Page:Life of the Duke of Wellington.pdf/16

16 [sic] exertions, and notwithstanding the pressure of innumerable earescares [sic] and anxieties, the Emperor, before the end of May, had 375,000 men in arms—including an imperial guard of 40,000 chosen veterans, a large and brilliant cavalry force, and a numerous and well-appointed train of artillery.

He left Paris on the evening of the 11th of June; exelaimingexclaiming [sic], as he entered his earriagecarriage [sic], "I go to measure myself against Wellington." On the 14th, at Beaumont, he assembled and reviewed that part of the army which had been prepared to aetact [sic] under his own orders; it consisted of 25,000 of the imperial guard, 25,000 cavalry in admirable condition, 350 pieces of artillery, and veteran infantry enough to swell the host to 130,000 men. Marshal Ney commanded the centre; Jerome Bonaparte the left; Marshal GrouehyGrouchy [sic] the right.

Blucher's Prussians numbered 100,000 men. The Duke of Wellington's varied and motley army amounted in all to 75,000, of whom only 35,000 were English—and these chiefly young soldiers, for the flower of the Peninsular army had been sent to America. The King's German Legion, however, 8,000 strong, were brave and exeellentexcellent [sic] soldiers; and there were 5,000 Brunswickers, worthy followers of their gallant Duke. The Hanoverians amounted to 15,000; the Nassau troops, Dutch and Belgian, under the Prince of Orange, were nearly 17,000 men; but much dependence could not be plaeedplaced [sic] on the Belgian part of the army. The first division occupied Enghien, Brain-le-Comte, and Nivelles, communicating with the Prussian right at Charleroi. The second, under Lord Hill, was cantoned in Halle, Ondevard, and Grammont—with most of the cavalry. The reserve, under Picton, were at Brussels and Ghent. Wellington chose Quatre Bras as the point at which, should Bonaparte advance on that side, he was to be held in check till the allied troops were coneentratedconcentrated [sic].