As the prospect of the consequences of failure thus flashed across his mind; Napoleon, like a desperate gambler, driven to his last stake, determined to risk his all upon another venture. The meditated blow was to be struck against his bold antagonist, Wellington; whose Line was to be attacked along its entire Front by a simultaneous effort, while its Right and Centre were to be forced at all hazards.
He immediately ordered General Count Druot to collect all his Battalions of the Guard that were still in reserve, in front of La Belle Alliance. These were accordingly moved forward from their position near the house of De Coster; and the two Battalions of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers, which had previously been stationed on the Height in rear of La Belle Alliance, were now destined to form a Reserve to the attacking Columns.
D'Erlon and Reille were at the same time ordered to advance the whole of the remaining disposable force against the Enemy, with a view to second the main attack. The Centre of the Anglo-Allied Line, immediately in rear of La Haye Sainte, was not to be allowed a moment's respite from the attacks which continued to be made against it by the troops occupying, and debouching from, that Farm. These were also to carry the Centre by assault, as soon as the Guard should reach the Height.
Wellington, who seemed to have acquired a thorough insight into his opponent's designs, having satisfied himself that his position was destined shortly to be again assailed by a formidable force, became anxious for the arrival of the Prussian troops expected on his extreme Left. He desired his Aide de Camp, Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle, to proceed immediately in that direction, to hasten the advance of any Corps he might fall in with, and to represent to its Commander that if he would supply him with the means of strengthening those points along his Line which had been so seriously weakened by repeated attacks, he entertained no doubt of not only maintaining his ground, but of also gaining the victory.
Although the Duke was fully aware that Bülow's Corps was in active operation against the extreme Right of the French Army, the ground upon which that operation was mainly carried on was too remote from his own immediate sphere of action to admit of his calculating upon support from it, beyond that of a diversion of the Enemy's forces; and it was only from the high ground on which the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Line rested, that a general view could be obtained of the Prussian movements. As regards, however, the Village of Planchenoit itself, the spire of the church was all that could be seen even from the point alluded to; so that it was scarcely possible to distinguish which was the successful party in that quarter. Napoleon might (as he really did) present an efficient check to the Prussian attack, and at the same time retain sufficient force wherewith he might make another vigorous assault upon the Anglo-Allied Army.
When, therefore, the Duke beheld his Line so fearfully reduced in numbers, which he had no means of replacing, and which the indomitable courage of his British and German troops alone had hitherto been able to supply, it is not surprising that he should have manifested some little impatience for the arrival of that portion of the Prussian forces which was to co-operate more immediately with his own Army. The latter, with the exception of the Dutch-Belgian troops, which still continued in reserve, for it was useless to place them where they would be exposed to the brunt of the battle shock, presented but a mere wreck of that proud array which it had displayed in the morning. But, if the vain confidence of strength had departed, the more noble pride of unflinching bravery still remained unshaken. Exposed, however, as they had been for so many hours to a tremendous cannonade, which only ceased at times but to give place to attacks of Cavalry and musketry; their exemplary passive forbearance seemed, in some instances, to be approaching its utmost limits. Frequent messages reached the Duke from Commanding Officers, soliciting reinforcements and support since their Corps were reduced to skeletons; but the only reply they received was, that no reinforcements could be granted, and that they must hold their ground to the last man. Occasionally too, as he rode along the Line, a murmur would reach his ear, indicative of impatience to be led against the Enemy. This would draw from him some encouraging appeal, such as "Wait a little longer, my lads; and your wishes shall be gratified."
In all three Arms of the Service the losses had been awfully severe. Battalions, dwindled to mere handfuls of men, were commanded by either Captains or Subalterns. A vast number of guns along the whole extent of the Line had been disabled. The British and German Cavalry Brigades, with the exception of Vivian's and Vandeleur's on the Left, were reduced to less than the ordinary strength of Regiments—Somerset's and Ponsonby's Brigades united did not comprise two Squadrons. Many, it is true, had quitted the ranks to assist the wounded, and to convey prisoners to the rear; but if amongst these were to be found the weak and faint hearted, the brave spirits that remained nobly represented the valour and devotion which, under the guidance of a master hand, were destined to be crowned with lasting triumph. Familiarised as the men had become with scenes, in rapid succession, of violent death under almost every variety of aspect, from the sudden gush of life to the slow and lingering anguish—from the calm and tranquil sleep "that knows no waking," to the ghastly writhings of convulsive death throes—the short and frequent command of "Close up!" as their comrades fell around them, was as mechanically obeyed as would have been any common parade order in a Barrack Square.
Such was the situation of the troops against which Napoleon was meditating an assault with all the force he could collect, in the hope—his last and only hope—of seeing his Eagles soaring in triumph over those Heights upon which the British Standard continued to wave in proud defiance.
The Battalions of the Imperial Guard which had been collected in front of La Belle Alliance, and which were to constitute the leading feature in the general attack upon the Anglo-Allied Line, consisted of nine Battalions, exclusive of the two Battalions of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers, destined, as previously observed, to remain as a Reserve. These nine Battalions were formed into Two Columns of Attack. The First comprised four Battalions of the Middle Guard, namely, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Regiment of Grenadiers, and the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Regiment of Chasseurs. It was formed in mass of Battalions, and destined to advance against the Centre of the Right Wing of the Anglo-Allied Army.