The latter's plans had indeed been entirely based on the supposition
that Blucher would retreat upon Namur; and in order to force him to do
so he had abstained from all attack upon the Prussian left, and
employed his whole strength against the right and center, so as to
swing him round, and force him to retire by way of Namur.
As soon as Wellington learned that Blucher had carried out the
arrangement agreed upon his mind was at ease. Orders were sent off at
once to the troops advancing from various directions that they should
move upon Mount St. Jean. All the baggage was sent back to Brussels,
while provisions for the troops were to be left at Mount St. Jean,
where also the whole of the ammunition wagons were to be concentrated.
Horsemen were sent along the road to keep the baggage train moving,
and they had orders that if the troops at Quatre Bras fell back upon
them they were at once to clear the road of all vehicles.
Having issued all these orders, and seen that everything was in train,
Wellington allowed the troops at Quatre Bras to rest themselves, and
ordered their dinners, to be cooked. No movement was yet to be seen on
the part of the French; there was, therefore, no occasion to hurry.
Those, therefore, of the men who were not out on patrol stretched
themselves on the ground and rested till noon.
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