THE PRUSSIAN

30TH INFANTRY REGIMENT (4TH RHENISH),

& 1ST KURMARK LANDWEHR INFANTRY REGIMENT

AT LIGNY AND WAVRE, 1815

translated by Geert van Uythoven

Anonymous: “Anekdoten betreffend daß 30ste Infanterie-Regiment (4th Rheinische)”:

“On 16 June 1815 the regiment took part in the battle of Ligny. In the evening, the 1st and 2nd battalion executed an attack at the heights behind Sombreffe, and captured them from a superior enemy. They threw back during darkness, after they had taken the heights, several very fierce enemy cavalry attacks ¹⁾. The fusilier battalion had occupied Sombreffe, and the tirailleurs of this battalion were already in action in front of this village much earlier. All three battalions had on this day seven wounded officers, and 141 dead and wounded NCO’s and soldiers. Especially Captain von Wieschetzki distinguished himself here, by attacking and throwing back with the tirailleurs enemy cavalry which had charged into the village. Majors von Beaufort and von Schaper, Captain Matthai, as well as Lieutenants von Grandville, von Beyer, and Menson distinguished themselves during the attacks made by the enemy cavalry, by their resoluteness and steadiness.

On 18 and 19 June 1815 the fusilier battalion defended Wavre city. The greater part of the 2nd battalion participated in this bloody fight, as well as the tirailleurs of the 1st battalion were engaged. The fusilier battalion suffered heavily and fought with much distinction. Especially distinguishing themselves were the commander of the fusilier battalion Major von Sprenger, Captain von Beltheim of the 2nd battalion (who was mortally wounded), Captains von Klencke and von Notz, and the Lieutenants Dollmann and Davier. Especially distinguishing himself was Lieutenant Schulz of the fusilier battalion, who was killed in the fighting. All officers, NCO’s and soldiers fought from the afternoon of the 18th until deep into the night, and again on the 19th from early in the morning until 9 o’clock with great embitterment, and until that time remained master of the bridge across the Dyle as well as Wavre city. The regiment lost on this day five dead and two wounded officers, and 203 dead and wounded NCO’s and soldiers. Special mention must be made of ten men of the regiment, which defended a house with the utmost determination and stubbornness against a much superior force, after which the enemy had already completely taken Wavre city. They only surrendered when they had use all their ammo. Many soldiers suffered of multiple wounds, without going to the rear. Musketeer Schreiber remained even with three wounds, of which one was a bayonet trust in his body, until he received a shot in the head which however did not kill him. ²⁾

During the year 1812, until the 2nd July 1815, the regiment suffered seven dead and twenty-three wounded officers.”

Source: Militair-Wochenblatt, 3. Jahrgang (Berlin 1818), No. 79, p.416-417.

Anonymous: “Ein kleiner Beitrag zur Geschichte des Feldzuges vom jahre 1815”:

“Reading the above piece, one could have the impression that the fusilier-battalion of the 30th Regiment, and part of its 2nd battalion, defended Wavre on the 18th and 19th June completely on their own. Far from trying to diminish the mentioned deeds of solitary individuals of this regiment, in the interest of truth, and in order to give the honour to anyone deserving it, it has to be mentioned that the 3rd battalion [the fusilier-battalion] of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr Regiment also had an active part in the defence of Wavre, suffering on these days a loss of about fifty dead and wounded, of whom two officers which were slightly wounded.

For the same reason, mention must be made that on the 16th during the battle of Ligny the 2nd battalion, later also the 1st and 3rd battalion of this landwehr regiment, were send forward under heavy cannon fire to reinforce Sombreffe. During which however only five men were killed.

The 1st and 3rd battalion, which had to deploy left of Sombreffe on terrain which had become a marsh because of the heavy rain showers and therefore making them ineffective, received finally orders to retreat. The 2nd battalion held its position in Sombreffe by taking effective measures to impress the enemy until daybreak of the 17th, without suffering any loss, only receiving then the order to retreat as well. It is possible that therefore this battalion was the last one which retreated from the battlefield.

Various officers, NCO’s and others of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr Regiment have distinguished themselves during these battles, and a number of them have been rewarded the iron cross, or other public rewards for their deeds.”

Source: Militair-Wochenblatt, 3. Jahrgang (Berlin 1818), No. 81, p.432-433.

Footnotes:

1) This account is I believe a bit exaggerated. Peter Hofschroër gives in his “1815 The Waterloo Campaign” part 1 (London / Pennsylvania 1998) p.319 a more balanced account based on Paulitzy and Woedtke’s “Geschichte des 4. Rheinischen Infanterie-Regiments Nr. 30” (Berlin 1884).

2) The defence of Wavre is also described by Peter Hofschroër in part 2 of his “1815 The Waterloo Campaign” (London / Pennsylvania 1998) pp.158-165.

© Geert van Uythoven