upon center, and gain possession of the enemy’s line of retreat.  To draw off Wellington’s attention to his right, French troops were sent about 11 o’clock to attack the chateau of Houguemont, which the English had fortified.  After a fight of more than two hours this was still in the possession of its defenders.  About 1 o’clock a Prussian corps under Bulow was seen approaching on the French right, and Napoleon, finding it necessary to send 10,000 men to check their advance, was obliged to change the plan of battle.  He therefore ordered a fierce attack upon the allied center.  Wellington massed his troops there, and the battle was obstinately maintained for five hours, with

varying success to the participants, both commanders hourly expecting re-enforcements.  Wellington was waiting for Blucher and Napoleon for Grouchy.  The French at last were gaining ground; the allied troops in the center were wavering under Ney’s impetuous onslaughts, General Durutte had forced back the left, and Bulow’s troops on the right had been forced to yield the position they had taken.  Now, however, there were rumors that Blucher’s army was approaching and the allies again rallied.  At 7 o’clock Napoleon, despairing of the approach of Grouchy, determined to decide the day by a charge of the Old Guard, which had been held in reserve.  At this stage the advance of Prussian horse on the allied left forced back General Durutte’s troops, and the Old Guard formed in squares to cover this retreat.  Ney’s division surrounded, made a gallant struggle—­their brave leader still unwounded, though five horses had been shot under him, heading them on foot, sword in hand—­but were forced to give way.  The Old Guard held their ground against overwhelming numbers.  Finally, when five squares were broken, the Emperor gave the order to “fall back.”  The cry “The Guard is repulsed” spread consternation through the French army and threatened to turn retreat into precipitate flight.  Napoleon, seeing this, reformed the Guard in order to give a rallying point for the fugitives.  Failing in this, he declared that he would die within the square, but Marshal Soult hurried him away.  The heroic band, surrounded, was bidden to surrender.  “The Old Guard dies, but never surrenders” is the reply popularly attributed to General Cambronne, and with the cry of “Vive l’Empereur!” the remnant of the Guard made a last charge upon the enemy and perished almost to a man.  The forces of Blucher being now upon the field, the rout of the French was complete, and the Prussians pursued the fleeing troops, capturing guns and men.  There is no doubt that the failure of Grouchy to come upon the field caused Napoleon to lose his last great battle.  It was subsequently asserted that this marshal was bribed, but there seems to be no real foundation for so base a charge.  The trouble was that he had been ordered by Napoleon to follow the Prussians toward Wavre and thought it necessary to follow the strict letter of his instructions.