The National Register.
London, England, 1815-07-02 00:00:00

420

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

the troops shall have been collected.—Before the disorder broke
out, wo had already experienend a very considerable loss, particular-
ly i❑ our cavalry, so fatally, though so bravely engaged.—Notwith-
standing these losses, this brave cavalry constantly kegt the po-
sition it had taken from the English, and only abandoned it'when
the tumult and disorder of the field of battle forced it. In the
midst of the night, and the obstacles which encumbered their
route, it could not preserve its own organization. The artillery
Ines, as nsol, covered itself with glory. The carriages belonging
to the head-quarters remained in their ordinary position ; no re-
trograde tnovement being jailed necessary. In the course of
the night they fell into the enemy's bands. Such hasheen the issue
of the battle of Mount St. Jean, ES oriom for the French armies, and
yet so fatal.

news ; it was on the spot where he was, and no where

affair was to be decided. A cunlict continually

same obstinacy and kept up by fresh troops, cc..
the victory, and if it were obtained here, an.
Wavre %% as of little consequence. The coheir

continued their movement. It was half an 110111
and the issue of the battle was uncertain. The w!
corps and a part of the :Id under General Nish
come up. The French hoops fought with desperat:
some uncertainty was perceived in their movement%

observed that some pieces of canecn mere retreating. At this
moment the first columns of the corps of General Ziethen arrived
on the points of attack, near the village of Smonlien, on the ene-
my's right flank, and instantly charged. This moment decided
the defeat of the enemy. His right wing was broken in three places ;
he abandoned his positions. Our troops rushed forward at the
pas de charge, and attacked him on all sides, while, at the same
tinfe, the whole English line advanced. Circumstances were
extremely favourable to the attack formed by the Prussian army ;
the ground rose in an amphitheatre, so that our artillery could 'lively
open its fire from the summit of a great many heights which ruse
gradually above each other, and in the intervals of which the
troops descended into the plain %rmed iitto brigades, and in the
greatest order; while fresh corps continually unfolded themselves,
issuing from the forest 011 the height behind us. 'l'l►e enemy,
however, still preserved means to retreat, till the village of Pldn-
Mellon, which he had on his rear, and which was defended by the
guard, was, atter several bloody attacks, carried by storm. Front
at time the retreat became a rout, whicl► soon spread through
il:e whole French army, which in its dreadful confusien. Ittnryint:
away every thii•g that attempted to stop it, soon assumed the ap-
pearance of the flight of an army of barbarians. It was half past
nine. The Field Marshal assembled all the superior officers, arid
gave orders to send the last horse and the last man, i•n pursuit of
the enemy. The van of the at my accelerated its march. The
French being pursued without inlet mission, was absohitely &sot.-
-ganised. The causeway presented the appearance of an intmetee
shipwreck: it was covered with an innumerable quantity of can-
non, caissons, carriages, luggage, anus, 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, were driven from more
than nine bivouacs. In some viliages they attempted to natintain
themselves; but as soon as they heard the beating awe drun►s or
the sound of the trumpet, they either fled or threw theinselvea
into tf►e• houses, where they were cut down or made prisoners. It
was moonlight, which greatly favoured the pursuit, for the whole
march was but a continuedchace, either in the corn fields or the
houses. At Genappe the enemy had entrenched himself with
cannon and overturned carriages ; at our approach vt e sud-
denly heard in the town a great noise and a motion of cat-
riages ; at the entraece we were exposes] to a brisk fire of
musketry ; we replied by some cannon shot, followed by au
hurrah, and in an instant alter the town was ours. It- was here
that, among other equipages, the carriage of Napoleon was
taken ; he had just left it to mount on horseback, and in his burly
had forgotten in it his sword and hat. Thus the affairs continued
till break of day. About 40,000 men, in the most complete dis-
order, the n mains of the whole army, have saved themselves, re-
, ticativir, through Chailcroi, partly without aims, and carrying with

JULY 2.
lll■lnMlmgmimgm.....l
Dare else, that the i
Appported by tte 1
,nld alone insure
any rcverse near
mins, theleforei l
hour past seven, 1
hole of the 4th
I had successively i
to fury : however,
Nuts. and it was

I