The 1st and 2nd Dutch-Belgian divisions still occupied the ground in front of the crossroads but the French 5th, 6th, and 9th infantry divisions and the 2nd Cavalry Division, under the command of Marshal Ney, had already pushed back the Dutch forces on the right of the Allied position and were preparing to attack the crossroads. Upon their arrival the two Jager companies of the Avantgarde were sent into the Bois de Bossu to support the failing right wing, whilst the 2nd Leichte-Bataillon was detached along the Namur road to assist the British 95th Rifles who held the extreme left of the Allied line. The rest of the Brunswickers deployed in the rear of, and parallel to, the Namur-Nivelles road, forming a reserve to Picton's Division. [6]

Despite the arrival of the Reserve Wellington was still considerably outnumbered, but he knew that almost the whole of his army was marching upon Quatre Bras All he needed was time. So, instead of waiting to be attacked, Wellington moved onto the offensive. Brunswick was ordered to lead the advance towards the farm of Gernioncourt at the centre of the French position. Picton's Division was to support Brunswick to the east of the Charleroi road.

A Brunswick Jager bugle-horn on display in the Braunschwiegisches Landesmuseum

With the two light companies of the Avantegarde in skirmish order to the front and extended to the right to link up with the Jagers, the Duke led the LeibBataillon and the Ist LinienBataillon forward in columns abreast, (or possibly in square), with the Hussars and the Uhlans following immediately in the rear. The 2nd and 3rd Linien-Bataillon formed a third line which remained at the crossroads.

The French infantry of Bachelu's Division was driven back by Picton's brigades marching in line through the tall fields of rye. But a devastating charge by Pire's 5th and 6th Lancers halted Picton's advance, and Wellington ordered the 5th Division to retire upon the Namur road. With Picton's withdrawal the Brunswick corps, which had progressed some distance towards Gemioncourt, now found itself facing the French centre alone. From the heights to the west of Gemioncourt, the french poured a heavy fire upon the exposed Germans. Repeated salvoes from french cannon and incessant discharges from flocks of skirmishers tore into the ranks of the Brunswickers. [7]

The Brunswick Corps doggedly held its ground with the Duke calmly riding up and down in front of the line Quietly smoking his pipe. But the French 6th Division - led by Jerome Bonaparte the man who had once ruled over the Duke's lands - began to progress along the edge of the Bossu wood supported by Fire's cavalry which was again moving in force down the Charleroi road. Brunswick's bold advance had delayed the French attack and bought Wellington a little of the time he so desperately needed. But the Duke's position was becoming increasingly perilous and Brunswick appealed to Wellington for artillery support as his own guns had still not arrived. Wellington obliged by ordering a British battery to assist the Brunswickers. Four guns were sent forward and posted on the right of the Brunswick line. This move prompted the French gunners to re-double their efforts and two of the British guns were disabled. [8]

Jerome's infantry continued to advance, driving back the two Light Companies and pressing in upon the Brunswick right flank. Brunswick's advanced position was now clearly untenable. His small force was some 800 Yards ahead of the main Allied line and in danger of being cut off. The Duke had no choice but to withdraw. The Hussars were still stationed behind the infantry and in their rear was a curve in the Bossu wood which was "in some parts intricate" and impassable for cavalry. To save them from being trapped against the trees Brunswick ordered the Hussars to move to their left across the Charleroi road and withdraw toward the Allied positions along the Namur road He then sent the 1st Linien-Bataillon back down the Charleroi road to Quatre Bras and the Leib-Bataillon across the field to follow the Hussars, leaving the two disabled pieces to the enemy. To cover the retreat, the Duke placed himself at the head of the Uhlans and charged the advancing French skirmishers.

The 1st Linien-Bataillon retired in good order but the Leib-Bataillon, moving directly across the line of fire of the artillery near Gemioncourt and under pressure from the French light troops, broke formation and ran towards the crossroads. The Uhlans, their charge easily beaten off by Jerome's men, also turned and galloped back towards Ficton's line with Pire's cavalry in hot pursuit.

The Duke of Brunswick (from Ackermann's Repository of Arts)

As the Duke was trying to rally his frightened troops he was shot through the body and fell from his horse, which had also been hit. He died a few moments later and command of the Brunswick Corps devolved upon Oberst Olfermann. [9]

The panic-stricken Bttn and Uhlans fled towards Quatre Bras, wher ethe 92nd Highlanders wheeled one company back, let the confused mass through, and reformed in time to repulse the French Chasseurs. As the french light cavalry pulled back, Wellington pulled the Brunswick Hussars forward, but Pire's troopers charged again and crashed into the unsuspecting 42nd and 44th regiments whilst the Chasseurs chased the retreating Brunswicker Hussars.

Wellington, who was in front of Pack's Brigade, suddenly found himself in danger of being ridden down by the on-rushing cavalry and he had to follow the example of the Hussars and gallop for his life. As he neared the Namur road he called out to the red-coats lining the road, "Ninetysecond, lie down", and he jumped his horse over the Highlanders. [10]

The Allied infantry was caught unprepared and the French horsemen pressed home their attack before many of the British and Hanoverian battalions could form square The 3rd Linien-Bataillon, which had remained stationed along the Nivelles road to the west of Quatre Bras was only saved from destruction by the Uhlans who held off the Chasseurs until the battalion formed to receive cavalry. Eventually Fire's cavalry withdrew only to be reinforced by a brigade of General Kellerman's 11th Cuirassier Division. Together Pire's and Kellerman's cavalry charged the Allied line but the element of surprise had gone and the French horsemen were repulsed with considerable loss. [11]

Jerome's infantry in the Bois de Bossu had virtually cleared the wood of Allied troops and the brigades of Bauduin and Jamin, and Gauthier' 9 brigade of Foy's 9th Division began to close upon Wellington's right flank. To counter this threat the Leib-Eataillon and the 2nd Linien were moved in front of Quatre Bras ahead of the main Allied positions. At this point in the action, as the French cavalry were preparing to re-new their Assault and the artillery near Cernioncourt had re-commenced their bombardment of the crossroads, the first units of Allen's 3rd Division arrived on the field.

After detaching one battalion to assist Pack's depleted brigade, which was running desperately short of ammunition, Alten was instructed to retake the wood and support the Leib-Hataillon and the 2nd Linien who were starting to fall back under pressure from Jerome's and Foy's regiments. The Brunswickers rallied along the line of a ditch which ran across the narrowest part of the wood where they were joined by Halkett's Brigade of the 3rd Division.

Ney had sent two companies of artillery along the eastern edge of the wood and as they closed upon Quatre Bras they halted and poured a heavy fire upon the Brunswick battalions. At this moment Lloyd's brigade of foot artillery arrived at the cross roads. "I was directed to follow the four other guns of Major Lloyd's Battery ordered into action in front of the farm of Quatre Bras, on the Charleroi road, to support the Duke of Brunswick". Recalled Major Rudyard. Lloyd's 9-pounders took up a position on the right of the Brunswick line, but "before we unlimbered some three or four horses of each Gun and wagon were killed, some wheels disabled, and literally some of our gunners were cut in two, for we were not more than from four to five hundred yards from the Enemy's Batteries." [12]

Urged on by a desperate dispatch from Napoleon, Ney ordered his cavalry to charge the Allied line yet again. "The fate of France is in your hands" Kellerman was told. "'Take your cavalry and ride them down." The two regiments of Cuirassiers succeeded beyond all reasonable expectations, overwhelming one British battalion and forcing two others to run for cover in the wood. Though Wellington's position had never been more precarious, the battle was already slipping away from Ney. The 1st and 3rd Liechte Bataillone with the horse and foot artillery under Major Mahn marched onto the field followed by the British Guards Division, Giving Wellington an appreciable numerical advantage for the first time in the battle. The Brunswick battalions stood firm against the French cavalry and as the latter retired wellington ordered a general advance.

All along the line the Allies advanced with the 2/1st Guards penetrating the Bois de Rossu and the 1st and 3rd Biechte-Hataillone skirting the wood on the Guards' left flank ahead of Halkett's Brigade. The 1st Guards met with stiff resistance and it was not until the regiments 3rd Battalion joined them that they were able to make any real progress. The Guards pushed through the wood and back on into the open and the Leib-Bataillon took over the post on the Guards' flank. As the Leib-Bataillon manoeuvred into position on the Guards' left the French cavalry counter-attacked.

The Guards ran back to line the ditch on the perimeter of the wood and the Leib Bataillon threw itself into square, "and received the cavalry with a degree of coolness, steadiness and gallantry, which won for it the warmest admiration and encomiums of the British who witnesssed the manoeuvre." The cavalry were driven off, and as night began to fall Ney withdrew his troops to the village of Frasnes.

The Battle of Quatre Bras was over. "The troops of the 5th division, and those of the Bruswick Corps were long and severely engaged, and conducted themselves with the utmost gallantry." Wrote Wellington to the Earl of Bathurst on 19 June. "Our loss was great, as your Lordship will perceive by the enclosed return, and I have particularly to regret His Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick, who fell fighting at the head of his troop." [14]

RETURN OF KILLED,WOUNDED, AND MISSING, OF THE BRUNSWICK TROOPS AT THE BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS

Regiment	Killed	Wounded	Missing
General staff	1	-	-
Husaren	17	29	-
Uhlan	4	10	-
Artillery	-	-	-
Avantgarde	9	47	-
Leib-Bataillon	15	111	-
1st Leichte	-	3	-
2nd Leichte	18	52	-
3rd Leichte	-	-	-
1st Linien	17	88	-
2nd Linien	25	166	-
3rd Linien	4	20	-
Totals	110	526	210

Footnotes