The faults which Wellington had perceived in the Prussian position
told against Blucher. The villages were too far in advance of the
heights on which the army was posted, and his reinforcements were
therefore a long time in reaching the spot where they were required to
act. They were, too, as they descended the hill, under the observation
of Napoleon, who was able to anticipate their arrival by moving up
supports on his side, and who noted the time when Blucher's last
reserves behind Ligny had come into action. At this critical moment
General Lobau arrived from Charleroi with twelve thousand fresh men
and thirty-eight guns, and at seven o'clock in the evening Napoleon
launched this force with his division of guards, twenty thousand
strong, who had hitherto been kept in reserve, against the enemy.
Ligny was captured and the victory won. The Prussians throughout the
day had fought with great bravery. They had a long score to wipe out
against the French, and were inspired as much by national hatred as by
military ardor; and they owed their defeat rather to the disadvantages
of the position they held than to the, superior fighting qualities of
the French. Their cavalry had several times made desperate charges;
sometimes against the French horse, at others upon columns of
infantry. In one of these Blucher himself was with them; and as they
were in turn driven back by a charge of the French cuirassiers his
horse was shot, bringing him to the ground.
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