It might interest some of you to learn more of my research into the Brunswick Corps from the extant records held by the Niedersächsisches Staatsarchiv in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. My personal interest relates to the Avantgarde, which at the outset of the campaign comprised a small staff and four companies under the command of Major Adolph von Rauschenplatt. He was severely wounded at Quatre Bras (losing his left arm), and was subsequently replaced by Hans Otto von Bülow, who was promoted to the rank of Major on the morning of the 18th June 1815. Each of the four companies was engaged at Quatre Bras and sustained reasonable losses.
Grey Jägers of the Avantgarde
As many of you will already know, these two rifle-armed companies wore distinctive grey uniforms and were the most experienced troops within the Brunswick Corps. It should be noted that the German word ‘Gelernte' (which translates as either trained or experienced) does not appear on any of the documentation relating to these two companies. I state this as I've read several accounts that refer to the officers and men in these companies as such. Their details were as follows:
The 1st Company of Grey Jägers of the Avantgarde – commanded by Captain Ernst Berner, Lieutenant Johann Melzner (who died in Brussels on the 20th June from the wound he received at Waterloo), Ensigns Wilhelm Theuerkauf and Friedrich Kobus – initially comprised a sergeant-major, six sergeants, six corporals, five buglers and one hundred and forty-three jägers.
The 2nd Company of Grey Jägers of the Avantgarde – commanded by Captain August Mahner, Lieutenant Theodor Pauli, Ensigns August Friedmann and Ferdinand Müller – comprised one sergeant-major, six sergeants, six corporals, four buglers and one hundred and forty-two jägers.
Light Infantry of the Avantgarde
The officers and men of these two companies were clad in black, and the latter were equipped with muskets. Despite this fact the troops are referred to as Jägers in the original documentation:
The 1st Light Company of the Avantgarde – commanded by Captain Albert von Griesheim, Lieutenant Carl Ahrberg, Ensigns August Mühe and Johann Gerlach (who was court-martialled for absconding from the battlefield) – comprised six sergeants, six corporals, four buglers and one hundred and forty-seven jägers. There was no sergeant-major attached to this company.
The 2nd Light Company of the Avantgarde – commanded by Captain Ferdinand von Ritterholm, Lieutenant Wilhelm Pockels, Ensigns Otto Ahrens and Carl Lerche – initially comprised one sergeant-major, six sergeants, six corporals, four buglers and one hundred and forty jägers.
John
paints brigs for the British fleet.
