Then there was another despatch to Grouchy, which we also give here in full:—[629]
Field of Battle of Waterloo,
the 18th of June: 1 P.M.
Marshal:
You wrote to the Emperor at 2 o’clock[630] this morning, that you would march on Sart-lez-Walhain; your plan then is to proceed to Corbaix or[631] to Wavre. This movement is conformable to his Majesty’s arrangements which have been communicated to you. Nevertheless, the Emperor directs me to tell you that you ought always to manœuvre in our direction.[632] It is for you to see the place where we are, to govern yourself accordingly, and to connect our communications, so as to be always prepared to fall upon any of the enemy’s troops which may endeavor to annoy our right, and to destroy them.
“At this moment the battle is in progress[633] on the line of Waterloo. The enemy’s centre is at Mont St. Jean; manœuvre, therefore, to join our right.
The Marshal, Duke of Dalmatia.
“P. S. A letter, which has just been intercepted, says that General Bülow is about to attack our right flank; we believe that we see this corps on the height of St. Lambert. So lose not an instant in drawing near us and joining us, in order to crush Bülow, whom you will take in the very act.”
In this letter the Emperor’s desire that Grouchy would manœuvre in his direction is expressed again and again, and even in the body of the letter it is plain that some apprehension is entertained at headquarters of an attack upon the right of the army by the Prussians. The postscript, of course, speaks for itself.
Grouchy did not receive this letter till between 6 and 7 P.M.,[634] when it was too late for him to accomplish much. He, however, carried the bridge of Limale, and established himself on the left bank of the Dyle for the night.