Star.
London, England, 1815-06-29 00:00:00

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BATTLE OF LIGNY.

NCZ BIZCHTIVS ACCOUNT OF THE
BeITTLESOFTNEI6TH AND 182.5.

OFFICIAL REPORT
OE THE OPERATIONS OF THE 'MISSIVE ARMY OF THE

LOWER RHlbil.
It was OR the 15th of this m-mth that Napoleon,
after having collected on the 14th five corps of his
army, and the several corps of the guard between
Maubeuge and Beaumont, commenced hostilities.—
The points of concentration of the four Prussian corps
were Fleurus, Namur, Ciney, and Hannut, the situa-
tion of which made it possible to unite the army in
one of these points in 2+ hours.
On the 15:11 Napoleon advanced by Thuin, upon
the two b inks of the Sambre against Charleroi.' Ge-
neral Zeithen had collected the first corps near Fleu-
rus, and had on that day a very warm action with
the enemy, who, after having taken Charleroi, direc-
ted his march upon Fleurus, General Zeithen main.
Mined himself in his position near that place.
Field Marshal Blucher intending to fight a great
battle with the enemy as soon as possible, the three
other corps of the Prussian army. were consequently
directed upon Sonahref, a league and a half from
Fleurus, where the 2d and 3d corps were to arrive
on the 15th, and the 4th corps on the 16th.
Lord Wellington had united his army between
Ath and Nivelles, which enabled him to assist Field
Marshal Blucher, in case the battle should be fought
on the 15th.

June 16.
The Prussian army was posted on the heights be.
tv:eco Brie and Sombref, and beyond the last place,
and occupied with a large force the villages of St.
Amand and Ligny, situated on its front. Meantime
only three corps of the army had joined ; the 4th,
which was srai ioned between Liege and Hattnut, had
been delayed in its march by several circumstanzes,
and was not yet come up. Nevertheless Field Mar-
shit, Blucher resolved to give battle, Lord Welling-
ton having already put in motion; to support him, a i
strong division of his army, as well as his whoie re.
serve, stationed in the environs of Brussels, and the
fourth corps of the Prussian army being also on the
point of arriving.
The battle began at three P. M. The enemy
brought up above 130,000 men. The Prussian army
was 130,000 strong. The village of St. Amand was
the first point attacked by the enemy, who carried it
after a vigorous resistance. He then directed his
efforts against Ligny : it is a large village, solidly
, built, situated on a rivulet of the same name. It was
there that a contest began which may be considered
as one of the most obstinate recorded in history.—
Villages have often been taken and retaken, but here
the battle conticued.for five hours in the villages
themselves, and the movements forwards or back.
wards were confined to a very narrow space.
On both sides fresh troops continually came up.
Each army had behind the part of the village which
it occupied great masses of infantry, which main-
tained the combat, and were continually renewed by
the reinforcements which they received from their
rear as well as from the heights on th," right avid left.
About 200 cannon were directed from both sides
against the village, which was on fire in several
places at once. From time to time the con bat ex-
tended along the whole line, the enemy having also
directed troop: against the third corps; however, the'
main combat was against Ligny. Things seemed to
take a favourable turn for the Prussian troops, a part
of the village of St. Amand having been retaken
from the French by a battalion commanded by the
Field Marshal in person ; in coasequence of which
advantage we bad regained the height which bad
been abandoned, after the loss of St. Amand. Ne-
vertheless the battle continued about Ligny with the
same fury. The issue seemed to depend on the ar-
rival of the English troops, or on that of the 4th
corps of the Prussian army ' • in Tact, the arrival of
this last division would have afforded the Field Mar.
shal the means of making immediately with the right
wing an attack, from which great success might be
expected. But news arrived that the English divi-
sion destined to support us was violently attacked
by a corps of the French army, and that it. was with
great difficulty it had maintained itself in its position.
At Quater Bras, the 4th corps of the army did
not appear, so that we were forced to maintain alone
the contest with an enemy greatly superior in numbers.
The evening was already much advanced, and the
combat about • Ligny continued with the same fury
and the same equality of success. We invoked, but
in vain, the arrival of those succours which were so'
necessary. The danger became every hour more and'
more urgent, all the divisions were engaged or bad
already been so, and there was not any corps at hock
able to support them. Suddenly a division of the,
enemy's infantry, which, by favour of the night,
bad made a circuit round the village without being
observed, at the same time that some regiments ell
cuirassiers bad forced the passage on the other side,
took in the rear the main body of our army, which
was-posted behind the houses. This surprize on the
part of the eat my was decisive, especially at the
anotnent when our cavalry, also posted on a height
behind the village, was repulsed by the enemy's ca.
'airy in repeated attacks.
Our infantry pe..ted behind Ligny, thong forced
.to retreat, did not suffer itself to be discouraged,
either by being surpriZed by the- enemy in the dark.
ness, a circumstance which, exaggerates in the mind
a man the dangers to which he finds himself ex-
posed, or by the idea of seeing itself surrounded on
all sides. Formed in masses, it. coolly repulsed all
the attacks of the cavalry, and retreated in good
order upon the heights, whence it continued its re-
trograde movement upon Tilly. In consequence of
the suddi.n irruption of the enemy's cavalry,• several
of our cannons, in their precipitate retreat, had
taken directions which led them to defiles, in which
they necessarily fell into disorder ; iii this manner f 5
• pieces fell into the hands of the enemy.
At the distance of a quack rof a 'cape from the
fottned again. Thesenemy
Acid of. battle, the army
did not venture to pursue it: The village of Brie
remained in our possession daring the night, as well
as Sombref, •where General Thielman had .'ought
with the•Sil corps, and where he at day-break slowly
began to retreat towards Gambloux, wherathe loth
corps, nudge General Bulow, had at length arrived
duziag the nights The let and U corps ptoceeded in

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the St‘orn. ing behind the deMe of Mount
Our loss in killed and wounded was greet, theenerny,
however, toot from us no prisoners, except a part Of

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our wounded:
The battle was lost, but not &U.. honour, Our
soldiers had lonia with a brevery which equalled
every expectation ; their fortitude remained un-
shaken, because every one retained his confidence in
his own strength. On this day Field Marshal Bucher
had encountered the greatest dangers. A charge of
cavalry, led on big himself, had failed, while that ofl
the enemy was--vigorously pursuing. A musket.'
shot struck the Field Marshal's horse ; the animal,
far from being stopped in his career by this wound.,
began to gallop more furiously till it dropped down.
dead. The Field Marshal, stunned by the violent
fall, lay entangled under the horse. The enemy's
cuirassiers following up their advantage, advanced;
our last horseman had already passed the Field.'
Marshal ; an Adjutant alone remained with him, atAI
bad just alighted, resolved to share • his fate. Thet
danger was great, but HxAVEN watched over
The enemy pus suing their charge, passed rapidly by
the Field Marshal without seeing him ; the nextmo.
ment, a second charge of our cavalry having repelled
them, they again passed by him with the same preci•
column, not perceiving him any more than they had
done the first time. Then, but not without difficulty,
the Field Marshal was disengaged from under the
dead horse, and he immediately, mounted a dragoon
horse.
On the 17th, in the evening. the Pruisian army
concentrated itself in the environs of Ways& Napa
Icon put himself in motion against Lord Wellington,
upon the great road leading from Charleroi to Brits.
sels. An English division maintained, on the same
day, near Quatre Bras, a very severe contest with the
enemy. Lord Wellington had taken a position on
the road to Brussels, having his right wing leaning
upon Bruerie la Leu, the centre near Mont St. Jean,
and the left wing against La Haye Sainte.
Lord Wellington wrote to the Field M'arslial that
he WAS resolved to accept the battle in this position if
the Field Marshal would support him with two corps
'of his army. The Field Marshal proposed to some
with his whole army : he even proposed, in case Na-
poleon should not attack, that the Allies themselves
with their whole force united should attack him the
next day.
This may serve to spew how little the battle of the I
16th had disorganized the Prussian army or weakened
its moral strength.
Thus ended the day of the 17th.
BATTLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH.
At break of day the Prussian army again began to
move. The fourth and second corps marched by St.
Lambert, where they were to take a posit:on covered
by the forest near Frichemont, to take the enemy in
the rear when the moment should appear favourable.
The first corps was to operate by °ham on the right
flank of the enemy. The third corps WAS to follow
slowly, in order to afford succour in case of need.—
The battle began about ten a. m. The English army
occupied the litights of Mont St. Jean—that of the
French was on the heights before Planchenort ; the
former was about 80,000 strong—the enemy had
above 130,000.
In a short time the battle became general along
the whale line. It seems that Nailacill. had the dee
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sign to throw the left wing upon the centre, and [Fins 1
to effect the separation of the Eoglish army from dial
Prussian, which he believed to be retreating upon
Maestricht. For this purpose, he had placed the
greatest part of -his reserve in the centre against his
right wing, and against this, point he attacked with
fury. The English army fought with a valour which
it is impossibly to surpass. The repeated /charges of I
the old guard were baffled by the intrepidity of the
Scotch regiments, and at every charge the French,
cavalry were overthrown by the English cavalry.
But the superiority in numbers of the enemy was too
great. Napoleon continually brought forward con.
siderable masses, and with whatever firmness the
English troops maintained themselves iu their psi-
lion, it was sot poesible but that such heroic etertigoe
must have a limit,
It was half-past four o'clock, The excessive diffi•
cubits of the passage by the defile of St. Lambert
had considerably retarded the march of the Prussian
columns, so that nearly two brigades of the fourth
corps had not arrived at the covered positioe which
was assigned them. The decisive moment was come;
there Was not a moment to be lost ; the Generals did
not suffer it to escape; they resolved immediately to
begin the attack. with the troops which they had at
,hand. General Bulow, therefore, with two brigades
lead a corps of cavalry, advanced rapidly along the
rear of the enemy's right wing. The enemy did not
lose his presence of mind, he instantly turned his
reserve against us, and a muideroes conflict began
on that side. The.combat remained long uncertain,
while the battle with the English army -still continu-
ed with the same violence.
Towards six p. in. we received the news that Ge-1
neral Thielman, with the third corps, was attacked
neat Wavre by a very ennsidetable enemy's corps,
and that they were already disputing the peeeeseion
of the town. The Field Marshal, however, did not
suffer himself to be disturbed by this news : it was'
lon the spot where he was, and no where else, that
the affair was to be decided. A conflict continually
supported with the same obstinacy, and kept. up by
fresh troops, could alone insure the victory, and if it
was obtained here, any reverse sustained near Wain*
was of little consequence. The columns, therefore,
continued their movements. It was half-past seven,
and the issue of the battle was still uncertain.
The whole of the 4ilt corps and a pan of the 2d,
under General Pesch, had.successively come op..—
The French troops fought with desperate fury ; how-
ever, some uncertainty was perceived in their move-
ments, and it was observed that some pieces of can-

non were retreating.
At this moment the first column of the corps of
General eithen arrived on the points of attack nests-
the village of Smouhen, on the enemy's right flank,'
and instant, charged. This movement decided the
defeat of the enemy. The right wing wasbroken in
three places, he abandoned his position. Our troops
rushed forward at the pas•de.charge, and attacked
him on all sides, while at the same time the' whole
English line advanced. Circumstances were en.
tirely tavourttble to the attack formed by this Prus-
siaq army. 't'he rotted rote in an amphitheatre, so
that oar artillery could freely open its fire from ANI:
summit at a' great many heights. winalt.sias gra.
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each- other, and Hi *the
*bleb the troops descended into the plain formed into
brigades, and in fhe greatest order, while fresh corps
continually unfolded themselves, issuing from the
forest on the height behind us. The eaensy, however,
still preserved meant to retreat till the village of
Planchenort, which he had on his rear, and which
was defended by the Guard, was, after several bloody
attacks, carried by storm.
From that time the retreat became a rout, which
soon spread through the whole French army, which
in its dreadful contusion, hurrying away every thing,
that attempted to stop it, soon assumed the appearance
of the flight of an army of barbarians. It was half.'
past nine. The Field Marshal assembled all the su-
perior Officers, and gave-orders to send the last horse,
and the last man in pursuit of the enemy. The van
of the army accelerated its march. The French
army, pursued without intermission, was absolutely
disorganised.
The causeway presented the appearance of an im-
mense shipwreck, it was covered with an innumera-
ble quantity of cannon, caissons, carriages, baggage.
arms, and wrecks of every kind. Those of the enemy
who bad attempted to repose for a time, and bad not
expected to be so quickly pursueci, were driven from
more than nine bivouacs. In some villages they at-
tempted to maintain themselves; but as soon as they
heard the beating of our drums, or the sound of the
trumpet, they either fled or threw themselves into the
houses where they were cut down, or made prisoners.
It was moonlight. which greatly favoured the pur-
suit, for the whole march WAS but a coutinued chase
either in the corn fields or the houses.
At Genappe the enemy had intrenched himself
with cannon, and overturned carriages at our ap-
proach. We suddenly heard in the town a great
noise and a motion of carriages. At the entrance we
were exposed to a brisk fire of musketry. We re-
plied by some cannon shot, followed by a hurrah, and
in an instant after the town was ours.
It was here that, 'among many other equipages.
the carriage of Napoleon was taken ; he had just lift
it to mount on horseback, and in his hurry had for-
gotten in it his sword and hat. Thus the affair con-
tinued till break of day. About 40,000 men, in the
most complete disorder, the remains of the whole
army, have saved themselves, retreating through
Charleroi, partly without arms, and carrying with
them only 27 piikces of their numerous artillery.
The enemy in his flight has passed all his fortresses'
the only defence of his frontiers, which are now passed
by our armies.
At three o'clock Napoleon had dispatched from
the field ot battle a courier to Paris, with the news
that was no longer dmibtful t a few hours after, he
had no longer any left wing. We have not yet any
exact account of the enemy's loss ; it is enough to
know, that two thirds of the whole army are killed,
wounded. or prisoners; among the latter are Gene-
rals Duhesme and Campans. Up to this time about
three hundred cannon, and above five hundred cais-
sons, are in our hands.
Few victories have been so complete, and there is
certainly no example that an army, two days atter
losing a battle, engaped in such an action, and so
gloriously maintainal it. Honour be to the troops
capable of so much firmness and valour I
In the michils; of the position occupied by the French
!lirtsty, and exactly upon the height, is a farm 4ralled
4.. a Belle Alliance. The march of all the Prussian
columns was directed towards this taro-. which was
vi,ible from every sate. It was there that Napoleon
was during the battle ; 'it was fr.ist thence that he
gave his orders—that he Littered himself with the
hopes ot victory ; and it was there that his ruin was
decided. There too it was that by a happy chance
Field-Marshal Blucher and Lord Wellington met. al
the dark, and mutually 1 aleach
UMW_ other as k odors.
In commemoration of the alliance which now sub
sists the English and Prussian cations, of
the noun at the two armies, and their reciprocal
confidence. the Field-Marshal desired that this battle
should hear the name of Li Bane Alliance.
By the order of Pield•Marshal Witcher,
(Signs.'.) General ONYIVENAU.

Captain MorrtcY is appointed agent for prisoners
of war at Fartone
Casianno.if's BgLGIAN DUVALL'S, lately publish-
ed, will be found particularly interesting to all per-
sons about to visit the Continent. Besides a very
particular notice of all the PUBLIC BUILDING% PLACES
of AsnaaMaNT, and Ck..alOSlTllt, ill HOLLAND, BgL-
GIUM, the NgfIIERLANDS, and GIRMANY, this W
contains an Accurate Table of Distances in English
miles, from one Town to another; describing every
thing worthy of observation on the journey, with'
the best Inns, &c. &c. There are also Tables 01
the Value of Money at different places, with Notices-
of the Trade and Manpfactures of each Town ; ac-
companied with general Directions to Strangers, and
embellished with correct Naps.
?RICO 07 BRZAlX—Tuesday last the LOgD MAYOR
ordered it to rise half an assist, to take place this day.
Nee of the paartern loaf I lid,

MINS.
Monday, * chipstead Place, Kent, *e wife of George Pol-
hill, Esq. of a son.
On the titlth November,l9l 4; at Weltevieden Wand, off Java,
the Lady of Lieutenant•Calonel Shaw, of his Majesty's 59th Re-
giment, of a son.
Monday, the Counties of Craven, of a daughter, at his Lord-
ship's house In Charles-street, Berkeley-square.

On Monday the 19th instant, Joseph, son of Robert Toryism.
Esq. of Carlisle, to Matte WWI', den& er of the late John
Clark, Esq. of Bebside House, Northemberi(nd.
Saturday last, at Bath, hi the Rev. James Randolph, Major.
General Sir Charles Wale, K. C. B. to Henrietta, eldest (laughter
of the late R. F. Brent, of Cruseombe, Somersetsbire ; tmt at the
tame time and place, Samuel Prost. Req. of Brietol, to Mary
Ann, youngest daughter of the Rev. T. Brent.
Captain llowden, R. N. to Miss Sarah Hawker, daughter of
the Rte. Robert Hawker, A. U. Vicar of Charlet, Plymouth.
Thursday, at the parish Church of St. Nicholas, in Guildford,
the Rev. John Stedman, of Wandsworth, to Eliza, daughter of
John Stedman. Esq. of the Mount tholdford.
Yesterday sennight, at Walton (,Int,reti, Samuel Solomon,
M. b. of Gilead House, near Llempo4, to Mite Jane Martha


MAiticlED.

Lune Is, *Chatham, In her 77th year, aher a short Moen,
Mrs. Elisabeth Hall, of Dover, Mkt of the late Edward Had,
Eli. of Cboorranel, musty Down, lriland.
On friday, taw Slid Inst. la basin& year, at his house at Tot-
Minot, John Hardly, WI ow, Esq. only temsalnlng MI of the
lan alslit Hos. J. R. Wthoos,

Iliel?

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• I directed troop: against me mire corps; flowerer, we
main combat was against Ligny. Things seemed to greatest part
I i. right wing,
• 2 „ take a favourable turn for the Prussian troops, a part
4 of the village of St. Amend having been retaken a fury.
ken The I
is impossi
I from the French by a battalion commanded by the
the old gum
i Field Marshal in person ; in consequence of which
1i i advantage we bad regained the height which bad Scotch regi
been abandoned, after the loss of St. Amand. Ne- cavalry we
s yertbeless the battle continued about Ligny with the But the sup
reat. e
a
Nal
same fury. The issue seemed to depend on the ar- g
rival of the English troops, or on that of the 4th siderabl
corps of the Fruitian army •9 in fact, the arrival of English tee
i •
this last division would have afforded the Field Mar. tin"' it was
ust have
2 steal the means of making immediately with the right m
,
. 1 wing an attack, from which great success might be It was e
culties of t
expected. But news arrived that the English divi.
colua
had cmss 11onsidi
ii I sion destined to support us was violently attacked
by a corps of the French army, and that it. was with
corps had t
great difficulty it had maintained itself in its position.
At Quater Bras, the 4th corps of the army did was assign'
there Was t
•,, not appear, so that we were forced to maintain alone
not suffer i
i , the contest with an enemy greatly superior in numbers.
The evening was already much advanced, and the begin the '
haneve
combat about 'Lim continued with the same fury
and a corp
and the same equality of success. We invoked, but
1 I in vain, the arrival of those succours which were so fear of the
I. necessavy. The danger became every hour more and lose his la
reserve ag
more urgent, all the divisions were engaged or had
ownhatheattbsei 1
ed with th
;
1 i observed, at the same time that some regiments 5 neraii.,This
!
' • 1' :
aulbrieeadtoy bseuepnposort,
them. Soddenly
erseuwddasennolytuandyiveoristopus atohrattdo
enemy's infantry, which, by favour of the night,
bad made a circuit round the village without bein Towak
cuirassiers bad forced the passage on the other side, near re"
took in the rear the main body of our army, which an, d,that 1
was-posted behind the houses. This surprize on the sill-fle,"
part of dwiehmenemy
oawvauslryd,ecuilssoivep,
oesstpeedcioaullyaahtcigthhet sounssrhensipm
• behind the village, was repulsed by the enemy's ca. the affair
'airy in repeated attacks. supported
fresh troo
fi Our infantry pc4.ted behind Ligny, though forced
.to retreat, did not suffer itself to be discouraged, was tibial
. , ii either by being surpriZed by the- enemy in the dark.
was of lii
nest, a circumstance which, exaggerates in the mind continued
of man the dangers to which he finds himself ex. :tad the is
posed, or by the idea of seeing itself surrounded on The w
under G
.
' • all sides. Formed in masses, it. coolly repulsed all
The Frei
! the attacks of the cavalry, and retreated in good
order upon the heights, whtnce it continued its re-
ever, sou
1 trograde movement upon Tilly. In consequence of numb, a
•ft the sudden irruption of the enemy's cavalry, several non were
tf . of our cannons, in their precipitate retreat, had At thi
• 4
' NIV
the villa;
taken directions which led them to defiles, in which General
• .
• ..; they necessarily fell into disorder ; iii this manner f 5
• .1
• I.
~ • pieces fell into the hands of the enemy. and insti+
•
At the distance,of a quarter of, a league from the defeat of
.c. field of . battle, the army totaled
again. The.enemy three pla
~, ' did not venture to pursue it. 'I he village of Brie rushed I
rema;ned in our possession ddring the night, as well him ell a
as Sombref, where General Thielman had .fought English
. • with tbe•SJ corps, and where he at day-break elpwly 'rife', 141
- • began to retreat towards Gambloux, wherathe IA si •
aq arm
corps, under • General Below, had at length arrivnd that our
duziag the night. The lit and 2d corps proceeded in rulluOt 1
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