“I did not hear of these events till in the evening of the 15th; and I immediately ordered the troops to prepare to march, and afterwards to march to their left, as soon as I had intelligence from other quarters to prove that the enemy’s movement upon Charleroi was the real attack.
“The enemy drove the Prussian posts from the Sambre on that day; and general Zieten, who commanded the corps which had been at Charleroi, retired upon Fleurus; and marshal prince Blücher concentrated the Prussian army upon Sombreffe, holding the villages in front of his position of St.-Amand and Ligny.
“The enemy continued his march along the road from Charleroi towards Brussels; and, on the same evening, the 15th, attacked a brigade of the army of the Netherlands, under the Prince de Weimar, posted at Frasnes, and forced it back to the farm-house, on the same road, called les Quatre-Bras.
“The prince of Orange immediately reinforced this brigade with another of the same division, under general Perponcher, and, in the morning early, regained part of the ground which had been lost, so as to have the command of the communication leading from Nivelles and Brussels with marshal Blücher’s position.
“In the mean time, I had directed the whole army to march upon les Quatre-Bras; and the 5th division, under lieutenant-general sir Thomas Picton, arrived at about half-past two in the day, followed by the corps of troops under the duke of Brunswick, and afterwards by the contingent of Nassau.
“At this time, the enemy commenced an attack upon Prince Blücher with his whole force, excepting the 1st and 2d corps, and a corps of cavalry under general Kellermann, with which he attacked our post at Les Quatre-Bras.
“The Prussian army maintained their position with their usual gallantry and perseverance, against a great disparity of numbers, as the 4th corps of their army, under general Bulow, had not joined; and I was not able to assist them as I wished, as I was attacked myself, and the troops, the cavalry in particular, which had a long distance to march, had not arrived.
“We maintained our position also, and completely defeated and repulsed all the enemy’s attempts to get possession of it. The enemy repeatedly attacked us with a large body of infantry and cavalry, supported by a numerous and powerful artillery. He made several charges with the cavalry upon our infantry, but all were repulsed in the steadiest manner.
“In this affair, his Royal Highness the prince of Orange, the Duke of Brunswick, and lieutenant-general sir Thomas Picton, and majors-generals sir James Kempt and sir Denis Pack, who were engaged from the commencement of the enemy’s attack, highly distinguished themselves, as well as lieutenant-general Charles baron Alten, major-general sir Colin Halkett, lieutenant-general Cooke, and major-generals Maitland and Byng, as they successively arrived. The troops of the 5th division, and those of the Brunswick corps, were long and severely engaged, and conducted themselves with the utmost gallantry. I must particularly mention the 28th, 42d, 79th, and 92d regiments, and the battalion of Hanoverians.
“Our loss was great, as your Lordship will perceive by the enclosed return; and I have particularly to regret his Serene Highness the duke of Brunswick, who fell fighting gallantly at the head of his troops.