ken,
and as often recovered--though with terrible loss of life: for out of
800 that went into the action, only ninety-six privates and four
officers returned unhurt. The divisions of Alten, Halket, Cooke,
Maitland, and Byng successively arrived; and night found the English
general, after a severe and bloody day, in possession of Quatre-Bras.
The gallant Duke of Brunswick, fighting in the front of the line, fell
almost in the beginning of the battle. The killed and wounded on the
side of the Allies were 5000, and the French loss could not have been
less.

Blucher fought as stern a battle, but with worse fortune. With 80,000
men he had to sustain the assault of 90,000, headed by Napoleon; and the
villages of Amand and Ligny were many times taken and re-taken in the
course of the day. It is said, that two of the French corps hoisted the
black flag: it is certain that little quarter was either asked or given.
The hatred of the French and Prussians was inflamed to the same mortal
vehemence. It is said that the loss on Blucher's side was 20,000
men--and on the other 15,000--numbers, when we consider the amount of
the troops engaged, all but unparalleled. However, the non-arrival of
Bulow, and the successive charges of fresh divisions of the enemy, at
length forced Blucher to retire. In the course of the day the brave old
man had his horse shot under him, in heading a charge of cavalry, and
was ridden over undetected, by both his own men and the French. He now
retreated on the river Dyle, in the direction of Wavre; but contrived to
mask his movements so skilfully, that Napoleon knew not until noon on
the 17th what way he had taken.

The bulletins of the Emperor announced two victories of the most
dazzling description as the work of the 16th. Blucher would be heard of
no more, they said; and Wellington, confounded and amazed, was already
within the jaws of ruin.

Napoleon, having ascertained the retreat of the Prussian, now committed
the pursuit of him to Marshal Grouchy, and a corps of 32,000 men--and
turned in person to Quatre-Bras, in the hope of pouring his main force,
as well as Ney's, on Wellington, in a situation where it was altogether
improbable he should receive any assistance from Blucher. But no sooner
was the Duke aware of Blucher's march on Wavre, than he, in adherence to
the common plan of the campaign, gave orders for falling back from
Quatre-Bras. He had before now been heard to say, that if ever it were
hi