THE TROOPS OF THE CENTRE IN POSITION, BETWEEN THE ROADS OF CHARLEROI AND NIVELLES.

(A) THE first division, British foot guards, was commanded by Major-General Sir George Cooke, and occupied the right front of the centre.

(a) The first brigade was commanded by MajorGeneral Maitland, and consisted of the second and third battalions of the first regiment of foot guards. This brigade suffered considerably on the sixteenth of June, in the battle of Quatre-Bras.

(b) The second brigade was commanded by MajorGeneral Sir J. Byng, and consisted of the second battalions of the Coldstream regiment, and of the third regiment of foot guards. Seven companies of the Coldstream occupied the chateau and gardens of Gomont; the four light companies of the division were advanced in the wood and orchards, (see h and i.) A brigade of royal British artillery, under the command of Captain Sandham, and a brigade of the king's German horse artillery, commanded by Major Kuhlman, were attached to this division; also a second British brigade, under the command of Captain Sinclair.

(B) The third division was commanded by Lieutenant-General Count Alten, and formed the left face of the centre. This division was composed of

(c) The second brigade of the king's German legion, under the command of Colonel Ompteda, consisting of the first and second battalions of light

infantry, and the fifth and eighth battalions of the line. The second battalion of light infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Baring, occupied the farm of la Haie-Sainte, which it defended with great bravery.

(d) The first Hanoverian brigade, commanded by Major-General Count Kilmansegge, consisted of the field battalions of Lunenberg, first battalion of the Duke of York, and the battalions of Grubenhaàgen, Verden, Bremen, and the light infantry of Sporcken.

(e) The fifth British brigade, which suffered considerably on the 16th of June at Quatre-Bras, was commanded by Major-General Sir Colin Halkett, and composed of the second battalions of the thirtieth, sixty-ninth, and seventy-third regiments, and the thirtythird regiment. This division, and the first division of guards, were much exposed to the charges of the French cavalry, which they severally repulsed: a British brigade of guns, under the command of Major Lloyd, and a brigade of king's German horse artillery, under the command of Captain Cleeve, were attached to this division.

(f) The corps of the Duke of Brunswick, commanded by Major-General Olferman, consisted of a brigade of light infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel de Butler; a brigade of infantry of the line, under the command of Major de Munckhausen; a regiment of hussars de la mort; and a squadron of lancers. Two battalions were placed in the centre of the British guards, having in their front two brigades of artillery, under the command of

Major de Lubeck. A battalion under the command of Major de Bulow, was detached in the wood of Gomont, where the combat was supported on both sides with great fury.

(g) Three battalions of the first regiment of the contingent of Nassau-Usingen, under the command of General Kruse. The Prince of Orange was wounded in leading on this regiment to the charge, against the moyenne garde. See (OR).

(h) Three companies of the Coldstream regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel M'Donnell, were posted in the chateau and garden of Gomont, the walls of which were loop-holed. This detachment was reinforced by four companies of the same regiment, commanded by Colonel Woodford. Notwithstanding the chateau was in flames, and attacked on all sides, it was bravely and successfully defended during the day.

(i) The wood and orchards of Gomont were defended by the four light companies of the first division of guards, the first battalion of the second regiment of Nassau, in the service of the Netherlands, and a battalion of the dutchy of Brunswick, under the command of Major de Bulow. This part of Gomont was occupied, after two hours' hard fighting, by the division of Jerome Napoleon.

(j) A French battery, which was ordered to advance and raze the wall of the garden of Gomont, but was dislodged.

(k) The first brigade of heavy cavalry was commanded by Major-General Lord E. Somerset, and composed of the first and second regiments of life

guards, the first regiment of dragoon guards, and the horse guards (blue). This brigade charged the cuiras. siers repeatedly, and repulsed them at the foot of the hill (B) on the chaussée.

(1) The third brigade of light cavalry was commanded by Major-General Sir William Dornberg, and composed of the first and second regiments of dragoons of the king's German legion, and the twenty-third British light dragoons.

(m) The seventh brigade of light cavalry was commanded by Colonel, F. Arendschild, and composed of the third regiment of hussars, king's German legion, and the thirteenth British light dragoons.

(n) The fifth brigade of light cavalry was commanded by Major-General Sir C. Grant, and composed of the seventh and fifteenth British hussars.

(0) The division of cavalry of the kingdom of the Netherlands, under the command of LieutenantGeneral Baron Colaert, consisted of three brigades, and repulsed the enemy in several charges.

(p) A brigade of heavy cavalry, commanded by Major-General Trip, consisting of the first and third regiments (Dutch), and the second carabiniers (Belgian.)

(q) The second brigade of light cavalry, under the command of Major-General Ghigny, was composed of the fourth Dutch light dragoons, and the eighth regiment of Belgian hussars — a brigade of light artillery, of the kingdom of the Netherlands, under the command of Captain Petter, was attached to this division; it was posted nearly in front of the first regiment of Nassau, (g).

(r) The first brigade of light cavalry, under the command of Major-General Van Merle, consisted of the sixth regiment of Dutch hussars, and the fifth Belgian light dragoons.

HORSE ARTILLERY ATTACHED.

BESIDES the artillery attached to each division, there were also attached to the British cavalry the brigades of Major Bull, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Robert Gardner, Major Ramsay, and Captain Mercer; also a rocket brigade, commanded by Major Whinyates.

Three brigades of artillery were in reserve, under the command of Sir Hew D. Ross, Major Bean, and Captain Sinclair.

These brigades occupied successively the positions of those dismounted in the centre, and upon the left.

The different batteries of the centre were placed irregularly, according to the nature and undulation of the ground.