Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-19

O( Vic LIZ trGnS. u ElrlOn ana
Reille, of the division of light cavalry of the
guard under the orders of the Lieut.. Generals
Lefebre Desnouettes and Colbert, and oftwo di.
visions of cavalry of count Nalmy, and which
formed eight divisions of infantry and four ot cav
airy. With these troops, of whom meanwhile
never had but part under my command, re-
pulsed the enemy, and obliged him 10 evacuate
Gosseles, Frasne, Mellet, and Hoppignie. There
they took position with the exception OF the Asst
corps, which was vet at MarcienueS, and which
rejoined me the next day.
On the 10th, received an order to attack the
English IN their position of Quatre Bras. We
ina,ched upon the enemy with an enthusiasm
difficult 10 5e described, nothing resisted our i'm
peiuoaty; the battle became general and the vic
tory was not doubtful, when, at the moment in
which was about TO advance the LIST corps ofr-
fantry, which until then had been left by m N
reserve at Frasne, learned that the emperor had
disposed oft without informing me, as well as
the DIVISION of Gerard of the Cd corps, to direct
them upon St. Armand and support his left wing
which was severely engaged against the Prus.
sians.
The blow which this news gave me was terri
bic. Not having under my orders more than
three divisions, instead of e ght, on which cal
cniated, was Obliged to let victory escape, and
IN spite OF my efforts, and in spite of the bravery
ana devotedness of the troops, could do
unS more than preserve my position 10 the end
Va viz INCHC q CLOCK IN Tie evening, Tie
LIST corps was sent back to me by the emperor
Tor which e had no use. Thus, 25 or $1,000
men were, SO to speak, paralyzed, and had been
marched about during the whole battle with
arms in their hands from the left to the right,
and from the right to the left, without firing a
gun.
1t is impossible to avoid suspcndng for mo-
ment these details, to remark TO you, NJ. Duke,
all the consequences oft this false movement, and
In general of the bad dispositions made during
the day
BY what fatality, for example did the empe-
ror, instead of bringing all the force against L.
Wellington, who might have been attacked by
surprise, and was not equal IN force, regard this
attack rs secondary. How could the emperor
sbillty of giving two battles in one day That
nevertheless took place, against forces double our
numbers, and this, military men who saw 1t, have
been unable TO comprehend.
Instead of this, if he had left corps OF obser-
Vatlon 10 restrain the Prussians, and marched
win his strongest masses TO support me, the En-
gilsh army would have been undoubtedly de-
Stroyed between Quatre Bras and Genappe-
and this position which separated the two allied
armies once III our power would have given the
emperor the facility of approaching the right of
the Prusslans, and crushing them in their turn
The generalopinion in France, and especially in
the army, was that the emperor wished only to
were favourable for that, but the destinies or
dered it otherwise
On the 18th, the army marched in the direc.
ton of Mont St John
On the 18th the battle commenced about
o'clock, and although the bulletin which gives
The recital oft makes no mention ofme, there is
is no heed of my affirming that was present
Lieut. Ten Count DrOuet has already spoken
OF this battle in the House of Peers. HIS nara
tive IS exact with the exception only of some inn
portant parts, on which he was either lent or
ignorant, and which ought to make known
ABOUT O'Clock in the evening, after the most
irghtful carnage have ever seen, Gen. Laba-
doyere came to inform me from the emperor
that Marshal Grouchy had arrives on our righ
and had attacked the left of the English and
Russians united. This general officer proceed
Ing along the line spread this news among the sol
diers, whose courage and devotedness was al
ways the same, and who gave new proofs of it at
this moment, Notwithstanding the fatigue with
which they were exhausted. In the mean tine
what was nay astonlshment, ought to say my in
dignation, when learned some moments aft
mat Marshal Grouchy had not arrived To our
support, as it had just been assured to the whole
army, but that forty or fifty thousand Prussans
attacked our extreme right and forced il to fall
back. Whether the emperor was deceived upon
the moment when Marshal Grouchy might ar
rive TO support him, or whether the march the
Marshal bad been more retarded than had been
anticipated, by the efforts of the enemy, the fac,
IS that at the moment when his arrival was an
nounced to US, he was only Wavre upon the
Dyle; that is, for us If he had been at a hun
dred leagues distance from our field of battle.
short time after saw arrive four regiments
OF the middle guard, conducted by the emperor
an person, who wished with those troops 10 re-
new the attack, and penetrate the centre ofthe
enemy. lie ordered me to march at their head
with general Friant. Generals, officers, soldiers
all showed the greatest intrePdl,y, but this corps
OF troops was too weak to be able to resist long
time, the forces that the enemy opposed 10 HIM |
and It was soon necessary to renounce the hope
winch Tor some moments, this attack had gwen |
General Frant was struck by ball at nv side |
had my horse killed and was thrown under him. |
The brave men who will return from this terri
bic affair, will render me the JUSTICE hone, Of
saying they saw me on foot sword in hand the |
whole evening, and that quilted not the scene |
OF carnage hut one of the last and at the moment
when retreat was necessary
Meantime the Prussians continued their Of |
iensve movement, and our right sensblv feu |
back The English in their turn advanced
mere remained to us yet four squares Of the old !
quart, placed adyantageously for protecting the
reueH. Those brave grenaders, the elite of |
the army, successfully forced 10 fall back. ONLY
yielded the ground foot by foot, until finally |
overwhelmed by numbers, they were almost en-. |
'tTelF destroyed. From that moment, the retro |
6ads movement was ordered, and the army FIRM
ca out confused column There was not heard