1815 Wavre

REPORT

ABOUT THE REAR-GUARD COMBAT

AT WAVRE

18 JUNE 1815

(to correct some wrong passages in a recent publication)

translated by Geert van Uythoven

“On 17 June 1815, the 7th Brigade had formed bivouac at three o’clock in the afternoon, in the line of the 2nd Army Corps. According to its dispositions, it struck camp on the 18th at five o’clock in the morning, to take up its place in the columns in the dictated order, behind the reserve artillery of the 2nd Army Corps. The defiling of 4th Army Corps through Wavre delayed the march, so that at eleven o’clock the reserve artillery as well as the 7th and 8th Brigade, the former under General von Brause, the latter under Lieutenant-Colonel von Reckow, and the rear-guard commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel von Sohr, were still in column near the place were we bivouacked, when report came in that enemy cavalry had shown itself on our left flank. Therefore, the cavalry of both these brigades was detached to that side.

Lieutenant-colonel von Ledebur, who had remained in position near Mont St. Guibert as outposts for the 4th Army Corps with the 10th Hussar Regiment, two battalions of a Pomeranian landwehr infantry regiment, and a half horse artillery battery, reported at the same moment that he was pressured very strongly. When the firing came closer and closer, General von Brause requested Lieutenant-colonel von Reckow to deploy some battalions inside the forest to the left side of the road, close to the outwork Auzel, to support Von Ledebur, while Lieutenant-Colonel von Sohr took up positions to the right side of the road, with two hussar regiments and a half horse artillery battery. At this moment General von Pirch arrived with Colonel von Aster and Major von Weyrach. He reinforced Lieutenant-colonel von Sohr with the 11th Hussar Regiment, and gave General von Brause orders to command the whole, and to retreat only so slow that he would not arrive at the defile before the reserve artillery would have passed. Inside and in front of the city, General von Borcke would support him.

General von Brause now positioned the four remaining battalions of the 8th Brigade behind the forest, deployed the battery on a height to the right, and positioned Lieutenant-colonel von Sohr with three hussar regiments behind this height, while he deployed his own brigade [i.e. the 7th Brigade] in a single line on a row of heights further back.

Lieutenant-colonel von Sohr had ordered the road to the mill of Bierge to be reconnoitred, and this was found practicable. General von Brause stipulated therefore, that as soon as the retreat had come at this level, the three hussar regiments would advance to the right and cross at this mill. To cover the crossing, this position was immediately occupied by two companies of the 2nd bat/14th Infantry Regiment under Captain von Haidter.

In the meanwhile, Lieutenant-Colonel von Ledebur was forced to retreat behind the 8th Brigade with the 10th Hussar Regiment and the half horse artillery battery; his infantry had united itself with the 8th Brigade inside the forest.

Because of the fact that this position was the last defensible one before the defile, and because of the report of Lieutenant-Colonel von Ledebur that the enemy had already deployed six cavalry regiments, ten guns, and two infantry columns, Lieutenant-Colonel von Reckow maintained his positions for an hour, until he received the order to retreat. During this hour, all troops were exposed to a fierce fire of grenades and roundshot, however the rolling terrain was so advantageous that losses were minor.

Around half past two, the troops started their retreat. As soon as the forest had been abandoned and the first high had been cleared, the three hussar regiments under Lieutenant-Colonel moved to the right. The Elb-Landwehr-Cavallerie-Regiment remained to cover the left flank, and the 10th Hussar Regiment between both lines of the 8th Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel von Ledebur left his flankers to support the skirmishers of the 8th Brigade. The enemy deployed batteries of four to six guns to the right and left, both covered by a cavalry column, and an infantry column advanced along the road.

As there was no useful position left to deploy the artillery, and while it could only be inconvenient during the crossing of the defile, it was pulled back between the 7th and 8th Brigade and followed the former one through the defile.

Lieutenant-colonel von Reckow led the whole rear-guard back in such order that the enemy did not dare to make a single attack with his very superior cavalry; his skirmishers as well were kept in complete respect by ours. General von Brause especially praised the Pomeranian landwehr battalion, which was cunningly led by Major Krüger with great bravery. He recommended Lieutenant Höpfner, which led the skirmishers of the battalion with great bravery, despite having sustained two wounds earlier.

All troops passed the defile, which was occupied by Colonel von Zepelin of the 3rd Army Corps, without losing any man prisoner. On the other side of the defile, the 1st bat/2. Elb-Landwehr-Regiment was deployed behind the mill of Bierges as supports. They only left this position after the mill had been torched and the crossing destroyed.

The 11th Hussar Regiment and the 2nd bat/2. Elb-Landwehr-Regiment were deployed on a height further back, to observe the crossings of the Dyle, until this would be done by the 3rd Army Corps; both detachments returned to the brigade only the next morning, which according to its orders marched to Chapelle St. Lambert. Arriving here it was ordered to advance to Maransart, to cover the left flank of the army. The 4. Churmärkische Cavallerie-Regiment was attached for this purpose. The 8th Brigade followed the corps.”

Source: Militair-Wochenblatt, “Bericht über das Arriergarden-Gefecht bei Wavre den 18. Juni 1815”, 21. Jahrgang (Berlin 1836), pp. 2-3.