In my last column, I introduced a set of solo rules used to recreate the battle for the Chateau de Hougoumont. Below, is a battle report, a dramatization if you will, of one of the games using those rules.
"Marshal Soult, new orders!" The Emperor barked out his instructions before his chief of staff was prepared to copy them down. "The chateau to our left, the one whose rooftops are just visible above the woods. It commands the approach to the right of the British line. My intention is to break the British center but I want to thin out the center before I attack. Tell Count Reille to take the chateau but go no further. This will draw Wellington's attention and he will move troops toward his right. Do you understand? Send the order!" Soult scribbled the order and gave the paper to a single aide who galloped off toward the commander of the 2nd Army Corps.
Even as the aide, a lieutenant of the 4th Hussars resplendent in his all-red uniform, delivered the imperial directive to the corps commander, inside the Hougoumont complex, Lieutenant Colonel Hart was reviewing his dispositions. He placed the Nassau battalion in the wood line south of the chateau proper with orders to hold for as long as possible before falling back into the garden. The light companies of the Guards were cutting loopholes in the walls surrounding the garden and creating firing platforms to allow them to fire over the walls. They occupied the buildings of the chateau, prepared to fire from second story windows. Two companies from the Hanoverian Luneburg Battalion were along the hedges marking the southern edge of the orchard where they could fire into the open area to the east of the woods. Lastly, the company of Hanoverian jaegers, split into two platoons, took their positions on the eastern and western edges of the woods respectively, prepared to bring long range rifle fire onto mounted officers, artillery crews, and cavalry in that order. Hart knew that his primary mission was retention of the chateau grounds, in the extreme if necessary. If the French commanded the chateau, they could cover their attacks against the right wing of the Anglo-Allied army thinly spread on the reverse slope of the gentle ridge north of Hart's forward position.
"General Baudouin," stated the aide crisply, "Lieutenant General, Prince Jerome Bonaparte desires that you take your brigade and seize the woods south of the Hougoumont in preparation for a division assault of the chateau itself. He orders me to tell you that you must move quickly." Silently Baudouin returned the messenger's salute and turned away so the young officer would not see his scowl. Baudouin disliked Jerome and his imperious pretensions. Nonetheless, an order was an order. Within minutes a battalion of the elite I" Light Regiment, supported by a horse battery and a squadron of the 1st Chasseurs a Cheval, was shaking out into skirmish order and advancing northward toward the woods. In the tree line, Major Georg Knapp smiled as he saw the oncoming French. He had placed his Nassauers in three successive lines of two companies each. In turn, each would fire upon the French and before coming into hand to hand contact, would withdraw through the next line who would take up the fight. On Knapp's order, the Nassauers opened fire dropping several of the French light infantry. The battle for the Hougoumont had begun and the allies drew first blood.
Twenty minutes later, a much-depleted light battalion was half way through the woods. The Nassauers had put up a dogged defense, firing from behind trees and slowly giving up ground. Major Knapp was pleased yet he understood that eventually he would run out of woods. Was he buying enough time and inflicting enough casualties to keep the French from the walls of the chateau? Meanwhile, as Knapp pondered his options, the redoubtable Captain DeVlin of the 1st Chasseurs was bringing his horse guns into the fight along the western side of the woods. Four hundred yards away in the woodline, Peninsular veteran Lieutenant Laser ordered his green-clad Hanoverian riflemen to open fire at the French gun crews. The resultant fight was unsatisfying to all parties. The jaegers managed to hit a French artillerist from time to time while the horse battery, which could see only intermittent puffs of smoke from the riflemen, wasted round after round of grape shot sent into the woods.
"Colonel Saulnier" shouted Baudouin as he galloped up to the commander of the 1st Light Regiment, "What is happening? Why haven't you cleared the woods?" Saulnier was not shaken by his irate brigade commander. "My sire, we are progressing resolutely through the woods. We are driving back the Germans and will soon be at the walls of the chateau."
Not Good Enough
"Not good enough, Saulnier. The Prince is jumping up and down. He wants the chateau captured immediately. Take the rest of your regiment and sweep around west of these infernal woods. Go directly against the chateau. I'm sending Vaillaincourt's Regiment into the woods. Your first battalion must push the Germans out of the woods so that Vaillaincourt can assault as soon as possible." Saulnier saluted as Baudouin moved off. So we are throwing caution to the wind, he thought. "Tell Lt Battalion to assault the Germans immediately and to hold up at the northern edge of the woods. Tell them 3rd Regiment will attack through them very soon." The light infantry lieutenant whipped off a smart salute and ran through the woods to deliver Saulnier's message. Saulnier called his remaining two battalion commanders together to plan the advance.
The collapse of the Nassauers in the woods came as a thunderclap. With bugles sounding the charge, the French light infantrymen assaulted through the thin line of Germans. Having fought from tree to tree for nearly an hour, the thin line of Nassauers was unprepared for this impetuous attack. Major Knapp tried to rally his men but his voice would not carry through the forest. Surrounded by a dozen angry French infantry, Knapp drew his sword and slashed out, felling two before he met his inevitable end. Seeing their commander fall, many surrendered. A hand full of Nassauers broke out of the woods and scrambled over the walls and into the Hougoumont courtyard. Inside, Colonel Hart knew that a French assault would come quickly.
Saulnier personally led his two battalions marching in column to the west of the woods and toward the chateau. Captain DeVlin warned Saulnier of the score of jaegers in the wood line and Saulnier put out a skirmish line to protect his marching men. DeVlin ordered the horse battery to limber up and, with his chasseurs, escorted the guns north. Soon they would fire directly at the northwest comer of the chateau. Laser's jaegers did what damage they could and fell back along the wood line keeping pace with the advancing French. Meanwhile, Francois Vaillaincourt arranged his battalions on line facing north, each battalion in column of companies. When they were in proper order, the veteran of a dozen hard-fought battles led them through the woods, stepping over the scores of bodies of French light infantry and German alike. His men, seeing the carnage, steeled themselves for the assault to come.
When the west wall of the chateau came into view, Saulnier devised his plan. There were two buildings, one on each comer of the western face of the Hougoumont, connected by a wall about two meters in height. Saulnier saw the gentle slope north of the Hougoumont but no enemy were in view. He ordered his 2 nd battalion to assault the western side of the Hougoumont directly. He ordered a firing line to suppress the defenders in the upper story windows while the remainder climbed over the wall between the buildings or into the few windows at ground level. Meanwhile, his Battalion, accompanied by the chasseurs and horse artillery, would sweep around to the north face of the Hougoumont and see what they could do there. With Vaillaincourt attacking from the south, the British would be squeezed on three sides. Meanwhile Leser's remaining jaegers withdrew into the chateau grounds and posted themselves in the windows of the buildings on the southern side, mixed among the British guardsmen.
Within a half an hour, events unfolded as Saulnier foresaw. The 1st Light Infantry attacked the western and northern sides of the chateau complex while the 3rd Line Regiment attacked the southern wall. Five battalions against an ad hoc battalion of defenders. The British and Germans fired from loop holes and windows. The buildings soon filled with acrid smoke making it increasingly difficult to take good aim. The French fire from the hedges along the south side of the Hougoumont was intense, bullets smashing themselves against the brick and stone and keeping the defenders off the tops of the walls. On the west, the French were in the open and dropping in a steady stream. Whole companies assaulted the wall. Heavy French fire swept the top of the wall clear of defenders while the infantrymen helped one another gain the top of the wall. However, once atop the brick wall, it was the British turn to topple the attackers backward with fire from the courtyard. Neither side could gain the advantage. On the north side, the French battalion assaulted the gate but could not break into the courtyard.
"My Lord," announced the messenger, "Lieutenant Colonel Hart sends his greetings and reports that he is assaulted on three sides by superior numbers. He begs your grace for reinforcement." Wellington had just had the satisfaction of beating back D'Erlon's attack and was now watching the destruction of the Union Brigade. "Damn those cavalry," he thought to himself. "The Prussians better be here soon or..."
He didn't complete his thought but turned his attention to the gasping hussar on the lathered horse. He beat back one French attack. Where would the next one strike he asked himself? His right was most vulnerable as Napoleon must surely be aware by now that Blucher was approaching from the east. "Take my order to Major General Byng to dispatch one battalion of guards immediately to the Hougoumont to act under Lieutenant Colonel Hart's orders. Ride smartly now." Wellington, cool on the outside, was in a mental turmoil. What more can be done to prepare for the next attack?
Lieutenant Colonel Watkins's Coldstream Guards formed up on line and descended the slope toward the Hougoumont. A line of hedges limited Watkins's view to the tops of the buildings, now surrounded by a shroud of smoke. Nonetheless, he could clearly hear the sounds of the fighting along the northern face of the chateau complex. Breaking out from the hedges, Watkins was horrified to see a battalion of French infantry supported by a battery of guns and off some distance to the west, a squadron or more of cavalry. Yet his orders were clear and emphatic reinforce the defenders of the Hougoumont. How he would enter the Hougoumont, he did not know. Perhaps over the wall into the garden or through the orchard. But his first problem was to get his men there. Despite the odds, he ordered the drummers to sound the advance. No sooner did his color guard step off then Watkins noticed the French battery turning their guns about. A moment later the French cavalry began trotting toward him and the French infantry turned about as well, disregarding the Hougoumont and focusing their undivided attention on the British Guards. For only a brief moment, Watkins contemplated taking a swig from his ever present flask. "Not now; time enough when we are safe inside the chateau."
Fifteen minutes later, Watkins's arm and battalion were both shattered. From inside the garden and looking over its low wall, Watkins saw the crumpled bodies of half his battalion mixed among dead and dying French infantry and cavalry. Minutes earlier he had led his men toward the garden. He posted one company to face the cavalry as he fought through a ragged but determined line of French infantry. The lone guard infantry company was not enough as DeVlin's chasseurs stormed through them and into the main line beyond.
Fighting to the front and right flank, Watkins's men forced their way up to the walls of the garden. From the inside, British defenders poured out a heavy fire, some of which fell into the ranks of the Coldstreamers. As the French withdrew, the British reinforcements scrambled over the wall and into relative safety. "Lieutenant Colonel Hart sends his greetings and asks to meet you at the chateau to discuss the defense of this ground," said the young sergeant, face grimy with the residue of gunpowder, crimson blood trickling from a head wound. Watkins nodded and took a very deep pull from his flask. Arm dangling uselessly at his side, he followed the young soldier to meet with Hart.
Meanwhile, Saulnier with sword in hand directed yet another assault against the west wall. Glancing momentarily to his left, he saw an infantryman, hoisted by his comrades, disappear into a window of the barn at the northwest comer of the complex. Then another, and a third. Saulnier grabbed a captain and shouted for him to gather up his company and follow. Soon French infantry were pouring into the ground floor of the bam. The French captain directed them to the upper levels where the British defenders were unaware that their comrades downstairs were all dead or wounded. In minutes it was cleared and French infantry fired into the courtyard at the British defending the west wall. Caught in a crossfire, the British fell back across the courtyard and into the buildings in the eastern half of the chateau grounds. "Watkins, send a company here immediately," yelled Hart who rallied the defenders and plugged the holes. It was like a tidal wave as hundreds of Saulnier's men scrambled over the wall into the courtyard. Those who ran across the courtyard were cut down. Seeing this, others occupied the buildings against the west wall. Moving to the upper levels, they routed and captured the remaining defenders and opened a brisk fire at their enemy across the courtyard. Saulnier's regiment was cut to pieces but was fighting gamely nonetheless.
Prince Jerome, unaware of the successful break in on the west and seeing that the woods had seemingly swallowed up Baudouin's brigade, sent for Brigadier General Soye. "Soye, take your brigade and attack into the woods and on the eastern face of the chateau grounds. There is an orchard there. Once in the orchard, attack westward against the walled chateau grounds."
"Oui mon General," shouted Soye, galloping off to form his troops. Soye found his two regimental commanders, Kelly of the 1st Line and Leau of the 2nd Line. He ordered Kelly, who had won renown as an Imperial marine, to attack through the woods and in Vaillaincourt's steps. Leau he formed up on Kelly's right and ordered through the hedgerows and directly into the orchard. Soye was determined to succeed where Baudouin had become bogged down. However, he had been watching the wounded stream out of the woods in such large numbers, he knew the fighting was intense.
As Soye's regiments pushed forward, Leau's men crossed a hedgerow only to be met by the withering fire of Captain DeRuyscher's two companies of Luneburg Hanoverians. Having avoided battle all morning, the Hanoverians loaded and fired with speed and enthusiasm. Leau had formed his men with all three battalions on line and each battalion in a column of companies. They were tightly packed. With no room to maneuver and hardly room to throw out skirmishers, Leau ordered his battalions to attack directly into the two Hanoverian companies nested in the hedgerow ahead. The Hanoverians couldn't miss, nor could they remain, outnumbered six to one. DeRuyscher ordered one company to fall back to the next hedgerow while covered by the other company. After another volley, that company as well fell back to the line formed by their comrades. Immediately behind the withdrawing Germans was the orchard where DeRuyscher spotted some British guardsmen. He ordered a final volley at close range, felling a score of Frenchmen, and pulled his companies, largely intact, back into the orchard to continue the uneven fight.
Wilhelm Eggering, commander of the 2nd Battalion of the King's German Legion, saw the intense fighting in the chateau courtyard. Ordered to reinforce the Hougoumont, he brought his men down the gentle slope and into the orchard from the north. Fired upon briefly by a French battery about 700 yards to the west, Eggering's men arrived unscathed. Once in the Orchard, he met a captain of the Coldstreamers. "There are some Hanoverians on our left but beyond them, there is nothing. We are facing at least two battalions, maybe more."
"I understand, captain," replied Eggering. Without further conversation he ordered six companies to form on line and move forward to link up with DeRuyscher's Hanoverians on his right. He retained four companies in the rear to act as a reserve. Just as his men stopped and dropped their packs, Leau's battalions began breaking through the hedgerow defining the southern and eastern edges of the orchard. Eggering ordered his men to fire at will. He could hardly see the battle for all the smoke and trees.
Deadlocked
For the next forty-five minutes the fight was deadlocked. The French owned the western half of the Chateau proper, the British and her allies the eastern half Colonel Hart was everywhere, strengthening weak areas and ensuring that his men continued the fight. Watkins commanded the mixed force in the garden. The fire from Vaillaincourt's and Kelly's men was so intense that the British did not dare stick their heads above the walls any longer than necessary to take aim and fire into the hedgerow. For their part, the two French regimental commanders organized and sent forward parties to climb over the walls. Each attempt failed with increasing casualties. Kelly, who was with Ney in the rear guard out of Russia, grew increasingly enraged. Gathering a company about him, he charged against the wall. Boosting one another over the low wall, several Frenchmen landed in the garden, only to be shot or bayoneted at close range.
Trying to clamber over the backs of two corporals, the regimental commander was brought back from certain destruction by his major. "It is no use, sir. They are murdering us." Cursing, Kelly withdrew his men to the hedgerow to continue the firefight. Off to the east, Leau's and Eggering's men were locked in a firefight at close range. Casualties mounted, neither side willing to withdraw a foot.
Prince Jerome was furious. All morning he had futilely hurled some of the foremost French regiments at this seemingly impregnable fortress. "General Reille is sending in Bachelu," reported an aide, galloping up from the east. Jerome lost his temper, a long list of expletives leaving his imperial mouth. Bachelu commanded the 5th Division. This meant that the corps commander did not believe that Jerome could win without help. Indeed, even then the 2nd Light Regiment was moving along the western edge of the woods, behind Saulnier's men. The three battalions in a long column were heading toward the northern gate to the Hougoumont, now open and largely undefended. On their left was the last of the 1st Chasseurs a Cheval.
Lieutenant Colonel Mueller returned the salute from the aide de campe. "Sir, the Duke of Wellington sends his greetings and asks that the Brunswick Guard Battalion move to the Hougoumont to reinforce the desperate struggle at that location." All day Mueller had occupied the second rank of the Allied line. Now was his chance to revenge the death of his Duke. Mounting his horse, he ordered his battalion to form up and follow him down the slope and into the maelstrom below. It appeared to Mueller that the critical battle was even then being fought in the courtyard of the chateau grounds and it was there that he led his men. As Mueller moved through the last of the hedgerows he saw the French light infantry, Bachelu's men, round the corner of the chateau. Quickly he ordered the Brunswickers on line. These guardsmen in their somber black uniforms and distinctive falling horsehair plume were about to earn the skull and cross bone devices affixed to their shakos. Heedless of the odds, Mueller ordered bayonets fixed. There would be no firing; this battle would be decided by cold steel. "Forward! "
"I see the Brunswickers begin their assault," said Captain Cecil Lacey-Lockwood, assistant deputy quartermaster, soon to be overcome by the tragedy about to unfold. As the black Germans moved toward the chateau, three battalions of French light infantry came on line. Their first volley halted the Brunswickers. Lacey-Lockwood could watch no longer. Taking matters into his own hands he rode as fast as his charger would carry him to the commander of a nearby battalion of Hanoverian militia. The flag said Bremervorde. "Duke Wellington, commander-in-chief, sends his greetings to the Bremervorde Battalion and orders them to support the attack of the Brunswick Guard." The militia commander blanched. He had been watching the brave but tragic spectacle below and knew what was about to happen.
Sensing his hesitation, Lacey-Lockwood said "Sir, I will lead you. Follow me." Nervously the Hanoverians lurched forward and moved haltingly down the slope aimed directly into the French light infantry trying to attack the right flank of the Brunswickers who were resisting with a fearless desperation. In a moment of perfect clarity, Lacey-Lockwood understood that this, his first battle, would be his last.
The end came quickly. Leau's infantry attacked relentlessly through the orchard forcing the KGL, Hanoverians, and British guardsmen against the garden wall where they were shot down by the score. His eyes clouded by tears of rage, Eggering ordered his few remaining men to surrender. DeRuyscher followed suit. Inside the garden, Watkins slashed at the French coming over the wall. It was a futile gesture.
"Into the chateau," he cried. But before he could get his men to move, Colonel Hart, covered in blood, entered the garden from the courtyard with a hand full of men. The two Guardsmen looked at one another and instantly knew that all was lost. "There is no more we can do," said Hart. As if by an unseen signal, the few defenders still standing dropped their weapons. French officers stepped forward to prevent their maddened men from exacting revenge as the gunfire slowly died.
Both sides were too exhausted to continue. As the troops shared their water, Colonel Kelly approached his British counterpart. "Let's bring our wounded into the shade of the orchard." Watkins reached for his flask.
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© Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum
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