Terminology: btns. - battalions sq. - squadrons II/3rd Chasseur - II Battalion of 3rd Chasseur Regiment (French) III/45th Foot - III Battalion of 45th Regiment of Foot (British) FRENCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ALLIES MdE - Maréchal d'Empire . . . . . . . FM - Field Marshal GdD - Général de Division . . . . . . GL, LG - General-Lieutenant, Lieutenant General GdB - Général de Brigade . . . . . . . GM, MG - General-Major, Major General Col. - Colonel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col., Kol., Ob. - Colonel (British), Kolonel (Dutch-Belgian), Oberst (Prussian) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lt-Col., Lt-Kol., Ob.-Lt. - Lieutenant-Colonel, Lieutenant-Kolonel, Oberst-Leutenant Mjr. - Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mjr. - Major CdB. - Chef de Bataillon CdE. - Chef de Escadron Cpt. - Capitaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cpt., Kpt. - Captain, Kapitan Ltn. - Lieutenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ltn. - Lieutenant

. Majority of the Waterloo-books were written for particular market and are likely to continue to do well in that very specific market with myths, lies and tall tales. The 'Waterloo Industry' and Its Creations. Tall Tales, Myths and Fanfaronnade Anglaise. The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18th 1815 and was Napoleon's last battle. (The battlefield is in present day Belgium, 7.5 miles of Brussels.) The battle raged for several hours. In the late afternoon, with Wellington's centre exposed by the French taking La Haye Sainte, Napoleon committed his last reserve, the Imperial Guard. Many authors inflate the number of French Guard btns. that attacked Wellington's positions. They want you think as if the entire Guard fell right on the handfull of Brits formed in thin line. (<--- See map.) Aside from some fuzzy math, they present the defeat of the Middle Guard as the achievement of British troops and so winning the entire campaign. The same people believe that Cpt. Mercer was solely responsible for keeping the Brunswickers in line. Mercer (ext.link) also gave the impression that the regiment of horse grenadiers of Old Guard had been practically annihilated while charging his battery :-) It reminds me another invention, that the French 45e Ligne was an elite formation. This was invented by English enthusiasts to enhance the value of the captured Eagle. Sergeant Ewart who captured the emblem was paraded around the country. These authors do not mention Chasse's counterattack, the defeat of Cambronne's battalion of Old Guard by German (Hannoverian) troop or the Prussians crushing the Guard in Plancenoit. These prolific authors are highly opinionated and severaly critical of anyone who came in contact with the British troops. They take 80 % off the performance score of anyone not having had the good sense to have been born English. This is the "Waterloo industry" that exists in England in its worst. Majority of the Waterloo-books were written for particular market and are likely to continue to do well in that very specific market with myths and tall tales. The so-called thin red line (British troops wore red jackets) was not so thin and not so red. Wellington's troops between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte (where the French Guard attacked) were "deployed initially in column of companies, most at 1/4 distance" (- Mark Adkin). During battle some of them were formed in lines 4-ranks deep. It was a restricted area and the "thin red line" (2-ranks deep) was far too long for that. The fear of French cuirassiers was such that Ensign Macready wrote "no power on Earth could have formed a line of any kind of us but that of a line 4 deep." (In all probability Alten's and Picton's infantry were also formed on 4-ranks.) At Waterloo the French used columns of various size, but their lines were alwayz only 3-ranks deep. Wellington's troops were so densely deployed at Waterloo that only in few other battles were put more men per km of front. Wellington packed especially many troops between Hougoumount and La Haye to meet the Middle Guard: Vivian's and Vandeleur's brigades were drawn from one flank and Chasse's division was drawn from another flank. The British Guard and the 52nd Foot were not the only units fighting the Middle Guard. About every other unit in the area were involved in chucking just about everything but the kitchen sink at them as the French Guard advanced up the slope. Without the Dutch, Belgians and the Germans, their numbers, loyalty and fighting skill Wellington would have his hat pulled down to his knee. The Greman, Dutch and Belgian troops wore blue, green , red and black uniforms. The "thin red line" was neither thin nor red. This is a myth, this is what they want you to believe. Imperial Guard and supporting troops in three attempts to either break or stop the Allies. Ligny Waterloo (Guard vs British, Dutch, and Germans) Waterloo (Guard vs Prussians - Street fighting in Plancenoit) 11 btns. of Guard 8 btns. of Gerard's Corps 8 btns. of Guard 8 btns. of Donzelot's division 10 btns. of Guard 9 btns. of Mouton's Corps 4 sq. of Guard 24 sq. of cuirassiers 1-2 sq. of Guard 2-3 sq. of cuirassiers 0 sq. of Guard 0 sq. of cuirassiers Total: 19 battalions 28 squadrons Total: 16 battalions 4 squadrons Total: 19 battalions 0 squadrons successful failed failed

. When asked whether he had faced the Old Guard at Waterloo, an English officer replied "we regret, exceedingly, that were are not informed as to the name of quality of our opponents. They might have been the Old Guard-Young Guard-or no Guard at all; but certain it is, that they were, looking fierce enough, and ugly enough to be anything." (Barbero - "The Battle" p 28) Quality of Napoleon's Guard in 1815. The Old Camaraderie of the Guard Was Replaced By Suspicion. In 1815 Napoleon's Guard was a fine fighting machine although not as good as their predecessors in 1804-1812 who felt invincible after the glorious victories at Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Wagram and Borodino. The veterans who marched to Waterloo knew well the taste of defeat, some survived the horrors of retreat from Russia, flights before Cossacks, defeats at Viazma, Berezina, Leipzig, Kulm, Dennewitz, La Rothiere and Paris. They also witnessed Allies' entry to Paris, capitulation and abdication of Napoleon. Soem veterans were ex-POWs who spent years in Russian, British or Spanish captivity. They could be angry but without the air of invincibility. The discipline was poor, the old timers were annoyed and complained that the Young Guard went out with girls or got drunk. The Guard was hastily assembled, lacked uniforms and quality weapons. Instead they wore shakos, hats, forage caps and woolen berets. The Prussians at Ligny took them for militia. Not 20 men could be found wearing the same uniform in any company in these regiments. Instead of the finely made weapons reserved only for the Imperial Guard the guardsmen carried line muskets and sabers. In many cases the musket slings were replaced by strings. There was lack of shoes and food. The supplies were scarce and everything was performed in haste and confusion. The Guard artillery train lacked of military drivers so volunteer civil drivers were accepted as "3rd class" soldiers. There was not enough elite gendarmes for the Guard so men from King's Hunt were accepted. The Red Lancers lacked men and accepted cavalrymen from very different sources, from the Royal Corps, retirement, Young Guard and even shorter men of the horse grenadiers. There was less trust between the Guard and their commanders; Friant, Ney and others abandoned their beloved Emperor a year ago, this had shaken their faith in their leaders. There had been even defections among the officers of Middle and Young Guard whom Napoleon couldn't replace. The stalwart Elba Battalion looked down on everybody. Their chant "it was us who brought him back" closed the mouths of all contenders. The Elba Battalion felt a scorn for the troopers of Royal Corps who served for the King Louis XVIII. The old camaraderie of the Guard was replaced by suspicion. Only the 1er Grenadiers and 1er Chasseurs were filled with men with 12 years' service and with the Elba Battalion. They were the oldest of the old, the sine pari (without equal). Almost 30 % of the I/1er Grenadiers were veterans of 20-25 campaigns, one third was awarded for bravery and averaged 35-years of age. The 2e Grenadiers and 2e Chasseurs accepted men with 8 years' service. The 3e and 4e Grenadiers, and 3e and 4e Chasseurs were filled up with men with only 4 years' service. These units were established only after Napoleon's return from Elba, when men were transferred from the army to form the new Guard regiments. The entire army called them Middle Guard although officially there was no Middle Guard. The beaurocrats in Ministry of War called them Old Guard. The Young Guard consisted of volunteers, retired men, Corsicans, recruits and even deserters. All things considered, these were quite good but not superb units, a fact that has not been stressed enough in accounts of this last offensive. (Barbero - "The Battle" p 264)

. When line of the English and German infantry was broken by the Middle Guard the situation became critical. Wellington ordered Chasse to bring his Netherland division and do it quickly. French Guard vs Brits, Germans and Dutch. 'That scoundrel Napoleon is with his Guard over there.' - French deserter What had happened at Waterloo was this. At 10am, before the battle began, GdD Friant formed all regiments of Middle and Old Guard in two columns on regimental front. One column stood on the left side of the paved road, and the other column was on the right side. They remained in that position until afternoon when the Middle Guard marched against the British, Dutch and German troops and the Old and Young Guard faced the Prussians. As mentioned above, the advancing force consisted of 7 btns. formed in squares and marching in echelons. These battalions were formed in squares. A single horse battery advanced with the Guard. The battery was divided into four sections, 2 guns each, and positioned between the squares. French deserter and French adjutant. Less than 30 min. before the attack of Napoleon's Guard, a French deserter officer of horse carabiniers rode up to British 52nd Foot yelling 'Vive le Roi !'. He met the Brits saying 'That scoundrel Napoleon is with his Guard over there. He will be upon you shortly.' ("...a French cuirassier officer came galloping up the slope and down the bank in our front, near to Sir John Colborne, crying 'Vive l'Roi !'" - Ensign Leeke of British Guard) Before the attack Napoleon's ADC GdD Dejean arrived to Marshal Ney with the news that Grouchy's troops had arrived. Ney ordered Col. Levasseur to go right along the line and announce the news. The line troops and the Guard were overjoyed. But before Levasseur reached the end of the line he heard artillery fire in the rear and troops' enthusiasm "gave way to a profound silence, to amazement, to anxiety". Ney forbade Levasseur to go and find out the cause of this anxiety. Wellington's response. Wellington had brought a number of units in from both flanks to support the troops facing Imperial Guard. Wellington was able to shorten his front line due to the arrival of Blucher's Prussians. It was Blucher's indirect contribution to the defeat of French Guard. The troops from the flank were Vivian's cavalry brigade, Vandeleur's cavalry brigade and other smaller units. Halkett's and Du Platt's brigades had come forward to support Hougoumont and flank the Imperial Guard. Chasse's division deployed behind British infantry between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. Guard's advance. The Middle Guard was led by MdE Ney and GdD Friant. According to Petit who witnessed the advance, the battalions were formed in squares to eventually repulse the German and British cavalry. There was a possibility of repetition of cavalry counter-attack as it happened during d'Erlon's assault (or the slaughter of Luneburg Btn. and V KGL Line Btn. by French cuirassiers). "All the battalions were formed up in squares, advanced in squares and attacked in squares, as they had no wish to be caught on the move by cavalry ... There were no skirmishers deployed from these battalions. Senior officers rode or walked ahead. Each battalion's drummers were in the centre." (Adkin p 391) Majority of British accounts were written some 20 years after the battle when memory was not the freshiest. Additionally a square with drummers and officers inside could easily give the impression of a column. "The advance of the enemy upon this part of the position was in heavy columns of infantry, with crowds of tirailleurs in their front ..." - Lord Somerset. "I could see the French advancing ... in heavy masses of close columns." - Lt. Wilson. "The French advanced in masses of infantry." - Lt. Rudyard. Small part of Donzelot's division advanced on the immediate right of the Guard, along the Genappe Road. Small group of cuirassiers and Guard cavalry rode behind the Guard infantry. The slope was steep and sufficient to slow both infantrymen and cavalrymen. The Guard "bend under artillery fire like corn smitten by the wind." - Ensign Macready of 30th Foot The guardsmen followed their mounted commanders forward, giving a mighty cheer as they swept down on the enemy. The first echelon of the Guard was formed by the I/3e Grenadiers (Middle Guard). These grenadiers were led by GdD Friant and Porret de Morvan. As they marched on the left side of the road to La-Haye-Sainte they were shortly joined by Napooleon. To the left and rear marched I/4e Grenadiers. Further to the left were three other btns. These five battalions formed the first wave of attack. The Guard advanced at the pas de charge. Allies batteries fired canister and double canister "from the front and on one side" while the skirmishers and sharpshooters aimed at officers. Despite mounting casualties the Guard had passed beyond La Haye Sainte. MdE Ney fell with his horse that was killed. He got up and with saber in hand he joined GdD Friant. Then GdD Friant (ext.link) and several officers were wounded. Shocking casualties and the tremendous artillery fire caused an agitation among the Guardsmen and the charge briefly lost momentum. "The Guard suffers severely from artillery fire during its advance." (- Mark Adkin) The guardsmen surged through the smoke as men fell before the canister volleys. Many lay scattered upon the ground with ghastly wounds, moaning in agony. They fell in heaps. (Few hours earlier Bachelu's 5th Division never reached the allied positions because their advance was driven back by the weight of artillery fire from the combined batteries on the ridge.) The British, Brunswickers and Nassauers Fell Back in "Frightful Confusion" Poret de Morvan (see picture) was a robust man with the look of Roman legionnaire. This man inspired the I/3e Grenadiers to march on. They gave a terrible yell and rushed like demons with the bayonets overthrowing the Brunswickers, and capturing British batteries of Cleeves and Lloyd. Actually when de Morvan's men appeared in front of these cannons the gunners run away in panick. Mjr. Lloyd remained a little too far behind his fleeing men and a French officer caught up with him and cut him down with his saber. Lloyd died few weeks later in hospital. When the flutter of terror passed through the hearts of the Brunswickers they "fell back in disorder" and rallied under the cover and support of Vivian's Cavalry Brigade. De Morvan's men collided with von Kruse's Nassauers (2,841 men in I, II Line and Landwehr Battalion). MG von Kruse wrote " ... (the French Guard) reached the plateau, with our infantry (part of I Btn.) withdrawing only 100 paces. A violent firefight broke out ..." The commander soon brought up the II Btn. (Mjr. von Nauendorf with 943 men) formed in column. Unfortunately the Crown Prince was wounded and the II Btn. fell back. In their footsteps went the remaining battalions. General Kielmansegge explained that his brigade also had to retreat when von Kruse's men fell back. Prince of Orange was wounded in the shoulder but his officers had a difficult time persuading him to retire. De Morvan's grenadiers (450-500 men minus heavy casualties), slightly turned to the left and together with the I/4e Grenadiers were heading toward the left flank of MG Sir C. Halkett's 5th Brigade. The 30th Foot "Cambridgeshire" (635 men minus casualties) and the 73rd Highland (498 men minus casualties) must have felt their hearts drop a rib or two. Ensign Macready wrote: "As they rose step by step before us, with their red epaulettes and cross belts put over their blue greatcoats, and topped by their high, hairy caps, and keeping time, and their officers looking to their alignement ... I certainly thought we were in for very slashing work." The frightened 73rd of Foot decided that their Colors should be removed from the staffs. The two banners were wrapped around the torso of a sergeant, who was ordered to leave at once for Brussels (!) Halkett's battalions changed formation from squares to 4-deep lines but the 2 French horse guns and musketry did great execution among the Brits. The redcoats (33rd, 69th and 43rd of Foot) were seized with panic,turned about and, in an indescribable disorder officers and men mixed, fled in "frightful confusion". The mob stampeded for shelter. (Some British authors blame the Dutch, Germans, Russians and everyone else incl. Martians for Haklett's rout. There are numerous excuses. Excuse Nr 1: Halkett's brigade was weakened few hours earlier as they were under artillery fire and repeatedly charged by cuirassiers. But the same authors emphasize how easily these cuirassiers were repulsed and how the redcoats avoided heavy casualties from artillery fire by being deployed on reverse slope. Excuse Nr 2:: Halkett's men actually outshoot the Guard but then order was given to about face and get back, so they fled. Excuse Nr 3: the Invincibles took the blue-clad Dutch for the French coming from behind. My question is this: in what direction Halkett's men fled, away from the 'French' (Dutch) and toward the Middle Guard or the other way ? :=) Well, victory has many fathers, while defeat is an orphan, although sometimes attended by paternity suits :-) One thing is certain, the redcoats fled before the real or imaginary foe, and it was so easy to scare them. Haklett's men were in sorry state: the 33rd and 69th were "badly mauled" and Sir Colin Halkett was wounded, a musket ball passed through his cheek. Some witnesses remarked that "Fortunately the enemy took no advantage" while other authors claim that the French pursued them with roars of victory. Reduced to crowds of runaways, the redcoats fled past the hedge. Their wounded clung to their comrades, begging them not to abandon them. The Germans of von Kruse and Kielmansegge were in poor shape. Von Kruse wrote: "These troops evaded as much as they could the fire of the French troops now spread across the plateau. There was also fire heard left in the flank and in the rear, and it seemed, as if the extreme left flank of the army was pushed back vigorously." The Dutch Counter-Attacked: La Garde Recule ! General Chassé was at the head of Kol. Detmers' brigade (approx. 3,000 men) and had followed the developing actions with growing interest. For most of the morning, his troops had remained near Braine l'Alleud, where they were well fed by the inhabitants and abudantly refreshed with beer and juniper brandy. Chasse had trouble restraining his soldiers anxious to engage themselves in the fighting. Chassé (1765-1849) for his bravery was nicknamed "General Bayonet". In previous years he served in the French army. Chasse fought with distinction at Talavera (Spain) against the British and at Arcis-sur-Aube against the Austrians and Russians. When the English, Nassau and Brunswick infantry were uprooted from their positions the situation became critical. Wellington ordered Chasse to bring 3 of his battalions into frontline at once. Chasse had marched them parallel to the ridge and behind its crest and found a suitable place to execute a right turn and deploy into line. "As they took up this position, the Netherlanders found themselves on the flank of the grenadiers of the Guard..." It was just in time, the British infantry started to break up, communicating its panic to German units to their left. This however had no effect on Chasse's men. Chassé has sent forward horse battery commanded by Kpt. Krahmer de Bichin. The gunners unlimbered on the ridge, to the right of the British 30th and 73rd Foot. (Other sources place Krahmer between Halkett's and Maitland's brigades) Their fire took the grenadiers in the flank. "... it was under the unexpected hail of canister that the two grenadier squares began to waver. Macready remembered that battery well, even though he had no idea of its nationality. 'Whoseover they were, they served most gloriously, and their metallic bang, bang, bang, with the rushing showers of grape that followed, were the most welcome sounds that ever struck my ears - until I married." (Barbero - "The Battle" p 268) 'Some guns from the rear of our right [Krahmer] poured in canister among them, and the slaughter was dreadful." - Ensign Macready of 30th Foot. Chassé formed Detmers' Brigade in large attack column, 2 battalions wide and 3 battalions deep.. His second brigade under MG Count d'Aubreme was formed in three massive squares and stood behind Maitland. The battery commanded by Kpt. Lux didn't make it to the scene of the fighting. Major van Delen wrote: "During the interval an English ADC ... came to Colonel Detmers, and brought him the order to place himself in the first line with 3 battalions. Whereupon the said colonel advanced by sections in column with the 35th Jagers, the 2nd Line, and the 4th Militia. He marched by the side of the side of the heights occupied by the English army. These battalions advanced in a manner to be more or less sheltered against the musketry fire, leaving the bayonets alone exposed." Chasse brought up three remaining battalions. Now Ditmers' brigade was formed in line, behind Allies infantry. Chasse spoke to the soldiers: "... you will leave the second line and go over to the first, stay calm, trust in my leadership ... the battle is not decided, but how pleasing it will be to you to have cooperated in the decision." According to Wiegmans General Chasse formed Ditmers' brigade "in closed columns per 6 divisions (companies), and arrived with the sixth battalion ... Now he rode off to the left wing of Ditmers' brigade, but soon returned to our sixth battalion, and called forcefully: Storm pace ! ..." With drawn sword "General Bayonet" marched forward into the gap, which appeared between the Brunswickers and the 5th British brigade. He called upon the Dutchmen: "Forward colonel Detmers and charge with the bayonet !" Chasse wrote: "... there were no troops, not a single man of the allies between my division and the French Guard ..." Wildly enthusiastic, drumming and shouting, with their shakos on the top of their bayonets they dashed into the fray cheering 'Long live the House of Orange! Long live the king !' Munter of Detmers' brigade wrote: "Then we took a few shots at each other with the musket, but the French didn't want to give way." Lieutenant Koch: "... the artillery had soon reloaded and overtaken the column; it once more gave a volley and now the enemy started retreating, strongly pursued by us; our losses were considerable... a grenade exploded amidst our drummers and fifers, so that there was hardly one left ..." The Guard was shattered by the sight of fresh forces, and the artillery fire and fell back down the slope. Their panic spread to d'Erlon's infantry. "La garde recule ! Sauve qui peut!" (The Guard retreats ! Save yourself if you can !) The Belgian 35th Jagers pursued the guardsmen, "It was then that you should have seen how that fine Guard fled at full speed." recalled an anonymous jager of 35th. (- Erwin Muilwijk) I am not sure about the formation of Detmers' brigade. Was it column or square ? Erwin Muilwijk believes that "the entire brigade charged with six battalions in columns side by side.... It is interesting that the jager of the 35th Battalion mentions being in square. Does this perhaps mean that the first three battalions getting forward were temporarily all in square ?" The British prefer not to dwell on the fact that it was a Dutch unit which broke the leading echelon of Imperial Guard. In majority of their books you don't find a beep about it. But if they do describe this action this is with a strong portion of jealousy "the Dutch-Belgians were merely chasing an already defeated battalion". Chasse (ext.link) bitterely complained to Lord Hill because the Dutch and Belgian troops' exploits were omitted in his report. This protest resulted in Hill writing of their conduct to Wellington. You probably have expected that the French Guard will break Wellington's second line (Chasse's Division) with easy. This is what happens on wargamers' tables. In reality it was quite a different thing. For example at Talavera the elite British Foot Guard broke through French first line and was counter-attacked by second line. The Brits suffered horrible casualties and fled in panick. Similar thing happened to Russian Guard. The attackers, even if successful in breaking the first line, are as much drained emotionally and physically, as the enemy. They are also in some sort of disorder. In this situation any fresh troops can successfully counter-attack. On map: after initial success the Middle Guard fell back. The veterans suffered horrific casualties from artillery fire and were thrown back by a massive counterattack. There was no way that the few Guard battalions could break through these masses. "A Lengthy Exchange of Musketry": British Guard vs French Middle Guard. As you have probably noticed, the first and second echelon of the Guard consisted of the taller and robust grenadiers. These lads pierced allied line before being counterattacked by fresh forces. The third and fourth echelon were made of the shorter chasseurs. The third echelon, I and II/3e Chasseurs (1,000 men), was closing on the ridge. The threat of being attacked by enemy cavalry still kept them in squares. Against 1.000 chasseurs Maitland had 1,500 men: II/1st Foot Guard (781 men) * III/1st Foot Guard (847 men) * * - at Quatre Brass this unit lost 285 killed and wounded, while the III/1st Foot Guard suffered 262 casualties. (1066 - 285 =781 men) and (1109 - 262 =847 men). The vast majority of the 547 guardsmen were killed and wounded by Pire's light cavalry. The French charged from a "concealed positions in a depresion near Pierrepont" and routed the British Guard within a moment. [- Source: GdD Pire's letter to GdD Reille, June 25th 1815, in Arch. Serv. Hist.] The guardsmen ran like a herd of deer towards the nearby Bossu Wood. Near the ridge the chasseurs were shattered by canister fire from Bolton's and Ramsay's batteries that took them in the flank. General Michel fell fatally wounded and the decimated chasseurs halted. Maitland's guardsmen stood up and delivered volley at close range. The chasseurs deployed from square to line to answer fire with fire. The exchange of musket fire was quite long. The French say about approx. 10 minutes, and Griffith in 'Forward into Battle' on p 26. says about "a lengthy exchange of musketry." This is truly amazing that the outnumbered and heavily outgunned chasseurs held their ground for a quite long time. The artillery and musket fire took heavy toll on the chasseurs and they began wavering. Seeing this Wellington ordered Maitland to charge. Here is another invention of British authors; Wellington denied saying "Now Maitland!" or "Up Guards and at them!" So it was not a volley, cheer and charge after Wellington's "Up Guards and at them !", instead it was a lengthy exchange of musket fire, with the French being outnumbered and outgunned. (The 1st Foot Guard is the most senior regiment of the Guard of the British army, and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. As a result of their heroic actions in fighting off the French at Waterloo, the 1st Guards were renamed by Royal Proclamation as the 1st or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards, thus becoming the only regiment in the British army to be named for one of its battle honours. This is however not correct, the 1st Guards defeated not grenadiers but chasseurs.) The British Guard Flew In Disorder Up the Slope As Fast As They Came Down: La Garde Anglaise Recule ! Major General Maitland (1777-1854) was a seasoned commander. (For his services at Waterloo he was made a knight commander of the bath. In 1818, Maitland was appointed lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada.) The pursuing British Guard intermixed with the fleeing chasseurs, they "came down the slope in a hand to hand combat all the way down to Hougoumont's orchards." A British offcicer from Bolton's battery said that the combatants were so intermixed, "that we had to stop firing." But Maitland's guardsmen fell apart when a single btn. of 4e Chasseurs arrived. It was the the last echelon of the French Guard. The British instead of crossing their bayonets with the numerically weaker enemy, they flew in disorder up the slope back to their position as fast as they came down. "La Garde Anglaise Recule ! GdB Henrion's chasseurs closely pursued the British. It was not the end of problems for the British Guard, the 3rd Foot Guard from MG Sir Byng's Brigade "had to retire several times" when the French attacked their flanks. Sir John Colborne then brought the 52nd Foot round to outflank the French as they passed his brigade. The 52nd (1.130 muskets) fired a volley into the left flank of the Chasseurs (approx. 500 muskets) and attacked with the bayonet. The Chasseurs were driven back down the hill. (According to UK website http://www.regiments.org the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot was the first regiment converted to light infantry. Battalion of this regiment was the last British battalion to leave France (1818). The French Guard Finally "Bent Under the Numbers." Chasse's troops pursued the Middle Guard. Some of the fleeing guardsmen threw away knapsacks and bearskins and they took cover in the orchard by La Haye Sainte. Van Eysinga of 19th Militia Battalion wrote: "There they took a position and defended themselves in a way one could only expect of the noble French Guard; it grieved me to help destroy these brave troops ... At the mmoment we had cleared the orchard, French cuirassiers approached us in anger ..." Detmers' brigade was among the first Wellington's troops who started the pursuit, "perhaps 10 to 15 minutes before the general advance was ordered by Wellington." (Source: "First Empire" # 86, publ. in UK in 2005) Van Doren wrote: "The Guard, who could not resist this dogged attack, had to yield a second time for the bayonets of Chasse and give up the attack." Detmers' brigade continued pursuit, crossed the highway and French Grand Battery, where they didn't stop. They just went through the guns and ammunition wagons and followed the French. (See map.) Meanwhile Adam's 2,000-3,000 men moved against the chasseurs and grenadiers who instead of fleeing, hang around still ready to fight. The British 52nd Foot was so anxious that they mistook the (British) 23rd Light Dragoons of Dornberg's Brigade for the enemy and fired. It resulted in disorder and hesitation among some of Wellington's troops. But it had little effect on the final outcome of battle. The French "bent under the numbers" and fell back. They fled to the rear where stood 4 btns. as a reserve: II/3e Grenadiers, II/2e Grenadiers, II/2e Chasseurs and Cambronne with II/1er Chasseurs. Despite being attacked by British cavalry, German infantry from Hougoumont, and surrounded and shelled with grapeshot the II/3e Grenadiers was never broken. When they reached La Belle Alliance their regular square had shrunk to a tiny triangle with ranks of 2-deep. Then their commander gave order to fire a final volley and to break up into small battle-groups. They made their way to the rear and joined the slowly retreating and in excellent order 1er Grenadiers. When two battalions of Detmers' brigade struggled with the Guard in the orchard at La HHaye Sainte, the four remaining battalions were waiting with their advance. This probably lasted until the British 52nd Foot neared the farm. The British soldiers took the Dutch-Belgians for French troops. Five of six Detmers; battalions wore blue jackets. Leeke of 52nd wrote: "... we distinctly saw on our left, 300 or 400 yards up the British position and on the Hougoumont side of La Haye Sainte, four battalions in column, apparently French, standing with ordered arms. According to all accounts they were too far down the British position to be Dutch-Belgians; they certainly were not English. It was thought they were French, and part of Donzelot's division ... The 52nd was then, as before, quite alone, and had these four battalions of Donzelot's division come down upon our left flank with a regular British charge, they would possibly have prevented the rout of the French army from becoming so complete as it was." Leeke was confused about the four battalions: "What should keep them there, 400 yards or more from the British position ... " According to Erwin Muilwijk "... to identify them as being French battalions leisurely waiting, while the 52nd Foot presented its left flank to them is a far-fetched idea, most likely based on the fact that Leeke, as so many others, was (in later years still) unaware of the advance of Detmers. Cambronne's Old Guard Defeated By Germans. The Osnabrück Landwehr Battalion (633 Germans wearing British red uniforms - see picture) were personally led by the commander of 3rd Hannoverian Brigade, Ob. Halkett. According to Halkett himself, this battalion was on the right of Adam's brigade. The Germans advanced toward a single French battalion standing in the open and attacked it. It was battalion of Old Guard with General Cambronne. The Germans and the French fired at each other, Cambronne was wounded, thrown from his horse and taken prisoner. German version of what happened. Ltn. Richers described what took place: "Our skirmihers deployed against the Old Guard skirmishers and a firefight began. We were advancing, but the enemy stood where he was... Once the advancing battalion reached the skirmish line, its pace accelerated. We moved up, the enemy skirmishers disappeared and the front ranks of the [French] column fired a volley at us. I believe we all hesitated and stood where we were."... In this critical moment Ob. Halkett inspired the Germans with a cry 'Hurrah, brave Osnabrückers !' and they lowered their bayonets and charged. Richers wrote: "Our opponents didn't engage in a bayonet fight with us. They stood for a moment longer, then wavered, turned around and retired a short distance in relatively good order. Their formation then started to break up and finally they fled in total disorder." The officers did attempt to rally the veterans but it was in vain. Some British authors claim that Cambonne was captured by Halkett. But according to Hofschroer, Cambronne "certainly surrendered to the Osnabrückers, possibly first to Führing, who may then have handed the dazed Frenchman over to Halkett." (Hofschroer p 149) Halkett's version Halkett gave much more one-sided version of the same event than the German officer. Halkett wrote that already "After receiving our fire with much effect, the (French) column [Sic] left their General with two officer behind when I ordered the sharpshooters to dash on and I made a gallop for the General (Cambronne)." French version. According to Poret de Morvan who was accompanying Cambronne, the general was wounded in the head and an English seargant [Seargeant Führing of the Osnabruckers, he wore the British redcoat] helped him back to his feet. Cambronne was taken prisoner but gave Führing his purse in recompense. According to British author Mark Adkin before being captured Cambronne was wounded by a musket ball to his face. There is much talk on what really was said by Cambronne. (ext.link) His alleged response was later immortalized by Victor Hugo in his writings, while the words 'La Garde meurt, elle ne se rend pas !' is inscribed on his tomb at Nantes." But according to Mark Adkin "Cambronne was very much the rough spoken, hard as nails ex-ranker - a soldier's soldier. For this reason perhaps 'Merde !' is the more likely in the circumstances, the modern English equivalent being 'F*** off !' (- Adkin) For us this is a little bit dissapointing that Cambronne's chasseurs put less resistance than the grenadiers. I would expect them doing at least what the II/3e Grenadiers or the I and II/1er Grenadiers did !

On map: Allies' offensive: Cambronne is taken prisoner.

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If the Prussians had fallen back on their communication lines after Ligny, Wellington would almost certainly have had have fallen back on his, which ultimately meant reatreat to the channel coast with a view to re-embarking a la Dunkirk. French Guard vs Prussians. "The Prussians Are Coming !" On picture: Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher (1742-1819), commander-in-chief of the Prussian army. If the Prussians had fallen back on their communication lines after Ligny, Wellington would almost certainly have had have fallen back on his, which ultimately meant reatreat to the channel coast with a view to re-embarking a la Dunkirk. The object of offering battle at Waterloo was to hold Napoleon until the Prussians arrived. [In the classic British version of Waterloo the Prussians arrived just in time to mop up the battlefield. Of course the British did everything by themselves. Oh please, spare me yet another repetition of such inflated ego.] The absolute essential for a French victory at Waterloo was for the Prussians not to arrive. Allies' plans were: if Napoleon attacked the western flank of German-British-Netherland army first, the Prussians would march to join him via Ohain if Napoleon attacked their centre and east (La Haye Sainte - Papelotte line), the Prussians would advance against Plancenoit if Napoleon turned east towards the Prussians, then Wellington would advance to strike him in his exposed western flank. The spire of Plancenoit's church became a marker for Blucher's advance and the scene of "the bitterest fighting of the entire battle... The fighting in Plancenoit was of a particularly merciless nature. The hatred between French and Prussians was intense... The Prussian advance/assault on this village was the single biggest factor that cost the French a victory at Waterloo. The absolute necessity for the Emperor to commit all of VI Corps, which was his first reserve, to the extreme eastern flank at the outset of the battle. Napoleon's force available for attacking his main enemy was instantly reduced by over 10.000 men. This meant that for the main battle, which had yet to begin in earnest, Napoleon had less men than Wellington... If Plancenoit was lost, the battle was lost, if the battle was lost, so was the campaign and with it the Emperor's throne.... When the French finally took La Haye Sainte ... it opened up a small window of opportunity [for Napoleon] ... Ney saw it and demanded infantry to exploit it. They were not forthcoming, primarily because of the situation in Plancenoit.... He [Napoleon] had started the day with an infantry reserve of 36 infantry battalions ... Keeping Plancenoit cost him 25 of them... In the event only 8 battalions of fresh troops were committed to the last attack on Wellington's ridge, of these only 5 were in the front line." (Adkin pp 381-2, 390-1) Prussian artillery arrived on the battlefield. "The wounded, as we came rushing on, set up a dreadful crying, and holding up their hands entreated us, some in French and some in English, not to crush their already mangled bodies beneath our wheels. It was a terrible sight to see those faces with the mark of death upon them, rising from the ground and the arms outstretched towards us." (- Kpt. von Reuter) He noticed that the Prussian infantry was in excellent spirit and greeted the heavy cannons with cheers. At 4 pm part of Bulow's corps was nonetheless ready to fall upon Napoleon's exposed flank. Bulow sent 2 battalions to link up with Wellington and protect his exposed flank. The Fus/18th and Fus/3rd Silesian Landwehr marched toward Frichermont, Smohain and Papelotte. Plancenoit (see photo by Mark Adkin) was a big village with a cobblestone street, a church built of stone and a walled cemetary. All inhabitants fled their houses yesterday. Plancenoit was defended by Mouton count of Lobau's (ext.link) VI Army Corps of two infantry divisions. Simmer's 19th Division (4.100 men in 9 btns. and one battery) was in the village. North of Plancenoit stood GdD Jeanin's 20th Division (3.300 men in 6 btns. and one battrey). Charges by Domon's and Subervie's lancers and chasseurs slowed down the Prussian advance. One of the lancer regiment was led by Col. Surd who previous day after the combat at Gennappe had one arm amputated but insisted on maintaining command of his unit. The cavalry charges were followed by a skirmish battle between the French and Prussian infantry. GdD Mouton's VI Army Corps was outnumbered by the Prussians and to prevent outflanking his right wing Mouton began retreating. Prussian cannonballs began falling not far from Napoleon, some hit La Belle Alliance filled with wounded French soldiers. Napoleon turned his telescope in the direction the shots came from. Ob. von Hiller with one column of infantry found themselves under fire from French snipers stationed in the houses of Plancenoit. The French had brought canons and howitzers into the streets "where close range blasts of canister would blow away oppositions as a gale does autumn leaves." The Prussians however pressed forward and reached the center of the village where the church and cemetery were located. (ext.link) They met Young Guard led by Duhesme "the incorrigible looter, the crude, brutal general who had been disissed from his post in Spain for involvement in torture". Within 30 min. of fighting the Prussians were obliged to retreat all the way back to open country. Blucher was furious, he mounted his horse and rode to the fleeing troops where he met their colonel. Blücher was in no afraid of Napoleon. He was a tough, stuborn old sod who refused to give in, when many others would have rolled over. Two years earlier, in 1813, Blücher defeated the French at Katzbach and defeated Napoleon in 1814 at La Rothiere. Blücher ordered Bülow's corps to attack, and uttered these remarkable words: "We must give air to the English army." Up until now Wellington was on the back foot and would have been beaten without Blucher's army. Wellington said: "Give me Blücher or give me night" and this is enough to see clearly that he was actually saying "I'm about to get my butt kicked". General Hiller came on again with 14th Brigade. He described in detail what happened: "Overcoming all difficulties and with heavy losses from canister and musketry, the 15th Infantry and 1st Silesian Landwehr penetrated to the high wall around the churchyard held by the Young Guard. These two columns succeeded in capturing a howitzer, 2 cannon, several ammunition wagons and 2 staff officers along with several hundred men. The open square around the churchyard was surrounded by houses, from which the enemy could not be dislodged in spite of our brave attempt. A firefight continued at 15 to 30 paces which ultimately decimated the Prussian battalions." It took more hard fighting before the 14th Brigade took the churchyard from the Young Guard, and then the rest of the village. Only few houses were left in French hands. (The Prussians took the village 2 times before a final assault at 8 PM secured it permanently.) (The reserve cavalry of Bulow's corps was under the command of Prinz Wilhelm. He would live long enough to become emperor of the new German Empire in 1871 (ext.link) . The Old Guard Took Plancenoit In Bayonet Point. Once the Prussians have captured the churchyard Napoleon was very alarmed. He immediately sent 2 btns. of Old Guard; I/2e Chasseurs and I/2e Grenadiers. As the veterans neared Plancenoit they met Duhesme, commander of Young Guard. Duhesme was wounded on the head and could only remain in the saddle by being held there by the soldiers of Young Guard. Wounded was also GdB Chartrand. Enraged GdD Roguet had threatened with death any grenadier who should bring him a Prussian prisoner. The Old Guard marched straight into Plancenoit with their drums beating. The 'Young Guard' followed them with enthusiasm. But it were not the robust grenadiers who led the assault. Cpt. Peschot's company of shorter but agile chasseurs spearheaded the advance. The encounter with the Prussians was not a quick victory and several companies of chasseurs were sent forward. The colonel of chasseurs, Pelet, stripped to his shirt and mounted couldn't believe his luck "I saw muskets aiming at me 40 paces away. I can not imagine how they did not shoot me twenty times." The chasseurs, followed by the Young Guard, reached the church and cemetery where after ferocious fighting threw the Prussians out. The Prussians counter-attacked and Pelet's men were surrounded in the churchyard. Finally the grenadiers (see picture) entered Plancenoit and without firing a single shot drove the remaining Prussians out of the village. It was a one big sweep. They pursued the enemy with bayonet up to the positions of artillery. The drum-major of the grenadiers, Stubert, used his mace as a club. The two btns. of Old Guard hotly pursued the enemy until found themselves out of village and in the open. The Prussian artillery opened fire forcing the veterans to fall back. GdD Subervie's lancers attacked flank of the fleeing Prussians and inflicted further losses. The dashing lancers forced the gunners to bandon several batteries. This is often said that the 2 btns. of Old Guard defeated 14 Prussian battalions (of which many were already disordered by earlier attacks and counterattacks) and inflicted 3.000 casualties. For many British authors this is the most most often repeated event concerning the Prussians. However the '3,000 casualties' sounds suspicious as the total loss of Prussian 16th and 14th Brigade for the entire battle was 3.219. What about losses inflicted by French artillery, lancers, Young Guard and Lobau's entire corps ? All these amount to only 219 ... ? That's impossible. Map of battle at Plancenoit. The Young Guard Suffered 80 % Casualties in Street Fighting. Blucher rallied his troops and attacked again - the street fighting was very bloody and every house became like besieged fort. Despite being outnumbered by margin of 2 to 1 the French (Mouton's 8 btns., Young Guard's 8 btns. and Old Guard's 2 btns.) were able to hold on for 1 hour. The fighting was ferocious, commander of the Young Guard, GdD Duhesme was mortally wounded, GdD Barrois was wounded. The commander of VI Army Corps, GdD Mouton was taken prisoner. The 1er Tirailleurs suffered 92 % casualties, while the entire Division of Young Guard suffered 80-90 % casualties ! "... entire groups of the Young Guard were starting to raise their hands in surrender, although the Prussians maddened by the stubborn defense the French put up, were not always disposed to take prisoners." (Barbero - "The Battle" p 245) The streets were covered with blood, and the French were abandoning Plancenoit. The level of slaughter in Plancenoit even surpassed Hougoumont. (- Adkin) The last to leave were the veterans of Old Guard. They defended the church and cemetery to the very last. The church was built on a mound some 18 feet high that required men to ascend by steep steps. The mound was encircled by the cemetery wall which had a ring of trees planted along its length inside. There would be thirty times as many bodies above ground in the churchyard as were beneath it. The English authors (with one or two exceptions) don't say much about Prussian victory over the Guard, if they even mention it at all. I guess they either fear that it may overshadow the "British" defeat of French Guard or they never read anything but British.

. Gneissenau gathered some infantry around him and commanded them to sing the hymn "Herr Gott, Dich loben wir". Meanwhile the French continued their flight. The French Army Disintegrated. The Old Guard Left the Battlefield In Excellent Order With Their Characteristic Bull-Dog Obstinacy and Drums Beating. The Prussians emerged from the burning remains of village at which point the French army disintegrated. Darkness began to fall and the number of fugitives rapidly increased. Some were fleeing toward positions where stood Napoleon's last reserve, three btns. of Old Guard and part of Emperor's baggage. The possibility of massive Prussian cavalry attack caused the 1er Grenadiers (the oldest of the Old Guard) to form up in two squares. The square that was closer to the Prussians sent out its skirmishers who soon were "heavily engaged" against Prussian skirmishers. In other square, strengthened by a battery of 6 6pdr guns, Guard sappers and Guard sailors, was Napoleon. The two squares left the battlefield with their characteristic bull-dog obstinacy. One marched on the paved road and the other across the fields. Mjr. Howard with the British 10th Hussars received order to charge one of the squares. The Old Guard stood fast, the British received a volley and dispersed before coming into any contact with it. Howard took a musket ball in the face and fell from his charger. A veteran of Old Guard stepped out from the ranks and bashed in Howard's skull with the butt of his musket. The British heavy dragoons were next to charge. The messenger of this order, Dawson, confessed that he would never forget the looks on their faces when he communicated these orders to them. The heavy dragoons advanced but not too fast, and obviously without much enthusiasm. The Old Guard fired, Dawson was knocked off his horse, the Brits made a full turn and fled. Near Genappe the two squares of Old Guard came together and were formed in long columns by sections. The Prussians watchfully followed them without much bothering. The French fugitives were pursued mainly by the Prussian light cavalry. General Gneissenau placed himself at the head of Prussian advance guard and urged his exhausted soldiers all night long. Immediately after Napoleon left Le Caillou the Prussians arrived and set fire to the farm and its adjacent barns, burning alive all wounded Frenchmen who had been brought into these buildings. Mjr. Keller of Prussian 15th Infantry took possesion of Napoleon's sword, medals, hat and purse of diamonds. Near Rossomme Ltn. Jackson of Wellington's staff saw a large group of Prussian infantrymen bayoneting wounded French soldiers to death. He was genuinely afraid that they were going to kill him. Napoleon's surgeon Dr. Larrey was struck down by Prussian uhlan. The uhlan robbed him, tied his hands behind his back, and brought his bleeding Frenchman to the Prussians. Wellington and Blucher decided that the Prussians alone would continue the pursuit. This decision is usually explained by citing the exhausted condition of Wellington's infantry, but Blucher's were surely no less tired. More likely the choice reflected the plodding management and slowness of movement that characterized British troops. On June 19, 1815 Wellington wrote to Bathurst on the actions of Prussian Army on Napoleon’s right flank and during pursuit after battle describing them as the "most decisive." Blücher suggested to Wellington that they call it the Battle of La Belle Alliance, but Wellington had other plans. He raced back to his headquarters and wrote his famous dispatch, explaining just how he had won the Battle of Waterloo. Authors and contributors: J. Morgan, B. Chester, and Z. Olszewski

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