Chapter I

Napoleon leaves Elba; lands in France.—Louis XVIII quits
Paris.—Napoleon, joined by the army, arrives in Paris.—Hostile
declaration of the great powers of Europe against Napoleon,
which he treats with contempt, and prepares for war.—France soon
appears one vast camp.—Allied armies assemble in Belgium.—The
duke of Wellington arrives and takes the command; adopts
precautionary measures.—In consequence of rumours, his Grace
issues a secret memorandum, and draws the army together.—Strength,
composition and distribution of the allied, Prussian, and French
armies.—Continued rumours; and certain intelligence of the enemy’s
advance.—Importance of holding Brussels.—Napoleon’s attempt to
surprise us frustrated.—Blücher concentrates his forces.—Napoleon
joins his army, and issues his order of the day; attacks the
Prussian outposts, and takes Charleroi.—Intelligence reaches the
Duke.—Distribution of the enemy.—The Duke orders the army to
prepare, and afterwards to march on Quatre-Bras.—The duchess of
Richmond’s ball.—The troops in motion at early dawn.—His Grace
proceeds by Waterloo to Quatre-Bras, and from thence to Ligny,
where he meets Blücher, whom he promises to support, and returns
to Quatre-Bras.—Picton’s division and the Brunswickers arrive at
Quatre-Bras, and are attacked by the French left column under Ney;
more of our troops arrive.—Outline of the battles of Quatre-Bras
and Ligny.—Observations. 1