Jean by
the time the English came up. The Prussians would have been beaten by
noon instead of at dusk, and before nightfall their retreat would have
been converted into a rout, and on the following day Napoleon's whole
army would have been in a position to have fallen upon the only
British divisions that Wellington could by that time have collected to
oppose him, and would probably have been in possession of Brussels
before night.
Thus, while the delay in sending news to Wellington prevented the
allies combining against the French on the 16th of June, the delay of
Napoleon in attacking that morning more than counterbalanced the
error. There was the less excuse for that delay, inasmuch as he had
himself chosen his time for fighting, and should not have advanced
until he had his whole force well up and ready for action; and as the
advance during the first day's fighting had been so slow, the whole
army might well have been gathered at nightfall round Fleurus ready to
give battle at the first dawn of day.
Fighting as he did against vastly superior forces, Napoleon's one hope
of success lay in crushing the Prussians before the English--who, as
he well knew, were scattered over a large extent of country--could
come up, and his failure to do this cost him his empire.
The artillery fire ceased in front before the column continued its
march for Mount St.
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