France . would have made the oddsoverwhelming, advanced at once into Belgium. Napoleonsaw his chance, and made the most of it. Massing120,000 men on the Belgian frontier, where 210,000British, Hanoverians, Dutch, Belgians, and Prussianswere extended along a frontier of 100 miles, he attemptedto surprise Wellington, and very nearly a sudden and unexpected advance with an armywhich, if not large enough, was purely French and fiercelyenthusiastic, he struck the Prussians under Bliicher atLigny, whilst Ney heldWeUington at Quatre-Bras (June 16).But for counter-orders issued by Ney
France . would have made the oddsoverwhelming, advanced at once into Belgium. Napoleonsaw his chance, and made the most of it. Massing120,000 men on the Belgian frontier, where 210,000British, Hanoverians, Dutch, Belgians, and Prussianswere extended along a frontier of 100 miles, he attemptedto surprise Wellington, and very nearly a sudden and unexpected advance with an armywhich, if not large enough, was purely French and fiercelyenthusiastic, he struck the Prussians under Bliicher atLigny, whilst Ney heldWeUington at Quatre-Bras (June 16).But for counter-orders issued by Ney, a flank attack byCount dErlon would have destroyed the Prussians. As itwas, they were hurled back, and, if they had been pursuedmore vigorously, might have been annihilated. Welling-ton fell back upon a strong defensive position at Waterloo,promising to hold it if Bliicher would come to his aid onthe morning of June 18, 1815. The indomitable Prussianendeavoured to keep his word, but did not achieve his. ijt^. Rjschgiis. LOUIS PHILIPPE (1880-1848).Ftom an encraving by Skelton and Hopicood, from a painting by Eiig. Lami. WATEELOO 385 daring flank march until in the evening. All thatday Napoleon, whose health had long been breaking up,and who had wasted precious time after Ligny, stakedhis own existence and that of his army upon the chanceof smashing the thin red line, that crowned the slopes ofWaterloo, before the Prussians could come up. Therewas no room for prudence. Politically, he was boundeither to win or lose this battle. He underrated thegeneralship of Wellington and the steadfastness of Britishinfantry, for he had not met them in Spain. He hurledagainst them a terrific frontal attack ; there was a whirl-wind of wonderful infantry and cavalry charges, and thefinal heroic charge of the Old Guard, heroically met; andstill the English crowned the hOl. Bliicher came up intime to hamper Napoleons last effort and take up thepursuit, which did not end until Wellington and
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