30 THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

 

chain of low hills running nearly parallel
to each other. The slope from these hills
to the valley below is easy but not uniform.
Just back of the center of the ridge upon
the southern side of the valley lies the lit-
tle village of LaBelle Alliance.

behind the northern ridge, lies the hamlet

Opposite,

 

NAPOLEON AT AGE OF 46 WHEN HE FOUGHT
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO,

 

 

of Mont St. Jean.

Charleroi to Brussels passes through these

The highroad from

little towns and is the road along which the
French army must pass to reach Brussels,
which Napoleon desired to reach.

It was on these two ranges, the French
under Napoleon numbering 130,000, on the
south, the English and allies under
Wellington 106,000 strong on the
north, with Blucher and the Prussian
army of 110,000 men, twelve miles
away that the opposing armies were
drawn up in line of battle on that
memorable morning of June 18, 1815.
The British position was well fitted
for a defensive battle. Behind them
lay the great forest of Svignies, on
their right was the village and ravine
of Mesh Braine and on the left two
little towns gave slight protection,
though this was needless, as the Prus-
sian army was to advance on that side.
The battle then must be fought by
straight attack; flank movements were
impossible.

The night of June 17th was marked
by heavy rains and when morning
dawned the troops arose unrefreshed
yet eager for the battle. Wellington
drew up his infantry in two lines, his

most reliable troops in the van and

 

those which had suffered most in the

battle of Ligny on the preceding day
sheltered from the French cannon-