Hougoumont

Order of Battle (graphics)

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Data Compilation by John Brewster
Layout by D.L. McElhannon


OOB info primarily from Armies at Waterloo by Scott Bowden, published by Empire Game Press (1983), Arlington, TX.

Order of Battle (text only)

Individual blocks represent infantry battalions. Triangles represent companies or detachments. Cannons represent 2 guns. The block colors represent the coat colors of each regiment, and the lines enclosing the blocks preresent the regiment's facing or cuff colors.

British

The initial defenders consisted of the light companies of all four Guards battalions (4 companies), 2 companies of Jagers, a hand-picked detachment of Luneburg, and a battalion of nassauers. In keeping with his command style, Wellington dispatched troops in penny packets to the chateau as the fighting began to heat up.

The first reinforcements consisted of the Scots and Coldstream Guards battalions. next came DuPlat's KGL battalion and then the Brunswick Avante-Garde. Finally, three Landwehr battalions were pulled into the fighting.

Although this would appear to be a recipe for disaster, it seems the British were more flexible in their command structure and were better able to adapt on the go.

French

the initial attacks upon the chateau complex were designed to keep the allies occupied while the main effort cracked the British center. To provide a convincing distraction, the first group to attack the complex was an entire division (6th), that of Jerome Bonaparte. Slightly behind that was one by the first brigade of the 9th Division.

The final efforts were made by the divisions of Foy and Bachelu. Heavy fire from the main British line steered more troops into the fight at the chateau than Napoleon had intended, a fact that came back to haunt him later in the day.