按照Franklin最近的鱼鹰四臂村专题说法,第一军出现在旺达姆侧后方后,除了对利尼造成了少许战斗影响外,还导致利尼战场的决定性攻击推迟了至少半个小时……
Napoleon prepared the Garde Impériale, so as to deliver the decisive blow upon the weakest point in the Prussian line. However, towards 6:30pm the emperor received a message from Comte Vandamme, stating that a dense column had appeared a league to his left and was turning the French flank. The intelligence caused an immediate suspension of the attack in this quarter, and a reconnaissance party was sent to discover the strength and disposition of the unidentified body.
Comte d’Erlon had followed the order he received from the emperor at 5:00pm to forsake his role at Quatre Bras and to march with his entire corps to St Amand. Having taken the precaution of sending his Chief of Staff, Baron Victor-Joseph Delcambre, to inform Maréchal Ney of his movements, he had marched towards the battlefield at Sombreffe. As before, the 4th Infantry Division commanded by Joseph-François, Comte Durutte, formed the vanguard of the army corps, along with the troops of the 2nd Brigade belonging to the 1st Cavalry Division under Baron Charles-Claude Jacquinot. These were followed by the 2nd and 3rd Infantry divisions of Barons François-Xavier Donzelot and Pierre-Louis Marcognet, while the 1st Division under Quiot du Passage brought up the rear.
The leading elements of Comte Durutte’s Division and the majority of the cavalry had reached the outskirts of the battlefield, opposite Wagnelée, shortly after 6:00pm, and it was their arrival, in rear of III Corps, which caused consternation on the left of the French line. Napoleon was surprised by the intelligence, as he had expected any reinforcement to arrive from the direction of the Namur road. Subsequently, Comte d’Erlon’s unexpected arrival afforded the Prussians the chance to re-form and delayed the final attack that the emperor had been preparing.
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After a delay of more than half an hour the French renewed the attack on St Amand and continued the relentless struggle in Ligny, where by 8:00pm they had captured most of the village. The Prussian centre was exposed, and as a thunderstorm shrouded the battlefield in darkness, Napoleon launched the Garde Impériale. Six infantry battalions moved forward to join with those already engaged, followed by the duty squadrons and the cuirassiers of the 14th Cavalry Division under Lieutenant-général Delort. With support from the artillery the Prussian centre was pierced and the position carried, despite a desperate charge from three regiments of cavalry led by Feldmarschall Blücher. During the fighting the Prussian leader had his horse shot from beneath him and was pinned to the ground by the dead animal. Fortunately, one of his staff witnessed the fall and remained with him until he could be carried to safety.
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