The remaining Horse Batteries were with the Cavalry. They were (exclusive of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Robert Gardiner's already mentioned) Major Bull's of six howitzers; Lieutenant Colonel Webber Smith's of six guns; Major Whinyates's of six guns, and provided with rockets; Captain Mercer's of six guns; and Major Ramsay's of six guns. Captain Petter's Dutch-Belgian Horse Battery of eight guns, was attached to Collaert's Cavalry Division. The Dutch-Belgian Horse Battery under Captain van der Smissen, and Foot Battery under Captain Lux, of eight guns each, were with Chassé's Division at Braine l'Alleud. The Brunswick Horse Battery, under Captain Heinemann; and Foot Battery, under Major Moll, of eight guns each, were with the Brunswick Corps. The British Horse Battery under Major Beane, and Foot Battery under Captain Sinclair (belonging to the Sixth Division), as also the Hanoverian Foot Battery under Captain Braun, all three having six guns each, were in reserve near Mont St Jean.
The whole of the Batteries were engaged in the Front Line, more or less, during the course of the Battle.
This disposition of Wellington's forces, so completely in accordance with the general features of the ground which he had selected with consummate judgment as the Field on which he was prepared to give battle to his imperial rival in the great art of war, was admirably calculated for either offensive or defensive measures. The opposite line of Heights, which the Enemy would naturally crown with the main Line of his forces, was fully within the effectual range of cannon shot; and no hostile movement could be made against any part of the position, that would remain undiscovered within the range of musketry. The formation of the ground in rear of the ridge, along the brow of which his Front Line was posted, was such as effectually to screen from the Enemy's observation any movements of the Supports and Reserves, preparatory to either a contemplated attack, or to the assembling of the necessary means of resistance at any threatened point. In rear of the main Front Line the ground was practicable for the movements of all Arms, the country was perfectly open, and the two high roads added still further to the facility of communication between the front and rear. The occupation of the Posts of Hougomont and La Haye Sainte presented important advantages in aid alike of offensive and defensive operations.
The Right Flank was rendered secure, not only by the position of Clinton's Division, commanding the valley skirting the Village of Merbe Braine, but also by the occupation of the Town of Braine l'Alleud, whence Chassé's Division could co-operate so as to render any attempt of the Enemy to turn that Flank a most hazardous experiment.
Although the Left of the main Front Line rested upon an open plain or elevated plateau, and was therefore completely en l'air: yet the Village of Smohain, the Farms of La Haye and Papelotte, together with the scattered houses and numerous enclosures on the abrupt slope descending into the valley in front, by being well garnished with Infantry, offered the means of protracted resistance; while Cavalry was at hand, on the high ground, to cover the latter if forced to retire, and to frustrate the complete development of the Enemy's disposition of attack. The latter description of force was also available in maintaining a vigilant look out for any direct flank attack; which, however, was the less to be apprehended in consequence of the preconcerted Prussian co-operation in that quarter.
The position also afforded ample security for a retreat. The two broad high roads uniting at a point in rear of the centre, greatly facilitated the retirement of unbroken masses upon Mont St Jean; while the Village itself, and the numerous buildings and inclosures which lined the great road as far as the Forest of Soignies, presented the ready means of securing the further retreat of those masses, which, it may be assumed, would have constituted a main Central Column.
On the right, the Villages of Merbe Braine, Le Mesnil, and L'Estraye, connected with Braine l'Alleud and with one another, as also with the Forest, by several cross roads, and intersected by numerous inclosures, were well calculated for the retirement of the extreme Right of the Army, by the advantages which they afforded for covering such retreat with Light Troops.