1815 Wavre 2

MOVEMENTS AND COMBAT

OF THE REAR-GUARD OF 4TH ARMY CORPS

UNDER LT-COL VON LEDEBUR

WAVRE

17 - 19 JUNE 1815

translated by Geert van Uythoven

“On 17 June early, Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur received orders, to cross over with his regiment to the brigade of General von Ryssel near Savenières, were he would receive command of two fusilier battalions (those of the 2nd Silesian Line- and the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Regiment) and a half horse artillery battery, and further orders for his deployment. This detachment was destined to form the rear-guard of the 4th Army Corps during its retreat to Vieux-Sart, for the time being taking up positions near Savenières. Without however noticing anything of the enemy, even less attacked by him, retreat was started along the road to Mont St. Guibert. On the way there, at Dion le Mont, General Ryssel with the greater part of his troops took the road to Vieux Sart; Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur reached Mont St. Guibert at around seven o’clock in the afternoon, without his patrols noticing anything from the enemy. Arriving there, he met Lieutenant-colonel Sohr with the Pomeranian and Brandenburg Hussars, and took up outposts in cooperation with those of both regiments. During the night everything remained quiet, and the outposts nor the patrols saw any sign of the enemy.

On the 18th in the morning, Lieutenant-colonel von Sohr left with both his [cavalry] regiments. General von Bülow dispatched Cavalry-captain Reyher of the general staff to Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur, bringing him orders not to abandon his position until forced to do so. In addition, not to report to General von Ryssel anymore, but to [General von Bülow] himself. Also, not to retreat to Vieux Sart as had been stipulated before, but to Wavre.

Until around nine o’clock in the morning everything remained quiet. But then the outposts reported that in the direction of Jemblours [Gembloux], on the heights in the distance, enemy troops were sighted. Immediately, an infantry company was dispatched to support the outpost positioned on the edge of a small forest in a valley. All other troops struck camp and formed order of battle on the road to Wavre. At that same moment however, another report came in that enemy cavalry was turning the left flank and that a retreat on Wavre could become dangerous. To extricate his infantry out of this danger, having to cross an open plain behind him, he ordered Cavalry-captain Reyher to lead these more to the left, under cover of a height and an forest on its side, with as less loss of time as possible. He accomplished this very carefully, reaching the defiles before Wavre without any loss. Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur himself hurried with his [cavalry] regiment and artillery forward [to Wavre], to be able to take up the infantry again, which succeeded completely. Although in the meantime the flankers were engaged uninterruptedly with those of the enemy which, although superior, not dared to pressure us stronger. Lieutenant-colonel von Sohr in the meanwhile stood ready in front of Wavre to take up the troops retreating to here.

On the heights before Wavre, Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur deployed again with the 10th Hussar Regiment and the half horse artillery battery, in front of the 8th Brigade, opposing the enemy cavalry which had advanced. When the enemy tried to advance even further, he charged with the [hussar] regiment, which the enemy did not wait for but already retreated before the charge could be completed.

The 10th Hussar Regiment now observed the open plain of Vieux Sart, and the infantry covered the right flank, positioned on the left and right side, and on the road from Wavre to Jemblours, positioned behind a small forest. Its skirmishers occupied in connection with each other and those of the 3rd bat/1. Pommerschen Infanterie-Regiment, partially the bushes in front, partially the farmsteads in front of Dion le Mont village.

Initially, the enemy flankers and skirmishers were continuously reinforced, forcing our side to do the same, especially the latter, which were reinforced by whole Züge, but also by the skirmishers of other regiments, especially by those of the fusilier battalion of the 23rd Infantry Regiment. After the enemy had deployed several infantry- and cavalry columns, he pulled back his [skirmishers], and began a fierce artillery fire, which could not replied too sufficiently. After having reported this, Lieutenant-colonel Ledebur received two more guns.

After about one and a half hour, the enemy infantry columns advanced at pas de charge, and attacked the right wing of the detachment with very superior numbers. Lieutenant-colonel von Reckow, who at this moment commanded the whole, advanced troops to support them, but soon after gave the order to retreat. The artillery and the hussars immediately started to retreat, followed by the infantry. The enemy opened up wit a fierce canister fire, of which especially the infantry suffered.

Of all troops that had been deployed in front of Wavre – now engaged in marching to Belle Alliance [Waterloo] – the detachment of Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur formed the extreme part of the rear-guard continuously, and well the brigade of Lieutenant-colonel von Reckow.

After several more deployments, so that the enemy could advance only slowly and gain minor advantage of its superior numbers, the rear-guard finally passed Wavre. It then followed, without any more disturbances from the enemy, the 4th Army Corps on the road to Chapelle St. Lambert. Already before arriving there it received orders not to march any further, except for the Silesian fusilier battalions which already had joined the 8th Infantry Brigade again to advance to the battlefield united with it. This was because enemy cavalry of Grouchy’s corps, under Wavre, tried to cross the Dyle. As such it threatened the flank of Thielmann’s corps, as well as the rear of our corps that marched through Chapelle St. Lambert. This destination was the cause that the detachment was not able to participate in the battle of Belle Alliance [Waterloo].

Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur tried to deploy his troops in such a way, that he himself was not only covered from all sides, but that he could also secure the defile of Chapelle St. Lambert against surprise attacks by roaming enemy cavalry. Through this defile troops were still marching, especially ammunition columns. He especially observed the Dyle with patrols, so that the enemy was not able to cross somewhere unnoticed. All remained quiet however, even during the night, although the enemy had taken up such positions that none of the patrols send out was able to open communications with the troops of General von Thielmann. Single officers as well, send by General von Bülow with orders to General Thielmann, never managed to come through and always ran into the enemy.

An infantry battalion and a squadron of landwehr cavalry, which had strayed of their own corps and did not dare to look for it in the darkness, joined the detachment.

On the 19th, when it had become day completely, the enemy cavalry advanced but did not undertake anything serious. Only the flankers skirmished with each other. Because Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur had only cavalry to support him, and while he observed in person that he was opposed by at least three [cavalry] regiments, as well as that the terrain was not favourable, he did not dare to undertake an attack. He believed to do enough by pinning down the enemy and preventing it to join the fighting against General von Thielmann, who was already fighting against Grouchy. Finally, this enemy cavalry threatened to turn his left flank, and he believed to risk too much by remaining in his present positions. Therefore, he ordered part of the infantry and artillery to retreat through the defile, deploying the other part at the defile itself to take up the remainder. Then he retreated with the [hussar] regiment, and followed 4th Army Corps. Near Fontaine l’Eveque he encountered the brigade of General von Ryssel and made bivouac for the night here. On the 20th, he returned the troops to their own brigades, and with the [hussar] regiment he joined the reserve cavalry again.

In his report, Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur bears testimony of the troops that has been under his command, that during the days described here, especially the 18th, they gave exemplary proof of their bravery and steadfastness, and that they even during the most difficult circumstances followed all his orders promptly and obedient.”

Source: Militair-Wochenblatt, “Bewegungen und Gefecht des Detachements der Arriergarde 4ten Armeecorps unter dem Oberst-Lieut. v. Ledebur vom 10. Hus.-Regiment, vom 17ten bis 19ten Juni 1815”, 21. Jahrgang (Berlin 1836), pp. 143-145.