THE BATTLE FOR THE CROSSROADS

 

It was the morning, June 16, 1815. The road to Brussels ran north as the entourage of ADCs, staff officers and generals surveyed the rolling fields before them. Up rode Michel Ney, Prince of Mockowa, Duke of Elchinge, Bravest of the Brave and a Martial of France. He has just been given command of the left wing of Napoleon's army, pushing forwards into Belgium, crossing the frontier only a few days ago. Nay brought up his spyglass. There, in the middle distance he could see the drawn up lines of enemy soldiers, the sun glinting off bayonets. The gathered in the fields and the low hill behind of the imposing farmhouse of Geminoncourt. Beyond this, far off to the right he could see more troops moving into position.  Hi orders were clear, "take the crossroads of Quatre Bras".  Nay looked back around him as the fist regiments of the French army were fanning out and shaking out into their columns. The gunners close by, started moving their heavy pieces forward. The attack had begun.  

The Game

It was time now to run the third game in our series of the The Hundred Days: 1815 Campaign with the Battle of Quatre Bras.

This was to be a holding action by the allied army who would need to defend the vital Quatre Bras crossroads. The French has to take the position.   

This was the basic layout of our battlefield. Gemincourt Fram, in the centre was a strongpoint and garrisoned by a single battalion.  The Dutch forces, commanded by the Prince of Orange, were drawn up between Gamincourt and the Bossau woods, with a battalion of Jegers in the woods themselves. Although spread very thin at the start, the allies would receive reinforcements throughout the battle.

The battlefield looking east over the Bossau Woods.

The French had arrived in force. On the right was Bechelu's Brigade of four battalions who would push forwards into the woods. Bechelu would be supported by Campi's five battalions. In the centre, Ney had gathered all his artillary into a grand battery who would be covered by the Chasseurs a Cheval. Then there was the six battalions of Soye's Brigade with Jeromes' Brigade on the French right, supported by two regiments of lancers.

The Grand Battery prepares to move forward 

Massed French infantry in the centre.

Jerome's Brigade.

The Attack Begins!

With forces drawn up, the French were keen to get to grips with the enemy before the reinforcements could arrive. Unfortunately, in a rush to deploy, orders were lost or ignored. Nealy every unit had delays and were hesitant in advancing. But slowly and ponderosly the French line did advance. All the Dutch could do was hold their lines as wait. 

The French Chasseurs advance.

The first clash came in the centre, near Gemincourt. The Chasseurs a Cheval, riding forward to clear the way for the guns charged the single battalion holding the bridge. The Dutch were well prepared and formed square as the charge of the French Chassers were beaten back. Other nearby Dutch units also formed defensive squares to ward off the cavalry threat.

The Dutch form squares.

While the cavalry was not able to seriously threaten the solid Dutch squares, they did give time for the batteries of 6 and 12 pounder guns to now deploy on the hill overlooking the allied positions.  

On the French left, the massed battalion of two brigades plunged into the Bossau woods. A furious fire fight erupted between the opposing skirmish lines. There was to be no tactical subtly here, just the steady march forward of serried ranks. 

The French advance into the Bossau Woods.

In the centre and right, the general advance continued, in fits and starts yes, but advance they did. 

Forwards for the Emperor!

The Dutch now moved to counter the advance and try to hold a line on the stream. Supported by a battery of 6 pounder guns, they started to lay fire into the advancing French ranks.

The Nassaus prepare to slow down the French, but help may be on the way.

 

The Brunswickers arrive in force.

Push Forward on the Right

Jerome eventually crosses the stream with the Lancers in support.

Jerome is able to get his forces over the stream unopposed. The French lancers move out in support. But then off the high ground the newly arrived Light Cavalry Brigade charge forward slamming into the flank of the French horseman. The French Lancers are sent reeling back over the stream and the victors charge forwards again slamming headlong into a French infantry unit who, unable to form square is put to a terrible slaughter. 

After sweeping aside the French cavalry, the Allied Hussars and Dragoons carve into the hapless French Infantry.

But as the victorious Light Brigade gather their breath, they all too late see the massed ranks of French Cuirassiers charge over the stream and with vengeful wrath punch at full gallop into the unprepared Hussars. The Allied cavalry cannot hold against this onslaught and are put to flight, fleeing back to the safety of their own lines.

The Allied cavally are caught in the rear by the French heavy Cuirassiers.

If you wage war, do it energetically and with severity.

Over in the centre things were also apace. The Allied reinforcements were starting to arrive and deploying to the high ground to the east of Quatre Bras. The veteran Scots Highland regiments now started deploying in their line formations to the west of the crossroads. But it was the Nassau units that were to bare the first hammer blow of the French.

Soye's Brigade move to attack the Nassau's in the centre.

Soye's 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Line now drew together for the attack. Ney now rode up to the leading units. A Martial of France would lead this charge. With a thunderous roar of "Vive l'Empereur!" the massed ranks of infantry, surged forward, bayonets ready. The Nassau line loosed off a volley, crashing to the oncoming French, but they did not slow, for these were the veterans  of Wagram and Leipzig and there was bloody work be done.  The Nassau line could not hold and it broke, men fleeing back to the safety of the crossroads.

Marshal Ney joins in the charge.

Advancing onto the newly run high ground, Ney consolidates the position allowing his battalions to draw breath. Opposite them the Brunswick Brigade also pulls back shoring up their defensive positions.  

Both French and Allied forces organise for the next phase of the battle.

 The nimble gunner, with linstock now the devilish cannon touches!

As things pause slightly in the centre and right of the battle, things have ben happening on the left. 

Bachelu and Campi's Brigades have been moving slowly though the Bossau Woods. They are oppesed by the Dutch Jagers and a swam of skirmishing infantry. The woods crackle with muskets form both sides. Gradually the Dutch are driven back.

The French methodically push through the woods.

The Jagers try to pull back and form a firing line but Bachelu seizes his moment and orders his men forward, charging across the stream and throws the Jagers back in confusion. The French gather themselves up and continue their advance, soon reaching the edge of the woods. They can see the Quatre Bras crossroads from here, but standing between then is the ranks of fearful Highlanders.

The Highlanders form into line.

Before the kilted amazons deploy, Ney has managed to get his guns into play. The massed guns of the grand battery have been relentlessly hammering the remains of Bylandt's command. The Dutch units have to pull back to get away from the anger of the French gunners. Eventually the Dutch break and scatter. The guns now turn of the Highlanders, stand grim and determined in that hail of fire and shot. Ahead of them the French emerge from the woods, Tricolours and gilded Eagles advance.  

 

The French emerge from the woods, only the Highlanders now stand between them and the road to Brussels.

Again the French guns belch fire and fury, smashing the Scots gunners and making bloody holes in the red lines of infantry. 

A waver passes down the lines of Highlanders. The line takes a step back! The French realising the moment of truth has arrived surge forward in a disciplined charge! 

Vive l'Empereur!

Ad the French charge forward, the Highlanders take another step back. and then another, The front ranks mange to get off a volley but it does little to slow the onrushing blue tide of men and steel. 

The Highlanders have endured the massed artillery and now face massed bayonets. They have endured long enough. The rear units start to turn and run. The forward line, now also falls back, the ordered lines dissolve as the rout takes hold. 

The Highlanders, battered by long range cannon fire, become unformed and the brigade faltering, cannot sand against a well coordinated French assault. 

The Crossroads fall.

  So at this sage of the game the Allies on the French right had collapsed and the town of Quatre Bras was exposed. The French still faced significant forces on the east of Quatre Bras and also still held the farm of Gamioncourt, that the French had simply ignored and moved around it. It was clear that the British, Dutch and Belgian forces were in an poor position and would have to withdraw. The crossroads of Quatre Bras is now a French victory!

A big thanks to the payers Greg (General Pack), Graeme (the Prince of Orange) and Ryan (General Bachelu) . And a special thanks to Dale (who commanded on both sides) who's dedicated games room hosted our battle. 

Our armies now are in full flight from both Quatre Bras and Ligny. They will gather to hold back the French on a ridge line near the town of  Mont St Jean...