The Decisive Action of Waterloo

Planchenoit

by Leon Parté

Sunday 18th June 1815, the battle of Waterloo, brought about the end of Napoleon’s military and Imperial career once and for all. To many this victory was gained by the heroic and redoubtable British Infantry, scant regard is given to the various Dutch, Belgian, Hanoverian and Nassau units that bore more than their fare share of hardship. There has been some attempt in recently published histories of the campaign to try to right this wrong.

Large Map (very slow: 176K)
Jumbo Map (extremely slow: 495K)
Jumbo Map close-up of Planchenoit (extremely slow: 518K)

However, any recognition of Prussian efforts has been restricted to the appearance of Steinmetz’s brigade of I Corps emerging on the right flank of the French army, causing - by reason that the French Army suspected that they had been betrayed, the rout and collapse of the Emperor’s legions.

Whilst there is considerable weight to this point, I believe that victory was snatched from the French for one reason only. That being Field-Marshal Blucher’s, who possessed an almost pathological hatred for Napoleon, decision not to reinforce Wellington’s line directly but to attack Planchenoit.

Overview

Upon arrival at the battle-field at around 4pm, there was considerable apprehension in the Prussian H.Q. that Wellington's line was fixed and upon the point of breaking. Blucher, despite all advice to hold back in order that should the British break the Prussian Army could retire unmolested and intact, began a cau-tious attack on the French right flank.

This was countered by Napoleon who deployed Lobau’s VI corps to counter the threat. As this action unfolded, it became apparent to Blucher that Planchenoit - so far undefended by the French, and out of sight of the main battle - was a key position, from which he could threaten French lines of communication and retreat and strike at the middle and rear of the French lines, and possibly destroy the Armeé du Nord.

Of course if Wellington’s army was broken, Blucher faced envelopment and the destruction of his own army. Any other commander, faced with this possibility and no other Allied field army in striking distance would have erred on the side of caution. Blucher, however, saw that this could be his best chance to finish off his old enemy for once and for all. Bulow’s IV Corps was ordered into the attack on Planchenoit.

Lobau, rushed his reserve brigade into the village, and resisted the onslaught for some time, eventually being ejected. Napoleon reacted to this by sending in the Young Guard - 8 battalions under Duhesme. This, crucially was 1/3 of the Emperor's Infantry reserve. And these troops supported by the Old Guard would have been used in an attempt to smash the Anglo-Dutch line.

Meanwhile, on the field of Waterloo, Ney had been making his famous infantry attacks, and finally the numerous cavalry charges that destroyed the French Cavalry. The fall of La Haye Sante, finally, allowed French Artillery to get into close range of the British lines. The compounding effect of all this was that Wellington’s troops had by now been battered beyond belief and those units at the centre of the line were close to collapse, rout and/or annihilation.

Request for the Guard

It was now that Ney sent a request for the Guard Infantry. It was now that Bulow ejected the Young Guard from Planchenoit, it was about 7pm.

It is unlikely that Ney's request would have been refused and the Old Guard would have advanced to victory at once. Napoleon delayed, Planchenoit was now more important than Wellington. Two battalions of Old Guard Infantry were sent to Planchenoit, the village was cleared at bayonet point supported by the remnants of the Young Guard and the flank stabilised, with a reported loss of 3,000 Prussian lives. Four battalions of Guard Infantry were now released to Ney, Wellington had been able to adjust his dispositions and the attack was met by solid units and repulsed in that now famous defeat.

If the Young Guard had held for another 10 minutes, Ney would have got his men, and the Anglo-Allied line would have collapsed. Blucher would have had to disengage and fall back East to try to join up with the advancing Russian and Austrian armies.

What is also clear is the Prussian Infantry were in no way equal to any of the French troops in that sector. VI Corps fought against overwhelming odds for most of the afternoon, the Young Guard were evicted again through weight of numbers and held there own for 3 hours against at least twice their numbers. Of the 1/2nd Grenadiers and 1/2nd Chasseurs of the Old Guard, what can one say. 1,000 men clear a village held by two Prussian Brigades and then with the remnants of the Young Guard, hold it until surrounded and too dark to see they make their escape. Undoubtably, the Prussians fought with considerable commitment and belief in their cause.

The Action at Planchenoit

I will concentrate on the attacks on the village. The actions of Durrutte and Lobau around Smohain and the line of Frishermont to Planchenoit although significant to the battle as a whole, effectively provided a stable flank for Planchenoit. Initially, Bulow’s orders were to attack the French lines obliquely in the direction of La Belle Alliance and as such the 15th and 16th Brigades advanced side by side towards VI Corps.

In order to give the impression of strength the Fusilier battalions were deployed formed on the flanks to extend the frontage. The Prussian brigade artillery together with two 12pdr batteries began a bombardment against Doman and Subervie’s cavalry who were to the left of Lobau. As the cannon commenced firing the 13th and 14th Brigades together with VI Corps cavalry appeared extending the line towards Planchenoit.

It was now that Gneisenau realised that Planchenoit was unoccupied and Blucher was advised of this. Orders were changed, it being realised that the French line of retreat could be cut from the capture of the village. The Prussian left advanced against Planchenoit and the right engaged Lobau. Turning the Prussian right with the cavalry, Lobau sent Durrutte against Smohain and realising the Prussian intention rushed his reserve brigade into village. He then withdrew his corps towards Planchenoit, reducing his frontage to contain Bulow. I do not intend to cover in this article further the actions of units north of Planchenoit. Suffice to say that those units held for most of the day until overwhelmed by Pirch’s II Corps.

At around 6pm Ney had seized La Haye Sante and at Planchenoit the French brigade was fighting for dear life in the buildings and circular cemetery wall of the village. The church at the centre of the village, was on a slight prominence and made for an ideal stronghold. Two attacks by Bulow’s 16th and 14th brigades had been repulsed, the Prussians being unable to bring their greater numbers to bear. Away to the north Pirch II corps had started to arrive, freeing up units of IV corps. Blucher, ordered von Ryssel's brigade into Planchenoit supported by two light cannon. The French fought valiantly, but in the church yard, both men and trees were scythed down by the canister fire. After 15 minutes, the Prussians charged again and bayonetted anyone in reach.

Lobau’s heroic troops were losing control and he sent to Napoleon for support. Duhesme was dispatched with the 8 battalions of the Young Guard. They charged, the exhausted men of von Ryssell retreated. By 6.30pm Planchenoit was safe, the French line of retreat was safe. Lobau’s brigade moved into reserve to support the Young Guard.

Artillery

The Prussians brought up their artillery and cannon balls were falling around the Emperor and his staff at La Belle Alliance. Bulow’s 15 and 14 Brigades made attacks but the Young Guard repulsed them. At about 7pm, Gneisenau, personally led the 15th and 14th brigades back into the attack, and rather surprisingly evicted the Young Guard at the third attempt. Surprising, in as much as that Lobau’s veterans had held off similar numbers for four times as long with a quarter of the men!

Now Napoleon formed the Old and Middle Guards into square, 11 battalions in all, along the road between La Belle Alliance and Planchenoit. In his memoirs Napoleon states that he allocated four battalions to recapture the village. However, it would appear that only two battalions were actually used, the 2/2nd Grenadiers under Pelet and 1/2nd Chasseurs under Morand. It would appear that the two battalions of the 1st Grenadiers were to act as the reserve for this attack.

As the Old Guard battalions moved off to Planchenoit, Colonel Heymes arrived before Napoleon, on Ney’s behalf, requesting the Guard to smash the Anglo-Allied line. “Troops, where do you expect me to get them? Do you expect me to make them?” Was the now famous reply and the chance for Imperial victory slipped away.

The Grenadiers and Chasseurs marched into planchenoit in column of companies with drums beating, a Prussian eyewitness stated that they advanced on a 30 man front and cleared the village at the bayonet. 3,000 Prussian casualties were inflicted, 14 Prussian battalions routed away before the fearsome bearskins. The Prussian withdrawal continued until it was realised that there were only two battalions of the Old Guard and not 7,000 men lead by a little man on a white horse.

Duhesme’s Young Guard moved in and garrisoned the village, suitably inspired by their older brothers. The Prussian attacks continued whilst the Middle Guard made it’s famous attack on Wellington’s line. The 10 battalions of Old and Young Guard held out whilst all around them were losing their heads.

At around 8.30pm, at Planchenoit, the Guardsmen found that they were being attacked from behind and north-east by Steinmetz's infantry who had become available following the collapse of the French right flank. Elements of the Prussian II corps attacked from the south. 2,300 Prussians from the 1st Pomeranian Regiment and the 5th Westphalian Militia attacked the church which was held by a single battalion of the Young Guard. The rest of the defenders died where they stood as Planchenoit was cleared house by house. The battle of Waterloo was over long before the defence of Planchenoit. It is believed that the survivors of the church-yard made good their escape in the confusion, some 200 of the battalion made off in the pitch black of night.

Wargaming Planchenoit

I have not been able establish definitely which of Lobau’s brigade was first into Planchenoit, but I think it likely that it was either the 1st or 2nd Brigade of the 20th Division as Simmer’s Division was deployed north of the village.

For the purpose of the game, it should begin at about 4.30pm with Lobau's brigade in position. The longer that the French can hold out with out using the Young Guard the better. The Young Guard can not be committed until Lobau's brigade is forced out. If by 7pm the French are still in possession of the Church in Planche-noit then they may claim victory. Anything else is a Prussian win.

If you want to attempt the Old Guard’s attack, then this cannot be made until the Young Guard are evicted. If you are successful then the Prussians still win but they will have less to crow about, if you fail then you are not only defeated but humiliated!

Prussian

Bulows IV Corps

13th Brigade: Maj. Gen. von Hake

14th Brigade: Maj. Gen. Count von Ryssel

15th Brigade: Maj. Gen. von Losthin

16th Brigade: Colonel von Hiller

IV Corps Cavalry: Gen. HRH Prince William of Prussia

1st Cavalry Brigade: Colonel von Schwerin

2nd Cavalry Brigade: Lt. Col. von Watzdorff

3rd Cavalry Brigade: Maj. Gen. von Sydow

IV Corps Artiilery: Major von Barbeleben (40 guns)

French

VI Corps General de Division Mouton, Comte de Lobau

Chief of Staff: General de Brigade Durrieu
Commander of Artillery: General de Division Noury

19th Division: General de Division Simmer (3,900 men, 8 guns)

2nd Brigade: Jamin

19th Div Art. 1st Coy, 8th Foot Artillery. Six 6pdr Cannon, two, 5.5 Howitzers

20th Division: General de Division Jeanin (3,052 men, 8 guns)

2nd Brigade: Desprez or Tromelin

107th Line 2 bns 735 Colonel Drouot

20th Div Art. 2nd Coy, 8th Foot Artillery. Six 6pdr Cannon, two 5.5 Howitzers

VI Corps Artillery Reserve: Noury - 14 guns

Young Guard Division: General de Division Duhesme (4,283, 16 guns)

2nd Brigade: Michel

Young Guard Division Artillery

Pelet

1/2 Grenadiers a Pied 1bn 550

Morand

2/2 Chasseurs a Pied 1bn 550

Suggested Further Reading

The Waterloo Campaign By: Napoleon Bonaparte
The Campaigns of Napoleon By: Chandler
A Near Run Thing By: Howarth
1815 The Armies of Waterloo By: Pericoli & Glover
Waterloo By: Naylor
Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World By: Creasy
The Anatomy of Glory By: Lachouque
Blucher’s Army 1813-1815 By: Young
Napoleon’s Guard Infantry By: Haythornthwaite
The Eagles Last Triumph By: Uffindall
Waterloo: New Perspectives By: Hamiton-Williams
Napleon’s Last Campaigns By: Lawford
Napoleon’s Generals - The Waterloo Campaign By: Linck

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