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

THE NATIONAL MUSTER.

cuirassiers antlered by the •grape-shot, we sent tour batialifins of
the middle guard to protect the cuirassiers, keep the position,
and, if possible disengageomd draw bark into the plain a put of
our cavalry. Two other battalions were sent to keep themselves ett
potence upon the extreme lilt of the division, which had manceuvred
no' on our flanks, in order not to have any uneasiness un that side—.
the rest was disposed in reserve, part to occupy the potence in rear
of Mount St. Jean, part upon the ridge♦ in rear of the field of bat.
tie, which formed our position of retreat.—ln this stale of of-
fairs the battle was gained; we occupied all the positions which
theenemy occupied at the outset of the battle ; our cavalry bay-
ing bean too soon and ill employed, we could no longer hope for
decisive success ; but Marshal Grouchy, having learned the move.
ment of the Prussian corps, marched upon the rear of that corps,
which insured us a signal success for next day. After eight hours
fire and charges of infantry and cavalry, all the army saw with joy
tile battle gained, and the field of battle iu our power, At half atter
eight o'clock, the four battalions of the middle guard, who had been
sent to the ridge on the other side of Mount St. Jean, in order to
support the cuirassiers, being greatly annoyed by the grape-shot,
endeavoured to carry the batteries with the bayonets. At the end
of the day, a charge directed against their flank by several English
squadrons put them in disorder. The fagitives recrossed the rein,
Several regiments near at hand seeint some troops belonging to the
guard in confusion, believed it *as the old guard, and in conse-
quen,se were thrown into disorder, Cries of all is lost, the giturei
is driuss back. were heard on every aide. The soldiers pretend
even that on many points ill-disposed persons cried out, sours
qui peat. Kiwever this may be, a complete panic at once sprea
itself throughout the whole field of battle, and they threw them'
selves hi the greatest disorder on the line of communication ; sol-
diers, cannoneers, caissons, all pressed to this point; the old guard,
which was in reserve, was infected, and was itself hurried along, hs
an instant, the whole army was nothing but a mass of contiodon;
all the soldiers of all arms were mixed pal-ntel, and it was utterly
impossible to rally a single corps. The enemy, who perceived this
astonishing confusion, immediately attacked with their cavalry, and
increased the disorder, and such was the confusion owing to night
coming on, that it was impossible to rally the troops, and point
out to them their error. Thus a battle terminated, a day of false
mancenvres rectified, the greatest snceess insured fur the next day,
all
.was lost by a moment of panic terror. Even the squadrons
of service, drawn up by the side of the Emperor, were overthruwn
and disorganised by these tumultuous waves, and there was then
noddy; else to be dyne lint to follow the torrent. The pinks of re-
serve, the baggage which had not repassed the Sambre. in short'
every timing that was on the field of battle, remained in the power of
the enemy. It was impossible to wait for the troops on our rid ;
every one knows what the bravest army in the world is wile.' has
mixed and thrown into con fusion, and when its organis t on no
longer exists, The Emperor crossed the Sambre at Charleroi, at
Eve o'clock in the morning of the 19th. Pluihl peville and A% eines
have been given as the points of re-union. Prince Jerome,
General Morand, and other Generals have there already rallied a
part of the army. Marshal Grouchy, with the corps on the
right, is moving on the Lower Sambre. The loss of the enemy
mast have been very great, if we may judge from the numbe, ft
standards we have taken from them, and flogs tlx retro, rade
movements whiCtt he made;—oar's cannot be calculated till after