Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-30

We was resolved to offer battle in this pos ton If
ne would support him with two corps of his ar
my. The marshal promised to come with his
whole army. lie even proposed, that fthe enc
my did not attack, the allies should themselves
make the attack the next day, with all their for
ces united. From this it may be Judged how
tar the Prussim army had been disorganized by
the battle OF the sixteenth, and how much its
AonN WAS WEAKENED. Thus ended the Sc
yenteentl,
Battle Of the ,.1Sth Of June.
At break of day the Prussian army was put in
motion, The 18th and 5th corps of the army
march by St. Lambert, where they were to take
a covered position in the forest situated near
frichemont to take the enemy in the rear, when
! the occasion should be favorable forit The 1st
corps was to operate by obaia, upon the sight
Hank, of the enemy. The Sd corps was to FOL
low slowly, to furnish assistance in case of ne.
| cessity. The battle commenced at ab,ult 10
O'Clock N the morning. The English army oc-
cupied the heights ofNIount ST. John, the French
was upon the heights of Plsnchenorte, The first
was about $4,000 strong, the enemy exceeded
10000 In a short time the battle became gen
eral through the whole line. 1t appeared that
Napoleon had the design of throwing back the
| LETT wing upon the centre, and OF thus ettectng.
q separation of the English army from the Prais-
Sans which he thought was in retreat upon Ma
estritcht. For this purpose he had placed the
greatest part of his reserve in the centre against
his right wing, and at this point he attack ed
with fury. The English army fought with a
bravery which it is impossible to surpass. The
repeated charges of the old GUARD had no effect
against the ntrepidity of the Scotch regiments,
and IN every shock the French cavalry was over
thrown by the English cavalry.
But the numerical superiority of the enemy
was too great. Napoleon was continually adj
vancins considerable masses, and with whatever
firmness the English maintained their positi-
I.-,a
aation.
1t was half past four o'clock. Excessive diff
ficulties which the passage of the deiile of St
Lambert occasioned, had considerably retarded
the march of the Prussian columns, so that
only two brigades of the 4th corps of the array
had arrived ut the covered position which
had been assigned to them. The decisive mo-
Inent arrived, and there was not an instant to be
lost. The generals did not suffer it to escape.
They resolved to attack Immediately with the
! troops that had arrived at their destination
Consequently general Bulow with two brigades
and a corps of cavalry advanced rapidly upon The
! rear of the right wing of the enemy The enc
my did not lose his presence of mind; he imme-
diately turned his reserve against us, and MUIR
dercus conflict commenced also at this point
For a long time the battle was uncertain and the
struggle With the English army continued with
| no less violence.
About o'clocl. We received intelligence that
|
was attacked near Wavre by very considerable
corps OF the enemy, and that the possession of
| the town was already disputed. The field mar
shall did not suffer this news to trouble him.
1t Was on this spot, and no where else, that the
aifalr was to be decided. A struggle kept up
with constantly equal amnesty, and always
supported by new troops, could alone secure VIC
tory; and If 1t was gained here, every disadvan-
4 tage whatever near Wavre would be of little i'm
| portance. Consequently all the columns CONT.
nued their movements.
| 1t was half past7, and the issue Of the battle
was yet uncertain All the 4th CORPS of the ar
| my and part of the I'd corps under gen Puch
had arrived in succession. The French troops
| fought to desperation meantime some irregu-
| larlty was perceived in their movements and il
| was remarked that several pieces of cannon were
| on the retreat. AT this moment the first columns
OF the corps of general Zethen arrived at their
| points OF attack near the village of SmouheD on
the right flank of the enemy, and immediately
charged This movement decided the fate of
! the enemy. Ills right wing was penetrated in
| all parts, and it abandoned It's positions Our
troops sprung forward with charging step and
assa!ied them on every part while the whole
English line moved in advance.
circumstances were extremely favorable for
the attack made by The PrussiaD army The
ground was in form of an amphitheatre, SO that
the artillery could freely extend lis fire from be-
hnd great number OF heights, gradually dis
posed above one another, through the intervals
OF which, the troops descended into the plain,
formed in brgades, and in the greatest order
while new corps were continually unfolding, as
they came from the forest behind US The enc
my preserved the means Of retreat until the vii.
laGe of Planchenort in It's rear, which was de-
tended by the guard, was taken by assault, after
many bloody attacks. From that time the re.
treat became a rout, which soon communicates
to the whole French army, which in its fright
ful confusion hurled along every thing that at.
tempted to stop it, and could not be distinguish.
ed from the fight of army of savaees.
ii was then half past o'clock The field
marshal assembled all the superior officers. and
gave them orders to put the last man and the
last borse on the pursuit OF the enemy. The
head OF the army accelerated its march The
French army pursued without relaxation. wa,
absolutely dlsorganrzed. The highway had the
aspect OF an immense shipwreck It was cover
ed with an incalcnlable number of cannon. ca.
issons, carriages, baggage arms and wrecks OF
every kind Those of the enemy who wished 10
repose short time, and who had not expected 50
prompt pursuit, were chased again from their
new bwouacs. In some villages they attempted
20 rest but as soon they had heard the noise of
the drum or the sound Of the trumpet, they has
tened away or threw themselves into houses.
where they were sabred or made prlsoners.-
There was a bright moon, which greatly favored
the pursuit, for the whole march was but cont.
nua chace, giving the iugityes either in the fields
or in the houses.