The Second attacking Column of the French Imperial Guard, which, as before explained, had been formed in the hollow adjacent to the south-east angle of the Hougomont inclosures, advanced in a line parallel with, and at a very short distance from, the hedge forming the eastern boundary. On reaching the foot of the British position, however, the Column diverged a little to its right, either to take advantage of a slight undulation of the ground which seemed to offer a partial cover from the tremendous fire of Artillery that continued to pour upon it, or solely for the purpose of directing its advance upon the point at which it perceived the First attacking Column was engaged, and at which it might be better enabled to follow up any success that Column might obtain. Between the heads of the two attacking Columns there was a distance, during their advance, of from ten to twelve minutes' march. Whether this difference in the time of their movement was intentional, or arose from a misunderstanding in the conveyance of Orders, or from any other accident, is uncertain; but it is quite evident that, by forming two separate attacks, they subjected themselves to the imminent risk of being defeated in detail—a risk which, as will be presently shown, was speedily converted into a reality.
Battle of Waterloo
The Second, like the First, Column of Attack, advanced with great boldness, and in excellent order, and appeared animated by the best possible spirit. Its Left Front was covered by a cloud of Skirmishers, in order to conceal its movement as much as possible from the view of the British Line. The Battalions of Adam's Brigade threw out each a Company for the purpose of checking them. During the advance of the Column, and more especially as it descended the gentle declivity eastward of the Great Orchard of Hougomont, it suffered severely from the British cannonade. So destructive indeed had been the fire from some of the British Batteries on the right of Maitland's Brigade, from the commencement of the advance of the Imperial Guard, that the French were at length induced suddenly to push forward a body of Cuirassiers to endeavour to silence these guns. In this they partially succeeded; the Cuirassiers having gallantly charged one of the Batteries, and forced the Gunners to seek shelter in the rear of the Infantry—driving in, at the same time, the Skirmishers of the 2nd Battalion of the 95th Regiment, and those of the 52nd Regiment. They were checked, however, by the to them sudden and unexpected appearance of Adam's Brigade, which had just been moved, in its four deep line, close up to the narrow road that runs along the summit of the ridge. The 52nd Regiment, which was more directly opposed to them, came down to the "Prepare for Cavalry!"
As a renewal of the attack seemed probable, a Squadron of the 23rd British Light Dragoons, under Captain Cox, was detached across the ridge, down the outer slope, towards the Great Orchard; from the rear of which it charged the Cuirassiers as they advanced again towards the guns, overcame them, and pursued them across the plain, far in rear of the Second attacking Column of the Imperial Guard, until it fell into a fire thrown out upon it from the head of a French Column of Infantry, by which its Files were scattered, and the whole compelled to make a hasty retreat towards the Allied position.
Had the Second Column of Attack continued in the original direction of its advance, it would have come upon the centre of Adam's Brigade: but having, as it began to ascend the exterior slope of the main ridge of the Allied position, slightly diverged to its right, as before observed, by following the direction of a very gentle hollow, constituting the re-entering angle formed by the tongue of ground that projected from the front of Maitland's Brigade, and that part of the ridge occupied by Adam's Brigade, it, in some degree, lent its Left Flank to the latter. This circumstance was not only observed, but had been in a great measure anticipated, by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Colborne, commanding the 52nd Regiment, an Officer of great repute in the British Army. He had been watching with intense anxiety the progress of the Enemy's Column; and, seizing the most favourable moment, he, without Orders, and upon his own responsibility, wheeled the Left Company of the 52nd to the left, and then formed the remainder of the Regiment upon that Company, for the purpose of bringing its front nearly parallel with the Flank of the French Column. At this moment Adam rode up, and asked Colborne what he was going to do; to which the latter replied, "to make that Column feel our fire." Adam, approving of this, ordered Colborne to move on; and galloped off to bring up his Right Regiment, the 71st.
The Duke, who had just seen Maitland's Brigade reformed and posted in the best order, parallel with the front of the attacking Column, was at this moment stationed on the right of Napier's Battery. He despatched an Aide de Camp (Major the Hon. Henry Percy) to direct Sir Henry Clinton to advance and attack the Imperial Guard: but a single glance at Colborne's forward movement satisfied him that his intention had been anticipated; and he immediately pushed forward the 2nd Battalion of the 95th Regiment to the left of the 52nd.
The head of the French Column had by this time nearly reached the brow of the ridge, its front covering almost the whole of Napier's Battery, and a portion of the extreme Right of Maitland's Brigade. It was still gallantly pressing forward, in defiance of the most galling fire poured into its front by the Battery and by the British Guards, when the sudden and imposing appearance of the four deep line of the 52nd Regiment bearing directly towards its Left Flank in the most admirable and compact order imaginable, caused it to halt. In the next instant, wheeling up its Left Sections, it opened a rapid and destructive fire from the entire length of its Left Flank against the 52nd Regiment. Colborne, having brought his Line parallel to the Flank of the Imperial Guard, also halted, and poured a deadly fire into the mass; and, almost at the same moment, the rifles of the 2nd Battalion 95th Regiment, then coming up on the left, were levelled and discharged with unerring aim into the more advanced portion of the Column. The 71st Regiment was, at this time, rapidly advancing on the right, to complete the Brigade movement.
Colborne, eager fully to carry out his projected Flank Attack upon the Enemy's Column, caused his men to cease firing, and then gave the command, "Charge! charge!" It was answered by three hearty British cheers that rose distinctly above the shouts of "Vive l'Empereur!", and the now straggling and unsteady fire from the Column. The 2nd Battalion 95th Regiment hastened to join in the charge on the left. The movement was remarkable for the order, the steadiness, the resoluteness, and the daring, by which it was characterised. The Column of the Imperial Guard, which already seemed to reel to and fro under the effect of the front and flank fire which had been so successfully brought to bear upon it, was evidently in consternation as it beheld the close advance of Adam's Brigade. Some daring spirits—and it contained many within its ranks—still endeavoured to make at least a show of resistance; but the disorder, which had been rapidly increasing, now became uncontrollable: and this Second Column of the Imperial Guard, breaking into the wildest confusion, shared the fate of the First; with this difference, however, that in consequence of the combined front and flank fire in which it had been so fatally involved, and of the unrestrained pursuit which deprived it of the power of rallying its component parts, it became so thoroughly disjointed and dispersed that, with the exception of the two rear Battalions which constituted the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs (Old Guard), it is extremely doubtful whether any portion of it ever reunited, as a regularly formed military body, during the brief remaining period of the Battle—certainly not on the Allied side of La Belle Alliance, towards which point it directed its retreat.