Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06

which to give battle, although much
smaller than that of his opponents. was
composed entirely of Frenchmen, large
proportion of whom had been with him
during some of his most trying and vic.
torious campaigns.
The absence Of Murat. however, was
greatly felt among the commanders. He
had played the traitor, had asked for
giveness. and had been refused.
BY the time battle was ready to be
Isle. Metz. Mezieres. Valenciennes and
Laon, while the imperial guard had been
dispatched from Paris, arriving a few
days before fighting began. This whole
force was disposed about Avesnes, on the
Sambre river. June Is spirited advance
was made across the frontier in the d.
rection of Brussels. the object being to
divide the allies.
He struck and struck quickly, crossing
the Sambre at the point of the bayonet
and driving Blucher's forces before him.
At the same time he had advanced on
Fleurus, pushing back Bluchers forces
there. Another wing of his army had
reached the Chatelet bridge. His plan
was to throw his center and right on
Blucher's main force while his left under
Ney would guard against the coming of
English aid. Ney's troops, which had
been twenty-four hours on the march
before they got this order, were slow in
occupying Quatre Bras, but at last took
up their position.
Meanwhile, Wellington had learned of
the French advance and rode over to
Blucher's command at Quatre Bras
where $1,000 troops lay in readiness be-
hind st. Armand, Ligny and Sombref
Ihere was dispute as to the allies
plan, but Wellington agreed to bring his
force to Quatre Bras by the Namur road
If he was not himself attacked
A French force of 1900 men supported
by artillery began the attack on the
Prussans at Quatre Bras. Ney would
have had double that number. but the
others had been drawn off by the en-
peror to Ligny. At that he had numeri-
cal advantage over the allied force he
immediately attacked and which was de-
cidedly getting the worst of it when rein
forcements appeared. The Duke of Bruns-
wick had been killed and the Prince of
Orange was being hard pressed at Pierre
mont
The heavy French ADVANTAGE of cavalry
with artillery support was again gaining
the day as the English allies came up.
The guards under Picton, with Prussian
aid. contested the bloody field and. In
spite Of terrific slaughter by cuIrassfers
and the heavy guns, they regained by
nightfall all the ground lost during the
afternoon by the Belgians and Germans
The only advanced ground kent hv ~.
French was farm at Gemaiucourt.
~
While this was going on, the emneror
and Butcher were trying each other out
at the three places already named For
six hours the French, greatly outnurn-
bered. had given battle with singular
bravery and skill 1t would have gone
hard with them had not one of Butchers
aids failed to come up. Butcher now
realized that Wellington must have his
hands full and that he himself would
have to fight without English aid.
Almost at the close of the days battle
the Prussian center was compelled to
give way. and Butcher found himself
forced back all along the line. Under
cover of the night and a part of the next
Wellington.
When the latter learned this and the
position of Butchers defeated army he
decided to give battle at Mont St Jean
Butcher sent word that he would dis
patch aid to him. About noon yelling
and the enemy coming from the vicinity
Of Lgny in heavy shower of rain.
To defend his right from attack, We'll
sent Prince Frederick with about
2aoO men TO Eals. twelve miles away.
The main body of the allies had now
Keen Joined by Ruiow's division. which
was quite fresh. and news had come thar
Bluchers whole army was on the way.
The place of battle was a little valley
with hills on each side. The English oc-
cupied the northern, the French the
southern sides. with their artillery. The
Brussels road ran through the position
If each force. and Napoleon had intended
% proceed thence to Brussels. The Eng
ish wings were protected, the right by
/ ravine and a village called Merk Braine
he left by two other hamlets. Before
he right flank was a strong body of
allies in the Hougoumont farmhouse,
while before the center was another