ey had a long score to wipe out
against the French, and were inspired as much by national hatred as by
military ardor; and they owed their defeat rather to the disadvantages
of the position they held than to the, superior fighting qualities of
the French. Their cavalry had several times made desperate charges;
sometimes against the French horse, at others upon columns of
infantry. In one of these Blucher himself was with them; and as they
were in turn driven back by a charge of the French cuirassiers his
horse was shot, bringing him to the ground. His aid-de-camp leaped off
and threw his cloak over him as the cuirassiers came thundering past,
intent upon overtaking the Prussian cavalry. They paid no attention to
the solitary dismounted man, and a few minutes later again passed the
spot, this time in retreat, a fresh party of Prussian cavalry having
met them. Again they passed by the fallen general, little dreaming
that one of their most formidable and determined enemies lay there at
their mercy. As soon as the Prussians came up the dead horse was
moved, and Blucher, who was insensible, carried to the rear, when he
soon recovered and resumed the command.

But though beaten the Prussians were by no means routed. They had lost
the _key_ of their position; but night came on before the combat
terminated, and under cover of the darkness they fell back quietly and
in good order. General Thielmann's corps on the extreme Prussian left
had taken but little part in the fighting; and as the center and right
of the Prussian army retreated he advanced, fell upon the French in
the darkness, and for some time forced them back, thus giving time to
the rest of the army to reform its ranks and recover its discipline.
After having rendered great service by thus occupying the enemy
Thielmann took up a position on the heights, and remained facing the
French, while the other _corps d'arme_ took post in his rear.

The French were too weary to follow up the advantage they had gained;
the night passed without any attack being made, and at daybreak the
Prussians started on their march to Wavre, the cavalry remaining
behind to cover the movement, check pursuit, and conceal if possible
from the French the line by which the army was falling back. Had the
pursuit been taken up at daybreak by the French, they would soon have
driven in the cavalry and ascertained the route taken by the infantry;
but it was not until many hours had elapsed that the Fre