Having been responsible for placing a subject on the forum concerning the possibility of the Duke of Wellington being killed at Les Quatre Bras, and the ramifications for the Allied army, I wanted to provide some content, which I have taken from the extant Brunswick Order Books (and translated as best as one can), showing the difficulties facing the troops from Braunschweig following the death of their beloved Duke. The Order Books (there are two) provide a fascinating insight into the concentration of the Brunswick Corps (and to my knowledge the details have never been published), but the entries for the 18th June 1815 are the most revealing. Please note that there are no entries for either the 16th or 17th June. The details are as follows:
Order of the day, nr.169, on the battlefield near Jenappes [sic], in the morning of the 17th, from Colonel and Brigadier E. Olfermann:
1. Major von Wolffrath is named commander of the Line Brigade in the absence of Lt-Col von Specht.
2. The commanding officers order that if the Duke of Wellington's Chief of staff enquires after the whereabouts of the said Lt-Col or any other officers, he is to be referred to the battalion commanders, who will answer: 'I do not know'. The gentlemen and commanders will have to see that the whereabout of the Lt-Col. are looked into.
3. Promotions:
Captain von Bülow of the 1st Jäger [Light] Battalion is appointed acting Major with the Avantgarde, and is to serve in this capacity until the appointment is confirmed by the government.
[A whole host of similar appointments follow, which I will leave for the present, but which I am happy to add, if required.]
Order of the day, nr.170, on the battlefield near Jenappes, dated midday on the 18th, from Colonel and Brigadier E. Olfermann:
1. Despite the strict orders which were issued two hours ago, many individuals and parties have left the corps and set about marauding in the neighbouring villages, which has been reported to the colonel and will also be reported to the Duke of Wellington. The battalion commanders must hold a rollcall at once. The names of all absent culprits will be noted and they are to be punished severely.
2. An officer from every battalion is to be sent to Brussels to find all of the men from their battalions who have left the corps and to bring them back immediately.
3. The cattle and spirits of every kind which belong to the various battalions are to be sent to the 2nd Line Battalion immediately. When this has been done sufficient animals will be slaughtered and the meat distributed to the men. This order is to be followed to the letter.
4. The various battalion commanders will read this order to their individual companies at once and to the letter. If an individual commander cannot supply his battalion with adequate rations in time, he must contact his superiors immediately, who will ensure that the requests receive the utmost attention. The commissionary general was instructed to investigate this matter yesterday. However, as three separate messages have been sent in relation to this subject, and as the cuprits continue to maraude, the most severe punishment should be issued.
End
It is clear from the above that the men in the various Brunswick battalions were hungry, and that order was a problem. Lt-Col. von Specht had deserted under the cover of the retreat from Les Quatre Bras, but returned two days' later. However, none of the officers would serve with him from that moment.
The question arises: how do you think the British would have acted if Wellington had been killed at Les Quatre Bras?
I am going to add the details from the Brunswick Order Books to the 1815 Limited on-line archive shortly. Please forgive the plug but I have a number of previously unpublished Brunswick items that I am now working on. If you have any questions I am always happy to help, if I can
John Franklin
P.S. Please forgive any typos!
looks at the new U.S.S. Constitution for Black Seas.
