The Second Column of Attack consisted of the three remaining Battalions of the Middle Guard—namely, the 1st Battalion of the 4th Regiment of Grenadiers, and the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 4th Regiment of Chasseurs—and of two Battalions of the Old Guard, namely, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs. These five Battalions were moved down into the hollow adjoining the south-eastern angle of the inclosures of Hougomont, and there formed into a Column in mass, which was to support the First Column, and to direct its advance somewhat more to the left.
In rear, and on the right and left, of these Columns, stood the remains of that splendid Cavalry, with which Wellington's Line had been so furiously and so perseveringly assailed, occupying the interval that had been continually augmenting between d'Erlon's and Reille's Corps. They formed the last and only Cavalry Reserve remaining at Napoleon's disposal, for following up the attack by the Guard, should the latter prove successful; or for covering its retreat, in the event of failure.
It was shortly before the Columns of Attack were put in motion that Vivian, whose Hussar Brigade it will be recollected, was posted upon the extreme Left of the Anglo-Allied Line, was informed by Patrols which he had detached to look out to his left for the expected arrival of the Prussians, that the latter were advancing in force along the road from Ohain. Having satisfied himself as to the fact, and perceiving their Advanced Cavalry coming on, Vivian felt that there could be no longer any apprehension of the Left of the Army being turned: and having previously understood from Sir William Delancey and other Staff Officers, that fresh Cavalry was much wanted in the Centre; he proposed to Vandeleur, who was on his right, and who was his senior Officer, that the two Brigades should move towards the Centre, where they might be of service. Vandeleur declined to act without Orders: whereupon Vivian put his own Brigade in motion, passing along the rear of Vandeleur's, and soon after having commenced his march he met Lord Uxbridge; who was much pleased to find that the Duke's wishes had thus been anticipated, and sent Orders to Vandeleur to follow, accompanying the former Brigade himself towards the Centre, passing along the foot of the slope in rear of the position of the Left Wing of the Anglo-Allied Line.
The Prussian troops, whose advance had thus induced Vivian to quit the extreme Left, were the Advanced Guard of Zieten's Corps: and consisted of a part of the First Infantry Brigade, namely, the 3rd Battalion 12th Regiment, the 1st and 2nd Battalions 24th Regiment, the 3rd Battalion 1st Westphalian Landwehr, and the 1st and 3rd Silesian Rifle Companies; as also of a part of the Reserve Cavalry, namely, the 1st Silesian Hussars, the Brandenburg Uhlans, the Brandenburg Dragoons, and the 2nd Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry.
They had already been joined by Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle, who delivered to Zieten the Duke's message: in reply to which that General remarked that he did not feel himself authorised to detach his Corps in the manner proposed; adding, however, that the great mass of the Prussian Army was arriving upon the Field.
The remainder of the Reserve Cavalry which was commanded by Lieutenant General Röder, together with the main body of the Corps, were still considerably in the rear. They were met by Captain Jackson of the British Staff Corps, who had been sent to look for them. These troops did not reach the Field of Battle until after the victory had been decided.
Wellington, finding that there was no chance of his shattered Line being strengthened by the arrival, in sufficient time, of a Prussian force from his left, to support his weak points of defence; and that he must therefore depend solely on his own resources for the means of warding off the desperate blow which Napoleon was about to strike, immediately made such dispositions as the circumstances of the moment appeared to him to demand. The incessant attacks made by the French Light Troops debouching from La Haye Sainte, from the moment that Farm fell into their possession, had caused great havoc in the Centre of his Line, where the want of reinforcement became most apparent. To meet this deficiency, he ordered the Brunswick Battalions, which stood at this time in rear of Maitland's and Adam's Brigades—namely, the 2nd and 3rd Light, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Line, Battalions, to move by their left into the interval between Halkett's British, and Kruse's Nassau, Brigade.
To occupy the ground thus vacated by the Brunswickers, he put in motion d'Aubremé's Dutch-Belgian Infantry Brigade from its recently assumed position in rear of the Nivelles road; whence the other Brigade of Chassé's Dutch-Belgian Division, under Major General Ditmer, was shortly afterwards ordered to move in the direction of the left of Maitland's British Brigade.
The remains of his Cavalry stood in rear of the Centre; towards which Vivian's and Vandeleur's Brigades were now moving from the Left, as previously explained.