10
effect on the squares of the French. Napoleon seeing the importance of this position, dispatched column after column against it, till at length the Prussians were forced to retire, and the French possessed themselves of it, from whence they could not be dislodged.
The fortune of the day was now evidently in favour of Napoleon. The Prussians slowly retreated, and often turned upon their foes, and repulsed their impetuous charges. In one of the charges of cavalry, which now took place, Blucher had a narrow escape. Having led on one of the regiments to the charge, which was unsuccessful his horse was struck by a musket ball and fell. Blucher was stunned by the violence of the fall. The French cuirassiers charged by him at full speed, and perceived him not in the ardour of pursuit. The Prussians missing him, turned on the instant, and made a charge so furious as to repel the French beyond where he lay, and relieved him from the perils with which he was threatened. The whole of the Prussian army was now in full retreat, and at 10 o'clock the firing had completely eased. The loss of the Prussians in this battle was from 15,000 to 20,000 men. The French acknowledged their loss at 3000, but the actual number was at least 12,000.
At 3 o'clock of the morning of the 17th, the British and allied armies, were under arms, when a courier arrived with dispatches for the Duke of Wellington, announcing the retreat of the Prussians upon Wavre. In consequence of which a retreat was ordered, and before 11 o'clock the whole army was on the great road which leads to the forest of Soignies. For a considerable time Napoleon was diverted with the appearance of the strong rear guard he saw at the entrance of the
