IT would be difficult to discover, in the whole history of the Wars of modern times, an instance in which so fine, so splendid, an Army as that of Napoleon, one composed almost exclusively of veterans, all men of one nation, entirely devoted to their Chief, and most enthusiastic in his cause, became so suddenly panic stricken, so completely disorganised, and so thoroughly scattered, as was the French Army when it lost the Battle of Waterloo. A defeated Army usually covers its retreat by a Rear Guard, but here there was nothing of the kind: and hence that Army cannot be said to have retreated; but truly to have fled, from the Field of Battle. No attempt to rally was made on the Belgian soil, and it was not until some of the scattered fragments of the immense wreck had been borne across the French frontier that their partial junction on different points indicated the revival of at least some portion of that mighty mass of warriors; who, but three days before, had marched across this same frontier in all the pride of strength, and in all the assurance of victory.
The rearmost of the fugitives having reached the Sambre, at Charleroi, Marchienne, and Châtelet, by daybreak of the 19th, indulged themselves with the hope that they might then enjoy a short rest from the fatigues which the relentless pursuit by the Prussians had entailed upon them during the night; but their fancied security was quickly disturbed by the appearance of a few Prussian Cavalry, judiciously thrown forward towards the Sambre from the Advanced Guard at Gosselies. They resumed their flight, taking the direction of Beaumont and Philippeville.
It had been arranged by Wellington and Blücher, on the Field of Waterloo, that the Prussian Army, not having been so much crippled and exhausted by the Battle, should undertake the further pursuit, and proceed by Charleroi towards Avesnes and Laon; whilst the Anglo-Allied Army, after remaining during the night on the Field, should advance by Nivelles and Binche towards Peronne.
On the following morning, the pursuing Cavalry belonging to the First, Fourth, and partly to the Second, Prussian Corps d'Armée, reached the vicinity of Frasne and Mellet.
The Fourth Corps marched at daybreak from Genappe, where it collected together the Brigades which had been so much broken up by the continued pursuit. The 8th Prussian Hussars, under Major Colomb, were detached from this Corps towards Wavre, to observe Marshal Grouchy. They were supported by the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry; and, shortly afterwards, the 2nd Silesian Landwehr Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel Schill, also followed in the same direction.
After some hours' rest, the Fourth Corps d'Armée marched to Fontaine l'Evêque, where it bivouacked. It had received Orders to communicate from this place with Mons. The Advanced Guard, under General Sydow, was pushed forward, as far as Lermes, on the road to Thuin; it being intended that this Corps should proceed by the road to Maubeuge, along the Sambre.