FLASH NEWS: from the French lines, June 18th 1815

At around 11.00 hours, I noticed elements of Prince Jerome's division on the extreme left of the front advancing towards Hougoumont Farm.  It rapidly became clear that there were insufficient numbers to take this stronghold and accordingly the Prince began to send in re-enforcements, although it appears that the British intend to make considerable efforts to hold this outpost which is an obvious impediment to any planned French advance on the left of the line.   At 13.00 hours the most incredible, shattering noise erupted when the 'Grand Battery', 80 heavy guns that the Emperor had placed before Gen. d'Erlon's Corps opened fire on the British left flank.  They included the huge 12-pounders called by the Emperor "his beautiful daughters"!  This breath-taking bombardment lasted for approximately 30 minutes and surely nothing could have survived such a hail of fire and steel.  Then, Gen. d' Erlon's Corps, led by the General himself and the overall commander, Marshal Ney, began to move slowly forward, first clearing the guns which then fell silent, and then forming up on the far side into four massed divisional columns.  With their bands playing gaily the soldiers began their slow advance across the open valley and up the far side where, it was assumed,  the British continued to hide behind the ridge line.  Their gunners, on the forward slope, exacted a dreadful toll on the massed, packed ranks of the advancing columns but the French soldiers pressed on.  At approximatly 14.00 hours the battle seems to have been won as the French troops have reached the crest still without sight of any opposition, although the left hand division became embroiled in a fierce fight for La Haie Sainte, the small farm on the other side of the main road.  In the meantime, the fight for Hougoumont on the extreme left seems to have become a struggle to the death with the allies exacting an enormous blood price for any French advances, but even so, Prince Jerome is determined to win glory in his brother's eyes and is committing more and more troops to the task.  However, as the French soldiers on our right flank cross the crest of the ridge before them, victory can surely be expected very soon.

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[Lawrence Duff]

Jerome's diversionary on Hougemont, d'Erlon's main assault on Picton

Son of Duff