Prussian Defense

Lt. Col. Stengel
(1,000 infantry and 300 cavalry)

All these units were detached from the Prussian I Corps which had been decimated at Ligny 16 June. The 19th Regiment had lost 50% of its men there, while the few men left of the brigade's other regiment (the 4th Westphalian Landwehr) were streaming back to Liege. The Prussian cavalry here were remnants of Lutzow's famous "Black" 6th Uhlans which had been led personally by Blucher in the counter-attack at Ligny, and a squadron of Landwehr cavalry belonging to a unit that apparently deserted en masse after that battle.

French Attack

I Reserve Cavalry Corps: General Pajol
(2,500 infantry, 2,750 cavalry, and 12 guns)

6th Cavalry Division: General Maurin

4th Cavalry Division: General Soult (brother of Marshal Soult)

21st Infantry Division: General Teste

Note: The 6th Division was from IV Corps and Teste's infantry was from the VI Corps. Some sources list a battalion of the 40th Line with Lafitte, but apparently it was still in France in the Vendee. The 6th Dragoons lost men at Ligny, but this was the first major battle of the campaign for the rest of the cavalry.

Note: The 6th Division was from IV Corps and Teste's infantry was from the VI Corps. Some sources list a battalion of the 40th Line with Lafitte, but apparently it was still in France in the Vendee. The 6th Dragoons lost men at Ligny, but this was the first major battle of the campaign for the rest of the cavalry.

Pajol's Corps was weakened by the transfer of Subervie's light cavalry division (it fought at Waterloo), but he received Teste's infantry division and had picked up the 6th Cavalry Division when he found it disorganized after Maurin's wounding at Ligny. He then personally led it to Limal, charging with the 6th Hussars across the bridge and thereby turning Thielemann's flank at Wavre.

Diorama and Photo by Rick Schuldt.

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Copyright 1995 by Emperor's Press.