seven o'clock
It was a real consolation for me to see some one from our own place . In spite of the rain which continued to fall and our great fatigue , we could talk of nothing but this terrible campaign . I related the story of the battle of Waterloo , and he told me that the 4th battalion on leaving Fleurus had taken the route toward Wavre with the whole of Grouchy 's corps , and that in the afternoon of the next day , the 18th , they heard the cannon on their left and that they all wanted to go in that direction , even the generals , but the marshal having received positive orders , had continued on the route to Wavre . It was between six and seven o'clock , before they were convinced that the Prussians had escaped ; then they changed their course to the left in order to rejoin the Emperor , but unfortunately , it was too late , and toward midnight they were obliged to take a position in the fields . Each battalion formed in a square . At three o'clock in the morning the cannon of the Prussians had awakened the bivouacs , and they had skirmished until two o'clock in the afternoon , when the order to retreat reached them . Again , Martin said they were too late , for a part of the enemy 's force which had been engaged with that of the Emperor , was in their rear , and they were obliged to march all the rest of that day and the night following in order to escape from their pursuers .