Before I deal with the subject of this thread I would like to start with a short preamble. I have been fascinated with the Waterloo campaign ever since I was a boy, and have been fortunate to have been able to develop my interest in the subject. Since 1992, I have studied the events as both an academic, collecting letters and reports from the archives across Europe (as well as buying a large number of original items privately at auction), and an enthusiast. My research has led to my being commissioned to write books for various publishers and to act as historical consultant for various television productions, including several for the BBC. I recently accepted a similar appointment for a new full-length feature film on the Napoleonic wars which will go into production next year. I mention all of this as I have been left in no doubt by my publisher that they do not wish me to discuss or disclose the content of my writing on this platform. Because of this fact I have decided that this will be my last contribution to TMP. I do hope that members enjoy it.
John Franklin
Switzerland
A number of you will have read the article I wrote on the Brunswick Corps at Quatre Bras for the Osprey Publishing Blog, which was produced to coincide with the release of first book I wrote for Osprey. The article was intended to demonstrate the depth of the new research I have undertaken on the campaign, and included translations of several previously unpublished accounts written by officers and men serving within the Brunswick Corps. I mentioned in the article that I discovered these accounts in a collection held by the Niedersächsisches Staatsarchiv in Wolfenbüttel during one of my early visits in 2004. The collection had been given to the archive in 1977, and as far as I could ascertain from the records, no one had looked through the contents since that time. The collection had been amassed by Dr. Paul Zimmermann, the former curator of the archive. Those parts relating to Waterloo appear to have been gathered in the 1920s and early 1930s, prior to the release of his book on Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Brunwsick entitled: Der schwarze Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig. Hildesheim, 1936. The collection contained more than forty original letters and reports relating to the part played by the Brunswick troops during the campaign. Naturally, I set about transcribing and translating them. I shared a number with my friend, Mike Robinson, author of the book: The Battle of Quatre Bras. Stroud, 2010, and several other authors like Tim Clayton. But the majority have remained in my possession, for my own extensive study.
It is clear from reading the letters, which align remarkably well with the extant Order Books and Court Martial records, that the Brunswickers functioned under the most extreme duress during the campaign, especially following the loss of their beloved duke, and despite suffering from desertion on the 16th and 17th June (including that of Lieutenant-Colonel Friedrich von Specht who originally commanded the Line Infantry Brigade), they coped remarkably well. Of course, the demise of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm was the focus of Dr. Zimmermann's study, and much of the content in the collection will be new to members. I therefore thought it would be of interest if I posted some of the information. (Please note that I am not under contract with this material and therefore I am at liberty to post exactly what I wish, which unfortunately is not the situation with the French and Prussian material I have amassed.)
Heinrich Köhler (Archival Reference: VI Hs.18, Nr.7.2.)
In the original Osprey article I made it clear that the most detailed account of the part played by the Brunswick troops at Quatre Bras and Waterloo was given in a lengthy report, dated 20th December 1827, written by Adjutant Heinrich Köhler of the General Staff. Köhler had served as an Ensign with the Leib Battalion during the campaign and witnessed the death of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm. Here is a lengthier extract from his account of Quatre Bras (translated from German):
‘The Brunswick Corps was composed as follows:
The Vanguard of the Corps (Brigadier-Colonel Olfermann)
Avantgarde Battalion … 672 men (Major von Rauschenplatt)
Hussar Regiment … 690 men (Major von Cramm)
Uhlan Squadron … 232 men (Major Pott)
The Light Infantry Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel von Buttlar)
Leib Battalion … 672 men (Major von Pröstler)
1st Light Battalion … 672 men (Major von Holstein)
2nd Light Battalion … 672 men (Major von Brandenstein)
3rd Light Battalion … 672 men (Major Ebeling)
The Line Infantry Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel von Specht)
1st Line Battalion … 672 men (Major Metzner)
2nd Line Battalion … 672 men (Major von Strombeck)
3rd Line Battalion … 672 men (Major von Normann)
The Artillery Brigade (Major Mahn)
Horse Artillery Battery … 230 men (Major Moll)
Foot Artillery Battery … 230 men (Major von Heinemann)
By 14th June Napoleon had concentrated his Armée du Nord between Valenciennes, Lille and Maubeuge, and on the 15th it advanced into Belgian territory along both sides of the Sambre River towards Thuin and Charleroi. The advanced outposts of the I Corps of the Prussian army under General von Zieten were established and fortified in these positions, but they were pushed back via Fleurus and pursued vigorously. The II and III Corps of the Prussian army united with the I Corps that evening close to Sombreffe, the point where Feldmarschall Blücher had relocated his general headquarters from Namur. On this day the IV Corps under General von Bülow concentrated at Liège.
Napoleon directed his army upon Sombreffe, however Maréchal Ney, Duc d'Elchingen, was detached with his wing to Frasnes in order to observe the movements of the English and Netherlands army. The French wing was composed of the 1st Infantry Corps (d'Erlon) with 3 divisions; the 2nd Infantry Corps (Reille); the 3rd Cavalry Corps (Kellerman); a light cavalry division (Piré); the Chasseurs and Lanciers à cheval de la Garde Impériale (under Generals Lefébvre-Desnouettes and Colbert). At Frasnes the French vanguard encountered the Netherlands brigade commanded by Prince Bernhard von Sachsen-Weimar, from the division of General Perponcher, which managed to withdraw in excellent order to Quatre Bras. During the night the Prince of Orange hurried with the brigade commanded by Major-General Bylandt [sic], the second brigade from Perponcher's Division, in order to reinforce the troops at Quatre Bras; in the morning of the 16th they pushed the French outposts back to Frasnes and subsequently secured the roads to Brussels, Nivelles and Namur.
Meanwhile, on being informed of all these events, on the evening of the 15th the Duke of Wellington ordered the various parts of the army to march at daybreak on the 16th from Brussels to Waterloo, using the road to Charleroi. Thereafter, he ordered the army to advance to Genappe and then to Quatre Bras.
The action at Quatre Bras on the 16th June 1815
At Quatre Bras, as has already been mentioned in the introduction, the Prince of Orange had the 2nd Netherlands Infantry Division commanded by General Perponcher. The brigade of Colonel Prince Bernhard von Sachsen-Weimar held the Bois de Bossu, while the brigade of Major-General Count Bylandt was positioned behind the dairy farm of Gémioncourt. The skirmishing began early in the morning and continued with alternating success and failure until the afternoon. Maréchal Ney had the 2nd Infantry Corps and the cavalry take a position in front of Frasnes. At 2 o'clock the attack commenced from this position. The French division commanded by Baron Bachelu, with the support of the cavalry, advanced towards Gémioncourt. After a short and violent encounter the Netherlands brigade of Major-General Bylandt was forced from its position and had to withdraw to Quatre Bras. The French division commanded by Comte Foy now moved into the line on the right and occupied Piermont [Piraumont], the light cavalry division commanded by General Piré, advanced between the two aforementioned divisions. At this moment the situation was perilous for the Prince of Orange, but towards 3 o'clock the English General, Picton, arrived with his division and immediately brought it into the line, by taking a position on the left of Quatre Bras along the road to Namur.
Shortly thereafter, the Duke of Brunswick arrived with his corps and the 2nd Light Battalion under Major von Brandenstein was immediately detached in the direction of Piermont to cover the left wing and to occupy the wood nearby. The enemy troops in the wood were expelled and the position taken. Meanwhile, the two companies of Grey Jägers of the Avantgarde were detached to the right to the Bois de Bossu as well as small detachments of cavalry, the latter were ordered to occupy a position close to the wood and to observe the movements of the enemy from that position. The Line Brigade and the Leib Battalion formed the second line behind the division under General Picton, on the left of Quatre Bras. However, the artillery and the 1st and 2nd Light Battalions had not arrived at this time.
The deployment of the English troops and the Brunswick Corps into the line took place under a most violent cannonade from the enemy, who as stated previously, were deployed on the left and right of Gémioncourt in order to advance upon Quatre Bras. This was the situation when a Hussar Regiment belonging to the Belgian cavalry arrived and made an immediately attack on the enemy, only to be beaten back and to flee in disorder. For this reason our infantry formed squares and the Brunswick Hussars, who had themselves only just arrived, moved to engage the enemy cavalry, which remained firm with the French infantry without attacking. Now the English division commanded by Count von Alten arrived in the field and formed on the left flank of General Picton's Division.
Immediately thereafter, the Duke of Wellington personally ordered the Duke of Brunswick to advance without delay with four battalions and two companies from his corps on the road to Charleroi. The Leib Battalion, along with the 1st Light Battalion and the two Light Companies of the Avantgarde advanced on the road and took a position between Schafferie [La Bergerie] and the stream; a skirmish line was extended to the front and right in order to make contact with the Allied troops in the Bois de Bossu; the Brunswick Hussars and the Uhlans formed in rear of these troops. The 2nd and 3rd Line Battalions were positioned in, and close to, Quatre Bras, as a reserve and to cover the possible withdrawal of the troops in the front line.
The enemy now deployed an artillery battery close to Gémioncourt and unleashed a relentless barrage against the Brunswick column. The losses sustained by the Brunswick battalions, who maintained their positions for a considerable time, in the face of this terrible onslaught were appalling. This continued until they received the support of two English batteries, which opened fire on the enemy and silenced their fire. It was now that Maréchal Ney, from his advanced position, ordered Prince Jérôme Bonaparte to move with his division against the Bois de Bossu; the enemy occupied Pierrepont and immediately advanced along the edge of the wood. The Duke of Brunswick ordered the Hussar Regiment, which was hindered by the terrain and the close proximity of the wood, to retire onto the other side of the road towards Quatre Bras, and collected the Uhlans and attacked the enemy. However, the attack failed completely due to the strength and composure of the enemy infantry, and the Uhlans were themselves compelled to retreat toward Quatre Bras.
The division [sic] of Dragoons now threatened the two battalions positioned close to the road to Charleroi, and as the enemy were vastly superior in strength, so the Duke ordered the said battalions to retire. The 1st Line Battalion moved back towards the crossroads, but the Leib Battalion under Major von Pröstler, with whom the Duke was stationed, positioned on the left of Schafferie, executed this movement as slowly and as well-ordered as possible, under the most violent enemy cannonade. But the impact of the cannon balls into the column, the tremendous onslaught and the subsequent advance of the Dragoons brought some confusion and disorder to the battalion. While the Duke attempted to restore order he was mortally wounded and died shortly thereafter.'
It should be noted that based on the sequence of events described by Heinrich Köhler and a host of other eye-witnesses, Duke Friedrich Wilhelm was mortally wounded between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m.
Carl Wilhelm Pöhling (Archival Reference: 276 N 43)
Oberjäger Carl Wilhelm Pöhling of the 2nd Company, Grey Jäger of the Avantgarde. Pöhling was fighting in the Bois de Bossu, close to the Leib Battalion, and he witnessed the events. His letter, dated 17th July 1815 to his brother, included the following description (translated from German):
‘Our captain ordered the front section to extend […] […] the wood. We had hardly undertaken this movement when the French cavalry came on very rapidly. Our beloved duke and our comrades in the Leib Bataillon were the object of this attack. The shock threw them into confusion. A number of the French Dragoons dismounted and began to fire upon the brave Brunswickers. It was during this attack that our father, the duke, was killed.'
For the record, Pöhling was a veteran (at the age of twenty-three) who had enlisted in 2013 and who had served with the Brunswick-Oels against the French in southern France in 1814. At the outset of the 1815 campaign the Avantgarde comprised a small staff and four companies under the command of Major Adolph von Rauschenplatt. He was severely wounded at Quatre Bras (losing an arm), and was replaced by Major Hans Otto von Bülow, who was promoted to the rank on the morning of the 18th June 1815.
Grey Jägers of the Avantgarde
The two rifle-armed companies wore distinctive grey uniforms and were the most experienced troops within the Brunswick contingent. At the outset of the campaign the establishment was as follows:
The 1st Company of Grey (Grau) 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 – had 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 – initially 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 companies were clad in black, and the latter were equipped with muskets. At the outset of the campaign the establishment was as follows:
The 1st Light (Leicht) Company of the Avantgarde – commanded by Captain Albert von Griesheim, Lieutenant Carl Ahrberg, Ensigns August Mühe and Johann Gerlach (who was later 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.
Carl Wilhelm Pöhling was wounded during the fighting at Quatre Bras and did not take part in the subsequent battle at Mont St. Jean two days later.
Ernst Külbel (Die letzten Augenblicke unsers Durchlauchtigsten Herzogs Friedrich Wilhelm bei Quatrebras den 16.Juni 1815. Celle, 1865)
At this point I would like to interject an account which does not form part of the Zimmermann collection, but which is a well-known – at least in Germany – account of events. This was written many years after events by Ernst Külbel, who served as a Private in the Leib Battalion in 1815. This appeared in a book published in 1865 (translated from German):
'At this moment the duke rode forward, completely unaccompanied, either coming from the Hussars or Uhlans, which were on the right, between us and the French cavalry, who, at this moment opened fire.The duke's horse became nervous and did not wish to continue, resulting in a second French salvo which caused the duke's injury. As I discovered later, a musket ball passed through the wrist of his right hand, then through the right side of his chest and left the body below the left shoulder. The duke fell to the ground, to the right of his horse, half way between us and the French, approximately 25 paces in front of our line. Not leaving our duke to the enemy, I convinced two of my fellows, Hornist Auer and Jäger Reckau, to try to bring him to our lines despite the danger of the situation. We bravely ran forward and lifted him as carefully as the situation allowed in the face of the enemy, then hurriedly carried him back to our line, with his weight on my musket. At this time our line had withdrawn: the Leib Bataillon had to withdraw to its former position and was on the way back when the disaster occurred. This is the reason that only a few witnessed the event. Fortunately, we reached the second line and upon my request to let us pass, a whole section stepped aside (due to my bayonet still being fixed). A tall man – a corporal, I believe – asked who was the man we were carrying. After I replied, 'The duke!', he shouted 'Goodness!'
Conrad Bosse (Archival Reference: 249 AN 191)
Among the many items in the Zimmermann collection which I have not published previously is the diary of Private Conrad Bosse, who belonged to the 2nd Company of the Brunswick 3rd Line Battalion. Bosse was from Hötzum and noted the following (translated from German):
‘16th June: We went from Ahren at 1 o'clock in the night. On that day the French had taken a very good position in a wood, while our troops were on the open field completely exposed. Thus, for several hours they stood fast, when suddenly the French came on the left wing along the edge of the wood with the Dragoons in front. The Duke advanced at the head of the Hussars, but they could not do anything. As time went on the French advanced so that they could shoot at our square with their cannon, and so we had to retreat, and when we were setting out, a cannon ball took the nose off a Lieutenant. We had to stand behind two large buildings made of stone, and now our artillery arrived and deployed on the left and around the houses. They shot from the flank at the French. The Dragoons were killed and retreated at once. The Duke received two wounds and died, as did Major von Strombeck. We advanced with the 2nd Battalion who suffered a lot, and as darkness fell we moved into the wood, where we spent the night.'
Wilhelm Langenstrassen (Archival Reference: 249 AN 192)
The Zimmermann Collection also contains seven letters written by Sergeant Wilhelm Langenstrassen to his brother in Neundorf. Langenstrassen was a veteran of the war against France and served with the 4th Company of the Brunswick Hussars. He provided a compelling account of the fighting at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, a brief extract of which is given here:
‘At two o'clock we arrived at the battlefield, hardly knowing how we had managed to do so. We were the only cavalry present on our side, and therefore, were ordered to cover two batteries, the worst possible task I can think of, because you stand with your sword in your hand without being able to defend yourself against the missiles and shells, let along parry them. The Duke smoked happily on his pipe and rode up and down in front of our corps. Suddenly, a shot took the leg off our Major and he slipped off his horse, although still alive. As our surgeons were not with us he died from loss of blood. Shortly thereafter, Pavel was shot off his horse, but was killed instantly. Lt. Rudolphi was severely wounded while Lt. Clauditz, at my side, was slightly wounded. We continued to maintain our position on that day, although charged by some French Cuirassiers [sic] , but they did not dare venture from close to the large coppice. The Duke, who attacked them on their left flank with our Uhlans was shot and thrown from his horse, mortally wounded. He died a few hours later. Meanwhile, on our left the Prussian cannon became very lively until the end of the day. It was a bad night. The heavy losses, the long corn and nothing to eat meant that the men and horses suffered.'
It is clear that Langenstrassen, who described the attack as being made by French Cuirassiers, is mistaken, as the perpetrators of the attack were the 2e Régiment de Dragons. Perhaps he was misled by the fact that later in the day, towards 6 p.m., the 11e Cuirassiers (who wore no cuirass in 1815) were involved in direct action against the Allied troops defending the crossroads. I state this as there are a more than a dozen Brunswick accounts among the court-martial reports, by both officers and men who absconded during the fighting at Quatre Bras, which state they did so because of the attack made by the French Dragoons around 4 p.m.
Friedrich Cappel (Archival Reference: 276 N 15)
As mentioned in the original Osprey article, one of the many young officers serving with the Leib Battalion was Friedrich Cappel. He wrote a lengthy account of the part played by the Brunswick troops during the campaign in his journal. With regards to the Duke's death at Quatre Bras, he noted (translated from German):
‘The death of our beloved Duke was only confirmed the following day, although he had fallen close to our battalion (he had lost his horse before this and I had almost been ridden over by the horse he had received as a substitute). I had seen him on several occasions during the action, as he waited on our left flank with the Hussars. But we were no longer to witness his encouraging presence! The impression this loss had on our Brunswick legions was not as it was subsequently described. Each of us, be he an officer or a simple soldier, had enough to concern himself with, and we were unable to dwell upon this tragic event for any length of time, only the memory of our beloved Duke, Friedrich Wilhelm.'
Elias Olfermann (Archival Reference: 24 Neu 11)
The official reports written in relation to the Brunswick Corps are held with the section of the War Archive in Wolfenbüttel. Among these is the report dated the night of the 16th to 17th June 1815, by Colonel Johann Elias Olfermann, upon whom the command of the Brunswick Corps devolved following the death of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm. The report gave the authorities in Braunschweig some idea of the role the troops had played at Quatre Bras (translated from German):
‘After we had received orders to march on the 15th at 11 o'clock in the evening, we set out on the 16th for Quatre Bras, which was located some 10 to 11 hours from the billets in which the corps had been placed. One of the bloodiest battles took place there, and tragically our beloved Duke, after having taken part with his usual courage and bravery, and playing a significant role in all of the orders, was struck by a ball which penetrated one hand, his body and liver. This took place in the afternoon towards 6 o'clock as he personally led two battalions against strong enemy columns which threatened our entire right wing, but which were momentarily halted, although the immense supremacy of the enemy nevertheless forced them to retreat to the second line. The only words the Duke uttered to Major von Wachholtz before his death were: ‘Ah, my dear Wachholtz, where is Olfermann?' Captain Bause looked for me at once, but as the Duke died almost immediately any last wishes he may have had were unfulfilled.
Apart from this irreplaceable loss, we also regret that amongst those officers killed were Majors von Strombeck and Cramm. Major von Raunschenplatt is also severely wounded. The three of them were either killed or wounded by my side, and as the exact number of killed, wounded and missing in the corps cannot currently be ascertained, as the on-going operations of the army do not permit such a task, I will have to inform the ministers of the council as soon as this information is at my disposal. The most significant loss was suffered by a part of our corps that was on the right wing of the army, which was inflicted by a violent cannonade that lasted for 3 hours, to which we could not reply as we had no artillery, as that attached to the corps had not arrived at that time, due to the distance it had to travel from the cantonments; the cavalry suffered especially at this time, likewise the infantry battalions which were stationed there, as the cannon assailed them cold-bloodedly with canister, although from time to time they were able to reform amidst the terrible canister and shell fire.
The Duke was present throughout this violent cannonade and he inspired the soldiers by his presence with courage and calmness. The 2nd Line Battalion, the 2nd Light Battalion and the Leib Battalion have distinguished themselves. The first by the calmness it showed when forming square to repel repeated charges from enemy Cuirassiers [sic], and by so doing prevent the enemy from advancing. A significant number of the enemy horsemen were killed. The other two battalions were engaged in a wood, which was taken and re-taken three times. The battalions were the last to impose themselves; these troops, who for the most part were very young, fought with the utmost courage, which was heightened by the fact that the Duke led them in person against the enemy and instilled in them the greatest confidence by his presence. A great deal must also be said of the behaviour of the officers of the General Staff. Lt-Col. Heinemann, Major von Wachholtz, von Grone and von Marenholz, Captains von Lübeck and Bause, as well as my Adjutants Captain von Morgenstern and von Zweifel, all proved to be active and brave, and were especially useful to me when, after the unfortunate death of the Duke, the command of the corps was partly given over to me. Major von Grone and von Marenholz were occupied with the Duke's dead body.'
Olfermann, who was stationed with the 2nd and 3rd Line Battalions at the time Duke Friedrich Wilhelm was mortally wounded, also mentions the attack being made by Cuirassiers. However, the first Cuirassiers – being those under Comte Valmy – did not move forward from Frasnes until approaching 6 p.m.
No doubt the above material (which is just a small selection of that from within the Zimmermann collection I have amassed) will generate a level of debate. Let us hope that the content also inspires TMP members to undertake their own research in the archives, and to find other material which will add to our greater knowledge of events.
John
P.S. The new curator and I have also discovered two other collections within the archive which hold more than a handful of Waterloo related items written by Brunswickers, and I will begin to 'mine' these in the months ahead.
