The battalion had remained stationed between Tournay and Courtray until March, 1815, when, in consequence of the foregoing events, it was ordered to join the division of the army under the command of Lieut.-General Baron Alten, and formed part of the brigade of Major-General Sir Colin Halkett, K.C.B.
On the 11th of April, 1815, it was announced to the army in Flanders that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and behalf of His Majesty, had appointed Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, K.G., to be commander of His Majesty’s forces on the continent of Europe, and it was directed that the Fifth British brigade of infantry should be composed of the second battalion of the thirtieth, the thirty-third, and the second battalions of the sixty-ninth and seventy-third regiments.[16]
Napoleon left Paris on the 12th of June, and endeavoured, by one of those rapid and decisive movements for which he had been celebrated, to interpose his forces between the British and Prussian armies, and then attack them in detail. Information of this movement arrived at Brussels during the evening of the 15th of June, and the troops were immediately ordered to prepare to march.
On the 16th of June, the division of which the second battalion of the SEVENTY-THIRD formed part, pursued its course, with the other portions of the army, through the forest of Soignies, Genappe, and along the road towards Charleroi. After a march of twenty-two miles the troops arrived at the post of Les Quatre Bras, where the second French corps, under Marshal Ney, was developing a serious attack against that position, with very superior numbers.
As the British regiments arrived at the scene of conflict, they were instantly formed for action. The repeated charges of the French were repulsed, but a considerable loss was incurred, including his Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick, who fell at the head of his troops.
The SEVENTY-THIRD had the following officers wounded:—Lieutenants John Acres and John Lloyd, and Ensigns Robert Greville Heselrige and Thomas Deacon. Lieutenant Acres died of his wounds. One drummer, and three rank and file were killed, and one serjeant and forty-three rank and file wounded.
Marshal Blucher had been attacked on the 16th of June by Napoleon at Ligny, and the Prussians, after a desperate conflict, were compelled to retreat to Wavre. This caused the Duke of Wellington to make a corresponding movement, to keep up his communication with them.
In the course of the morning of the 17th of June, the troops were withdrawn from Quatre Bras, and proceeded towards Waterloo. On this day, the SEVENTY-THIRD had Lieutenant Joseph William Henry Streaphan and three rank and file killed.
The position which the Duke of Wellington occupied in front of Waterloo, crossed the high roads leading from Charleroi and Nivelle to Brussels, and which roads united at the village of Mont St. Jean, in the rear of the British. The right wing extended to a ravine near Merke Braine, which was occupied. The left extended to a height above the hamlet of Ter la Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right centre, and near the Nivelle road, the house and garden of Hougomont were taken possession of, and in front of the left centre, the farm of La Haye Sainte was occupied. By the left the British communicated with Marshal Prince Blucher at Wavre, through Ohaim.
Napoleon collected his army on a range of heights in front of the British, with the exception of his third corps, which he had sent to observe the Prussians. About ten o’clock the French commenced a furious attack upon the post at Hougomont. Then ensued a conflict which will ever be memorable in the history of Europe. The attacks of the French troops were frequently calculated to spread confusion through any army. They were supported by the thunder of a numerous artillery, and followed up by such a succession of column after column, rolling onwards like the waves of the sea, that it required a degree of unexampled fortitude and courage to oppose effectual resistance to so fierce and continued a storm of war.