his pension after the first three months, he left Elba on the 26th February, 1815, and on his return to France was welcomed by the soldiery amidst cries of “Vive l'Empereur;" before May, he organised a well equipped army, with excellent artillery.
“I go to measure myself against Wellington," said Napoleon, as he entered the carriage which was to convey him to Vervius and Beaumont; at the latter place he reviewed his troops, amounting to 140,000 men. At this time the lead quarters of the Duke of Wellington were at Brussels; he ordered a hasty concentration of his army, then widely cantoned, around Quatre-Bras; this was effected on the night of the 16th June.
At three o'clock, p.m. on the same day, Napoleon came down upon Blucher, at Ligny, with 90,000 men. The force of the latter was 9,000 less. While this was going on, Ney, with 40,000 meu, had posted an advance among growing corn, at Quatre-Bras, which wholly concealed it until close upon the 79th; this regiment would have been cut to pieces, but for the succour of the 42nd; other divisions came up rapidly; the loss on each side, at night fall, was 5,000 men. From Quatre-Bras Wellington retired on the field of Waterloo, and took up his position on a deciivity, in front of the village of Mont. St. Jean: his troops amounted
