d to ward off its fury.
France became an immense camp. Armies were dispatched towards Belgium,
Lorraine, Franche Comte, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. The head-quarters
of the grand army were at Laon, from whence communications were
preserved with Valenciennes, Mauberge, Lisle, and the armies assembled
on the Moselle. Napoleon joined that section of the army destined to
enter Belgium, his design being to "measure himself with Wellington."
The army raised for this project consisted of about 125,000 men and
three hundred and fifty pieces of cannon. Against this force Wellington
could only oppose 76,000 men, not one half of which were British, and
but some eighty-four pieces of cannon. The duke's headquarters were at
Brussels; and on his left, in and around Namur, lay Marshal Blucher,
with about 80,000 men and two hundred cannon. Napoleon commenced
operations by crossing the Sombre and taking Charleroi, which was
garrisoned by Prussians. This accomplished, Napoleon hastened towards
Brussels, resolving to strike a signal blow against the British. The
Duke of Wellington was at a ball when intelligence arrived of this
movement; and he gave orders for every man to repair to his post. At
first the English took up their position at Quatre Bras; but tidings
having arrived that Napoleon had again defeated the Prussians at Ligny,
the Duke fell back with his army to the position of Waterloo. It was at
the dawn of the 18th of June that Napoleon discerned the British on the
heights of Waterloo; and in the exuberance of his joy he exclaimed, "Ah!
I have these English!" The position taken up by the duke was in front of
the village of Waterloo, and crossed the high roads from Charleroi and
Nivelles. It had its right thrown back to a ravine near Merke-Braine,
and its left extended to a height above the hamlet of Ter la Haye; in
front of the right centre the troops occupied the house and gardens of
Hougomont, which covered the return of that flank; and in front of the
left centre they occupied the farm of La Haye Sainte. By his left the
duke communicated with Blucher at Havre, who promised to support him
with one or more corps if necessary. In the rear of the British centre
was the farm of Monte St. Jean, and a little further behind a village of
the same name. While stationed at Quatre Bras a partial engagement
had taken place between the two armies--Ney commanding the French--and
Wellington had lost 2.380 in wounded, and three hundred and fift