Waterloo 1815 (3): Mont St Jean and Wavre

95 Pages·12.996 MB·English

by  John Franklin, Gerry Embleton(Illustrations)

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CAMPAIGN 280
WATERLOO 1815 (3)
Mont St Jean and Wavre
JOHN FRANKLIN ILLUSTRATED BY GERRY EMBLETON
Series editor Marcus Cowper
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
Wellington learns of the Prussians’ defeat The French pursue the coalition armies
n
CHRONOLOGY 9
OPPOSING COMMANDERS 12
Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Gebhard
n n
Lebrecht, Fürst Blücher von Wahlstadt August, Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau
n
OPPOSING FORCES 16
The command and composition of the French army The command and composition of the Allied
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army The command and composition of the Prussian army Orders of battle
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OPPOSING PLANS 27
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO 29
Movements on the morning of 18 June The arduous march to Chapelle St Lambert Preparations at
n n
Mont St Jean and Trimotiau • The struggle for Hougoumont commences • Communication with the
Prussian vanguard d’Erlon attacks the hamlet of Mont St Jean Uxbridge counters with the British
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cavalry The engagement escalates at Hougoumont Blücher orders the assault upon Plancenoit
n n n
Ney leads the French cavalry to its downfall The courageous defence of La Haie Sainte du Plat
n n
advances with the King’s German Legion Zieten confronts the French forces at Smohain
n n
Wellington endures a crisis in the centre Blücher succeeds in capturing Plancenoit Napoleon
n n
advances with the Garde Impériale The coalition armies gain a decisive victory
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THE BATTLE OF WAVRE 84
Thielmann prepares to evacuate La Bawette Vandamme launches an attack upon Wavre Stengel
n n
delays the French forces at Limal
AFTERMATH 90
THE BATTLEFIELDS TODAY 92
FURTHER READING 94
INDEX 95

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INTRODUCTION
As the grey light of dawn pierced the darkness on the morning of 17 June,
the commanders of the three armies in the Low Countries contemplated the
events of the preceding day. The French had gained a substantial advantage
over their opponents at Ligny, but the decision by the Prussian leaders to
retire along a parallel course to the Allied army had redeemed the situation.
Feldmarschall Blücher was at Mellery, where he had been taken following
a heavy fall from his horse at the climax of the battle. In the absence of the
elderly hussar the command of the army devolved upon August, Graf
Neidhardt von Gneisenau, who joined Blücher in the village and issued
instructions to the various staff officers in an attempt to establish order in
the retreating columns. The I Korps was directed to retire through the villages
of Tilly, Gentinnes and Mont St Guibert towards Wavre. The II Korps was
ordered to follow this movement north, while III Korps and the army reserve
park were to move via Gembloux. Orders were also sent to IV Korps, which
The Allied army marched from had not been engaged in the fighting, to march by way of Sart-à-Walhain and
the crossroads at Quatre Bras to
Corbais to Dion-le-Mont, and to establish a vigorous rearguard to counter
the heights of Mont St Jean in
any French pursuit. Having overseen these measures, the majority of the
three lengthy columns. (Graves
Gallery, Museums Sheffield) Prussian staff officers left Mellery for Wavre, together with Feldmarschall
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Blücher, and they reached the new headquarters, which had been established
at an inn by the marketplace, shortly after 6:00am. However, Gneisenau
remained in Mellery for several hours, collating the reports which arrived.
When he was convinced that the army was undertaking the prescribed
movements, he dispatched Major Friedrich von Massow with a message for
the Duke of Wellington, who was presumed to be at Quatre Bras, informing
him of the enforced retreat upon Wavre.
WELLINGTON LEARNS OF THE PRUSSIANS’
DEFEAT
The commander of the Allied army had risen before first light, unaware of the
perilous position in which he was situated. Being anxious to concentrate the
remainder of the troops at Quatre Bras, Wellington dictated orders to the
various divisions to hasten their movement upon the crossroads, and sent a
letter to the authorities in Brussels confirming his intention to attack the enemy.
He then rode back to the battlefield with his sizeable entourage of staff officers.
The duke reached Quatre Bras towards 5:00am, and within the hour was
joined by the Hereditary Prince of Orange-Nassau. No intelligence had been
received from the Prussian high command, and after reconnoitring the French
positions on the left flank Wellington concluded that the line of communication
had been severed with his allies at Sombreffe. Consequently, he sent his aide-
de-camp, the Hon. Sir Alexander Gordon, with an escort from the 10th Hussars
commanded by Captain John Grey, to make contact with the Prussians and to
The vanguard of the French
establish the true situation. As Gordon and the cavalry approached Marbais,
army advanced rapidly on both
en route to Sombreffe, they observed a French sentry posted on the heights sides of the road which led
opposite, and an enemy cavalry patrol stationed at a nearby house. The French from Quatre Bras to the defile
evidently controlled the high road, and so Gordon and his party withdrew. at Genappe. Painting by Henri
Chartier. (Musée de l’Armée,
After following a subsidiary road north, they encountered a local farmer who
Paris/ RMN-Grand Palais /
informed them that large numbers of Prussian soldiers had passed along the Hubert Josse)
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road during the night, heading east. Gordon determined to pursue them.
Leaving most of his escort on the road to observe any enemy movements, he
rode on with a small detachment until coming upon the rearguard of the
Prussian II Korps, which was formed by the cavalry commanded by
Oberstlieutenant Friedrich von Sohr. The duke’s aide-de-camp conversed with
von Sohr in French, mistakenly believing that he was Generallieutenant von
Zieten, the commander of I Korps, and the facts of the Prussian withdrawal
from Sombreffe to Wavre were confirmed. Having obtained this information
Gordon and his party rode back to the crossroads with the utmost haste.
Upon the field at Quatre Bras the outposts returned to their respective
battalions and the Allied army prepared to renew the attack. But as the
French were not disposed to engage the Allied troops, except with a few
straggling shots from their tirailleurs, the dead officers were buried and the
wounded were collected in blankets and placed beneath the trees adjacent to
the Nivelles Road, in the expectation that they would be taken to the hospital
in the rear. Shortly before 9:00am Gordon returned with his escort and
informed the Duke of Wellington of the Prussian army’s loss and subsequent
retreat upon Wavre. The duke turned to Freiherr von Müffling, the Prussian
officer attached to the Allied headquarters, to ask why he had not been
informed of these occurrences, at which moment Major von Massow arrived
with the message from Gneisenau. Realising that he could no longer occupy
Quatre Bras for fear of being isolated, Wellington called for the map of Mont
St Jean, a position he had surveyed previously. After studying the map
intensely the duke directed Sir William de Lancey, the acting Quartermaster-
General, to concentrate the Allied army at this point, for at Mont St Jean it
would be in line with the Prussians, with only 8 miles between the two
armies. This would allow them to act in unison against the French. The Allied
troops were set in motion, while Major von Massow returned to the Prussian
high command to seek an assurance of support.  
THE FRENCH PURSUE THE COALITION
ARMIES
At the conclusion of the fighting around Sombreffe, Napoleon retired to the
Château de la Paix in Fleurus. He was exhausted from his exertions and slept
deeply until the following morning. Maréchal Soult returned to imperial
headquarters at the Château de Zualart, within close proximity of the emperor.
However, no orders were issued to the army, and no serious pursuit of the
Prussians was initiated. Instead, Soult busied himself writing to Maréchal
Davout in Paris, informing the Minister for War of the victory which had been
gained. Towards midnight a report from Maréchal Ney, written at 10:00pm,
containing details of the engagement at Quatre Bras was delivered. But again,
no action was taken and no instructions were sent to Ney. It was not until the
arrival of Charles, Comte de Flahaut shortly after 7:00am on the 17th that
any real activity took place. Flahaut had delivered a detailed letter from
Napoleon to Maréchal Ney the morning before, and had remained with the
commander of the left wing so as to assist in the execution of the emperor’s
orders. He now acquainted Napoleon with the situation at the crossroads.
The emperor was displeased and immediately dictated a letter to Soult for
Ney. He requested a report and informed his subordinate of his displeasure,
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because Ney’s divisions had acted in isolation, and Comte d’Erlon’s Corps had
failed to execute the movement he ordered. At 8:00am Napoleon travelled by
carriage from Fleurus to Brye, where he reviewed his victorious troops. He
conversed with his generals on various subjects and questioned the Prussian
prisoners at length. Eventually, the emperor called for Maréchal Grouchy, the
commander of the right wing, to join him.
Earlier that day Grouchy had received reports from two of his senior
cavalry officers. The first was from Comte Exelmans of II Reserve Cavalry
Corps. This informed the marshal that the cavalry under his command was
moving towards Gembloux to observe a sizeable Prussian force which had
assembled at that place. The second report was from Comte Pajol of I Reserve
Cavalry Corps. It notified Grouchy of the capture of numerous prisoners,
cannon and an immense quantity of baggage on the road to Namur. This
information was communicated to the emperor, and it was decided to support
Pajol’s cavalry with the division under Baron François-Antoine Teste from VI
Corps. Napoleon then instructed Grouchy to pursue the remnants of the
Prussian army with the right wing, via Gembloux, and to ensure that the
enemy was unable to unite with the force commanded by the Duke of
Wellington. The marshal  let it be known that he disliked the mission he had
given, but set out dutifully. Thereafter, Napoleon rode on to Gosselies with
his staff officers, where he received confirmation that the Allied army still
held Quatre Bras. He subsequently dictated a second letter to Soult for Ney,
informing the errant commander of the left wing that an infantry corps from
The 2e Régiment de Chevau-
the Garde Impériale had been placed at Marbais to assist him in driving the
Légers-Lanciers had
enemy from Quatre Bras, and that his report of the situation was awaited
overpowered a squadron from
with great impatience. The letter was dispatched shortly after midday. Having the 7th Hussars within the
taken these steps Napoleon collected the troops at Marbais and moved by confines of Genappe, but when
the French horseman left the
way of the Namur Road towards Quatre Bras. However, the rearguard was
haven of the village the Earl of
all that remained of the Allied army, and such was the tenacity of the cavalry
Uxbridge ordered the 1st Life
and horse artillery under Lieutenant-General Henry Paget, the Earl of Guards to charge. The
Uxbridge, that the French were unable to launch an attack until they Household troops galloped
down the slope and threw the
reached Genappe.
lanciers into confusion. Painting
The Allied army had retired in three columns, with that in the centre
by Richard Simkin. (National
moving north by way of the high road to Brussels. This route took the troops Army Museum, London)
through the narrow defile at
Genappe. The road to the
south of the village became so
congested that several infantry
battalions were ordered to
march through the adjacent
fields. But by 4:00pm all that
remained of the Allied army
were a number of cavalry
regiments, which were
stationed on the heights to the
north of the village, and the
rearguard. The French
advanced from Quatre Bras on
both sides of the high road.
The vanguard on the left was
formed by the 1st Cavalry
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Division commanded by Baron Charles-Claude Jacquinot. On the right was
the 5th Cavalry Division under Baron Jacques-Gervais Subervie. These
horsemen were followed by the emperor and his duty squadrons, two
batteries of horse artillery from the Garde Impériale, and the cuirassiers from
Comte Milhaud’s IV Reserve Cavalry Corps. As the cavalry on the right
approached the defile to the south of Genappe the 1st Brigade of Lanciers
wheeled towards the road and Colonel Jean-Baptiste Sourd led the 2e
Régiment de Chevau-Légers-Lanciers into the village. Vedettes were sent
forward towards the northern perimeter, but they were engaged and
overpowered by a squadron from the 7th Hussars under Major Edward
Hodge. Undeterred, Colonel Sourd ordered the lanciers to advance. The front
file presented an impenetrable hedge of lances as the French trotted along the
paved road, using the houses on either side to cover their flanks. The 7th
Hussars charged with great courage, but the attack was repulsed. During the
contest Major Hodge was mortally wounded and taken prisoner, and the
British sustained heavy losses. The French pursued their vanquished foe
beyond the limits of the village, a fact witnessed by the Earl of Uxbridge from
his vantage point on the heights above. The commander of the Allied cavalry
immediately ordered the 1st Life Guards to charge. With Captain Edward
Kelly at their head, the Household troops galloped down the slope and
engaged the lanciers, who were formed in close column, driving them back
in confusion to the confines of Genappe. Fortunately for the French cavalry
their withdrawal was covered by the 7e Régiment de Hussards, who had
moved up in support and the Life Guards were forced to desist. From this
Having arrived at the buildings
moment the French advanced with greater caution. The vanguard limited
of La Belle Alliance on the
heights of Trimotiau, the itself to an artillery exchange with the enemy guns, as the Allied rearguard
emperor ordered the cuirassiers joined the remainder of the army, which had taken a position on the heights
from Comte Milhaud’s corps
at Mont St Jean.
forward, along with the
It had been a desperately hot day, and the troops on both sides had been
artillery. He was delighted to
see this manoeuvre countered tormented by the heat. But now the heavens opened and a torrential
by the Allied guns on the downpour commenced. As the two forces deployed on the heights at Mont
heights opposite. Painting by
St Jean and Trimotiau, the thunder of the cannon was accompanied by the
John Brown. (Musée des Beaux-
occasional peal of lightning. The ground shook and the dark sky glowed
Arts, Bordeaux/ Bridgeman
Images) bright momentarily. The Allied position followed the line of the Ohain Road,
and stretched from the village of Merbe
Braine in the west to the hamlet of Papelotte
in the east. Napoleon arrived at the buildings
of La Belle Alliance on the ridge opposite
and pushed forward Milhaud’s cuirassiers,
along with the artillery. However, the
advance of these troops was countered by a
violent cannonade from the Allied guns. The
emperor was delighted, for he knew that
this meant the Duke of Wellington was not
retiring through the Forêt de Soignes under
the cover of darkness as he had feared. The
order was therefore given for the French to
halt and bivouac for the night. Napoleon
retired to the farm of Le Caillou where, in
the full confidence of victory, he awaited the
events of the morrow.
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CHRONOLOGY
17 June 
A fierce artillery exchange continues between
3:00am The Duke of Wellington rises before first light the two armies in the midst of the thunder
at his headquarters in Genappe, unaware of and lightning. The Allied rearguard halts any
the Prussian army’s defeat.  advance by the French cuirassiers. 
5:00am The duke and his suite reach the crossroads 10:00pm The emperor leaves the battlefield for the
and he sends the Hon. Sir Alexander Gordon inn of Le Caillou, and spends a restless night
to contact the Prussians.  fretting that Wellington will try to withdraw
through the Forêt de Soignes with his army. 
6:00am Feldmarschall Blücher and the majority of
the Prussian General Staff arrive safely at the Grouchy writes to Napoleon from his
new headquarters in Wavre.  headquarters in Gembloux with news of his
pursuit of the Prussians. 
8:00am Napoleon travels by carriage from Fleurus
to Brye, where he reviews his troops and Wellington retires to Waterloo and establishes
questions the enemy prisoners.   his headquarters at the inn of Jean de Nivelles.
He receives confirmation from the Prussians
The emperor sends Maréchal Grouchy with that they will join him at Mont St Jean. 
the right wing of the army to pursue the
defeated Prussians via Gembloux.  18 June 
9:00am Gordon and his escort party return to the 3:30am I Korps of the Prussian army begins the
crossroads with news of the Prussian army’s arduous march from Dion-le-Mont to
defeat and withdrawal to Wavre.  Chapelle St Lambert. The 15th Brigade passes
through Wavre, but a fire delays the other
12:00pm The Allied army begins its withdrawal from troops. 
Quatre Bras to Mont St Jean, which is
undertaken in three columns.   5:00am Napoleon reconnoitres the battlefield
and finds that the enemy are still in their
4:00pm An engagement between the Allied rearguard positions. He dictates an order to Soult for
and the French vanguard begins in the the French army to be ready for battle at
narrow defile at Genappe.  9:00am.  
5:00pm The 2e Régiment de Chevau-Légers-Lanciers 6:00am Wellington and his senior officers reach Mont
and the British 7th Hussars clash and Major St Jean and the duke personally oversees the
Edward Hodge is captured.  troop deployment. 
Captain Edward Kelly charges with the 1st Grouchy writes to Napoleon stating that
Life Guards and drives the French cavalry the Prussians are at Wavre, and that he will
back in confusion.   pursue them to that place. 
6:00pm The Allied rearguard and French vanguard 7:00am The emperor and several of his senior officers
exchange artillery fire as they approach Mont breakfast at Le Caillou. Soult informs him
St Jean. A torrential storm begins.  that the wide dispersal of the army will not
allow the battle to begin until 1:00pm. 
8:00pm Napoleon reaches the inn of La Belle Alliance
opposite the ridge upon which the Allied 9:00am Napoleon receives Grouchy’s report and
army has deployed. He sends forward the replies, confirming the movement upon
cuirassiers under Comte Édouard Milhaud.  Wavre. He dictates new orders to the army
for the battle to begin at 1:00pm with an
artillery bombardment followed by an assault
upon Mont St Jean. 
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11:00am Ney orders Comte Reille to maintain a Ponsonby’s Brigade charge the French
line of tirailleurs in the hollow ground at infantry formations and rout them, capturing
Hougoumont, and the three battalions of an Eagle. But in their ardour they charge the
the 1er Régiment Léger advance for this French cannon and are dispersed by sizeable
purpose.  reinforcements of enemy cavalry. Sir William
Ponsonby is killed.   
While at Sart-à-Walhain Grouchy and several
officers hear the artillery fire from Mont St 2:30pm The garrisons at Hougoumont and La Haie
Jean. Comte Maurice-Étienne Gérard advises Sainte send requests for further supplies of
Grouchy to march to the emperor. Grouchy ammunition. The French force their way into
declines and insists the troops continue upon the outbuildings at Hougoumont but are
Wavre.  primarily repelled by troops from the 2nd
Nassau-Usingen Regiment.  
12:00pm The fighting at Hougoumont escalates
with the French attempting to capture the 3:00pm A lull in the fighting is followed by a fierce
farm. A small party break-in at the north artillery exchange that forces Baron Bachelu
gate, but are killed, and the gates closed by to move with his 5th Division closer to the
Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonell and orchard at Hougoumont. The estate complex
Corporal James Graham.  is completely isolated from the main line by
the French cavalry. 
1:00pm Feldmarschall Blücher and the vanguard
from I Korps reach Chapelle St Lambert and, Reinforcements are sent forward to La
based on a disposition received from Freiherr Haie Sainte in lieu of rifle ammunition. The
von Müffling, discuss the attack.  garrison maintain the complex. 
Napoleon is informed of the Prussian forces’ 3:30pm Graf von Nostitz and Oberst von Pfuel
arrival at Chapelle St Lambert. Soult is return to the Prussian high command at
ordered to recall Grouchy immediately, and Chapelle St Lambert, having reconnoitred
writes to the commander of the right wing.  the field of battle at Mont St Jean. They
recommend an attack upon the village of
The artillery bombardment of the Allied Plancenoit and Blücher concurs. 
positions begins, and is followed by the
assault from the four divisions of Comte 4:00pm Ney is informed that the Allied infantry
d’Erlon’s I Corps, who march across the is retiring, and he orders two divisions of
valley.  cavalry to charge. When this proves fruitless,
he commits another cavalry division to the
2:00pm As the French approach the ridge the 1er fray. 
Régiment du Sapeurs attack the farm of La
Haie Sainte. The troops from the 2nd Light Comte Vandamme arrives at Wavre, and
Battalion of the King’s German Legion retire disregarding the orders he has received, attacks
inside the compound and defend the premises with III Corps.  
resolutely. 
4:30pm The 15th Brigade from IV Korps emerges
Count Willem van Bijlandt’s Brigade is driven from the Bois du Paris and prepares to
back by weight of numbers and the French assault Plancenoit. 
gain the heights. Sir Thomas Picton calls the
veterans of the 5th Division to charge, but is Ney orders Comte Lobau to move to a
killed and the command devolves upon Sir position on the right flank close to the village
James Kempt.  with VI Corps.  
The Earl of Uxbridge places himself at the 5:00pm Baron Christian von Ompteda is ordered by
head of the cavalry and orders Lord Edward Count von Alten to reinforce the garrison at
Somerset and Sir William Ponsonby to La Haie Sainte with the 5th Line Battalion of
charge. The Household Cavalry clash with the King’s German Legion. While advancing
the French cuirassiers and eventually drive in line the battalion is ridden down and
them back into the valley.  Ompteda is killed. 
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