munitions, rally the stragglers, and call in detachments" -a passage which shows that, at eight o'clock on the morning of the 17th, Napoleon did not contemplate any movement in advance. Jomini is of opinion that the delay of Napoleon on the 17th was a greater fault than his delay on the 16th.

After dictating this despatch, Napoleon drove to St. Amand, and there mounted his horse. He rode through the village pathways, still encumbered with dead and dying, and, according to his wont, he talked to the soldiers, and directed attention to some whose wounds had not yet been dressed. Thence he ascended the plateau and reviewed the troops who fell in, without arms, in succession, and offered the incense of vivas to their living idol. It is probable that, while here, the cavalry outposts, whose watch had been disturbed by Gordon's patrol, gave in their report, for about ten o'clock Napoleon ordered Count Lobau to march his corps upon Marbais, Domont and Subervie leading the way with their light horse, and an hour afterwards the Imperial Guard and Milhaud's cuirassiers were directed to follow Lobau. Napoleon continued on the field of Ligny talking politics with Grouchy and Vandamme, until Lobau sent word from Marbais that Wellington was still at Quatre Bras. This information, although not strictly correct, for the Anglo-allied infantry was already retiring upon Waterloo, roused Napoleon and forced him to decide. Another order was despatched to Ney, dated noon, directing him to drive the enemy from Quatre Bras, and telling him that he would. be seconded by a flank attack from the troops at Marbais, whither the Emperor was about to proceed. At the same time Napoleon gave Grouchy 33,319 men and 96 guns, instructing him to pursue and not lose sight of the Prussians, who, it will be remembered, had already vanished, while he kept under his own command, including Ney's

troops, a force of 72,447 men and 240 guns,' Girard, with 2,397 men and eight guns, being left at St. Amand. Napoleon had determined to pursue and fight with Wellington, leaving Grouchy to deal with Blucher; but he still proceeded on assumptions, for he assumed that Blucher was totally defeated, and had retired to Liége, and that he might count upon fighting with Wellington alone. Napoleon, as we may infer, rode off towards Marbais about one, but Grouchy did not commence his wandering march until two o'clock. One-half the day had been wasted, and when the Emperor and the marshal started in pursuit, their foes had passed beyond reach.

§ 3. Retreat and Pursuit.

Wellington, as we have seen, had, from the break of day, kept strict watch upon the movements of his allies and his enemies. His own patrols brought him early intelligence of the retreat of the Prussians and the inactivity of Napoleon. He saw for himself, with wonder, the quietude of Marshal Ney. An officer from Blucher confirmed the information acquired by Colonel Gordon, and having these well-ascertained facts before him, Wellington determined to retreat. This was soon after eight o'clock. But he did nothing hurriedly.

He sent word to

Blucher that he should fall back to the position of Mont St. Jean, and there, if the marshal would support him, fight the enemy. Orders were at once sent to Clinton's and Colville's divisions, the 2nd and 4th of Lord Hill's corps, to march at ten o'clock from Nivelles to Mont St. Jean. Those brigades of Colville's division which were on the road from Braine le Comte to Nivelles, were to return and halt at Braine le Comte. Prince Frederick of Orange

1 Charras.

was directed to move his Dutch infantry upon Hal, and Colonel Estorff was to place himself and his brigade of Hanoverian horse under the Prince's command. All the baggage was to be forwarded to Hal and Brussels. The infantry in position at Quatre Bras were ordered at the same time to retire along the Brussels road, leaving only the outposts and supports in position, and the cavalry in masses to mask the retreat. Thus Ney was deceived, and Napoleon imposed upon. Covered by the light troops and the display of cavalry, brigade after brigade quitted the position in succession, and defiled through the long narrow street which constituted the town of Genappe. Alten's division, slightly reinforced, was the last to quit the field, but a little before noon the outposts were rallied upon the main body, and the whole was conducted skilfully, in order of battle, to the rear, passing through Bezy and crossing the branch of the Dyle at Wais le Hutte, a few miles below Genappe. Thus the infantry brigades fell back upon Mont St. Jean.

Not a shot had hitherto been fired. Ney's masses had been under arms since the dawn, but they were silent and inactive, The withdrawal of the infantry outposts produced the first sign of life in the French lines, and the marshal brought up his cavalry to face the British. Wellington at this time occupied the position with a mass of horsemen, under the Earl of Uxbridge. Vivian and Vandeleur's light cavalry were on the left, and the Duke himself was with the 10th Hussars, who stood in echelon of squadrons on the scene of Picton's exploits. In the centre were the heavy cavalry of the Household and Union brigades, and on the right of Quatre Bras were Grant's and Dörnberg's light cavalry brigades. The front was covered by pickets of light dragoons and hussars. It was a brilliant spectacle. Beyond Gemioncourt Ney's horse

men were slowly pressing forward and exchanging shots with the British pickets; and the infantry in heavy columns were moving out from Frasne. On the British left Subervie's lancers, coming from Marbais, were in action with the outposts of Vivian's hussars, and behind them came Milhaud's cuirassiers, whose mail gleamed in the noonday sun. Vivian threw back his left to face the force bearing down upon that flank, and soon the skirmishers were engaged from the Namur road to the eastern fringe of the wood of Bossu. Napoleon was at length in full march from Marbais, and Ney was advancing from Frasne. Wellington did not intend to resist. His purpose had been answered, for his infantry were already through the narrow defile of Genappe, and well on their way to Mont St. Jean. So the three columns went about and retired. The Household and Union brigades, with a rear-guard composed of two light dragoon regiments, withdrew along the high road to Brussels. The right brigades directed their march upon a ford above the town of Genappe. Vivian and Vandeleur followed a by-road that led to Thuy, a few miles below Wais le Hutte. The centre and right columns were followed, but not assailed; and having reached the left bank of the stream, which runs through Genappe, they halted and faced about upon the gentle slopes which rise to the northward of the town. But the left column had no sooner gone about than the French guns opened upon them, and their horse seemed intent upon outflanking the rear regiment, and coming to close quarters. Vivian halted, and prepared to charge, but no sooner had his artillery begun to fire than a violent and drenching thunderstorm broke over them, and made rapid cavalry movements impossible. The ardour of the pursuit relaxed, and no further incident occurred until the brigade reached the river. Vandeleur, who had left to

[BOOK I. Vivian the glory of guarding the rear, was still crossing by the bridge. The French were pressing on. Vivian, to check them, immediately brought up the 10th British to support the 1st German Hussars, and kept the French at bay until Vandeleur had crossed. Then he sent back the 10th, with orders to dismount and line the bank on the other side of the bridge. The situation was critical. One squadron of the 1st, retiring, was cut off, and compelled to seek a ford lower down. The French, coming up in great force, seemed to be sure of overthrowing the Germans, when Vivian gave the word, and his hussars galloped down the road and over the bridge. The French dashed after them with loud shouts, but they were too late. The 10th Hussars on the opposite bank saluted them with a brisk fire, and a regiment and a half was in readiness to charge if they ventured to cross. They refrained, and the British, unmolested, proceeded through the deep country lanes by Glabbaix, Maransart, and Frischermont, to VerdCocou, on the east of Mont St. Jean. In like manner, but without molestation, the right column had retreated into the position of Waterloo.

The centre column, meanwhile, had been engaged at Genappe. The 7th Hussars formed the rear-guard, and as their last troop galloped through the town, the French poured after in considerable numbers. When the head of these densely-packed columns emerged on the other side, they found themselves in presence of the whole of the centre British column. Nearest the town were the 7th Hussars, beyond them, in support, the 23rd Light Dragoons, and in rear the heavy brigades in columns of half squadrons on each side of the main road. The French lancers first appeared and halted, but those in rear continuing to press on through the tortuous street, the whole defile became packed with horsemen. Seeing the reluct