Quatre Bras
16th June 1815

Flight of the French

by Leon Parte

Kellermann next charged Halkett’s right battalion and drove it into the wood. Up to this moment his attacks had achieved considerable success. He had ridden over two battalions, and his regiments had kept the remainder of the British infantry in squares a formation that offered an easy target for the French artillery.

But now the Cuirassiers suffered severely, not only from the fire of the battalions which stood grouped around them but also from the British artillery; whilst Piré’s cavalry, despite all efforts, could do nothing to shake the British infantry standing to the east of the road. The fury of the French attack, therefore, temporarily abated; and at this critical moment it so happened that Kellermann’s horse was shot, falling dead upon its rider.

Kellermann was not seriously hurt, but, for some inexplicable reason, the sight of their leader lying on the ground completely demoralised the Cuirassiers, and, deaf to the commands and entreaties of their officers, they turned and fled in confusion, galloping over everything in their path, and carrying Piré’s division away with them in a tumultuous mob.

Foy’s infantry columns, which had moved forward in support, were only prevented by the personal exertions of Ney himself from following the retreating cavalry.

The victory was now won.

Wellington’s army advanced along its whole line; and by nightfall the French were driven back to the position they had held in the morning. The Battle of Quatre Bras cost the allied army some 3,500 troops, excluding Dutch-Belgians, whose losses are unknown; the French lost about 5000 men.

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