Over the last few years, I have researched the least known part of the battlefield, the North-East – the area that anchored Wellington's left. The ground is complex and marked by four locations: first, the farm of Papelotte; a second farm at La Haye; thirdly, the hamlet of Smohain (sometimes called La Marache) and finally the chateau of Frischermont.
These locations run west to south east through complex country and presented a defensive opportunity that was arguably just as formidable as Plancenoit or Hougoumont. Of course, the difference being that while a whole corps was thrown at Hougoumont, only Durutte's division was available to attack these four locations.
While information about the rest of the battlefield is plentiful, our understanding of certain aspects of the North-East is much more tentative, notably in respect of Smohain and Frischermont, nevertheless it is possible to piece together a coherent picture.
This entry provides a summary of what has been learned so far, plus some updates on Smohain.
Smohain village has been numbered as follows:
The first farm is Papelotte:
The second is La Haye:
La Haye will be garrisoned by these Nassauers:
The first house in Smohain is a restaurant called The Three Ducks:
This building is something of an enigma. No map of the period or subsequently shows a church. Is it a chapel or school house?
Building No 9:
Building no 12:
Smohain will be garrisoned by the Orange Nassau Regiment:
Frischermont is now complete. Having been captured by the French it will be shown under attack from Prussians:
Joining all this up will be the next task.
's motivation to paint Napoleonic ships returns!
