4
he made several charges with the cavalry upon our infantry, but all were repulsed in the steadiest manner. In this affair, his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, the Duke of Brunswick, and Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton, and Major-General Sir James Kempt, and Sir Denis Pack, who were engaged from the commencement of the enemy’s attack, highly distinguished themselves.
The troops of the fifth division, and those of the Brunswick corps, were long severely engaged, and conducted themselves with the utmost gallantry. I must particularly mention the 28th, 42d, 78th, and 92d regiments, and the battalion of Hanoverians.
Our loss was great, as your Lordship will perceive by the enclosed return; and I have particularly to regret his Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick, who fell, fighting gallantly, at the head of his troops.
Although Marshal Blucher had maintained his position at Sombreſ, he still found himself much weakened by the severity of the contest in which he had been engaged, and, as the fourth corps had not arrived, he determined to fall back, and concentrated his army upon Wavre; and he marched in the night after the action was over.
This movement of the Marshal’s rendered necessary a corresponding one on my part; and I retired from the Farm of Quartre Bras upon Genappe, and thence upon Waterloo the next morning the 17th, at ten o’clock.
The enemy made no effort to pursue Marshal Blucher. On the contrary, a patrole which I sent to Sombreſ, in the morning, found all quiet, and the enemy’s videttes fell back as the patrole advanced. Neither did he attempt to molest our march to the rear, although made in the middle of the day, excepting by following with a large body
