ACTION AT QUATRE BRAS. 16th. June, 1815.
Reading edition
Napoleon left Paris on the 12th. of June, and endeavoured by one of those rapid marches for which he had been so celebrated, to interpose his forces between the British and Prussian armies, and then attack them in detail. Information of this movement arrived at Brussels during the evening of the 15th. of June, and the Duke of Wellington caused the troops to be prepared to march. Pursuing their way through the forest of Soignies, Genappe, and along the road towards Charleroi, after a march of twenty-two miles, they arrived on the 16th. of June, at some farm-houses denominated Les Quatre Bras, where the main road from Charleroi to Brussels is crossed by another from Nivelles to Namur, and which served as the British 182communication with the Prussians on the left. Here the second French corps, under Marshal Ney, was developing a serious attack against that position with very superior numbers.
The battle commenced by an attack on Perponcher’s Dutch-Belgian Brigade, which was commanded by the Prince of Orange. As fast as the British regiments arrived on the scene, they were formed and led into action. About two o’clock Picton’s division came up, with Pack’s brigade, and Best’s Hanoverians. Soon after, part of the Black Brunswickers, and some of the Nassau troops arrived, and about six in the evening the brigade of Sir Colin Halkett, consisting of the 30th., 33rd., 69th, and 73rd. regiments, with Kielmansegge’s Hanoverians came up.
Considerable loss was sustained, but the repeated charges of the enemy were repulsed. About four o’clock His Royal Highness the Duke of Brunswick fell bravely fighting at the head of his troops, who were seized with a panic, and retired, pursued by the French cavalry, who were repulsed in their turn by the 92nd. In the Duke of Wellington’s account of this action the 28th., 42nd.,[65] 79th, and 92nd.[66] regiments were specially mentioned.
Speaking of one of the attacks of the French cavalry, Captain W. Siborne, in his “History of the War in France and Belgium in 1815,” observes, “If this cavalry attack had fallen so unexpectedly upon the 42nd. Highlanders, still less had it 183been anticipated by the 44th. regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Hamerton, perceiving that the lancers were rapidly advancing against his rear, and that any attempt to form square would be attended with imminent danger, instantly decided upon receiving them in line.... Never, perhaps, did British infantry display its characteristic coolness and steadiness more eminently than on this trying occasion. To have stood in a thin two-deep line, awaiting, and prepared to receive, the onset of hostile cavalry, would have been looked upon at least as a most hazardous experiment; but with its rear so suddenly menaced, and its flanks unsupported, to have instantly faced only one rank about, to have stood as if rooted to the ground, to have repulsed its assailants with so steady and well-directed a fire, that numbers of them were destroyed—this was a feat of arms which the oldest, or best-disciplined corps in the world might have in vain hoped to accomplish; yet most successfully and completely was this achieved by the gallant second battalion of the 44th. British regiment, under its brave commander’ Lieutenant-Colonel Hamerton.
“In this attack occurred one of those incidents which, in daring, equal any of the feats of ancient chivalry; which make the wildest fables of the deeds of the knights of old appear almost possible; which cause the bearing of an individual to stand out, at it were, in relief amidst the operations of the masses; and which, by their characteristic recklessness, almost invariably ensure at least a partial success. A French lancer gallantly charged at the colours, and severely wounded Ensign Christie, who carried one of them, by a thrust of his lance, which, entering the left eye, penetrated to the lower jaw. The Frenchman then endeavoured to seize the standard, but the brave Christie, notwithstanding the agony of his wound, with a presence of mind almost unequalled, flung himself upon it, not to save himself, but to preserve the honour of his regiment. As the colour fluttered in its fall, the Frenchman tore off a portion of the silk with the point of his lance; but he was not permitted to bear the fragment beyond the ranks. Both shot and bayoneted by the nearest of the soldiers of the 44th., he was borne to the earth, paying with his life for his display of unavailing bravery.”
184Just before seven o’clock, Sir G. Cooke’s brigade of guards, came into action, after a forced march of 27 miles, drove the enemy back, and repulsed at all points the repeated and desperate charges of Kellerman’s cavalry, supported by a preponderance of artillery. As the British reinforcements arrived, Key’s furious attacks became feeble and fewer, and about sunset the conflict ceased, and the French retired upon the village of Frasnes. After a long march of nearly forty miles the British cavalry, and some artillery arrived, but too late at night to take any part in the battle.
The following is a list of the regiments engaged, and of their killed and wounded at Quatre Bras, a battle gained by the British infantry:—
Regiments engaged. KILLED. WOUNDED.
Officers. Non-com. Offi. & Men. Officers. Non-com. Offi. & Men.
Royal Artillery 9 2 17
1st. Foot Guards, 2nd. battalion 2 23 4 256
„ 3rd. „ 1 20 6 235
2nd. „ 2nd. „
3rd. „ 2nd. „ 7
30th. Regiment, 2nd. „ 5 2 28
33rd. „ 3 16 7 67
69th. „ 2nd. battalion 1 37 4 110
73rd. „ 2nd. „ 4 4 44
28th. „ 1st. „ 11 4 77
32nd. „ 1st. „ 1 21 21 153
79th. „ 1st. „ 1 28 16 258
95th. „ 1st. „ 1 8 4 51
1st. „ 3rd. „ 6 20 12 180
42nd. „ 1st. „ 3 42 15 228
44th. „ 2nd. „ 2 10 15 94
92nd. „ 1st. „ 4 35 21 226
Total 25 289 137 2031
Whilst Marshal Ney was attempting to force this position, the Emperor defeated the Prussians at St. Amand and Ligny. During the night Marshal Blucher, finding himself so weakened by the severity of the contest, and the fourth corps not having arrived, determined to fall back and concentrate his army upon Wavre.
185