Netherlands Artillery
in the Waterloo Campaign

Foot Artillery Battery ‘Bijleveld’

by Geert van Uythoven, The Netherlands

This ‘northern’ battery was served by the 2nd company of the Horse artillery corps. The battery was commanded by Captain Adriaan Bijleveld (28 years old). Other officers: 1st Lieutenant Alfred Henry Wasseroth de Vincy; 2nd Lieutenant Frederik Wilhelm Dibbetz; 2nd Lieutenant Wijnand Koopman. Train detachment: 1st Lieutenant Van der Hoeven; 2nd Lieutenant Jacobus Bruijns. On 12 June 1815 the battery had a strength of 4 officers, 100 others, and 104 horses. The train detachment had a strength of 2 officers, 110 others, and 182 horses. This battery was armed with six short 6-pdr bronze cannon, and two 24-pdr (iron) bronze howitzers. On 14 June 1814 Captain Bijleveld was ordered to ‘s Hertogenbosch with four (depleted) horse artillery companies and eight cannon. From these finally the 2nd company was formed, which on 12 February 1815 moved to Bergen-op-Zoom. On 20 March he was joined here by Captain Pieter Anthonie Ramaer’s 6th company of the Horse artillery corps, which was used to bring Bijleveld’s battery up to strength. On 29 March Bijleveld received orders to join for the time being De Perponcher’s 2de Nederlandsche Divisie of the Netherlands Mobile Army, which was desperately short of foot artillery. After this would become available, Bijleveld was to transfer his battery to the artillery reserve of the Netherlands Mobile Army.

This was not to be, as events unfolded on a much to fast pace. On 1 April Bijleveld joined his Division near Quatre-Bras, and his horse artillery battery would be the first Netherlands, indeed the first battery of the whole Anglo-Allied army, that saw action during this campaign! Being with De Perponcher’s 2de Nederlandsche Divisie and attached to the 2nd Brigade (Prince Karel Bernhard of Saxen-Weimar) of that Division, brought them into action at Frasnes on 15 June. Bijleveld had placed his guns ‘in park’ near Frasnes, behind the outposts manned by the 2nd bat/2nd Regiment Nassau (Major von Normann). When early that day gunfire was heard from the direction of Charleroi, Captain Bijleveld limbered his guns. Around 6.30 p.m., French lancers tried to surprise the Nassau outposts but were detected in time. Bijleveld retreated to a height north of Frasnes and deployed, with both howitzers commanded by 1st Lieutenant Wasseroth de Vincy on the chaussee itself, and three cannon on either side. The Nassau battalion deployed in line on both sides of his battery, with two companies in skirmish order still inside Frasnes. More cavalry of the 2nd Cavalry Division Piré reinforced the French and drove back the Nassau skirmishers. When between 7.00 and 8.00 p.m. the French lancers debouched out of Frasnes for a frontal attack, they were received with a barrage of grape-shot, which threw them back into the village again with loss. The French cavalry began turning the position at Frasnes, and in order not to be cut off from their own troops Major von Normann and Captain Bijleveld decided to retreat to a new position half way to the crossroads.

The retreat was a fighting withdrawal, with the artillery retreating by section and deploying alternately to keep the French cavalry at bay. The artillery was finally deployed with four guns on the road south of Gemioncourt Farm of which one gun was positioned at the outpost on that road; two guns on the road to Marbais (and Namur); and two guns and the train at the crossroads itself.

On 16 June in the morning, the Netherlands troops were in order of battle about two thousand paces south of the crossroads. Horse artillery battery ‘Bijleveld’ was deployed with four cannon and a howitzer on both sides of the chaussee towards Frasnes; three cannon to the right of the chaussee commanded by 1st Lieutenant Wasseroth de Vincy; the other one and the howitzer on the left of the chaussee commanded by 2nd Lieutent Dibbetz. All vehicles were behind Quatre-Bras itself. The battery was covered by a company of the 27ste Bataljon Jagers. The remaining two cannon and howitzer, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Koopman, were deployed on the height of Quatre-Bras, covering the road to Marbaix.

To their right and somewhat further back, six guns of the Foot artillery battery ‘Stevenart’ were deployed. During the morning of the 16th, only some minor skirmishing took place, but around 2.00 p.m. Marshal Michel Ney started his attack in force. The French deployed two batteries (fourteen guns) just north of Frasnes, which concentrated their fire on Bijleveld’s battery, inflicting heavy loss and smashing the limber of the howitzer, the same shot wounding the 2nd Lieutenant Dibbetz. As a result, Bijleveld had to retreat his remaining four guns to a new position between Gemioncourt and Quatre-Bras, where he was joined by the remaining guns of the foot battery later. The French artillery now turned all its attention to Stevenart’s foot battery, killing Captain Stevenart. After the commander of the artillery of the 2de Nederlandsche Divisie Major C. van Opstall also was out of action because of being wounded, command of the artillery of the 2de Nederlandsche Divisie passed to Bijleveld. In their new position, Bijleveld’s horse battery as well as Stevenart’s foot battery were charged by some squadrons of the 6me Régiment Chasseurs à Cheval (when the attack of Van Merlen’s light cavalry brigade had been defeated), receiving again severe losses, but remaining operational by using the horses of the mounted gunners to reform horse teams. After the battle, the howitzer that had been left behind in its initial position would be recovered. 2nd Lieutenant Koopman redeployed his three guns north of the crossroads, facing south.

At Waterloo on 18 June, Bijleveld had to detach one howitzer (commanded by sergeant J. Kappy) to 2nd Lieutenant Leopold Winssinger’s foot artillery section, which was in position north and sideward of Papelotte. With the remaining seven guns Bijleveld stood in the first line, on the right wing of the 1st Brigade (Major-General Willem Frederik van Bylandt) of the 2de Nederlandsche Divisie (De Perponcher), covering the road to Genappe. The four guns on the left were commanded by 1st Lieutenant Wasseroth de Vincy; the remaining three on the right by 2nd Lieutenant Koopman. As most people know the position of this brigade was very exposed initially, and around 12.00 a.m. it took up another position more backwards, behind the crest. Bijleveld followed, pulling the guns with drag ropes.

Because of the difficult terrain one of the ropes broke, and as a result a gun had to be left behind. This gun was retrieved under enemy fire by 1st Lieutenant Wasseroth de Vincy and two gunners later during the day. The battery took part in the fighting during the remainder of the day, with no further details available. Losses of the battery at Frasnes, Quatre-Bras and Waterloo was four gunners killed; two officers and twelve other wounded; 38 horses killed and 13 wounded (including the train); and three horses missing. In addition, one 6-pdr and two 24-pdr howitzer caissons, and two 6-pdr limbers had been destroyed during the fighting. Over these days, the battery had fired 939 ball and 57 canister rounds with his 6-pdr cannon, and 237 grenades and 9 canister rounds with both howitzers. Most ammo was replenished after the battle of Waterloo from French caissons. Having suffered heavily during the last days the battery marched back to Brussels on the 19th to recover, joining the 2de Nederlandsche Divisie again on the 28th of the same month. It remained in the vicinity of Paris until 1 December, when it received order to return to the Netherlands to Antwerp. Here, the newly promoted Major Bijleveld transferred the battery to Captain Joachim Frederik Muller, who marched it back to ‘s Hertogenbosch.

Netherlands Artillery in the Waterloo Campaign 1815 Part III: Artillery Batteries and Companies

Netherlands Artillery in the Waterloo Campaign 1815 Part II: Artillery Officers [First Empire 72]

Netherlands Artillery in the Waterloo Campaign 1815 Part I [First Empire 71]

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