scampering off in full retreat. 
The Brunswickers broke into open column, and Sir H. Vivian passing 
through the intervals, the Cavalry pushed forward and were presently 
charging the fugitive masses in every direction, while we with the guns 
alternately unlimbered and advanced, bringing them to bear on every 
possible occasion till it was too dark to fire without danger to our 
own Cavalry, which continued to press upon the rear of the French, 
and turned their defeat into a complete rout and confused flight. We 
then halted to bivouac near what we called the Observatory, a wooden 
frame erection which was conspicuous in rear of the line of battle of 
the French in the morning. On being despatched to bring up our 
ammunition waggons which had been left behind at our advance, I 
passed in rear of the guns abandoned by the French, and met another 
