Lieutenant Colonel Lord Greenock, Assistant Quarter Master General of the Cavalry, was despatched to Vivian with Orders for him to move his Hussar Brigade to its right from its position in rear of Alten's Division, so as to get clear of the Infantry, and then to advance directly to the front by the right of Maitland's Brigade of Guards.
At the same time, the Duke turned round to order up the nearest Supports to the space which had been vacated in his Front Line by the advance of Adam's Brigade. But what a spectacle met his view! The three Dutch-Belgian Squares, into which d'Aubremé's Brigade had been formed, and whose unsteadiness, previously described, had greatly augmented as the firing and shouting on the exterior slope of the ridge, of which they could see nothing, became more continuous and intense, were now in a state bordering on dissolution. The faces of the Squares were already broken at intervals by groups in the act of abandoning their ranks; whilst several Officers of Vandeleur's Brigade, which, as before observed (see pages 526-527), was drawn up in their rear, were zealously exerting themselves in endeavouring to induce these troops to stand fast.
The Duke, observing this, called out, "That's right; tell them the French are retiring." This intelligence, quickly caught up and spread through their ranks, had the desired effect of restoring them to order. They shortly afterwards formed into Columns, and advanced to the Front Line.
In order to preserve a distinct and connected view of the combined operations against Napoleon, it will be necessary, previously to describing the General Advance of the Allied Line, consequent upon the failure of the attack by the French Imperial Guard, to revert to the movements of the Prussians.
It will be recollected that Vivian's, and subsequently Vandeleur's, Brigade, quitted the Left of the Anglo-Allied Line, on the approach of the Advanced Guard of Zieten's Corps towards that point. Shortly before the arrival of these troops, the French Skirmishers in front of Durutte's Division, which constituted the angle of the potence on which stood the extreme Right of Napoleon's Army, having been considerably reinforced, were pushed forward for the purpose of establishing themselves in the houses and inclosures in the valley below them; and of impeding, by this means, the connection between Bülow's Corps and the Anglo-Allied Left. The Nassauers, of Prince Bernhard of Saxe Weimar's Brigade, fell back from the houses of the Hamlet of Papelotte; but firmly maintained their ground on the Allied side of the valley, retaining possession of the Farms of Papelotte and La Haye. The French Skirmishers, passing further to their right, pressed on to the Village of Smohain; where they became warmly engaged with the Prussian troops that had been so judiciously posted in that quarter.
Blücher, perceiving the Infantry of the Advanced Guard of Zieten's Corps upon the Height above Smohain, sent an Order for its moving by the shortest way to engage the Enemy in the valley. The Prussian General Müffling, attached to the Headquarters Staff of the Duke of Wellington, was at that moment in this vicinity, and gave the requisite instructions to the Staff Officer sent forward from Zieten's Corps.
About this time, the Fifth and Sixth Infantry Brigades, as also the Reserve Cavalry of Pirch's Corps, reached the Field, in rear of Bülow. Pirch, placing himself at the head of his leading Brigade (the Fifth), immediately conducted it in the direction of Planchenoit; and, on coming up with the Fourteenth and Sixteenth Brigades, he began, in conjunction with Colonel Hiller, to make the necessary dispositions for the Third attack upon that Village. The Sixth Brigade was ordered to follow as a Reserve; and the attack was to be supported by a simultaneous advance of the Right Wing of Bülow's Corps against Lobau's Line, which was exceedingly well drawn up, and exhibited every indication of making a determined stand. Blücher had despatched an Order to the Seventh Brigade (of Pirch's Corps) to move together with the 4th Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry, upon Maransart, on the south side of the Lasne, for the purpose of covering his Left Flank. The remaining Brigade (the Eighth) of Pirch's Corps, which had been detained in consequence of the Rear Guard affair near Wavre, received Orders from Pirch to quicken its advance.
The Reserve Cavalry of Pirch's Corps was deployed in three Lines on the right of the Cavalry of the Fourth Corps. The First Line consisted of the Pomeranian Hussars and the Brandenburg Hussars; the Second, of the Silesian Uhlans, two Squadrons of the 6th Neumark Dragoons, and the Queen's Dragoons; and the Third, of the 5th Kurmark and Elbe Landwehr Cavalry. These Lines of Cavalry thus occupied the interval between the Wings of Bülow's Corps; and, at the same time, served to impose, by their display of force, upon the French Cavalry, under Domon, which was then in reserve.
Blücher, judging the recapture of Planchenoit to be a most essential aid in the general operations against the French, as affording the means not only of turning the Right of Lobau's Corps, but also of molesting the Rear of the French Army, and of endangering its main line of retreat, ordered the immediate advance of the troops destined for the Third attack upon that Village.