Introduction: From Elba to Paris.
On Elba Island grenadiers and chasseurs were assigned to guard the Emperor.
"Major Raoul, carrying a brace of loaded pistols, and two Polish Guard Lancers
escorted Napoleon every day." - Henri Lachoque

On May 3rd took place a solemn entry of King Louis XVIII in Paris. He suffered from gout and elephantiasis (thickening of the tissues in the legs and genitals). One young Napoleonic officer was very surprised, "How odd ! I thought the King perished in the Revolution !"
The Bourbons were back.
"And indeed a mere 11 months in office have sufficed for the new regime to make itself detested. Notable among its innumerable mistakes has been to alienate the army. ... Of course the army had had to be cut down to a peacetime footing. Louis XVIII's government had inherited a national debt of 759,175,000 francs and in the last years of war, though comprising only 2,58 % of the population, the army had been consuming over half the national budget." (Austin - "The Return of Napoleon" p 50)

The French army was reduced from 400,000 to 200,000 men. But in the same time was created ruinously expensive 20,000-strong Household Troops Maison du Roi. The army was to be remodelled on Frederick the Great's. No wonder if some troops 'offered shouts and insults to the royal emblems.'

Napoleon returns.
"Kill your emperor, if you can !"
- Napoleon to the soldiers of 5th Line

Napoleon was on Elba Island but many politicians were worried about Bourbon ineptitude and the growing tensions in France. The Prussians and Spaniards present in the Vienna Congress have been seeing it as 'a powder barrel liable to explode any moment.' Voices have been urging Napoleon's deportation to more remote islands like St.Lucia, St.Helena or Azores. One British newspaper was thinking that the vile climate 'would soon purge this world of our friend Bonaparte.' Minister Talleyrand wrote to King Louis XVIII "People are showing their intention of sending Bonaparte away from Elba. ... Everywhere people have been mooting this project."

The idea of making an eventual comeback had been in Napoleon's mind even when he'd left Fountainbleau... In February he'd sent his trusted Corsican secret service agent Francisco Cipriani to Vienna, to report back as soon as the Congress' dissoultion was imminent.

On Sunday after mass Napoleon announced his departure. Seeing the merchant ship "Saint Esprit" sailing into the harbour, the Emperor has realised he was short of transports. He ordered Jerzmanowski to take 20 Poles, board her, and toss the cargo of Turkish gran into the dock. Peyrusse was ordered to pay for it. At 7 PM Napoleon left his palace. His sloop passed closely by each of the 6 other vessels, where the troops were piled up. At 8 PM one of the "Inconstant's" cannons fired the signal to depart.

Napoleon's flotilla eluded both of the French [royalist] frigates and the British warships, tacking to and fro between Elba and Corsica to prevent just this eventuality.

Napoleon and his small corps (Elba Battalion, Elba Squadron, and small Corsican battalion called "Elba Flanquers") returned to France. Napoleon's landed at Antibes, at 5 PM on 1 March. (See picture).

Napoleon writes: " ... by marching quickly, I left people ignorant of [the size of] my forces. I wouldn't have succeeded if I'd marched on Toulon, because they'd have formed a correct idea of how feeble they were, and no one likes getting stuck in such escapades." Napoleon instructed General Cambronne: "You will go on ahead - always ahead. But remember that I forbid one drop of French blood to be shed to recover my crown."

The troops set off. The Poles, encumbered with boots, lances, and sabers, carried their saddles on their heads and hung their headwears around their necks. They sounded like itinerant ironmongers as they clanked along. One the way to Paris Napoleon met several troops sent by the royalists to stop him. One of them was the 5th Line Infantry Regiment. Randon writes: "The Emperor appeared on the road and halted beside his troopers. Some 100 Guard Grenadiers who were following him placed themselves off the road to his left, in line with the Polish Guard Lancers.
It was the most emotional moment of the encounter. ... The sight of the Emperor ... shook the fidelity of the men of the 5th Line Regiment." Rouget de l'Isle: "Clad in the little grey overcoat which so often had had a magical effect on the men ... he came forward to within pistol range." There is a sudden silence before Napoleon says: "Here I am. Soldiers of the 5th Line, recognise me ... If there is a soldier among you who wants to kill his Emperor he can do so." (According to Louis Marchand "Kill your emperor, if you can.")
Randon: "The Polish Guard Lancers, sabres sheathed, reached the men of the 5th Line, began parleying with them, broke them up; and almost instantly shouts of Vive l'Empereur ! rang out on all sides.
As if by an electric reaction the state of exaltation passed through the ranks of the 5th, and in the twinkling of an eye shakos were on bayonet points, and all chests breathed out vivat !"

Lachoque writes: "Captain Randon shouted 'Fire !' Nothing happened. He overheard a voltigeur say: 'The dumb bastard ! If we fired, he's not the one we'd shoot.' Then another: 'We would be son-of-the-bitches to harm a man who has done us nothing but good...."

At Grenoble Napoleon, his Elba troops and the 5th Line met 7th and 11th Line, 4th Hussars and Engineers. These troops were told that Napoleon arrived. Jube writes: "I'm told that the 7th Line ... has just left at the double shouting Vive l'Empereur ! and that at its head the colonel, after drawing a pencil plan of the gateway, had broken open a side drum and taken out the eagle, which had been immediately placed on the standard's lance head. Tricolour cockades had been distributed to the men ..."

Guiraud of the Engineers: "Our regiments wanted to follow the 7th. The gunners were charging their cannon with the fleurs-de-lis [the very medals, perhaps, Artois had been so lavish with !]. The cavalrymen [hussars] were tearing their white [royalist] cockades to pieces with their teeth." According to Labedoyere on 13 March Napoleon rode out of Lyons, escorted by horse artillery and 4th Hussars. This group was "accompanied as far as the barrier by the populace, whose voiceferations redoubled as he left."

Marshal Ney.
"I will fix Bonaparte !"

Marshal Ney was on his estate at Coudreaux, more and more convinced it's time for him to retire. He declared "The Emperor can't come back ! He has abdicated. And if he were to land, it'd be every Frenchman's duty to fight him."

On 6 March one of the War Minister's ADCs arrived bringing this famous marshal order to go immediately to his command area. Ney goes to Paris and then leaves for Besancon "with the firm determination to fight the Emperor ..." Ney declared "It's good thing the Man from Elba has attempted his crazy enterprise. It's going to be the last act of his tragedy. I'll fix Bonaparte. ... That raving lunatic'll never forgive me for making him abdicate." He repeats his words about taking Napoleon back to Paris in an iron cage.

At Besancon, Marshal Ney met General Lecourbe "Lecourbe, I know you. You love your country. Bonaparte abdicated. ... You owe him nothing. If he exiled you to your estates it was because he wanted all services to be done to him personally." Lecourbe says he harbours no bitterness against Napoleon. All over the area where Ney's and Lecourbe's troops are scattered the peasantry is declaring for Napoleon. And Ney own 7,000 troops aren't to be relied on. The marshal meet with regimental officers and exhorts them: "Louis XVIII reigns over France. ... I'm counting on you. You'll see me at your heart. But if anyone among you, for personal reasons, finds it repugnant to fight this war, let him frankly say so. ... We don't need any cry-babies, male of female."

The officers began murmuring, showing Ney's words weren't altogether to their taste. One of Ney's first acts having been to imprison an officer for shouting Vive l'Empereur ! Ney became animated in word and gesture and cried "I'll march at your head. And if need be it'll be I who'll fire the first shot ! ... I'll run my sword through the first man that budges !"

Several days later Ney is informed that "a battalion of the 76th Line, which was escorting Ney's artillery park, has just entered Chalon to shouts Vive l'Empereur ! The town has instantly revolted. The troops say they want to present this artillery to the little corporal ..." And more bad news, regiment of hussars had adopted the tricolor cockade, forced the gates of Auxonne, and was marching on Dijon. Ney was in state of great perplexity, pacing his room.

Few days passed however and Ney began changing his attitude. He gathered his troops to read a proclamation. More than one anxious observer was remembering the days of the Revolution, when troops had massacred their officers. But Ney's proclamation is surprising: "The legitimate dynasty adopted by the French nation is going to reascend the throne. Only the Emperor Napoleon, our sovereign, has the right to reign over our beautiful country. ...
Soldiers ! ... Now I'm going to lead you toward this immortal phalanx Napoleon is leading to Paris ..." The soldiers couldn't believe their ears and eyes. The shouts Vive l'Empereur ! set their hearts, so long oppressed, on fire. Larreguy writes: "One saw officers and men prick their hands to mingle their blood with the liquor and so swear to shed it to the last drop for Napoleon's cause." Chlapowski writes: "I was in Bath ... when the news arrived that the Emperor had left Elba and landed at Frejus. Knowing the French army as I did, I did not doubt that they would nearly all rally to him." (Chlapowski, - p 152)

Napoleon enters Paris.
"I thought myself present at the Resurrection of Christ"
-Thiebault

On 16 March the King Louis XVIII swore to "die on the throne" but three days later he fled to Belgium followed by his Maison du Roi. Napoleon entered Paris. Many witnesses noticed what a lot of weight he'd put on and his peculiar bronzed complexion. On 20 March several regiments of light cavalry came and drew up in the White Horse Courtyard - the very same courtyard where their master had last year taken so moving a farewell fo the Old Guard. Napoleon inspected them "at length." Napoleon had been also struck by the depth of republican sentiment evident among the French people.

Paul Britten-Austin writes: "Going through the streets [of Paris] where 'every bird seemed to the workmen to be an eagle,' Lavalette hears that 'the King and the entire court have left during the night..." At 11:00 AM Napoleon still have not arrived from Fountainbleau. The Emperor gave order for the Elba Battalion should have a day's rest; which means the Grognards won't share Napoleon's entry into the capital. On the road between Fountaibleau and Paris the Emperor reviewed another regiment At St Denis when the colonel of 2nd Line refused to join Napoleon's troops, his own officer tore off his epaulettes and "fling it in his man's face."

It was evening when Napoleon reached Paris. The Emperor, seeing his carraige could get no further, got out in the midst of immense crowd (20,000 people at least) pressing around him. The people almost stifled him. Thiebault writes: "Suddenly Napoleon reappeared. The explosion was sudden, irresistible. I thought myself present at the Resurrection of Christ." He was carried up to his appartments without his feet touching the steps of the staircase. Officer Lavalette had his eyes "bathed in tears." The crowd tried to come forward to him, but a wave of officers rushed forward and would have crushed them. The doors, with difficulty, were shut, and the crowd dispersed.
"Napoleon's unheralded return from Elba, which split France diagonally in two and startled an admiring but also terrified Europe, would lead to a catastrophe every bit as great as that of 1940. Once again Frenchmen were faced with the implacable hostility of all Europe's ' legitimate' sovereigns and aristocracy determined to have done with the detestable Bonaparte once and for all, with revolutionary ideas and French militarism." (Austin - "The Return of Napoleon" p 15)

The Hundreds Days Campaign.
"The [French] army was brave, but there was an inevitable
lack of cohesion because the men did not know their
commanders and distrusted the generals.
[The army] was capable of reaching the heights of ecstasy and,
equally, plumbing the depths of depression."
Lachouque - "Waterloo" p 48

Because the British Cabinet had refused to declare war against France as opposed to war against Napoleon, Wellington was constrained from sending his cavalry across the border. Merlen's Dutch/Belgian cavalry had captured several French patrols, but were ordered by Wellington to escort them back across the frontier. This situation continued until 13th June. Frustrated Prince of Orange wrote to Wellington: "I'm going to send back the French prisoners this morning with a letter to General Count d'Erlon according to your wishes."
Wellington had an extensive network of spies in France, and had the advantage of having money to pay them. He received daily information from the spies and agents. One of them, Grant, secured information from Royalist sympathizers provided by the Comte d'Artois.

"Napoleon still had time to decide on his method - offensive or defensive - in selecting his terrain for a national war. He would personally have preferred a national war, but the French Chamber of Representatives, the liberals, the ideologists, the 'Constitutionalists' and La Fayette had began to have misgivings: rulded by politics the sovereign had to impose silence on the war leader. Occupied with enemies inside and outside France, he had first to vanquish the latter in order to win over the former. ...
Despite kidney disease, his activity and stamina were prodigious during the 85 days of his last reign and the 96 hours of the campaign. ... but after April 1814 [his first abdication] his energy sometimes appeared to flag: he took longer to make a decision; he meditated, hesistating as if he were rather tired or unsure of himself ... Napoleon no longer had the same faith in his star, and he tried to conceal his uncertainties behind authoritative statements, a contempt for his adversaries, a kind of arrogant confusion between the wish and the deed." (Lachouque - "Waterloo" pp 57-58)

Napoleon decided to concentrate the army around Beaumont, storm Charleroi, cross the Sambre River at this point and take the Prussians by surprise and defeat them. On 14th it was raining and the bivouacs were flooded. Few campfires were carefully concealed from view. Part of the the infantry and engineers camped in the mist-drenched woods.
The Prussian and the British-Netherlands armies were immobile along 150 km of frontier - the former looking towards the Rhine River and the latter towards the sea port at Ostend. Their headquarters were 65 km apart.
Napoleon decided to invade Belgium and separate the two Allies armies. "The psychological factor was that Wellington and Blucher were only mediocre strategists. Wellington was skilful in defence but not much good at manoeuvres - slow to get going, prudent, practical, egotistical; Blucher, the fiery hussar with "Forward !" on his lips, was a firm believer in attacking with the utmost force ... " (- Lachouque, p 59)

"We are too strong to be attacked here." - Wellington.
"Bonaparte will not attack us." - Blucher.

Grouchy's cavalry was ready to reconnoitre the army's road to Charleroi. The Prussian cavalry outposts were on the alert. The Britissh had known that the French troops were gathering between Avesnes and Philippeville; but they were reluctant to believe the reports.

"We are too strong to be attacked here," Wellington proclaimed. "Bonaparte will not attack us," predicted Blucher. Wellington and Blucher had booked full diaries of social activities. Wellington was planning to attend cricket match and gala ball at the Duchess of Richmond.

The French army was to march towards the Sambre, the route stages were long, and the terrain was difficult, wooded. The heat was overpowering. Four army corps, cavalry, and the guard, had at their disposal only one bridge and three equipment bridges. A French deserter informed the Allies that the attack was planned for the following day.

On 15th June the French army - except for the III Army Corps under Vandamme - started early. But the III Corps was still asleep when the VI Corps, which should have been following it, rushed into its bivouacs. Vandamme had received no marching orders. It was alleged that the messenger bringing them had broken his leg. In the past, Marshal Berthier had sent orders in duplicate or triplicate by different messengers, but unfortunately, Berthier was dead, and the new chief-of-staff Marshal Soult was not made for staff work. Vandamme's III Corps was 3 hours behind schedule. The Guard cursed.

Napoleon was not aware of this setback and crossed the frontier at Thy-le-Chateau.

The French stormed the Charleroi Bridge.
The French light infantry overthrew the Prussian battalion
that was defending the bridge. The Guard Sappers and Guard Marines
then cleared the bridge and threw the barricades into the river.

Charleroi owes its name to Charles II of Spain. Its inhabitants live in a war zone for several centuries known what it is to be in the midst of wars and sieges. Lachouque writes: "At that time they readily acclaimed Napoleon; but they feared his soldiers, who had a reputation as pillagers and whose lack of discipline was well known. They preferred the English, who were governed by an iron fist and who paid well. However, everything is relative: they were prepared to welcome the French because they had chased away the Prussians - brutal, mean, ravenous and hating anyone who spoke French."

The French advance guard discovered that the roads had been cut by trenches and barren with fallen trees to make them unusable. The night before the Prussian engineers and infantrymen were very busy. Domon's light cavalrymen were reconnoitring ahead of the French army and made contact with the Prussians. The French charged and cut down group of Prussian infantry dressed in white Saxon uniforms and with French shakos on their heads. To Domon's surprise no cavalry had been encountered.

The sun swept the mist away, it was going to be hot. Charleroi was fortified. The bridge was 8 m wide, protected by a palisade, barricaded and defended in front and in the rear. Beyond it a street climbed towards the upper town, which was built in the shape of an amphitheatre on a hill. The slopes were cluttered with houses and gardens. Two battalions of Prussian 6th Infantry occupied the city and General Ziethen had established his headquarters there that morning. The Prussian commander was forewarned of the French attack by his outposts.

At noon the French light infantry overthrew the Prussian battalion that was defending the bridge. The Guard Sappers and Guard Marines then cleared the bridge and threw the barricades into the river. Napoleon arrived and immediately launched Pajol's hussars. The Prussians halted them with grape shot. The Guard Sappers and Marines went on, followed by the Young Guard infantry. The enemy was in full retreat and the French cavalry moved after them. The Young Guard, Guard Sappers and Guard Marines occupied the houses in the suburbs of Charlerois to organize the defense in case the Prussians should attack.

The Emperor set up his headquarters in a mansion where the lunch had been prepared for Prussian General Hans Ernst Karl Graf von Ziethen-II. The Red Lancers dismounted to water their horses, while the Guard Horse Chasseurs escorted Napoleon. Napoleon was tired, he sat astride a chair and watched the cheerful Young Guard marching past.

Several infantry divisions and some artillery arrived and were crossing the bridge and the frontier. Exelmans's dragoons had also crossed the Sambre River. Pajol's light cavalry was a little bit late due to the foundering of a large number of their horses. The 1st Hussars was exhausted. Napoleon ordered several troops to cross the frontier not at Charleroi, where there was heavy congestion, but at Le Chatelet. The roads were full of soldiers, horses, guns, caissons and supply wagons.

General Bourmont deserted to the Allies.
"A cur is always a cur."

The commander of the 14th Infantry Division of IV Corps, General Bourmont, deserted with his staff, thereby dishonoring his name. There followed great disturbance among the soldiers and officers and some time was wasted to restore order. General Gerard finally managed to reassure the troops, who spat out the name of the traitor between an oath and a curse and wanted only to advance against the enemy.
Blucher on seeing Bourmont refused to receive him, saying: "A cur is always a cur."

Napoleon soon learned about Bourmont. Jardin Ainé (the elder) writes: "During the night various officers of the staff kept coming and going to give Napoleon accounts of the movements made by the different army corps. From their investigations they reported to him that General Bourmont had joined the enemy. Napoleon considered it necessary to make fresh plans, being pretty sure that this General from his treachery would give the enemy an exact account of the position of the French army."

Battle of Gilly.
The Guard Dragoons avenged the death of their beloved Letort,
the F/28th Infantry lost 13 officers and 614 men that day !

Ziethen's corps was in retreat towards Fleurus (near Ligny), he was falling back as slowly as possible and protected the army concentrating at Sombreffe. Constant-Rebecque had kept his Netherlands divisions on the alert. The British were quiet; Wellington read the despatches but thought the French attack on Charleroi was a feint. The peasants informed Allies that Napoleon was with his Guard at Charleroi. Marshal Ney pursued the Prussians and forced them to evacuate Gosselies, Frasnes and Heppignies.

Marshal Grouchy took Pajol's light cavalry and Exelmans' dragoons and arrived at Gilly where stood Prussian brigade under Pirch-II (of Ziethen's Corps). The village consisted of long row of houses. Pirch-II put 4 battalions in and around the village.
One battalion, the F/6th Infantry held a small wood at the front.
The II/28th stood on the far side of the cobbled road in the abbey of Soleilmont.
The II/2nd Westphalian Landwehr formed reserve behind Gilly.
The I/2nd Westphalian Landwehr and the Westphalian Cavalry Regiment were on the march to Fleurus. The 1st West Prussian Dragoons stood near Chatelet. One battery stood in open field near Gilly, on a small copse. Skirmishers were placed behind the hedges to protect the battery. The road towards Gilly was blocked by abatis. The Prussians stood in these positions until 6 PM.

Marshal Grouchy was up with the leading French cavalry, and personally reconnoitered Prussian position, before returning to Charleroi for further orders. Napoleon himself then rode to Gilly and drew up his troops for the assault. He called on Vandamme to speed up his march towards Gilly and the Guard to support Grouchy. Vandamme's infantry was to storm the village while Exelmans' dragoons were to attack the enemey on his right flank. At 5:15 PM Pirch-II sent Ziethen an information about the French advance.

At 5 PM, after 40 km march in intense heat, arrived Vandamme's exhausted III Corps. Until then there was not much going on. There were only skirmishes and the guns fired few shots. In the skirmish Major von Quadt had a horse shot under him by French infantryman. At 6 PM two French batteries opened fire and three infantry columns advanced in echelon by the right. The center column marched straight on Gilly. Four dragoon regiments moved in support: two against Prussians' flank and two along the cobbled road until they were halted by the barricade. Pirch-II received an order from Ziethen to withdraw, which he then tried to carry out.

The Prussian artillery ceased fire and left the battlefield under the cover of light troops. Dissapointed Napoleon sent Pajol's and Letort's cavalry in pursuit. The F/6th Infantry under Major von Haine covered the Prussian withdrawal. Another battalion of light infantry, the F/28th Infantry was nearby. Both units were formed in squares 500 paces from the wood called de Tricheheve. The French cavalry was without horse artillery. Major Heine spoke to his men, he called on them to remain calm and finished with the words: "No man is to fire unless I give the order."

Meanwhile the French attacked the F/28th and broke it. The French Guard Dragoons and part of 15th Dragoons cut to pieces the enemy in full view of von Haine's men. A number of men from the broken square sought refuge in the square formed by the F/6th Infantry. There is a graphic description of these charges in the regimental history of the 6th Infantry:
"It was not long before the first attack followed. Major von Haine led them advance to within 30 paces, gave the order to fire, and the French Guard Dragoons, were repelled in disorder. The subsequent attacks were no more successful as each repulse added to the confidence of our Fusiliers. The enemy cavalry, however, were out of control and carried out one violent attack after the other, all without success and with great loss."

The regimental history of the 28th Infantry (a former Berg regiment) described what happened: "Although several cavalrymen managed to break into the square, they were all bayoneted. Even after such a show of resistance, the enemy tried to persuade the troops to change sides. General Letort, commander of the French Guard Dragoons, recognised the Fusiliers by their Berg uniform. He thought that, since the hopelessness of their position would be obvious to them, their loyalty might waver. he rode up and demanded they desert the Prussian army. A shot rang out and Letort fell dead from his saddle. Fusilier Kaufmann of the 12th Company had leapt out of the square and given the enemy general his answer, in powder and lead. The battalion continued to withdraw but just before it reached the wood, the enemy cavalry approached again. The 10th Company faced front while the others continued their movement. At this critical moment, the full force of the enemy cavalry charge it home."

The Guard Dragoons avenged the death of their beloved Letort, the F/28th Infantry lost 13 officers and 614 men that day ! This battalion was then reorganised into a new 'combined battalion' with the survivors of the III/2nd Westphalian Landwehr which had suffered heavily on the retreat from Thuin earlier on.

It was not the duty of the rear guard to be annihilated, but to give ground as slowly as possible. The Prussians had stopped the enemy for several hours, until Napoleon had had to deal with them, and then they quickly fell back. But it is always difficult to try to withdraw in the face of more numerous enemy. Pajol's cavalry pursued the Prussians as far as Lambusart. The 1st West Prussian Dragoons countercharged and halted the French for a short while.

Napoleon ordered Grouchy to take Pajol's and Exalmans' cavalry and march towards Fleurus. Ziethen sent von Roeder's three cavalry regiments and horse battery in support of the hard-pressed Pirch-II's brigade. They charged several times and halted the spearheading French cavalry units. Near Gosselies the French 1st Hussars met the Prussian 6th Uhlans and 24th Infantry. The uhlans attacked and drove the hussars back in disorder, only to be attacked in turn by French lancers of Pire's division. Heinrich Niemann of the 6th Uhlans wrote: "By command of Gen. Ziethen we engaged the French; but it was nothing more than a feint; they retreated before us." Pirch-II's brigade was able to break off and reached Ligny before midnight.

The Nassauers.
The Nassauers were alarmed by the exodus of peasants
and the artillery fire coming from the Fleurus direction.

Napoleon despatched Marshal Ney with Reille's II Army Corps and Lefebvre-Desnouettes' Guard Light Cavalry Division. At 6:30 PM the Red Lancers were receieved with musket fire but after some quick maneuvers the enemy fell back. The hostile troops were Prince Bernard of Saxe-Weimar's battalions. The Nassauers were alarmed by the exodus of peasants and the artillery fire coming from the Fleurus direction.

Ney wrote to Napoleon: "The troops that we found at Frasnes had not been fighting at Gossieles ... Tomorrow, at daybreak, I will send out a reconnaissance party to Quatre-Bras which will, if possible, occupy this position, because I believe the Nassau troops have gone ..."

Prince Bernard wrote to General Perponcher: "At about 6:30 PM the French attacked the forward posts at Frasnes with infantry and artillery, the Nassau battalion and the battery there withdrew half way to Quatre-Bras."

It was a hot night.
Napoleon was back in Charleroi, very tired he fell asleep. In the courtyard, the II Battalion of the 1st Grenadiers was on duty. Soult and his staff however were at work sending out message to various troops. The Emperor thought that Blucher, who had been affected by the sudden appearance of the French near his dispersed forces, would beat retreat. Wellington would not be able to withstand a French attack unaided and would fall back. In theory this calculation looked simple and depended on the speed of the marching troops.

Two Battles: Ligny and Quatre Bras.
"In the wagon train the Emperor's robes were ready, with the gold
and the proclamations addressed to the Belgian people ..."
- Henri Lachoque

Grouchy's cavalry signalled at 5 AM that the Prussian were leaving Fleurus and moving in the direction of Ligny, Brye and Point-du-Jour. This information was confirmed at 6 AM. Napoleon pondered, hesitated, called his ADC Flahaut and at 9 AM dictated to him order for Marshal Ney. Marshal Grouchy would screen the Emperor's march on the Belgian capital against Prussian attacks. The state entry was already prepared. Lachoque writes: "In the wagon train the Emperor's robes were ready, with the gold and the proclamations addressed to the Belgian people and to the inhabitants of the right bank of the Rhine River. They awaited only a date and a signature."

Napoleon ordered Lobau's VI Army Corps to stay near Charleroi until further orders (this was not mentioned in the letters to Ney and Grouchy).

Blucher was on horseback since daybreak. He mounted his horse and rode towards the Brye windmill, where he was loudly acclaimed by Ziethen's infantrymen. There were no news from Wellington. Lachoque writes: "Wellington was still asleep, and his reserve troops were in disorder. Only General Picton ... had left at 4 AM with the brigades of Kempt and Pack ... The Nassau battalions moved off at 9 AM. ... Wellington rose at 5 AM, breakfasted with von Dornberg, mounted his horse at 8 AM and ... set off towards Genappe."

The heat was stifling. Grouchy with cavalry decided to wait for Gerard's IV Army Corps before moving against the Prussians. Lachouque: "Nothing could be seen through the motionless fields of rye drooping in the heat, apart from a handful of Prussian troopers emerging from a fold in the terrain behind a mound called the 'Tomb of Ligny.' ... Napoleon ordered the sappers to build an observation post - a circular gallery around the windmill - and, map in hand, began to survey the scene to check the information supplied by the surveyor Simon."

As it was intention of the commanders of the Allied armies in Belgium to unite their armies to fight a decisive battle against Napoleon, the combats of 16th June should be regarded as part of a single battle. According to Peter Hofschroer the Allied failure to accomplish this concentration resulted in Prussian army suffering a defeat, and in Wellington's army, which held its ground against Ney at Quatre Bras, being forced to retire as a result of that defeat. Despite having made several promisses to the contrary, Wellington only managed to bring part of his army into action on 16th June. To achieve the desired concentration of the two armies, both Blucher and Wellington would have to pull back and select another position. This they accomplished two days later at Mont St. Jean, near Waterloo.

In the morning.
Poor work by Soult's staff resulted in chaos on the roads,
and with almost no food for men and horses.
Old Guard grumbled that it all smacked of treason.

Night fell. Outside, the rain fell and swamped the rye-fields. The men could neither eat nor sleep, and they were wallowing in water. The chasseurs and hussars bivouacked in the mud together with lancers. There were horses everywhere.

Officer Martin of the French 45th Line Infantry (Marcognet's division) writes: "This was the first bivouac in the campaign. One could scarcely sleep on account of water, but there was plenty of talk about the operations. Everyone was the general and no one listened to anything, which gave rise to amusing conversations. Each bivouac fire was transformed into a political office. But this did not prevent wood from being flung on the fire, and the pot was kept boiling."

Napoleon's headquarters were set up in the small farm at Le Caillou. A walled orchard that ran from the courtyard towards the north had already been comandeered as a bivouac for the duty battalion (I/1st Chasseurs of the Old Guard) under Duuring's command.
The first room on entering the building was reserved for the duty officers, and in the rooms on the first floor were bales of straw for the staff offices. Jerome Bonaparte and General Reille were accommodated at the Hotel du Roi d'Espagne. The generals' mess was at Plancenoit.

Poor work by Marshal Soult's staff resulted in chaos on the roads, and with almost no foods for the troopers. Hunger drove the soldiers of Old and Young Guard to go marauding and the Old Guard grumbled that it all smacked of treason.

In the night (2 AM) Napoleon received despatched from Marshal Grouchy that the Prussians were withdrawing either to Wavre or Perwes. Grouchy was having them followed and Napoleon was satisfied, he wrote: "The victory at Ligny is of the utmost importance; the elite of the Prussian army has been crushed, the morale of that army will suffer the shock of it for a long time."

At 3:30 AM Wellington received a letter from Blucher. In it the Prussian general announced that he would be leaving at dawn and would attack the enemy's right flank with one or perhaps three army corps. Lachouque writes: "The Duke experienced an immense feeling of relief ..."

Breakfast.
The troopers had cooked flour mixed with water
because Soult had no thought of ordering up the supply wagons,
laden with bread and meat, from Charleroi.

The sun rose at 4 am.
The cavalrymen groomed their wet and famished horses. Keeping the artillery wagons moving was laborious as they were heavy. The drums beat the call to arms. Marshal Soult, the cgief-of-staff, wrote: "The Emperor orders the army to be ready to attack at 9 AM. The commanders of the army corps will assemble their troops, see that weapons are in order and allow the soldiers to prepare a meal."
The battalions, squadrons and batteries had started out at daybreak, and then they had set up the cooking pots. The troopers had cooked flour mixed with water because Soult had no thought of ordering up the supply wagons, laden with bread and meat, from Charleroi.

Soult breakfasted with the Emperor, his brother Jerome, and Marshal Ney. After breakfast the table had been cleared and maps were spread on it. Ney claimed that Wellington's German-British-Nethrlands army was in retreat, while Soult expressed regreat about the remoteness of Grouchy's troops in view of its importance. General Reille passed information given to him by the waiter at the Genappe inn about "a concerted link-up between the British and the Prussians coming from Wavre." "Foolishness" retorted Napoleon " after a battle like the one at Ligny, the joining of the British and the Prussians is impossible."

Emperor's orders to Grouchy and Soult.

About 10 AM, Napoleon had Marshal Soult write the following letter to Marshal Grouchy:
"The Emperor received your last report from Gembloux. You write to His Majesty of only two Prussian columns that have passed Sauveniere and Sart-a-Wlhain. However, other reports mention a third column, just as strong, having passed [Saint] Gery and Gentinnes, and moving towards Wavre. The Emperor has charged me to inform you that at this moment, His Majesty is going to attack the English army which has taken positions at Waterloo, in front of the forest of Soignes.
Thus, His Majesty wishes that you direct your movements on Wavre so as to move closer to us, to link your operations [with ours] and establish communication [with us], pushing before you the Prussian army corps which has taken this direction and might have stopped in Wavre, where you are to arrive as soon as possible.
You are to follow the enemy columns on your right with some light troops to observe their movements and to gather up their stragglers. Inform me immediately of your dispositions and your march route as well as on any news you have of the enemy and do not neglect to establish communications with us; the Emperor wishes to have frequent reports from you."

At 11 AM Napoleon dictated order to Soult:
"As soon as the entire army is deployed in order of battle, by about 1 PM, the attack to seize the village of Mont-Saint-Jean at the road junction will commence, when the Emperor gives the order to Marshal Ney. To this end, the 12-pounder batteries of the II [Reille's] and VI [Lobau's] Corps will join that of the I [deErlon's] Corps.
These 24 cannon will fire on the troops at Mont-SaintJean, and Count de Erlon will commence the attack with his left flank division, and according to circumstances, support iy with other divisions of the I Corps. The II Corps will advance far enough to guard de Erlon's flank. The sapper companies of the I Corps will be prepared to barricade themselves at Mont-Saint-Jean immediately."

"They are Prussians, aren't they ?"
"Yes, sire."

The Emperor was growing impatient and he thought about the Prussians.
He sent Marbot's 7th Hussars and one infantry battalion, beyond Fichermont. Marbot: "At the beginning of the battle, towards 11 AM, I was detached from the division with my own regiment and an infantry battalion ... These troops were posted on our extreme right, behind Frischermont, facing the Dyle." Posts were set up at the Mousty and Ottignies bridges - possibly to make contact with Grouchy, to whom Soult had sent order. Grouchy was marching towards Wavre.

Meanwhile the Emperor directed his fieldglass to the east, it was impossible to make out something glittering ... perhaps troops ? French ? Prussians ? Napoleon sent his ADC, General Bertrand, toward the plateau between Couture-Saint-German and La Chapelle-Robert.
Bernard returned, hat in hand.
"What news ?"
"Bad, sire."
"They are Prussians, aren't they ?"
"Yes, sire."
"I thought as much."
This information was confirmed shortly afterwards by a prisoner belonging to the Prussian hussars. This unit was already at Chapelle-Saint-Lambert.

Attack of d'Erlon's infantry columns.
"But farther to the right [of La Haye Sainte],
the combat had advanced beyond the sunken lane,
and it was clear that the French had captured the crest
of the ridge and were gradually pushing the enemy back."
A. Barbero - "The Battle"

Napoleon was by Rossomme, his spyglass was in his hand and he often pointed it at various parts of the battlefield. During one of the surveys he seemed to catch a glimpse of sometning in the distance, something that hadn't been there before. Nevertheless, all uncertainty was soon dispelled, because a squadron from the 7th Hussars of Col. Marbot arrived bringing the Emperor a Prussian prisoner with a note addressed to Wellington.

Napoleon ordered d'Erlon to attack Allies line. The French were going to come out and pound it right at the Allies defense and see if that defense was for real. They were going to punch it and punch it and punch it, and hit them in the mouth, and see what happens.

Before 2 pm four infantry divisions of d'Erlon's corps began their advance. Each division had two brigades of 4-6 battalions. For the first 500 m they marched not in heavy columns but in narrow and long formations threading their way through the more than 200 limbers, and ammunition wagons that fed the 80 guns of French Grand Battery.

The soil was muddy, some gaiters came apart and many shoes were lost.
As they reached the line of guns of the Grand Battery, the firing ceased and the infantry formed up their battalions in lines, with every battalion sending forward its voltigeurs as skirmishers. Behind the skirmishers marched entire battalions. Each division formed one block of 8-10 battalions. The battalions averaged 480-580 men, or 400-485 without the voltigeurs, each covering a front of 80-120 m. In the beginning of the advance the gaps between divisions were about approx. 160-240 m. As these divisions advanced the intervals shrinked considerably.

Now the advance proper began and the French had to cover approx. 500 m separating them from the enemy. The British, German and Netherland batteries (total of 29 pieces) fired as fast as the gunners could reload. "In some cases, the gunners had forced open a passage for their cannon through the hedge that bordered the sunken lane." The cannonballs tore through the tightly packed ranks. Netherland and British skirmishers banged away and fell back, they couldn't stop the French.

The marching soldiers flattened the fields of rye "whose crops "had stood almost as tall as a man." Riding at the front of the four divisions was Marshal Ney and General d’Erlon, with their staff. Actually there were not four divisional columns but only two. The two other were brigade-size formations. On the left one brigade of Allix/Quiot's division (General Allix was replaced by Quiot) attacked La Haye Sainte, while another brigade crossed the hedge and the road behind. Donzelot’s division almost reached the hedge, while Marcognet’s division was within 50 m of the crest. One brigade of Durutte’s division was far behind and climbing the slope while the other marched towards Papelotte.

"When the line of French skirmishers, closely followed by the leading columns, approached the British batteries behind the sunken lane, a wave of panic began to spread among the artillerymen. Sir William Gomm, a member of Wellington's staff, saw 2 cannons being moved back in great haste at the enemy's approach, and he couldn't help noting that this withdrawal was carried out with 'considerable bustle'. But the majority of the guns were simply abandoned.

The bulk of Allies infantry was deployed at least a 100 yards behind the Chemin d'Ohain and the thick, thorny hedge that lined it. The soldiers remained there, flat on their stomachs.

Quiot's Brigade (1.800) vs Kempt's Brigade (1.900)
The Highlanders fell back. When Sir Thomas Picton saw, to his horror,
that the Scots were starting to disband, he ordered one of his officers
to go and stop them.

The fight began on the left. One brigade of Allix/Quiot's division came under heavy artillery and rifle fire from British riflemen in the sandpit and from the "German riflemen on the roofs of La Haye Sainte causing it to veer slightly right.

The French skirmishers stormed the sandpit and the mound behind it, forcing the British 95th Rifles "to abandon their position in great haste."

Meanwhile the French column kept advancing. The strength of the brigade was approx. 1,800 bayonets in 4 battalions while Kempt's brigade consisted of approx. 1,900 Scots and English also in 4 battalions. Kempt's men were deployed not in their typical 2-rank deep formation but rather in the far more cautious 4-rank line, because they feared an attack by cavalry.
(The previous days they suffered badly from the French cavalry at Quatre Bras.)

The rest of the Rifle battalion, stationed in the sunken lane, ought to have held out longer but "when these troops saw Kincaid's unit falling back, they experienced a moment of panic..." The French 51st Line Regiment "had reached the hedge and overrun the abandoned guns, and with the British infantry finally in sight, the French were briskly maneuvering to change from column of attack to a deployment in line..."

Before the Rifles fired a volley "Kincaid had time to see the advancing French quickly spreading out, 'cheered and encouraged by the gallantry of their officers...' Another officer of Kempt's brigade also remembered with admiration "the gallant manner the French officers led out their companies in deploying... When the French column appeared, the troops in the other battalions of Kempt's brigade rose to their feet and opened fire."

The four French battalions struggled with fully deploying from columns into lines. GdB Aulard was killed and his "soldiers took shelter behind the hedge, each man responding as he might to the enemy fire... Kincaid realized that the ranks of his riflemen were growing dangerously thin..."

General Picton spurred his horse "into the midst of Kempt's men and ordered a bayonet assault: Charge ! Charge ! Hurrah !" Some French troops halted their advance, others not - and all kept up their fire throughout.

"Upon reaching the sunken lane, the troops of [French] 32nd Line Regiment found themselves in the midst of the enemy, who were retreating down the slope.... A little farther left, the Scottish troops of the 79th Regiment, the Cameron Highlanders, encountered such heavy fire that they chose to stop before reaching the hedge, content to respond with volleys of their own."

The French seemed to have no intention of giving up, and Wellington himself, who wasn't far away from the struggle, noticed that after a while the Camerons 'seemed to have had more than they liked of it. The Highlanders fell back.

When Sir Thomas Picton saw, to his horror, that the Scots were starting to disband, he ordered one of his officers to go and stop them. But when he was speaking to the officer a French soldier fired and mortally wounded Picton. Officer's horse was wounded by another bullet and collapsed.

Donzelot's Division vs Bijlandt's Brigade
"Having approach us to within 50 paces not a shot had been fired,
but now the impatience of the soldiers could do no longer be restrained,
and they greeted the enemy (the French) with a double row."

Bijlandt's brigade had five understrength battalions of Dutch-Belgian infantry. One battalion formed skirmish line (27th Dutch Jagers), another three were lining the hedge, and only one battalion was held in reserve. The Dutch and Belgian infantry were formed on 2 ranks. Bijlandt's brigade covered almost the entire front that was about to receive French attack, "the rest of the first line, on Bijlandt's right, was held by only 400 men of the 95th Rifles ... and positioned on the high ground above the sandpit. As the Dutch and Belgians opened up with their muskets, the two British brigades (Kempt's and Pack's) on either side and 50 m to the rear of them began to change from battalion column of companies to line."

Ltn. Scheltens of VII Belgian Line Battalion wrote: “Our battalion opened fire as our skirmishers had come in. The French column was unwise enough to halt and begin to deploy. We were so close that Cpt. Henry l’Olivuer, commanding our grenadier company, was struck on the arm by a ball, of which the wad, or cartridge paper, remained smiking in the cloth of his tunic … One French battalion commander had received a sabre cut on his nose, which was hanging down over his mouth.”

The firefight was "protracted and effective" before the Dutch/Belgians fell back. "Having approach us to within 50 paces not a shot had been fired, but now the impatience of the soldiers could do no longer be restrained, and they greeted the enemy (French) with a double row." (Col. van Zuylen van Nyevelt, chief-of-staff of 2nd Division)

Bylandt's forces eventually gave way and retreated through British line. Ltn. Hope of British 92nd Foot writes: “… the Belgians, assailed with terrible fury, returned the fire of the enemy for some time with great spirit … then partially retired from the hedge.” Except one battalion the rest fell back but Mjr-Gen. Constant-Rebeque rallied them in the rear.

Grenier's Brigade vs Pack's Brigade
The French 45th Line burst through the hedge en masse, yelling in triumph.
Panic spread through the 92nd Gordon Highlander and the troop dissolved
into a mob of howling runaways.

Meanwhile other French brigade under Grenier marched against Pack's brigade. Pack’s men did not attack the French until they had crossed over the hedge.
The French threw the British 42nd Foot into some confusion.

Major de Lacy Evans wrote: “Sir Denis Pack … ordered 4-deep [line] to be formed and closed in to the centre. The Regiment, which was then within about 20 yards of the column, fired a volley into tem. The enemy on reaching the hedge at the side of the road had ordered arms, and were in the act of shouldering them when they received the volley from the 92nd.”

"Like Kempt's, Pack's men had lain down at some distance from the sunken lane and remained there for a long time, but then they had deployed in line, 4-rank deep ... and advanced to one side of the hedge, while the French were approaching it from the other. Grenier's infantry, with the 45th Line Regiment (ext.link) at the head of the column, reached the hedge with their muskets still on their shoulders. Having got through, they were crossing the lane when they realized that the enemy infantry was deployed in their front.
The Scots fired a volley before the French could level their muskets, and for a moment the head of the column seemed to break up; but the French fired an answering volley almost at once, and theirs was equally deadly."

The 42nd Black Watch advanced as far as the hedge, stopped short, and rounanced the idea of crashing through it. They were stopped and thrown back by the French fire.

"... Pack, who was advancing in the midst of the following battalion, the 92nd Gordon Highlanders began to shout: "Ninety-Second, everything has given way on our right and left and you must charge this column."

The redcoats however rather than charge with lowered bayonets, "they too opened fire, inevitably getting the worst of the exchange, so that they started to fall back in disorder, while the men of the French 45th Line burst through the hedge en masse, yelling in triumph."

Panic spread through the 92nd Gordon Highlander and the troop dissolved into a mob of howling runaways.

From his chair on the heights of Rossomme, Napoleon could see nothing of this, except for the white smoke that enveloped the entire ridge. Around La Haye Sainte the smoke was not moving forward; there the King German Legion was putting up a stiff resistance. "But farther to the right, the combat had advanced beyond the sunken lane, and it was clear that the French had captured the crest of the ridge and were gradually pushing the enemy back."

Napoleon mounted his horse and moved to the high ground at La Belle Alliance where he continued surveying the battlefield through his telescope. "Things seemed to be turning out as he had predicted. Almost everywhere, and more and more clearly as the eye swung from left to right, the smoke was advancing, a sign that the pressure being exerted by d'Erlon's troops was proving irresistible.... At two o'clock in the afternoon, along the Chemin d'Ohain between La Haye Sainte and Papelotte, the French were winning the battle fo Waterloo."

Attacks on Papelotte Farm.
The Prussians arrived later and thought
the farm was in French hands. They mistook
the uniforms of the Nassauers for French ones.

The farms of Papelotte, La Haye, Fichermont and Smohain were defended by Prince Bernhard Saxe-Weimar's Netherland's brigade, actually made up of Germans in the Orange Nassau and the 2nd Nassau Regiments. The soldiers were armed with French and British muskets. (One of Prince Bernhard's battalions was sent to Hougoumont.)

Papelotte was made of long, strong buildings. Along three sides of these buildings was a wall 3 m high around an orchard. In many places tall crops obstructed any attackers. The farm was surrounded by sunken roads and hedges. Colonel Best writes: "[The battle area] consisted of fields of planted corn, with hedges and bushes here and there. However, the columns of marching troops and their camps had trampled the lush cornfields flat. The heavy soil had been much softened by the heavy rainfall, and hindered the movements of the troops."

Prince Bernhard screened his position with skirmishers, and in each farm were placed 1-2 companies. The rest of his brigade stood in reserve.

At noon General Durutte sent forward his skirmishers and bombarded the farms with artillery. Napoleon sent him as reinforcement one battery of 12pdrs of the Guard Artillery. Colonel Best: "A detachment of French infantry, mainly light troops attacked our extreme left. It attempted to take possession of the hamlet of Smohain and the farms of Papelotte and La Haye, as well as the chateau of Fichermont. The brave Nassauers resisted with greatest determination. Several bodies of infantry deployed in line to carry out this attack, supported by a few guns, and with skirmishers in front."

Half of Durutte's division attacked Papelotte. The French managed to capture some buildings. After 3 pm they renewed their attacks on Papelotte. The Nassauers counterattacked and forced the enemy out of the sunken road at bayonet point. French battery fired canister and threw the Nassauers back. The Prussians arrived later and thought the farm was in French hands. They mistook the uniforms of the Nassauers for French ones.

The Prussian Schutzen (riflemen) and fusilier battalion advanced against the numerous French skirmishers. The French fought back. The fight continued until the French general withdrawal. The Prussian light cavalry followed up.

Map.

The British battalions deployed from columns to 4-rank deep lines.
The Dutch and Belgian infantry of Bilandt's brigade were formed on 2 ranks.
The French column of Donzelot "was unwise enough to halt and begin to deploy." - Ltn. Scheltens
The four battalions of Allix/Quiot's division "struggled with fully deploying from columns into lines."

Cavalry Charges.
"We (the French Guard Cavalry) ... threatened the squares,
which put up a most honourable resistance." - de Brack

Lord Uxbridge commanded Wellington's cavalry. He was not only an excellent officer but also a womanizer. When he decided to elope with Wellington's sister-in-law (and got her pregnant, before returning her to a tearful husband only to elope for a second time, forcing a parliamentary divorce and then marrying the lady), the military establishment in London wrongly supposed that his talents were no longer required by Wellington because of the scandal. Lord Uxbridge was a brave man, and well known general.

Lord Uxbridge having come from inspecting the cavalry deployed behind Hougoumont, arrived on the high ground above La Haye Sainte. He saw French cuirassiers sabering Ross' gunners and ordered Somerset's Household Brigade to prepare to charge. Lord Uxbridge then rode to where Ponsonby's Union Brigade stood and ordered Ponsonby to prepare his heavy dragoons to charge.

The cavalry had to descend the slope, ascend the opposite slope, and then get past the sunken road. They had to move through the Allied infantry and pass through the thorny bushes on the side of the road.

Ponsonby's Union Brigade was thrown against front of the French formation. Bourgeouis' brigade was pushed back by the 1st Royals, the 6th Dragoons struck Donzelot's column, and the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) moved against Marcognet's column. Ghigny's cavalry brigade followed Ponsonby's brigade. Vandeleur's cavalry brigade moved against the flank of the infantry. Lord Uxbridge in his hussar uniform, rode ahead of Somerset's Household Brigade.

The charge of Allied cavalry.
"On to Paris !"

Two regiments of French cuirassiers were still scattered, not having had time to reorder their ranks after destroying the Luneberg Battalion near La Haye Sainte and chasing Ross' gunners. Several small groups of cuirassiers crossed the main road. They had no hope of resisting the sudden attack of three regiments of heavy cavalry led by Somerset. The cuirassiers - after short fight - were thrown back by the guardsmen.

As they were pursuing the cuirassiers, the guardsmen came upon the flank of Aulard's infantry brigade (Donzelot's column). The infantrymen was so surprised by the sudden appearance of cavalry that they broke and fled without much resistance. Some soldiers however started firing at the backs of the guardsmen, and here and there a rider was dragged from his horse and hauled away as a prisoner (incl. officer Waymouth, officer Irby, etc.)

Many guardsmen continued charging down the slope with Lord Uxbridge at their head. French infantry skirmishers stationed near La Haye Sainte opened fire on them. Commanding officer of the 1st Life Guards fall dead, and the colonel of the King's Dragoon Guards - crying oout to his men "On to Paris !" - was also killed.

Battalions of Schmit's infantry brigade formed squares near La Haye Sainte and repulsed the guardsmen with musket volleys.

Meanwhile one or two squadrons of 3rd Hussar KGL led by Kerssenbruch made fine attacks on two squadrons of cuirassiers. It was not long before two regiments of German cavalry joined the fight. The French brought fresh cuirassiers and dragoons, overlapped the Germans on both flanks and threw them back. The Germans lost officers Janssen, Bruggemann, Oehlkers and True.

When the dragoons of Union Brigade came to within 100-200 yards of Chemin d'Ohain, they halted and allowed the retreating British and Netherland infantry to reach safety by passing through the intervals between squadrons. Ponsonby rode up to a vantage point and saw the French infantry was engaged in crossing the sunken road. It was a perfect moment and Ponsonby ordered the charge.

Lord Uxbridge writes: "My impression is that the French were completely surprised by the first cavalry attack. It (our cavalry) had been rather hidden by rising ground immediately before ther position. I think the left wing of our infantry was partially retiring ..."

The British cavalrymen appeared out of the smoke, whirling their sabers above their heads. "As we approached at a moderate pace the front and the flanks [of the infantry column] began to turn their backs inwards; the rear of the columns had already begun to run away." (- De Lacy Evans)
The infantry actually fired a volley that brought down some 20 dragoons. Then, since there was no time to form a square formation against cavalry, they took to their heels. An instant later, the dragoons were upon them, sabering their victims without pity, even though at that point many of the French had thrown down their weapons and were trying to surrender. The 105th Line was cut to pieces, it lost its Color, colonel and many officers. The 28th Line was also hors de combat, although suffered somehow less than the 105th.

The Scots Greys bore down on Grenier's infantry brigade. The leading battalion opened fire and seemed able to repulse the attack. Captain Martin of French 45th Line writes: "Our soldiers didn't wait for the order to cross it (the hollow road lined with hedges) ; they hurled themselves at it, jumping over the hedge and breaking ranks in order to rush upon the enemy (the Highland infantry). Fatal recklessnes !
We struggled to bring them back into order. We brought them to a halt in order to rally them. ... Just as I finished pushing a soldier back into his rank, I saw him fall at my feet, struck down by a saber blow, and I quickly turned around. The British cavalry were charging us on all sides and cutting us to pieces. ... They even cut the boys who served as our pipers and drummers."
The death toll however was not extremely high - but Grenier's brigade was nonetheless crushed. Sergeant Ewart captured the color of 45th Line. It was the second Eagle captured at Waterloo and it would be the last.

The Scots Greys then attacked the 21st Line that had time to form square. The infantry emptied great many saddles with their well aimed volley. Then however the French broke their ranks and surrendered to the Scots.

Many infantrymen who had thrown themselves on the ground or raised their hands started gathering up their muskets and firing again. Captain Clark was attacked by a French soldier who pointed his musket at the captain's head, and pulled the trigger; a sudden turn of the head saved Clark's life, but the musketball carried away the tip of his nose.

Some officers tried to rally the dragoons and lead them back up the slope. Many of the Scots Greys however decided that they had not yet had enough. They attacked the Grand Battery, or part of it. There were no guns captured but many gunners were seized with panic by the sudden appearance of the cavalry. (The gunners had stopped firing for fear of killing their own fleeing infantry.)
NCO Dickinson of British cavalry thought 15 French guns were permanently put out of action after the charge of Union Brigade. Others have suggested even much higher numbersctuly ke, 40 guns [!] This is approx. 50 % of the total strength of the French battery.
In fact, the Grand Battery was not put out of action. The dragoons had no means of carrying the cannons away and abandoned them. Nobody on the Allied ridge noticed any lasting reduction of fire, and the guns continued to be the biggest killer of allied infantry to the very last moments of the battle.

Durutte's division was also attacked by the Allied cavalry (several squadrons of Vandeleur's light dragoons, and some Grey Scots). Here the infantry however had time to form squares and repulsed every attack.

Erlon's corps after the charge.
"In the course of a few minutes,
five French [infantry] brigades had been
transformed into a mob of fugitives."
- Alessandro Barbero

The Germans of Ompteda's KGL Brigade, the Netherland soldiers of Bijlandt's brigade, and the Scots and Englishmen of Pack's brigade advanced in support of the British dragoons and completed the roundup of prisoners.
Due to confusion the British infantry fired on the Netherland troops, whose blue uniforms ( --> ) resembled the enemy's. Shortly thereafter, having realized their error, they mistook French troops for Netherland troops and let them get away.

According to some authors and witnesses d'Erlon's four divisions were "completely destroyed", "smashed" by the British, German and Netherland cavalry. They were "out of battle" or "all in captivity" etc. The quotations below lead the reader to believe that Erlon’s corps suffered horrendous losses to the cavalry, their morale was gone and they were surrendering by thousands.
- “… they could not prevent the Greys destroying the column in under 3 minutes.” - Lt. Winchester
- “The Union Brigade not only completely broke Donzelot’s division, but also smashed Marognet’s … the carnage was awful.” - Jac Welller in “Wellington at Waterloo.”
- “The dragoons are in the midst of the enemy columns - the furious impetuosity of their onslaught overcomes all resistance - the terror stricken masses, paralyzed by this sudden apparition of cavalry amongst them …” - Siborne “History of the War in France and Belgium 1815”
- “The column that was charged by the Royals was broken and the greater part taken prisoner.” - Lt. Shelton of 28th Foot

Erlon’s corps suffered heavy casualties, there is no doubt about it.
However their casualties were due to several things: