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Topics - Mr T

Pages: 1
1
Other Games / Game of Thrones Roleplay Module for Warband
« on: January 02, 2016, 09:04:31 pm »
Hello guys
GoTRP is a Warband mod that began in August 2015 and 1.0 was released in early December. The mod is similar to Persistent World, however the server follows some different rules and is far more focused on the roleplay aspect than war, (plus there's no halt show pouch feature). We try to hold events such as tourneys, feasts, weddings and trials by combats to increase roleplay experience.

The GoTRP Server is under new management as of today with committed admins and we need people to help populate the server. Currently the server has just reset and the RP is set at the start of the book A Clash of King's/Season 2 of the TV series.

I'll put links to the mod and it's forum below, please do try it out to help this mod grow, currently there are plans to update the current map and work on a new one when time permits.

https://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,325985.0.html

http://got-roleplay.net/index.php

Thanks for reading :)

2
Historical Discussion / Favourite Historical Quotes
« on: September 21, 2014, 09:27:56 pm »
Post a discussion in history where someone has been epicly owned, or a badass/brace quote or just a simple quote from one historical figure that appeals to you, I'll start off.


Discussion between a British officer and French privateer Robert Surcouf in the Napoleonic Wars:

British Officer: You French fight for money, while we British fight for honour.

Surcouf: Sir, a man fights for what he lacks the most.

3
Historical Reenactment / French Napoleonic Songs
« on: March 22, 2014, 04:56:50 pm »
This is mainly for Zac but could also be useful for anyone else wanting to learn them.

Best way to learn these songs is by listening to it and having the lyrics in front of you and practicing verse by verse. I've actually made a booklet from an old 21eme one with most of the songs in them, so here I'll put up lyrics and youtube videos of songs, for Battle, for the March, for the Camp fire and Ceremony. The videos should help with the rhythm, but always remember that you need to slow or quicken the pace of the song depending on how you're marching. Bear in mind also that some video versions might not have all the same lyrics as written down here, but I've tried my best to find the most accurate lyrics, so if a verse is missing, try to sing it using the rhythm of the song.

Question of a few choruses: In the songs Cadet Rouselle and Le Chant de l'Oignon, I've often heard the choruses sang twice, but also heard them sung once, personally I'd prefer singing the choruses twice, since they're good choruses that the rest of the regiment can join in on. 

Chansons de Ceremonie

Chant du Depart
Historical background: National anthem of the French Empire and Consulate, due to La Marseillaise being officially banned by Napoleon because of its links with the bloody Revolution. 

Lyrics:
Spoiler
La victoire en chantant
Nous ouvre la barrière.
La Liberté guide nos pas.
Et du Nord au Midi
La trompette guerrière
A sonné l'heure des combats.
Tremblez ennemis de la France
Rois ivres de sang et d'orgueil.
Le Peuple souverain s'avance,
Tyrans descendez au cercueil.

Chorus:
La République nous appelle
Sachons vaincre ou sachons périr
Un Français doit vivre pour elle
Pour elle un Français doit mourir.
[close]
Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]

Chansons de Marche

Alouette
Historical background: The song's origins date back to the colonial days when the French had great presence in North America, fur traders would sing the song to pass the time.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Alouette, gentille alouette,
Alouette, je te plumerai.

Je te plumerai la tête. x2
Et la tête! Et la tête!
Alouette! Alouette!
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai le bec. x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai les yeux. x2
Et les yeux!  x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai le cou. x2
Et le cou!  x2
Et les yeux!  x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai les ailes. x2
Et les ailes!  x2
Et le cou!  x2
Et les yeux!  x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai les pattes. x2
Et les pattes!  x2
Et les ailes!  x2
Et le cou!  x2
Et les yeux!  x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai la queue. x2
Et la queue!  x2
Et les pattes!  x2
Et les ailes!  x2
Et le cou!  x2
Et les yeux!  x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain

Je te plumerai le dos. x2
Et le dos!  x2
Et la queue!  x2
Et les pattes!  x2
Et les ailes!  x2
Et le cou!  x2
Et les yeux!  x2
Et le bec!  x2
Et la tête!  x2
Alouette!  x2
A-a-a-ah

Refrain
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler

[close]

En passant par la Lorraine
Historical background: The song was first printed in 1535

Lyrics:
Spoiler
En passant par la Lorraine,
Avec mes sabots,
En passant par la Lorraine,
Avec mes sabots,
Rencontrai trois capitaines,
Avec mes sabots,
Dondaine, oh ! Oh ! Oh !
Avec mes sabots.

Rencontrai trois capitaines,
Avec mes sabots,
Rencontrai trois capitaines,
Avec mes sabots,
Ils m'ont appelée : Vilaine !
Avec mes sabots,
Dondaine, oh ! Oh ! Oh !
Avec mes sabots.

Ils m'ont appelée : Vilaine !
Avec mes sabots...

Je ne suis pas si vilaine,
Avec mes sabots...

Puisque le fils du roi m'aime,
Avec mes sabots...

Il m'a donné pour étrenne,
Avec mes sabots...

Un bouquet de marjolaine,
Avec mes sabots...

Je l'ai planté sur la plaine,
Avec mes sabots...

S'il fleurit, je serai reine,
Avec mes sabots...

S'il y meurt, je perds ma peine,
Avec mes sabots,
Dondaine, oh ! Oh ! Oh !
Avec mes sabots.
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler

[close]

Aupres de ma Blonde
Historical background:  It appeared during or soon after the Franco-Dutch War, during the reign of Louis XIV, when French sailors and soldiers were commonly imprisoned in the Netherlands.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Dans les jardins de mon père,
Les lilas sont fleuris ;
Tous les oiseaux du monde
Viennent y faire leurs nids.

Refrain
Auprès de ma blonde,
Qu'il fait bon, fait bon, fait bon,
Auprès de ma blonde,
Qu'il fait bon dormir.

Tous les oiseaux du monde
Viennent y faire leurs nids,
La caille, la tourterelle
Et la jolie perdrix.

Refrain

La caille, la tourterelle
Et la jolie perdrix
Et ma joli’ colombe,
Qui chante jour et nuit.

Refrain

Et ma joli’ colombe,
Qui chante jour et nuit
Ell’ chante pour les filles
Qui n'ont pas de mari.

Refrain

Ell’ chante pour les filles
Qui n'ont pas de mari.
Pour moi ne chante guère,
Car j'en ai un joli.

Refrain

Pour moi ne chante guère,
Car j'en ai un joli,
_ Mais dites-moi donc belle
Où est votre mari ?

Refrain

Mais dites-moi donc belle,
Où est votre mari ?
Il est dans la Hollande,
Les Hollandais l'ont pris !

Refrain

Il est dans la Hollande,
Les Hollandais l'ont pris !
Que donneriez-vous, belle
A qui l’ira quérir ?

Refrain

Que donneriez-vous, belle,
A qui l’ira quérir ?
Je donnerais Touraine,
Paris et Saint-Denis.

Refrain

Je donnerais Touraine,
Paris et Saint-Denis,
Les tours de Notre-Dame,
Le clocher d’ mon pays.

Refrain

Les tours de Notre-Dame
Le clocher d’ mon pays,
Et ma jolie colombe,
Qui chante jour et nuit.
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]

Cadet Rouselle
Historical background: In 1792, Gaspard de Chenu, a writer of spiritual and satirical songs, wrote the song "Cadet Rousselle", the song spread beyond the limits of the city when volunteers from Auxerre introduced it to the Armée du Nord. It later spread through all levels of society.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Cadet Rousselle a trois maisons x2
Qui n'ont ni poutres ni chevrons. x2
C'est pour loger les hirondelles,
Que direz vous d'cadet Rousselle ?

Refrain:
Ah ! Ah ! Ah ! mais vraiment,
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant.


Cadet Rousselle a trois habits, x2
Deux jaunes, l'autre en papier gris. x2
Il met celui-ci quand il gèle,
Ou quand il pleut ou quand il grêle,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois chapeaux, x2
Les deux ronds ne sont pas très beaux. x2
Et le troisième est à deux cornes,
De sa tête il a pris la forme,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois beaux yeux, 2
L'un regard' à Caen, l'autre à Bayeux. x2
Comme il n'a pas la vue bien nette,
Le troisième c'est sa lorgnette,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a une épée, x2
Très longue, mais toute rouillée. x2
On dit qu'elle ne cherche querelle,
Qu'aux moineaux et aux hirondelles,
 

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois souliers, x2
Il en met deux dans ses deux pieds, x2
Le troisièm' n'a pas de semelle,
Il s'en sert pour chausser sa belle,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois cheveux, x2
Un pour chaqu'face, un pour la queue, x2
Pourtant parfois avec adresse,
Il les met tous les trois en tresse,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois garçons, x2
L'un est voleur, l'autre est fripon, x2
Le troisième est un peu ficelle,
Il ressemble à Cadet Rousselle.

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois gros chiens, x2
L'un court au lièvr', l'autre au lapin. x2
L'troisièm' s'enfuit quand on l'appelle,
Comm' le chien de Jean de Nivelle,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois beaux chats, x2
Qui n'attrapent jamais les rats, x2
Le troisièm' n'a pas de prunelle,
Il monte au grenier sans chandelle,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a marié x2
Ses trois filles dans trois quartiers, x2
Les deux premièr's ne sont pas belles,
La troisièm' n'a pas de cervelle,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle a trois deniers, x2
C'est pour payer ses créanciers, x2
Quand il a montré ses ressources,
Il les resserre dans sa bourse,

Refrain

Cadet Rousselle s'est fait acteur, x2
Comme Chenier s'est fait auteur, x2
Au café quand il joue son rôle,
Seuls les aveugl's le trouvent drôle,

Refrain

Cadet Roussell' ne mourra pas, x2
Car avant de sauter le pas, x2
On dit qu'il apprend l'orthographe,
Pour faire lui même son épitaphe,

Refrain
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pN_e1MlBR8[/youtube]
[close]
Il Pleut, Il Pleut, Bergere
Historical background: This song was based around Marie Antoinette with the theme of a shepherdess, as this was a common theme of Antoinette.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Il pleut, il pleut bergère,
Presse tes blancs moutons,
Allons sous ma chaumière
Bergère, vite, allons.
J'entends sous le feuillage
L'eau qui tombe à grand bruit,
Voici, voici l'orage
Voici l'éclair qui luit.

Entends-tu le tonnerre ?
Il roule en approchant,
Prends un abri bergère
A ma droite en marchant.
Je vois notre cabane,
Et tiens, voici venir
Ma mère et ma sœur Anne
Qui vont l'étable ouvrir.

Bonsoir,bonsoir ma mère,
Ma sœur Anne bonsoir,
J'amène ma bergère
Près de nous ce soir.
Va te sécher ma mie,
Auprès de nos tisons.
Sœur, fais-lui compagnie,
Entrez, petits moutons.

Soignons bien, ô ma mère
Son tant joli troupeau;
Donnez plus de litière
A son petit agneau.
C'est fait, allons près d'elle
Eh bien, donc, te voilà !
En corset qu'elle est belle
Ma mère voyez-la.

Soupons! Prends cette chaise,
Tu seras près de moi;
Ce flambeau de mélèze
Brûlera devant toi.
Goûte de ce laitage
Mais tu ne manges pas !
Tu te sens de l'orage ?
Il a lassé tes pas.

Eh bien! voilà ta couche :
Dors-y bien jusqu'au jour;
Laisse-moi sur ta bouche
Prendre un baiser d'amour.
Ne rougis pas, bergère,
Ma mère et moi demain
Nous irons chez ton père
Lui demander ta main.
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]

La Prise de Mantoue
Historical Background: In 1796-97, the French besieged the city of Mantoue. This song was written after that the Austrians capitulated. It is a dialogue between the French General and the Austrian who was in charge of the defense of the city (Le Gouverneur).

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Le Gouverneur :
Grand général,
Il n'y a plus de résistance,
Grand général,
Finissez votre bacanal.
N'ayant plus de défense,
Je me rends à la France,
Vous présentant d'avance
Les clés, peur d'autre mal.

Le Général :
Vous sortirez tambours battants,
Mèche allumée, drapeaux volants,
Mais la garnison de ce temps
Sera prisonnière,
Comme on dit, de guerre ;
C'est ainsi qu'agit en honneur
Le Français, quand il est vainqueur.

Le Gouverneur :
C'en est donc fait !
La ville il faut donc vous vous remettre,
C'en est donc fait !
Vous allez être satisfait.
Mais l'Empereur mon maître
Ne l'est pas trop, peut-être,
Apprenant qu'il faut mettre
Cette place aux Français.

Le Général :
Ah ! gouverneur soyez content
D'en sortir aussi librement.
Je connais bien assurément
Votre grand courage
Dans tout ce ravage,
Et on ne saurait trop louer
Vos soldats et vos officiers.

Le Gouverneur :
C'est un malheur
Que nous avons manqué de force,
C'est un malheur
Qui me cause bien mal au coeur.
Et le Français se joue
En me prenant Mantoue,
Mais aussi, je me loue
De vous, puissant vainqueur.

Le Général :
Quoi que je sois votre vainqueur,
Je vous accorde tout honneur,
Vous pourrez dire à l'Empereur
Que la République
Ne met en pratique
Que la gloire et la probité
Pour soutenir la liberté.

Le Gouverneur :
Allons, partons,
Mais laissez-nous quelque bagage,
Allons, partons,
Aussi quelques munitions.
Et malgré ces alarmes,
Laissez-nous quelques armes
Avec quelques gendarmes,
Aussi quelques canons.

Le Général :
Vous aurez, en suivant les lois,
Cinq cents hommes
A votre choix.
Chevaux garnis de leur harnois
Officiers de guerres,
Braves militaires.
De plus, six pièces de canon,
C'est assez comme de raison.
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYHorsok66E[/youtube]
[close]

Les Dragons des Noailles

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Ils ont traversé le Rhin
Avec Monsieur de Turenne
Au son des fifres et tambourins
Ils ont traversé le Rhin

Refrain :
Lon, lon, la
Laissez les passer
Les Français sont dans la Lorraine
Lon, lon, la
Laissez les passer
Ils ont eu du mal assez

Ils ont incendié Coblence
Les fiers Dragons de Noailles
Et pillé le Palatinat
Ils ont incendié Coblence

Ils ont fait tous les chemins
D’Anjou, d’Artois et du Maine
Ils n’ont jamais eu peur de rien
Ils ont fait tous les chemins

Ils ont pavoisé Paris
Les fiers Dragons de Noailles
Avec les trophées ennemis
Ils ont pavoisé Paris
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpE9eya-k1Q[/youtube]
[close]


Le Depart de Boulogne
Historical background: Probably composed after Napoleon's stunningly succesful campaign in 1805, the song is about the Grande Armee leaving Boulogne, where many corps had been encamped to prepare for an invasion of England, and marching East to fight the Austrians and Russians. The song is mentioned in the famous memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne of the Russian campaign in 1812.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Les Autrichiens disaient tous bas,
Les Français vont vite en besogne;
Prenons tandis qu'il n'y sont pas l'Alsace et la Bourgogne,
Ah! Tu t'en souviendra'larira,
Du depart de Boulogne. (x2)

De Paris le general mack,
Avait pris sans vergogne;
Il nous preparait du mick-mack, et voici qu'on l'empoigne.
Ah! Il s'en souviendra,larira,
Du depart de Boulogne. (x2)

Ne trouvant plus ses bons amis,
La Russie se renfrogne.
Monsieur Kutusof,il sont pris: regagnez la Pologne.
Ah!Il vous souviendra,larira,
Du depart de Boulogne. (x2)

On m'a fait faire,dit Francois,
De la belle besogne:
J'ai cru leur donner sur les doigts ce sont les miens qu'on rogne.
Ah!Il m'en souviendra,larira ,
Du depart de Boulogne.

Je te vois rire,Anglais cruel,
Quand pour toi l'on se cogne,
Mais nos amis sont au texel, aissi qu'a la corogne
Et l'on retrouvera,larira, gne;
Le chemin de Boulogne. (x2)
[close]

Youtube Link:
Spoiler
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KGkSaXDooE[/youtube]
[close]
Chansons de Bataille

Le Chant de l'Oignon
Historical background: Legend has it the song was born shortly before the Battle of Marengo on 14 June 1800 . Bonaparte saw grenadiers who were vigorously rubbing a crust of bread. "- What are you rubbing on your bread? he asked them. "This is onion, sir."  "Ah! There is nothing better to walk briskly along the path of glory ". This song is also good for the march, it was the favorite song of grenadiers of the guard.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
J'aime l'oignon frît à l'huile,
J'aime l'oignon quand il est bon,
J'aime l'oignon frît à l'huile,
J'aime l'oignon, j'aime l'oignon.

(refrain)
Au pas camarade, au pas camarade,
Au pas, au pas, au pas.
Au pas camarade, au pas camarade,
Au pas, au pas, au pas.

Un seul oignon frît à l'huile,
Un seul oignon nous change en lion,
Un seul oignon frît à l'huile
un seul oignon nous change en lion.

(refrain)

Mais pas d'oignons aux Autrichiens,
Non pas d'oignons à tous ces chiens,
Mais pas d'oignons aux Autrichiens,
Non pas d'oignons, non pas d'oignons.

(refrain)

Aimons l'oignon frît à l'huile,
Aimons l'oignon car il est bon,
Aimons l'oignon frît à l'huile,
Aimons l'oignon, aimons l'oignon

(refrain)
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]


Chansons de Feu de Camp

Au Trente-un du Mois d'Aout
Historical background: This song is about the taking of a British frigate called Kent on the 31st of June 1800, reenactors seem to change the line in the chorus "A la sante du Roi de France" to "A la sante l'Empereur de Francais" or something similar.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Au trente-et-un du mois d'août (bis)
On vit venir sous l' vent à nous (bis)
Une frégate d'Angleterre
Qui fendait la mers-et les flots:
C'était pour attaquer Bordeaux

Refrain:
Buvons un coup, buvons en deux,
A la santé des amoureux
A la santé du Roi de France,
Et merd' pour le Roi d'Angleterre
Qui nous a déclaré la guerre!

Le Capitain' du bâtiment (bis)
Fit appeler son lieutenant, (bis)
" Lieutenant, te sens-tu capable:
Dis-moi te sens-tu, assez fort
Pour prendre l'Anglais à son bord?

Refrain

Le Lieutenant, fiers-et hardi (bis)
Lui répondit: " Capitain'-z-oui! (bis)
Fait's branle-bas à l'équipage
Je vas hisser le pavillon
Qui rest'ra haut nous le jurons! "

Refrain

Le maître donne un coup d´sifflet (bis)
Pour faire monter les deux bordées (bis)
Tout est paré pour l´abordage
Hardis gabiers, fiers matelots
Braves canonniers, mousses, petiots.

Refrain

Vire lof pour lof en arrivant, (bis)
Je l´abordions par son avant (bis)
A coup de haches d´abordage
De pique, de sabre, de mousquetons,
En trois cinq sec, je l´arrimions

Refrain

Que dira-t-on du grand rafiot, (bis)
A Brest, A Londres, et à Bordeaux, (bis)
Qu´a laissé prendre son équipage
Par un corsaire de six canons
Lui qu´en avait trente et si bons?

Refrain
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]

Fanchon
Historical background:  Often attributed to none other than Général Antoine-Charles LaSalle. While this authorship is subject to doubt, as the song may well have existed in the 18th Century even before LaSalle's birth, it was probably one of his favorites and frequently sung by his troops. It even foreshadows modern women's liberation, as Fanchon is accepted and celebrated for being "one of the guys". Theres some question as to whether Oui comme nous! in the choris is repeated 3 times or not at all.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Ami il faut faire une pause
J’aperçois l’ombre d’un bouchon.
Buvons à l’aimable Fanchon
Chantons pour elle quelque chose.

Refrain:
Ah ! que son entretien est doux !
Qu’elle à mérite et de gloire !
Elle aime à rire, elle aime à boire
Elle aime à chanter comme nous
Elle aime à rire, elle aime à boire
Elle aime à chanter comme nous
Elle aime à rire, elle aime à boire
Elle aime à chanter comme nous
Oui, comme nous !
 
Fanchon préfère la grillade
A d’autres mets plus délicats.
Son teint prend un nouvel éclat
Quand on lui verse une rasade.

Refrain

Fanchon, quoique bonne chrétienne
Fut baptisée avec du vin
Un Bourguignon fut son parrain
Une Bretonne sa marraine.

Refrain

Fanchon ne se montre cruelle
Que lorsqu'on lui parle d'amour.
Mais moi je ne lui fais la cour
Que pour m’enivrer avec elle.

Refrain

Un jour, le voisin La Grenade
Voulut lui prendre le corset.
Elle riposta d’un soufflet
Sur le museau du camarade.

Refrain
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]

Dans les Hussards

Lyrics:
Spoiler
Le hussard au quartier (bis)
N'a pas besoin de marchepied,
pour engueuler son brigadier...

Refrain:
Ah ! La belle vie que l'on mène
Dans les hussards, dans les hussards. (bis)

Le hussard, au manèg' (bis)
Malgré la basan' qui l' protèg'
Use plus vit' son dos que son siège

Refrain

Le hussard, en amour (bis)
Va de l'avant comme un tambour
Jamais on n' l'a vu rester court

Refrain

Le hussard, au cercueil (bis)
Même après qu'il a tourné lœil
S'écrie encore avec orgueil

Regrain
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[close]

Le Conscrit de l'an 1810/ Le conscrit du Languedoc
Perfect for the late night around the fire ! This song is sad and so it was forbidden to sing it in the ranks. Interesting to see this exhaustion of the revolutionary excitement to fight in this late Empire song.
Lyrics:
Spoiler
Je suis pauvre conscrit
De l'an mil huit cent dix
Faut quitter le Languedô, le Languedô
Faut quitter le Languedô
Avec le sac sur le dos

Le maire et aussi l'préfet
N'en sont deux jolis cadets
Ils nous font tirer au sort, tirer au sort
Tirer au sort
Pour nous conduire à la mort

Adieu mon père, au revoir
Et ma mère adieu bonsoir
Ecrivez-moi de temps en temps, de temps en temps
De temps en temps
Pour m'envoyer de l'argent

Adieu donc chères beautés
Dont nos cœurs sont enchantés.
Ne pleurez point notr'départ, notr'départ
Notre départ
Nous vous reviendrons tôt ou tard

Adieu donc mon pauvre cœur
Vous consolerez ma sœur
Vous y direz que Fanfan, que Fanfan
Oui que Fanfan
Il est mort en combattant.

Qui n'a fait cette chanson
N'en sont trois jolis garçons
Ils étaient faiseurs de bas, faiseurs de bas
Faiseurs de bas
À cette heure ils seront soldats.
[close]

Youtube Link:
Spoiler
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S_TGLwpeG4[/youtube]
[close]

Chansons de Revolutionaire

La Carmagnole
Historical background: There are varied accounts of this song and where it was sung. It was mainly sung as a rallying cry or as entertainment among a group of pro-revolutionaries. It was also used as an insult to those who did not support the French Revolution. Popular punishment was to make them "sing and dance the Carmagnole", which could be done to marquises, dames, princes, monks, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the like. La Carmagnole has also been documented as a rallying cry in battle. At the battle of Jemappes it is written that, "the sans-culottes in the army rushed the enemy singing "La Marseillaise" and "La Carmagnole." It was a great republican victory, and all of Belgium fell to the revolutionary armies."

When not sung during an actual battle, the Carmagnole was often sung after political or military victories. One such event occurred after the storming of the Tuileries Palace on the night of August 9–10, 1792. The radical people of Paris asserted their power by forcing the king to flee to the nearby National Assembly. After storming the palace and massacring the King's personal Swiss Guard, the mob of Paris was "drunk with blood, danced and sang the Carmagnole to celebrate the victory." The song was also more generally associated with grassroots popular displays, such as festivals or the planting of liberty trees. It was common to include public singing at these symbolic events, and over the course of the Revolution "some 60,000 liberty trees were planted" giving the people many opportunities to sing.

Lyrics:
Spoiler
1. Madam´ Véto avait promis {2x}
De faire égorger tout Paris {2x}
Mais le coup a manqué
Grâce à nos canonniers

Refrain:
Dansons la carmagnole
Vive le son vive le son!
Dansons la carmagnole
Vive le son du canon!

2. Monsieur Véto avait promis {2x}
D´être fidèle à son pays {2x}
Mais il a manqué
Ne faisons plus quartier
{au Refrain}

3. Antoinette avait résolu {2x}
De nous faire tomber sur le cu {2x}
Mais son coup a manqué,
Elle a le nez cassé
{au Refrain}

4. Son mari se croyant vainqueur {2x}
Connaissait peu notre valeur {2x}
Va, Louis, gros paour,
Du temple dans la tour
{au Refrain}

5. Les suisses avaient promis {2x}
Qu´ils feraient feu sur nos amis {2x}
Mais comme ils ont sauté
Comme ils ont tous dansé
{au Refrain}

6. Quand Antoinette vit la tour {2x}
Elle voulut faire demi-tour {2x}
Elle avait mal au cœur
De se voir sans honneur
{au Refrain}

7. Lorsque Louis vit fossoyer {2x}
A ceux qu´il voyait travailler {2x}
Il disait que pour peu
Il était dans ce lieu
{au Refrain}

8. Le patriote a pour amis {2x}
Toutes les bonnes gens du pays {2x}
Mais ils se soutiendront
Tous au son du canon
{au Refrain}

9. L´aristocrate a pour amis {2x}
Tous les royalistes à Paris {2x}
Ils vous les soutiendront
Tout comme de vrais poltrons

10. La gendarmerie avait promis {2x}
Qu´elle soutiendrait la patrie {2x}
Mais ils n´ont pas manqué
Au son du canonnier
{au Refrain}

11. Amis, restons toujours unis {2x}
Ne craignons pas nos ennemis {2x}
S´ils viennent nous attaquer,
Nous les ferons sauter
{au Refrain}

12. Oui, je suis sans-culotte, moi {2x}
En dépit des amis du roi {2x}
Vivent les Marseillais
Les bretons et nos lois
{au Refrain}

13. Oui, nous nous souviendrons toujours
Des sans-culottes des faubourg {2x}
A leur santé, nous buvons,
Vivent ces francs lurons
{au Refrain}
[close]

Youtube link:
Spoiler
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UexdWkqkrp0[/youtube]
[close]

4
Off Topic / Save Ripper Street!!!!!
« on: December 05, 2013, 01:09:11 am »
Hello all,
In case you didn't know, Ripper Street is a fantastic, mature BBC drama set in Victorian Whitechapel, it truly is one of the best BBC dramas produced, BUT the brainless idiots at the top of BBC have decided to axe the show because it gets less ratings than bloody I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here......

I mean, seriously? It makes me lose hope for mankind.

So I urge you, even if you've never seen the show (which you should check out if you haven't) please sign this petition to hopefully save the show, sign it so our television isn't dominated by brainless reality shows, please!

Please just take one or two minutes of your time to sign it, I urge you to share this with anyone else too, thanks

http://www.change.org/petitions/reverse-the-bbc-s-decision-to-cancel-ripper-street?fb_action_ids=10152028725394647&fb_action_types=change-org%3Arecruit&fb_ref=__FHZBRvkGGg&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B558951404175871%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22change-org%3Arecruit%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%22__FHZBRvkGGg%22%5D

5
I'd like to present here our official Youtube channel created by Caporal Maple, he and other members of the 1er will present videos of linebattles and other things we do including in other games.
We'd greatly appreciated if everyone could like our videos so that they reach a wider audience and to help us make more videos, just a few seconds of your time to like a video is all we ask. We hope you enjoy our content!

The Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4BmTUOV3KtrfRnpgMxOgeA

Our first video:

Related Channels:
CuddlyNeedle's: http://www.youtube.com/user/CuddlyNeedle

Latest video(s):

My Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMattork

Latest video(s):
                       

6
Historical Discussion / My History A2 Coursework
« on: July 01, 2013, 06:59:56 pm »
What ho chaps,
So today I've started me A2 course in History, and we are doing coursework throughout the next year. We have to select a topic of our choosing and then select a question to answer in a 3000 word essay. Now I am 100% positive I want my topic to be the Napoleonic era, however I am struggling to decide on an actual question to answer as there are so many I could write about.
So I was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind shooting some question ideas to give me a hand. The question has to be along the lines of "How significant was...something" or "To what extent....something". I am also aiming for the question to be centred around either a person or an event, for example "How significant was Marshal Berthier to Napoleon's army organisation?" or something.

Cheers lads,

-Mr T
 

7
Historical Discussion / The Prussians at Waterloo
« on: April 12, 2013, 11:24:03 pm »
So since we have a thread about the Dutch-Belgian contribution to the battle of Waterloo, I thought it fitting to make a thread about the major Prussian involvement which is often overlooked. I'll tell as much as I can about the French's actions towards the Prussians during the campaign too, especially Grouchy's pursuit. I'll provide as much information as I know and can gather and I hope people learn something. Hope you enjoy reading as I enjoyed writing.

Prussian Order of Battle
So in Belgium during the Waterloo campaign, the Prussian army consisted of four Corps, leading the army of course was Feldmarshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.

Army Staff
Commander-in-Chief: Feldmarshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.
Quartermaster-General: GL August Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau
Chief-of-General-Staff: GM Karl Wilhelm Georg von Grolman
Chief-of-Artillery: GM Karl Friedrich von Holtzendorff (GdI Prinz August)
Head of Commissariat: GM von Panhuys
Director of Police: Ob. Loucey

I Army Corps
Spoiler
Corps Commander: GL Hans Ernst Karl Graf von Ziethen II 
Chief-of-Staff: Ob.Ltn. von Reiche (Mjr. Groben)
Chief-of-Artillery: Ob.Ltn. Lehmann
Chiefs-of-Engineers: Ltn. Beyer and Ltn. Wittich

1st Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Steinmetz

Artillery- VII Foot Battery(FB), [168 men] (Foot Batteries consisted of 6 6pdr cannons, 2 7pdr howitzers)
Light Infantry- II and III Schützen Company [375 men]
Line Infantry- '2nd Brandenburg' Inf. Reg. [2.330 men] + 100 Volunteers Jägers
                     '4th Brandenburg' Inf. Reg. [2.406 men]
Landwehr- 1st Westphalian Landwehr. Inf. Reg. [2.463 men] + 224 Westphalian Landwehr. Jägers

2nd Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Pirch II

Artillery- III FB [171 men]
Line Infantry- '1st West Prussian' Inf. Reg. [2.444 men] + 201 Volunteer Jägers
                     '1st Berg' Inf. Reg. [2.433 men] + 200 Volunteer Jägers
Landwehr- 2nd Westphalian Land. Inf. Reg. [2.448 men] + 49 Westphalian Land. Jägers

3rd Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Jagow

Artillery-  VIII FB [171 men]
Light Infantry- I and IV Schützen Company [350 men]
Line Infantry- '2nd West Prussian' Inf. Reg. [2.401 men] + 48 Westphalian Land. Jägers
                     '2nd Berg' Inf. Reg. [2.459 men] + 171 Volunteer Jägers
Landwehr- 3rd Westphalian Land. Inf. Reg. [2.244 men] + 167 Westphalian Land. Jägers

4th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck

Artillery- XV FB [169 men]
Line Infantry- '1st Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.537 men] This regiment was in Mainz at the time.
                     '7th Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.047 men]
Landwehr-   4th Westphalian Land. Inf. Reg. [2.554 men] + 100 Westphalian Land. Jägers

Reserve Cavalry
Commander: GL Friedrich Erhard Leopold von Roeder
Chief-of-Staff: Mjr. Graf von der Groeben

1st Cavalry Brigade- Commander: GM von Treskow II
                              3rd 'Brandenburg' Uhlan Reg. [500 men in 3 sq.]
                              2nd '1st West Prussian' Dragoon Reg. [482 men in 3 sq.]
                              5th 'Brandenburg' Dragoon Reg. [615 men in 4 sq.]
                              4th '1st Silesian' Hussar Reg. [468 men in 3 sq.]

2nd Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob. Lutzow II
                               6th Uhlan Reg. [440 men in 3 sq.] + 65 horse Jägers
                               Westphalian Land. Cav. Reg. [591 men in 4 sq.]
                               1st Kurmärk Land. Cav. Reg. [227 men in 3 sq.]
                               2nd Kurmärk Land. Cav. Reg. [309 men in 4 sq.]

Reserve Arillery
Commander: Mjr. von Rentzell

II Position Battery(PB) [227 men] - Position Batterys contained 6 12pdr cannons and 2 10pdr howitzers
VI PB [227 men]
IX PB [227 men]

I FB [165 men]
I Howitzer Battery [205 men, 8 x 7pdr howitzers]

II Horse Battery(HB) [175 men]
VII HB [171 men]
X HB [175 men]
Company of Engineers

In Total, 31,500-34,800 men and 88-96 guns
 (33-34 battalions, 27-32 squadrons, 11-12 batteries)
[close]

II Army Corps
Spoiler
Corps Commander: GM Georg Dubislav Ludwig von Pirch-I
Chief-of-Staff: Ob. von Aster
Chief-of-Artillery: Ob.-Ltn. von Röhl
Chief-of-Engineers: Ob. von Aster

5th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Tippelskirch

Artillery- X FB [160 men]
Line Infantry- '1st Pommeranian' Inf. Reg. [2.626 men] + 313 Volunteer Jägers
                      25th 'Lutzow' Inf. Reg. [2.339 men] + 175 Jägers
Landwehr- 5th Westphalian Land. Inf. Reg. [2.340 men] + 125 Westphalian Land. Jägers

6th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Krafft

Artillery- V FB [169 men]
Line Infantry- 9th 'Kolberg' Inf. Reg. [2.452 men] + 135 Volunteer Jägers
                     26th 'Elbe' Inf. Reg. [1.938 men] + 75 Volunteer Jägers
Landwehr- 1st Elba Land. Inf. Reg. [2.460 men]

7th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Brause

Artillery- XXXIV FB [167 men]
Line Infantry- '2nd Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.539 men]
                     '10th Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.097 men]
Landwehr- 2nd Elba Land. Inf. Reg. [2.458 men]

8th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Bose

Artillery- XII FB [168 men]
Line Infantry- '9th Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.514 men]
                     '11th Reserve' Inf. Reg. [1.840 men]
Landwehr- 3rd Elba Land. Inf. Reg. [2.461 men]

Reserve Cavalry
Commander: GM Alexander Georg von Wahlen-Jürgass
Chief-of-Staff: Mjr. von Cofel
Adjutant: Mjr. von Paulsdorf

1st Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob. von Thümen
                              2nd 'Silesian' Uhlan Reg.[500 men in 4 sq.]
                              6th 'Neumark' Dragoon Reg.[498 men in 4 sq.]
                              1st 'Queen's Own' Dragoon Reg.[620 men in 4 sq.]

2nd Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob.Ltn. von Sohr
                               3rd 'Brandenburg' Hussar Reg.[570 men in 4 sq.]
                               5th 'Pommeranian' Hussar Reg. [582 men in 4 sq.]
                               11th 'Berg and Saxon' Hussar Reg. [455 men in 3 sq.] + 60 horse Jägers.
                               Note: 2 sq. were attached to 5th Inf. Brig. and 2 sq. to 6th Inf. Brig.

3rd Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob. Graf von Schulenburg
                               4th Kurmärk Land. Cav. Reg. [485 men in 6 sq.]
                               5th Kurmärk Land. Cav. Reg. [462 men in 4 sq.]
                               Elba Land. Cav. Reg. [570 men in 4 sq.]
                               2 sq. were attached to 7th Inf.-Brigade and 2 to 8th Inf.-Brigade

Reserve Artillery
Commander: GM Ernst Andreas von Röhl

IV PB [238 men]
VIII PB [220 men]
X PB [220 men]

XXXVII FB [167 men]
II Howitzer Battery [182 men, 8 7pdr howitzers]

V HB [176 men]
VI HB [194 men]
XIV HB [179 men]

In Total, 33,000-36,000 men and 80-96 guns
 (36 battalions, 36-37 squadrons, 10-12 batteries)
 
[close]

III Army Corps
Spoiler
Corps Commander: GL Johann Adolf Freiherr von Thielemann
Chief-of-Staff: Ob. von Clausewitz

9th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Borcke

Artillery- XVIII FB [182 men]
Line Infantry- 8th 'Life' Inf. Reg. [2.485 men] + 325 Volunteer Jägers
                     '1st Russo-German Legion' Inf. Reg. [2.475 men]
Landwehr- 1st 'Berlin' Kurmärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.181 men]

10th Infantry Brigade
Commander: Ob. von Kemphen

Artillery- XXXV FB [167 men]
Line Infantry- 20th Inf. Reg. [2.466 men] - This reg.was in Mainz at the time.
                     27th Inf. Reg. [2.262 men]
Landwehr- 2nd Kurmärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.156 men]

11th Infantry Brigade
Commander: Ob. Luck und Witten

Artillery- XXXVI FB [162 men]
Line Infantry- 32nd Inf.Reg. However some Historians say this regiment was not yet formed.
Landwehr- 3rd Kurmärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.327 men]
                4th Kurmärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.316 men]

12th Infantry Brigade
Commander: Ob. Stülpnagel

Artillery- XXIV FB [168 men]
Line Infantry- '2nd Russo-German Legion' Inf. Reg. [2.557 men]
Landwehr- 5th Kurmärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.148 men]
                6th Kurmärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.169 men]

Reserve Cavalry
Commander: GM Karl von Hobe
Chief-of-Staff: Mjr. Auer
Adjutant: Kpt. von Behrendt

1st Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob. von der Marwitz
                              7th 'Russian-German Legion' Uhlan Reg. [384 men in 3 sq.]
                              8th Uhlan Reg. [627 men in 4 sq.]
                              3rd Kurmärk Land. Cav. Reg. [420 men in 4 sq.]
                              -2 sq. were attached to 9th Inf. Brig. and 2 to 10th Inf. Brig.
                              12th Hussar Reg.

2nd Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob. Graf von Lottum
                               5th Uhlan Reg. [454 men in 3 sq.]
                               6th Kurmärk Land. Cav. Reg. [411 men in 4 sq.]
                               -2 sq. were attached to 11th Inf. Brigade and 2 sq. to 12th Inf. Brigade
                               7th Dragoon Reg. [413 men in 3 sq.]
                               9th Hussar Reg. [464 men in 3 sq.] + 71 horse Jägers
                               -2 sq. the the jagers were on outposts near Dinant

Reserve Artillery
Commander: Ob. Eberhard von Monhaupt

VII PB [227 men]
XI PB [200 men]
XII PB [205 men]

XXX FB [162 men]
III Howitzer Battery [196 men, 8 7pdr howitzers]

XVIII HB [179 men]
XIX HB [179 men] 
XX HB [179 men]

In Total, 30,000-33,000 men and 48-96 guns
 (30-33 battalions, 22-32 squadrons, 6-12 batteries)
 
[close]

IV Army Corps
Spoiler
Corps Commander: GdI Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Dennewitz Bülow
Chief-of-Staff: GM Valentini
Staff Officer: Ltn. von Trzebiatowski
Adjutants: Mjr. Drygalski , Kpt. von Bulow, Kpt. Smilowski
Chief-of-Engineers: Ltn. Bushbeck

13th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Hacke

Artillery- XXI FB [180 men]
Line Infantry- '1st Silesian' Inf. Reg. [2.393 men.]
Landwehr- 2nd Neumärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.074 men]
                3rd Neumärk Land. Inf. Reg. [2.366 men]

14th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Ryssel 

Artillery- XIII FB [185 men]
Line Infantry- '2nd Silesian' Inf. Reg. [2.154 men]
Landwehr- 1st Pommeranian Land. Inf. Reg. [2.461 men]
                2nd Pommeranian Land. Inf. Reg. [2.415 men]

15th Infantry Brigade
Commander: GM von Losthin

Artillery- XIV FB [183 men]
Line Infantry- '6th Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.395 men]
Landwehr- 3rd Silesian Land. Inf. Reg. [1.905 men] + 36 Jägers
                4th Silesian Land. Inf. Reg. [1.777 men]

16th Infantry Brigade
Commander: Ob. Hiller von Gaertringen 

Artillery- II FB [167 men]
Line Infantry- '3rd Reserve' Inf. Reg. [2.444 men]
Landwehr- 1st Silesian Land. Inf. Reg. [1.800 men] + 25 Silesian Land. Jägers
                2nd Silesian Land. Inf. Reg. [1.708 men] 

Reserve Cavalry
Commander: Prinz Wilhelm (He was the younger brother of the King)
Chief-of-Staff: Mjr. von Hedemann

1st Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob. von Schwerin 
                              1st '1st West Prussian' Uhlan Reg.[641 men in 4 sq.]
                              6th '2nd Silesian' Hussar Reg.[577 men in 4 sq.]
                              10th Hussar Reg.[573 men in 4 sq.]

2nd Cavalry Brigade- Commander: Ob.Ltn. von Watzdorf
                               8th Dragoon Reg. [397 men in 3 sq.]
                               8th Hussar Reg. [449 men in 3 sq.]
                               3rd Silesian Land. Cav. Reg.
                               2 sq. attached to 15th Brigade, and 2 sq. to 16th Inf. Brigade

3rd Cavalry Brigade- Commander: GM von Sydow
                               1st Neumärk Land. Cav. Reg. [364 men in 3 sq.]
                               2nd Neumärk Land. Cav. Reg. [426 men in 3 sq.]
                               1st Pommeranian Land. Cav. Reg. [304 men in 3 sq.]
                               2nd Pommeranian Land. Cav. Reg. [316 men in 3 sq.]
                               2nd Silesian Land. Cav. Reg. [415 men in 4 sq.]
                               2 sq. attached to 13th Brigade, and 2 sq. to 14th Inf. Brigade.

Reserve Artillery
Commander: GM Johann von Braun

III PB [229 men]
V PB [207 men]
XIII PB [214 men]

XI FB
IV Howitzer Battery [194 men, 8 7pdr howitzers]

I HB [150 men] 
XI HB [165 men] 
XII HB [180 men]

In Total, 34,500-37,800 men and 96 guns
 (36 battalions, 39-48 squadrons, 12 batteries)
[close]

Rank Abbreviations
Spoiler
Abbreviations of Prussian ranks and troops:
FM - Feldmarshall 
GdK - Generall der Kavallerie (General of Cavalry)
GdI - Generall der Infanterie (General of Infantry)
GL - Generalleutnant (General Lieutenant)
GM - Generallmajor (General Major)
Ob. - Oberst (Colonel)
Ob.-Ltn. - Oberstleutenant (Colonel-Lieutenant)
Mjr. - Major (Major)
Kpt. - Kapitan (Captain)
btns. - battalions
sq. - squadrons
Land. - Landwehr
Inf. Reg. - Infantry Regiment
Cav. Reg. - Cavalry Regiment
PB - Position Battery [6 12pdr cannons , 2 10pdr howitzers]
FB - Foot Battery [6 6pdr cannons, 2 7pdr howitzers]
HB - Horse Battery [6 6pdr cannons, 2 7pdr howitzers]
[close]
Overall, the Prussian army had 129,000 - 141,000 men and 312-384 cannosn. The Line and Landwehr Regiments consisted of three field battalions each, each battalion numbering around 800 men. What is worth noting is the large amount of Landwehr in this army and the Prussian Guard, the cuirassiers and the grenadiers were not present at Ligny and Waterloo. Some Historians consider this army the worst fielded by the Prussians in all the Napoleonic and Revolutionary wars. This was because of the general deterioration of resources and "Prussia was largely agrarian and economically underdeveloped." However it was the leadership in this Prussian army that held the army together, the Napoleonic wars had encouraged the European powers to advance in terms of military understanding, leading to army staffs to improve, Prussia no exception. By 1815, the Prussian soldier was now animated by both patriotism, and a bitter hatred for the French, which would prove evident on the 18th of June.

Map


Early Events of the Campaign
I'll talk about the Prussian army's actions during the days before Waterloo, or rather when Napoleon began his lightning advance into Belgium. Now neither Blucher or Wellington expected Napoleon to attack them, Blucher said "Bonaparte will not attack us" while Wellington proclaimed "We are too strong to be attacked here". Their headquarters were drastically far apart. During the early stages of the French invasion, the I and III Prussian Army Corps were close to the border and occupied defensive positions behind the rivers. The I Corps under Ziethen were attacked on the 15th as the French intended to cross the river in front of Ligny and Fleurus.
Thuin
The first shots fired were at Thuin, on the Prussian right flank, where Steinmentz's 1st Infantry brigade were. The French advance guard came in contact with the 1st Wesphailian Landwehr, who fell back to Thuin. At Couillet, on the Sambre River below Charleroi, the French cavalry fell upon a company of III/1st Berg Infantry Regiment, surrounded it, and forced it to surrender. The French light cavalry advanced on the Prussian outposts, the Prussians retired, skirmishing.

Taking of Charleroi
The French continued their advance and gained position of Marcinelles, a village close to Charleroi and connected with this town by a dike 300 paces in length, terminating at a bridge, the head of which was palisaded. Along this dike the French cavalry advanced, but was driven back by the Prussian skirmishers, who lined the hedges and ditches intersecting the opposite slope of the embankment. A part of the village was retaken, and an attempt was made to destroy the bridge. The French, however, having renewed the attack with increased force, succeeded in carrying both the dike and the bridge, and by this means effected their entrance into Charleroi.
Historian Henri Lachoque makes an interesting point about the peoples reaction in Charleroi "At that time they readily acclaimed Napoleon; but they feared his soldiers, who had a reputation as pillagers and whose lack of discipline was well known. They preferred the English, who were governed by an iron fist and who paid well. However, they were prepared to welcome the French because they had chased away the Prussians - brutal, mean, ravenous and hating anyone who spoke French." This is quite typical with the common Prussian soldiers attitudes towards the French, the Prussians had gained a seething and burning hatred for the French.
"The bridge in Charleroi was 8 m wide, protected by a palisade, barricaded and defended in front and in the rear." Prussian troops held this bridge, at noon however, French light infantry overthrew the Prussian battalion that was defending the bridge and the Guard Sappers and Marines threw the barricades into the river. Napoleon launched half of his I Cavalry Corps over the bridge, but the Prussians halted them with canister fire. The Prussians were now in retreat.
According to Historian Andrew Uffindell the Belgian citizens of Charleroi informed the French "that the Prussian garrison of the town had been so surprised that some of the officers fled in a state of undress. Napoleon roared with laughter when he heard the story. He himself was eating the lunch prepared for Ziethen at the Chateau Puissant on the south bank of the Sambre."
At Marchienne au Pont, the French II Corps under Reille was affecting its crossing, the Prussians fell back.

A French General, Bourmont deserted to the Allies that day, French soldiers spat out his name in anger, Blucher on seeing Bourmont refused to receive him, saying: "A cur is always a cur."

I Corps Retreat
Ziethen's I Corps was retreating slowly towards Fleurus, protecting the rest of the Prussian army concentrating at Sombreffe. There were clashes around Gosselies involving Steinmetz's Infantry Brigade against units from Reille's II Corps, Steinmetz continued his retreat to Fleurus.

Combat at Gilly
The 2nd Infantry Brigade of I Corps under von Pirch when driven from Charleroi retired to Gilly where at 2pm they took position behind a rivulet. why Pirch position his skirmishers to protect his battery, the I/2nd Westphalian Landwehr and the Westphalian Landwehr Cavalry were on the march to Fleurus. Pirch continued his retreat while being followed by the French cavalry, at 5pm the exhausted French III Corps arrived at Gilly. Napoleon himself was organising an assault on Gilly, the Old Guard Dragoons formed his reserve, at 6pm the French started their attack, the Prussian battery was in the act of replying to the fire from the French artillery, and the skirmishers were already engaged, when Pirch received Ziethen's orders to avoid an action against superior numbers, and to retire upon Fleurus. Meanwhile the French skirmishers were able to push back the Prussian outposts.
The Prussian retreat had scarcely commenced when their battalions were assailed by French cavalry. Napoleon, in the hope of profiting by this retrograde movement, sent against the Prussians the Old Guard Dragoons Guard under General Letort.

Pirch's Retreat from Gilly
The Prussian infantry withstood the repeated attacks of the cavalry, and aided by the1st West Prussian Dragoons, checked enemy’s progress. The Fusilier Battalion of 28th Infantry Regiment was the only troop broken in this engagement. When the Prussians left the battlefield, dissapointed Napoleon sent Pajol's and Letort's cavalry in pursuit. The French cavalry was without horse artillery. The F/6th Infantry under Major von Haine covered the Prussian withdrawal. Another battalion of light infantry, the 28th Infantry was nearby. Both units were formed in squares 500 paces from the wood called de Tricheheve. Major Heine spoke to his men, he called on them to remain calm and finished with the words: "No man is to fire unless I give the order."
The Old Guard Dragoons and part of 15th Dragoons then charged, broke the enemy, and cut to pieces the 28th Infantry in full view of von Haine's men. A number of men from the broken square sought refuge in the square formed by the 6th Infantry.

There is an account of how the battalion of the 28th broke in the History of the 28th Regiment, which was the 1st Berg Regiment also, Berg being a former French ally, it reads: "Although several cavalrymen managed to break into the square, they were all bayoneted. Even after such a show of resistance, the enemy tried to persuade the troops to change sides. General Letort, commander of the French Guard Dragoons, recognised the Fusiliers by their Berg uniform. He thought that, since the hopelessness of their position would be obvious to them, their loyalty might waver. He rode up and demanded they desert the Prussian army. A shot rang out and Letort fell dead from his saddle. Fusilier Kaufmann of the 12th Company had leapt out of the square and given the enemy general his answer, in powder and lead. The battalion continued to withdraw but just before it reached the wood, the enemy cavalry approached again. The 10th Company faced front while the others continued their movement. At this critical moment, the full force of the enemy cavalry charge it home."

The Old Guard Dragoons avenged the death of their beloved General Letort, the Fusilier Battalion of 28th Infantry Regiment lost 13 officers and 614 men that day! Only a quarter of the original battalion survived, this battalion was then reorganised into a new 'combined battalion' with the survivors of the III/2nd Westphalian Landwehr which had suffered heavily on the retreat from Thuin earlier on.

Pirch Reaches Ligny
Ziethen sent three cavalry regiments to aid Pirch, the Brandenburg Dragoons repulsed the French cavalry, Pirch reached Ligny before midnight after a very close call with Napoleon.
It is worth noting how efficient Ziethen's I Corps was, they managed to withdraw in the face of a larger, superior force and also covered the retreat of the entire Prussian army. They would see more acting during the campaign and afterwards would be the first Allied Corps to enter Paris.

But the following day, the Prussian army would fight Napoleon at Ligny, the I, II and III Corps would take part in the action while Bulow's IV Corps was still on the march and would not participate in the battle. It would be Napoleons last victory, and the Prussians would have to suffer more hardships in this short campaign.

Aftermath of Ligny
At 8:30pm, after the French broke through the centre, the order went out to begin a retreat. The Prussians had been severely beaten at Ligny, the troops from the centre began a chaotic retreat in the darkness, but Ziethen's I Corps on the right and Thielemann's III Corps on the left retreated in good order, preventing the retreat becoming a rout. The Prussians had lost 18,000 men killed and wounded and a great many other men left their colours and deserted or lost their units in the dark. The French could not start a pursuit because of a mixture of the terrain and the forces at Napoleons disposal were exhausted after the battle, he would send Grouchy with a large part of the French army after the Prussians soon after noon on the 17th. Prussian staff officers were sent to block the roads leading to Gembloux and to redirect the retreating brigades with the intention to maintain contact with Wellington's army. Prussian generals were able to restore the order and assemble a large number of fugitives. Napoleon spent his time after battle in Fleurus while Blucher in Tilly where his troops were ordered to concentrate by Gneisenau, who temporarily took command while Blucher was recovering from his wounds at Ligny. Fortunately, Bulow's IV Corps arrived to take the role as rear-guard for the rest of the army at Wavre which allowed the army to reassemble.
It is worth noting the dedication of Blucher to keep to the promise he had given Wellington, his determination was a major factor in the Prussian army continuing at all. Napoleon probably thought that the Prussians would need about two days to recover, what Napoleon did not know was that at 3:30 AM on the 17th, Wellington received a letter from Blucher. In it the Prussian general announced that he would be leaving at dawn and would attack the enemy's right flank with one or perhaps three army corps. Henri Lachouque writes, "The Duke experienced an immense feeling of relief ..."

The Prussian's next moves, Grouchy's pursuit
So here I'll talk about the Prussians next moves at Wavre and give some insight into Grouchy's pursuit, since these parts of the campaign are often overlooked.
So Grouchy started his pursuit after noon on the 17th, he had the III and IV Corps and the cavalry of Exelmans and Pajol. It is worth taking note that these men would have changed the course of the battle entirely had they been at Waterloo, the Prussians had drawn away over 36,000 men from the main force attacking Wellington, this was vital as in the course of the battle, Napoleon would run out of infantry to assault the British with and could've used these two Corps to great effectiveness.
There was a great deal of confusion and mismanagement by the French about the direction the Prussians were taking, it had not even occurred to anyone on the French staff that the Prussians may try to retreat north to keep in contact with Wellington. Pajol's cavalry captured some Prussian guns in the direction of Namur, which was assumed to be the location of the entire Prussian army. Then, a little later, Napoleon received the message that a Prussian Corps of 20,000 men had been seen near Gembloux, this not only suggested the Prussians were not retreating to Namur, but were indeed trying to stay in contact with the Allied army and attempt to march to Wellingtons rescue. This forced Napoleon to dictate new written order to Grouchy, different that the orders he'd given verbally to him before, Grouchy was now to verify the direction of the Prussians.

"It is important to penetrate what the enemy [the Prussians] is intending to do, whether they are separating themselves from the English, or whether they are intending still to unite, to cover Brussels or Liege, in trying the fate of another battle."

After wasting the morning, more time was lost as Grouchy changed his own orders in order to get his troops on the march. Vandamme's III Corps and Gerad's IV Corps did not leave until 3 o'clock just as it started to rain heavily. Grouchy marched for Gembloux, where the Prussians had last been sighted, its believed he reached there at 7pm. At around 2am on the 18th, Napoleon received a message from Grouchy reading:

"It seems from all the reports, that on their arrival at Sauviere, the Prussians divided into two columns, the one must have taken the road to Wavre, the other column seems to have headed towards Perwez. We may therefore, perhaps, infer that one portion is going to join Wellington, and that the centre, which is Blucher's army, is retiring on Liege, another column, with artillery, having effected its retreat on Namur. General Exelmans has orders to push on six squadrons this evening towards Sart-a-Walhain, and three squadrons on Perwez. After their reports, if the bulk of the Prussians retire on Wavre, I shall follow them in that direction, in order that they may not reach Brussels, and in order to separate them from Wellington. If, on the contrary, my information shows that the principal Prussian force has marched upon Perwez, I will proceed by this town I pursuit of the enemy."         

Napoleon seems to have been reassured by this report, for he did not send orders for Grouchy to return to the main army at Waterloo, and so Grouchy would continue his pursuit of the Prussians.
Grouchy bivouacked his army for the night and began his pursuit again late the next morning of the 18th. By this time, Napoleon was preparing to assault the British at Waterloo. Grouchy however was too late to stop the Prussians, Blucher had already sent his uncommitted IV Corps under Bulow, who had began marching at 4am, his orders were to hold his corps under cover at St-Lambert if Wellington was not engaged at the time. If he was engaged Bülow was to attack Napoleon's right flank, Blucher told him, “throw yourself at the right flank of the enemy with the utmost vigour. The II Corps will follow immediately in support.” Pirch I's II Corps would follow him while Ziethen's I and Thielmann's III Corps were told to get their Corps ready. By the afternoon, only parts of Thielmann's Corps would still be at Wavre.
The ground between Wavre and Waterloo was crisscrossed with wooded hillocks and deep streams. Rain fell from noon on the 17th to the morning of the 18th. The roads became bogs of mud.
I may talk about the battle of Wavre later on, for now lets go on the road to Waterloo.

At Waterloo, Napoleon looks to his right
So at Waterloo, the Allies had already been assured that the Prussians would be coming to their aid, less they were cut off by Grouchy, but the French were still unsure, despite Grouchy's more positive reports. Soult regretted sending over 36,000 men after the Prussians when much less could have sufficed. On the morning of the battle, we have an interesting account from General Foy, on of Prince Jerome's divisional commanders:

"On the night of the 17th/18th, we ate, with Prince Jerome, at the King of Spain Inn. A waiter, who served at table, said that Lord Wellington had eaten at the inn the day before, and that one of his ADC's had announced at table that the English army was awaiting the French at the entrance to the forest of Soignes and that it would be joined there by the Prussian army, which was moving on Wavre....On the morning of the 18th, being with his brother at Cailou farm on the main road, reported this story of the waiter in Genappe. The Emperer replied 'The junction of the Prussians with the English is impossible for two days after a battle such as Fleurus [Ligny], and being followed, as it is, by a considerable body of troops.'"

So it seems that some of the Generals were very anxious about the arrival of the Prussians, though some historians have said that Napoleon showed blind arrogance at ignoring the possibility of a Prussian intervention, a more likely theory was that Napoleon was trying to raise the morale of his Generals, who were disheartened at having to fight Wellington who had beaten many of them in the Peninsula. It is very likely Napoleon was downplaying the Prussians, and the capability of the British that morning, in order to raise the morale of his Generals.     
At 10 o'clock in the morning from the farm of Le Cailou, Soult wrote a letter from Napoleon to Grouchy:

"...The Emperor bids me to warn you that at this very moment he is about to attack the English army, which has taken its position at Waterloo near the forest of Soignes. Accordingly His Majesty desires that you should direct your movements on Wavre in order to draw closer to us, so as to operate in concert with us, and to preserve our line of communications, meanwhile driving before you any corps of the Prussian Army which may have taken this direction and halted at Wavre, where you should arrive as soon as possible. You will pursue the columns of the enemy that have turned off to your right, with a few light corps, that you might observe their movements and capture the stragglers. Let me know your arrangements and your line of march at once, as well as all news you may have heard regarding the enemy, and do not neglect to keep your communications with us. The Emperor wishes to hear from you very frequently."       

There is a lot of debate about this letter, particularly the phrase "in order to draw close to us" to prove that Napoleon intended Grouchy to 'march to the sound of the guns' as some of Grouchy's generals suggested he do.
However, Napoleon did not directly order Grouchy to return to the main army, losing his chance at gaining 36,000 more men at Waterloo.
Napoleon was clearly worried about the Prussians and his right flank, as he sent another message to Grouchy through a Polish officer, Colonel Zenowitz, who received a verbal order from the Emperor to take to Grouchy. Historian Thiers describes the scene:

"He summoned to him the Polish officer, Zenowitz, who was destined to deliver this new message, led him onto a mound from where the whole horizon could be seen; then he turned towards his right 'I await Grouchy from this side,' he said to him, 'I wait impatiently...go and join him, and do not leave him until his Corps arrives at our line of battle.' Napoleon directed him to ride as quickly as possible, and to have Marshal Soult to produce a written despatch, which would lay down clearly the orders that he had just given verbally."

Zenowitz later wrote that he received the verbal order at about 10am but did not receive the written order until much later, He was unable therefore to depart until midday and by the time he found Grouchy at about 4pm, it was too late.
Having made a last effort to recall Grouchy, Napoleon continued his plans against Wellington, the battle started at about 11:30am at Hougoumont.

First Sightings of the Prussians
It was about 1 o'clock and the Grand Battery had been battering the Allied line for some time and the attack on Hougoumont was closely engaged, the main attack was ready, all that was needed was Napoleon's order, the Emperor himself writes:

"Before giving it, I wanted to cast a final look over the whole battlefield, and perceived in the direction of Saint-Lambert a cloud which looked to me like troops. I said to my chief-of-staff, 'Marshal, what do you see towards Saint-Lambert?' 'I think I can see five to six thousand men there; that is probably a detachment of Grouchy's...' I sent for Lieutenant-General Domon, and ordered him to go with his division of light cavalry and General Subervie's to reconnoitre the right, get in touch speedily with the troops which were arriving at Saint-Lambert, effect a junction with them if they belonged to Marshal Grouchy, hold them if they belonged to the enemy."

Some claim that it was Soult who spotted the troops at Saint-Lambert first, but who saw them is immaterial.
The identity of the troops at Saint-Lambert was a mystery to the French, Colonel Marbot's hussars had been dispatched to the right side of the battlefield, there they encountered Prussian hussars, Marbot tells us:

"One of my platoons, being a quarter league beyond Saint-Lambert, encountere a platoon of Prusian hussars from which it took several prisoners, including an officer. I warned the emperor of this strange capture, and sent the prisoners to him."

The arrival of the Prussian prisoners at Napoleons location is well reported by those around him. Baulus, one of Marshal Soult's ADC's reports:

"A few moments later, a sergeant in the Prussian cavalry was conducted to him who had been taken and searched; on whom was found a message in crayon, addressed from General Bulow to the English general, announcing to him that he was in a position to support him."

An amusing account from Pharmacien Aide-Major Fee:

It was then that a gendarme d'elite brought in a Prussian officer as a prisoner. I noticed his shortness and undistinguished face. The cavalryman, to make him arrive more quickly, lifted him off the ground for five or six paces and, with a strong arm, pushed him forward. The emperor had him questioned."

The officer belonged to the 2nd Silesian Hussars and spoke French, he gave honest answers to Napoleons questions. He carried a letter from Bulow, to Wellington, announcing the arrival of his corps at Chapelle-Saint-Lambert, less than five kilometres away from Wellington's flank. Historian Houssaye tells us he explained that "The troops just perceived are the advance guard of General von Bulow. Our whole army passed last night at Wavre. We have seen no French, and we suppose they have marched on Plancenoit."

So before Napoleon's first major assault, he now had to contemplate a possible Prussian intervention. The news surprisingly did not change his plans for the battle, possibly because it simply confirmed what he guessed earlier that morning as sometime between 10 and 11 o'clock Napoleon had received a much less reassuring report from Grouchy that the Prussians were indeed heading towards Brussels to possibly reunite with the Allied army. It was about 1 o'clock when Napoleon replied to Grouchy ordering him to "keep manoeuvring in our direction". It was immediately after this had been written but before I had been sent that the first sighting of the Prussians was made. Soult therefore added this postscript:

"A letter which has just been intercepted tells us that General Bulow is to attack our right flank. We believe we can perceive this corps on the heights of Chapelle-Saint-Lambert. Therefore do not lose a minute to draw nearer to us and to join us and crush Bulow, whom you will catch in the very act."   

Napoleon is reported by those around not to have shown worry about the Prussians, probably to calm those around him. He obviously hoped Grouchy would receive his latest message and march swiftly to the battlefield so that he could destroy Bulow's IV Corps. Despite sending Domon and Subervie's cavalry to Saint-Lambert to delay the Prussians, he knew those 2,300 troopers would be insufficient in themselves to stop a Prussian corps, he then gave orders to Lobau with his VI Corps to cross the Charleroi road and to go towards Saint-Lambert to support the light cavalry. He was given orders to "choose a good intermediate position where he could with 10,00 men hold up to 30,000..." Napoleon did clearly believe Grouchy would come to his aid when he added to the order that Lobau was to attack vigorously as soon as he heard the cannons of Grouchy's troops attacking Bulow's rear. Napoleon had now tied down over 12,000 men to try and prevent the Prussians making a significant intervention, the superiority in numbers he ha enjoyed against the Wellington was gone.

The Prussians would take a couple of hours to arrive on the battlefield, the journey was not easy, at 1pm Blucher joined Bulow’s corps and continued the advance from Saint-Lambert at the head of the column. “Movement on the road and across the Lasne was difficult. Any rise in elevation halted the gun carriages and ammunition wagons until they were dragged from the mud. … increasing numbers of men dropped from exhaustion. … In several places, men and horses could only march in single file.”
Lobau's VI Corps
Lobau's corps would one of the few corps to face the Prussians at Waterloo, it would be joined by the Young Guard and battalions of the Old Guard later on. Out of the three infantry Corps at Waterloo (the others being D'Erlon's I Corps and Reille's II) Lobau's was the weakest, having only two divisions rather than the usual three, its third had been detached to Grouchy's force and one of the remaining division's brigades only had one regiment rather than two, the other being attached to the Army of the Rhine.
Here is the order of battle for VI Corps at Waterloo:
Spoiler
Commander: GdD Georges Mouton, Comte de Lobau
Chief-of-Staff: GdB Baron Durroei
Chief-of-Artillery: GdD Noury de la Guignardiere
Chief-of-Staff-of-Artillery: Mjr. Chaudon
Chief-of-Engineers: GdB Dufriche de Valaze
Chief-of-Staff-of-Engineers: Col. Constantin     

19th Infantry Division
Commander: GdD Baron Simmer

Artillery-  I FB / 8th Foot Art. Reg [6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5inch howitzers, 245 men]
1st Brigade- Commander: GdB Julienne de Belair
                   5th Line Inf. Reg. [950 men in 2 btns.]
                   11th Line Inf. Reg. [1.180 men in 2 btns.]

2nd Brigade- Commander: GdB Chevalier Thevenet 
                    27th Line Inf. Reg. [820 men in 2 btns.]
                    84th Line Inf. Reg. [830 men in 2 btns.]

20th Infantry Division
Commander: GdD Baron Jeanin

Artillery- II FB / 8th Foot Art. Reg [6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5inch howitzers, 260 men]
1st Brigade- Commander: GdB Chevalier Bony
                                       5th Light Inf. Reg. [890 men in 2 btns.]
                                       10th Line Inf. Reg. [1.430 men in 2 btns.]

2nd Brigade- Commander: GdB Budin, Comte de Tromellin
                                       107th Line Inf. Reg. [740 men in 2 btns.]

Reserve Artillery
IV FB / 8th Foot Art. Reg. [6 12pdr cannons and 2 6inch howitzers, 225 men]

HB / auxiliary [4 6pdr cannons and 2 6inch howitzers, 170 men]

The 19th and 20th Infantry Divisions both had a company (50 men) of engineers

3rd Cavalry Division (Attached from III Corps)
Commander: GdD Baron Domon

Horse Artillery- IV HB / 2nd Horse Art. Reg. [4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5inch howitzers, 180 men]
1st Brigade- Commander: GdB Domanget
                   4th H.Chas. Reg. [340 men in 3 sq.]
                   9th H.Chas. Reg. [365 men in 3 sq.]

2nd Brigade- Commander: GdB Vinot
                    12th H.Chas. Reg. [320 men in 3 sq.

5th Cavalry Division (Attached from I Cavalry Corps)
Commander:  GdD Baron Subervie

Horse Artillery- III HB / 1st Horse Art. Reg. [4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5inch howitzers, 170 men]
1st Brigade- Commander: GdB Comte de Colbert
                   1st Lancer. Reg. [415 men in 4 sq.]
                   2nd Lancer. Reg. [420 men in 4 sq.]

2nd Brigade- Commander: GdB Chevalier Merlin
                    11th H.Chas. Reg. [435 men in 3 sq.]
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The Prussians Arrive
Lobau's corps was now on the right flank, however it appears that there was confusion among the officers about their actual mission, some thought they were going to support the attack by I corps in the centre, it is possible that in his haste to get the corps moving, he did not inform his staff a reason for the move. So some staff members were surprised by the appearance of the Prussians. Colonel Combes-Brassard makes this clear:

"It was 3.30pm, a terrible fire could be heard along the whole line of the two armies. The VI Corps completed its deployment into reserve on the army's right, when, moving over to the extreme right, I recognised the heads of columns emerging from the direction of Wavre, by Ohain and Saint-Lambert.
These columns were Prussian. Their arrival had come without any orders from the emperor. we were outflanked.
Still uncertain of the nature and intention of these troops, I moved closer to them to observe their movements. Soon I saw that this column was Prussian and cutting the French army's line of retreat on Genappe and the bridge over the Dyle. The Prussians were already moving on our rear.
I rushed to prevent this. There was still time..."

General de Brigade Tromelin, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 20th Division in Vi Corps describes the initial deployment of the corps:

"At three o'clock Jeanin's division [the 20th], followed by Summer's 1st Division [the 19th], crossed the road 200 metres south of La Belle Alliance, crossed behind Milhaud's cuirassier corps, left Planchenoit to its right and deployed behind the 1st Division, on a ridge between two streams a quarter of a league to the north east of this last village.
The three regiments of the division were split into two groups: the 10th de ligne and Cuppe's battalion of the 107th were under my orders and occupied a small wood. In front of us, the two horse batteries of the cavalry divisions were already firing on the Prussian columns that were debouching from the Frichermont wood..."

It became clear that the Prussians intended to seize Planchenoit, which would place them right at the rear of the French army, it could then cut off the French lines of communications on the Brussels road. The Prussians were surprised that the French had not tried to stop them on their way to the battlefield, at the Bois de Paris, where the Prussians superiority in numbers would have meant nothing. In his report of the battle, Bulow writes:

"The reports of Major Falkenhausen showed that the enemy, despite his proximity to us, had happily not undertaken a movement against our left flank, among the Lasnes stream, which seemed so likely in the circumstances... The moment was thus very favourable to direct an attack against the enemy's right flank, who showed an incomprehensible negligence and seemed to take no notice of our existence."

Meanwhile, as Bulow was preparing to engage with the French right flank, Zithen's I corps was now on the left flank of the Allied line, his corps' presence there allowed Wellington to reinforce his centre with troops from the left. Pirch I's II corps was still on its way and would take part in the attack on the right with Bulow's corps later on, Theilemann's III corps was mostly still at Wavre and would fight against Grouchy's troops at the battle of Wavre. 

The Fighting Begins   
The first French troops to contest the Prussian advance were the chasseurs a cheval and lancers of Domon and Subervie, about 2,500 sabres and lances. Chef d'escadron Dupuy tells us:

"Until towards 4pm, we remained peaceful spectators of the battle. At this time, General Domon came to me; the fire of the English had almost ceased. He told me that the battle was won, that the enemy army was in retreat, that we were there to make a junction with Marshal Grouchy's corps and that by the evening we would be in Brussels. He left.
A few moments later, instead of meeting Marshal Grouchy's troops, we received the attack of a regiment of Prussian uhlans. We repulsed them vigorously and chased after them. But we were forced to retreat by caseshot fired by six guns, behind which the uhlans retired. Colonel Marbot had been wounded by a lance thrust to the chest during the Prussian attack.
Attacked then by Infantry, we reformed on the centre and started to retire."

Marbot himself wrote a little later, "I got a lance wound in the side; it is pretty severe, but I thought I would stay to set a good example."

Here we have more of an idea of the Prussians movements, Bulow writes, "It was half past four in the afternoon, when the head of our column advanced out of the Frichermont wood. The 15th Brigade under General von Losthin deployed quickly into battalion columns, throwing out skirmishers. The brigade's artillery, along with the Reserve Artillery, followed up rapidly, seeking to gain the gentle ridge." Hiller's 16th Brigade moved out to the left.

The French cavalry succeeded in delaying the Prussian advance, but they could not stop the combined arms action of the Prussians. Their delayal of the Prussians allowed Lobau's troops to set up a strong line of skirmishers. As the Prussian skirmish line engaged they were charged and driven back by the French cavalry, these were classic and successful delaying tactics. On the gentle slope that rose towards the village of Planchenoit there was little cover and both sides suffered, the artillery fire was especially horrendous. Colonel Petiet recalls:

"Bulow attempted to destroy the French cavalry with his artillery because it had caused him such trouble. General Jacquinot displayed sang-froid and stoicism in the face of a situation that could have been so unfortunate for him. This general officer commanded two divisions of cavalry. A cannon ball came in from the flank of the 1st Lancers and took off the head of chef d'escadron Dumanoir, passed through the body of Colonel Jacquinot's[the General's brother] horse and cut off two legs of chef d'escadron Trentignant's horse. the three superior officers fell as one. Confusion spread through the ranks, Jacquinot, sword in hand, reordered the line himself with a firm voice and it was only after re-establishing order that he bent down to check if his brother was dead but who was happily unhurt."

The Prussian Attack Increases
As more of their forces arrived, the Prussian attacks became stronger and more determined, slowly Lobau's divisions were pushed back towards the village of Planchenoit, by about 5:30pm, all of Bulow's IV Corps was in line and available, Lobau had no reserves left. General Losthim, commander of the Prussian 15th Brigade reported "the enemy defended his positions stubbornly for several hours." It is therefore worth recognising the skill in which Lobau was conducting his troops and how well they were performing despite the odds against them.
As Lobau slowly drew back he sent Bellair's brigade (the 5th and 11th Line regiments) to occupy Planchenoit (its occupants had fled the day before), it was the key to the main French position, he also sent a request for more artillery as Napoleon had earlier taken Lobau's heavy 12 pounders for the Grand Battery and his remaining artillery was insufficient. General Tromelin recalls:

"The Prussian attack started towards 4:30pm. Our cavaly sabred the enemy squadrons. Then we formed in square by brigade and remained under fire of forty Prussian guns that caused us much damage. We were unaware of what was going on elsewhere on the battlefield.
At 5:30, the enemy were reinforced by infantry and cavalry; the artillery fire became terrible. Maintaining a bold front, but suffering under the weight of shot, the four squares of the corps retired slowly in the direction of Planchenoit where we finally established ourselves, already outflanked by Prussian cavalry. The debris of my three battalions occupied the gardens and orchards."

So it seems the Prussians were relying heavily on their artillery to batter and weaken Lobau before launching an infantry assault, this certainly shows a use of very Napoleonic tactics against the French themselves. We go to Sergeant Major Marq's account, his contribution to this fight was to end before reaching Planchenoit:

"the enemy emerged from the wood and immediately opened fire on us; the skirmishers that had been in there had all been killed or wounded. First I was wounded by a ball that passed through my body passing by my left kidney and which exited after an incision was made, through the right buttock. It knocked me down onto my front and I was helped up by two of my sergeants who were nearby. They picked me u[ and put me on an artillery horse; but I had hardly gone twenty paces on horseback when I was obliged to let myself slide off because I did not have the strength to hold on."

Pushed back towards Planchenoit, Lobau took a final position at the top the gradual slope that ran up to the village. The village itself, occupied by Bellair's brigade, formed his right flank, the rest of his line spread up to the north forming almost  right angle with the main French position. With no option but to make a final stand, the fighting became more desperate, even from the main Allied position, a British general Sir Hussey Vivian remarked "I was surprised to see the tremendous fire the French were able to direct against the Prussians." And thankfully for Lobau, his request for more artillery was granted as a battery of 24 guns of the Guard Artillery were sent to him.
It appears at this moment, the Prussians began faltering, as Bulow noted in his report:

"The skirmishers of the 15th Brigade, who were ever the target of the enemy's musket fire, had to be led forward several times and our fire began to noticeably weaken a little on this part of the line. The enemy seemed thus to obtain a momentary advantage and his intention was, perhaps, to take the offensive against our right flank, while the combat got ever more violent at Planchenoit, in order to penetrate between this village and the English left wing; he showed indeed, strong masses of infantry and cavalry in front of the 15th Brigade. "

However, the lack of any French reserve and the measures taken by the Prussians to reinforce this part of their line re-established the situation and the prepared for a major assault on Planchenoit. As Lobau fell back, rumours started to spread around the French army about the army being attacked from the rear, supported by the Prussian guns, which had now moved up and now cannon balls were landing amongst the main French army, some French troops started to despair and it took effort to get these men back to their positions. News reached Napoleon about what was happening, the news was dire and there was a great deal of unease in the staff at this point, the high morale of the French at the start of the battle was wavering.

Lieutenant Pontecoulant of the guard artillery summarises the situation on the French right:

"Count Lobau, fearing being cut off, carried out his retreat towards our centre. The consequences of this movement was to allow the Prussian batteries, who had been substantially reinforced, and which counted more than 60 guns, to gain ground so that their balls and even their case shot , fell as far as the Charleroi road, which served as the main line of communications for our army, around the farm of la Belle Alliance, and even the high ground around Rosomme where the emperor was in the middle of his Guard. The trees lining the road were riddled, and often men, horses or caissons, moving from the reserve to the line of battle, were struck."

The Prussian intervention was having a telling and damaging effect on the French, the battle against the Allies on Mont-St-Jean was also not yielding morale boosting results and now the Prussians were threatening to overwhelm the rear. The Prussian artillery's effectiveness is documented by Sergeant Hippolyte Maudit, a soldier in the 1er Grenadiers of Napoleons Old Guard, he writes:

"We were very surprised to see from these batteries, which we believed to be French [Grouchy's], simultaneously appear twenty or so white clouds and a few seconds after to hear around us or above our heads the whistling of balls! Nearly all of the balls of the second discharge landed either in our square, or in that of the Sapeurs and Marins of the Guard, placed on the same line as us, but next to the road.
A third discharge of the same batteries struck accurately, and killed several of our brave grenadiers, We served as the target for nearly an hour, without moving, we thus received death, with ordered muskets and arms crossed.
For some time, we did not have a single gun to reply to these uncomfortable neighbours; our own battery had been sent over to VI Corps Corps to replace theirs that had been lost whilst on loan to d'Erlon. The Emperor was immediately informed and a 12 pounder battery of the Guard Reserve was sent to replace it and it deployed a hundred paces above us. From there, it fired on the Prussian columns beyond the village of Planchenoit. Its fire, well directed, quicklyreduced the effectiveness of the Prussian fire which, nevertheless, had caused us about 50 casualties in our square. The shells in particular caused us the most damage...
Each discharge thus knocked down several grenadiers, but our post was there, and neither the balls, nor shells would force us to abandon it.

The Prussian artillery was deadly, as Maudit's account shows, and while the Allies at Mont-St-Jean were taking a pounding from the French guns, the French were taking a pounding from the Prussians on the right.

The Defense of Planchenoit 
Planchenoit was a large village with a church built of stone and a walled cemetary. According to Siborne the churchyard was elevated above most of the village and enclosed by a low stone wall strengthened by a steep outer bank
Bulow now had his large artillery force firing on the village and the heights beyond and was now preparing his attack. Bulow's report informs us that the first attack consisted of six battalions of the 16th Brigade, this included battalions of the Silesian Landwehr (remember there were two regiments in 16th Brigade) and the 3rd Reserve Infantry regiment. These six battalions were deployed in three assault columns supported by two battalions of the 14th Brigade. The right column was made of 2 battalions of the 15th '3rd Reserve' Infantry, the centre made of 2 battalions of the 1st Silesian Landwehr, and the left column made of 2 battalions of the 2nd Silesian Landwehr. Bulow writes, "The enemy disputed every foot of ground, but not with any great determination ... Six battalions of the 16th Brigade now came up to assault Plancenoit. They formed three attack columns next to each other, with 2 battalions of the 14th Brigade ... following up in support. Just as this brigade formed up behind the 16th, the 13th Brigade under General von Hake arrived and moved up behind the 15th." The assault columns attacked the village from two sides and, despite a determined resistance from Lobau's troops, forced their way into the village.
Fighting in built up areas was always some of the most bloody in the Napoleonic wars, Planchenoit would be no exception. It was hard to keep any kind of cohesion, units broke down into small groups of men either assaulting or defnding, individual buildings became fortresses. Given the amount of hatred between the French and the Prussians, quarter was neither asked for nor given.
Two battalions of 15th '3rd Reserve' Infantry Regiment pushed into the village and then on the high walls of the cemetery and church. The Prussians found themselves under fire from French snipers stationed in the houses. A murderous exchange of shots erupted from distance of no more than 20 paces.
The French had brought canons and howitzers into the streets "where close range blasts of canister would blow away oppositions as a gale does autumn leaves." The Prussians however pressed forward and captured 2 cannons and 1 howitzer and several hundred prisoners. Despite their early success, the Prussian assault faltered in the centre of the village where the church, surrounded by a sturdy stone wall, defied all their efforts to take it. 
At about 6:30pm, while the attack was bogged down, Napoleon knew he had to do something to secure his right flank, he turned to General Duhesme, commanding the Young Guard division which consisted of eight battalions. He ordered him to throw the Prussians out of the village, here is the order of battle for the Young Guard division:
Spoiler
Commander: GdD Comte Duhesme
2nd in Command: GdD Comte Barrois

Artillery- VII Auxiliary FB [6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5inch howitzers]
              VIII Auxiliary FB [6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5inch howitzers]
1st Brigade- Commander: GdB Chartand 
                   1st Guard Tirailleur Reg. [1.110 men in 2 btns.] (led by Col. Baron Trappier de Malcolm)
                   3rd Guard Tirailleur Reg. [1.050 men in 2 btns.] (led by Col. Baron Pailhes)
             
2nd Brigade- Commander: GdB Guye               
                    1st Guard Voltigeur Reg. [1.220 men in 2 btns.] (led by Col. Baron Secretan)
                    3rd Guard Voltigeur Reg. [1.085 men in 2 btns.] (led by Col. Baron Hurel)
[close]

They Young Guard at this time was recruited from ex-soldiers but in 1815 there were a lot of volunteers who had little formal training, but they made up for this with great courage and spirit that comes when being a part of an elite force. The commanders were all seasoned veterans and had generally learnt their trade in the Old Guard. Advancing with spirit, the Young Guard cleared the tired and somewhat disorganised Prussians from the village, they then took their own defensive positions in the village, Duhesme himself was shot in the head and mortally wounded in Planchenoit, he died of his wounds on the 20th of June.
Blucher clearly recognised the importance of Planchenoit to the battle on the right and moved to personally direct the fighting here. Another assault was organised, this time in greater strength, the once again forced their way into the village causing considerable losses t the Young Guard, but once again reached the idle of the village and could not capture the church which had defied the previous assault. Caught in a cross fire from the church and the surrounding houses, they were thrown back again. Emboldened by their success some French skirmishers left the sanctuary of the village and took shots at the Prussians, but a timely charge by Prussian cavalry forced them back into the village. The commander of the 16th Brigade, Hiller writes about this attack his Brigade made on Planchenoit:

"Overcoming all difficulties and with heavy losses from canister and musketry, the 15th Infantry and 1st Silesian Landwehr penetrated to the high wall around the churchyard held by the Young Guard. These two columns succeeded in capturing a howitzer, 2 cannon, several ammunition wagons and 2 staff officers along with several hundred men. The open square around the churchyard was surrounded by houses, from which the enemy could not be dislodged in spite of our brave attempt. A firefight continued at 15 to 30 paces which ultimately decimated the Prussian battalions."

The fighting in Planchenoit was horrifically bloody, and eye witness said “… the fight rages on in gardens, orchards, streets, and houses; they slaughter one another with fury …” and Houssaye said “Victors and vanquished fired point-blank on each other, struggled hand-to-hand, slew with the bayonet and with the butt-ends of their muskets." Apparently during the fighting, a whole battalion of the Young Guard was decimated in the fighting for the cemetery, which was some of the most bloody.

It is unclear how many assaults upon Planchenoit were made, even Bulow admits to a series of failed attempts:

"the village on Planchenoit was stubbornly defended by the elite of the enemy... and was attacked with redoubled vigour by the 16th Brigade supported by the 14th... Three times Colonel von Hiller launched himself on the village. In the first assault, the 15th Regiment of Line and the 1st Regiment of Silesian Landwher took the cemetery surrounded by walls, and seized several guns and some hundreds of prisoners. However, the enemy maintained himself In the rest of the village, called for reinforcements, and forced us to evacuate it. The Colonel reassembled his troops in front of the area and, with glorious determination, launched two more assaults, which were repulsed...! 

So the Young Guard and the remains of Bellair's brigade were clearly putting up a very strong resistance. Despite the failure of their attacks, the situation was looking ever more encouraging for the Prussians, more of their troops were arriving and were able to attack in overwhelming strength. Another assault finally forced the Young Guard from their strong positions and captured the village, the Young Guardsmen broke cohesion an despite the efforts of their superiors, fled in disarray. The success of the Prussians also forced the remains of Bellair's brigade to fall back towards the ridge behind them. The situation on Napoleon's right flank was now critical, as Prussian cannon fire across the main Brussels road in the rear of the French army became heavier.

The Old Guard Advances on Planchenoit
The taking of Planchenoit presented a huge danger to Napoleon, he was now forced, not only to delay his main critical attack on the Anglo-Dutch line allowing Wellington time to prepare himself, but he now had to commit two precious battalions of his best troops to recapture Planchenoit, troops that would be sorely needed later in the day. To many, attacking several divisions of victorious Prussian troops with only two battalions, albeit veterans, was suicide with no chance of success. General de Brigade Pelet, commander of the two battalions of the 2nd Chasseur Regiment of the Old Guard tells us how one of his battalions was committed to this seemingly suicidal attack:

"The enemy was reinforced and moved forward again; the Young Guard was pushed back and the men started retiring.
I received the order to send Lieutenant Lepage (of the 2nd Chasseurs) with fifty men to the first houses of Planchenoit. These first houses were too far from the village and separated from it, to have any effect. This officer found there not only a quantity of soldiers, but even some officers.
Soon I had to send a new detachment forward to support the Young Guard; I sent off Lieutenant Gourahel who went forward like a 'crow'...
We remained in squares, the Grenadiers to my rear, the 3rd and 4th (Chasseurs) in front. I remember that there was a confusion of squares and I think the Grenadiers crossed to the other side of the road.
Finally, General Morand [Commander of all the regiments of the Guard Chasseurs] said to me, 'Go with your 1st Battalion to Planchenoit, where the Young Guard has been beaten. Support it and hold this point, as there is only you and the 2nd Battalion of the1st Chasseurs as a last reserve. The Emperor is going to advance with the rest of the Guard to attack the centre; if this does not succeed, you are here as a last reserve.'
I believe this is what he said to me or what I think I heard, and I took the necessary measures. He also said to me, 'keep your me together and under control; if you engage the enemy, attack with a single division [two pelotons in this case, a division in the French arm y could also mean two pelotons] and with the bayonet.'"

The other Old Guard battalion committed was the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Grenadiers of the Old Guard, the commander of the regiment General Christiani recalls:

"Between five and six pm, perhaps a little later, I received the order to send a battalion of the regiment into a village situated to the right rear of the position that I occupied in order to chase away the Prussians that it was said had been sent to capture it. I gave this mission to M. Golzio who commanded the second battalion of the regiment."

It seems that the commander of this battalion, Golzio got very similar orders to Pelet, except Napoleon himself gave them to him personally.

"Whilst the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Chasseurs were throwing themselves against the Prussians, the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Grenadiers, under the orders of Lieutenant Colonel Golzio, received the order to support it.
The Emperor, perhaps anxious of Bulow's offensive, entered Colonel Golzio's square and personally gave particular orders for the attack; 'do not fire a shot, but fall on the enemy with the bayonet'.
This battalion immediately deployed out of square, changed direction to the right and found itself faced by a hedge which separated it from the Prussians."

Napoleon clearly felt that with time of the essence, and with supremely well-disciplined troops, a bayonet assault was the quickest way to achieve success so that he could turn his mind to the crucial final attack on the main allied position. We will now follow the account of General Pelet of the counter-attack made by these two battalions of the Old Guard:

"From then on, I devoted myself to the 1st Battalion and doubled with them to Plachenoit. It was about six o'clock, perhaps seven [likely some time after seven o'clock]. I do not know how long I remained here, but it seemed to me a long time. I called Lieutenant Gourahel to me and, finding Lepage in the first houses of the village, I told him to move to the last houses of the village and to occupy them strongly.
Entering, I met poor General Duhesme, who was being carried dead or dying on his horse, then the Voltiguers running away, Chartran [second in command of the Young Guard] who told me that he could do noting, Colonel Hurel [commander o the 3rd Voltiguers] was not lacking men but they were all retiring. I promised them I would stop the enemy, and urged them to rally behind me. Indeed, I moved to the centre of the village and there, seeing Lieutenant Lepage's men approaching and the Prussians that pursued them, I ordered Captain Peschot to advance with the 1st Company and attack the enemy who were coming down the road opposite the one we were on, with the bayonet. His sergeant, Cranges, who was very keen, gave the order to the first platoon, and marched with it. He executed my order, but hardly had the enemy turned his back than the men began to skirmish and he lost control of them.
The enemy sent new forces; Peschot was not able to concentrate his platoon and he was pushed back.
I advanced another, it wanted to skirmish. I led it myself and the enemy fled. But this platoon dispersed and, with each charge made the same thing happened. The men of my last company shouted 'en avant!', started firing and also dispersed.
I had the church occupied by some men that I led there and I found myself face to face with the Prussians who fired at me from point blank range, but missed. Then, seeing what a strong resistance we put up, they launched a shower of shells into the village and attempted to turn it by the valet of the Lasne and the woods there.
I sent an officer there, I think it was Captain Angnis.
In all these attacks, we took many prisoners; our soldiers were furious and cut their throats. I rushed to them to prevent it and, as I for there, I saw them perish under my own eyes (they faced having their throats cut with sang froid and hung onto my men). I was revolted, overcome with fury, I took several under my protection, including an officer who prostrated himself, telling me of his French friends and those of his family.
I put him behind my horse and then handed him over to my sapeurs, saying they would answer to me for his safety. I sent Capt Heuillet to the left, to occupy and defend the church; he went well ahead and next to the wood opposite the enemy; from the rear came some men of the Young Guard who charged into the village.
However, the combat, having gone on for a long time, had dispersed all my men as skirmishers. I could not rally a single platoon, the enemy did not enter the village, but he deployed on all sides and, in each interval between the gardens, I saw muskets aiming at me from forty paces. I do not know why I was not struck down twenty times.
I went to and from on Isabelle [his horse]; I had taken off my riding coat and yet out men did not seem to recognise me as a general officer. Certainly, I still held the village; I came, I went, I had the charge beaten, the rally, then the drum roll; nothing brought together even a platoon. Finally, at the moment I was most embarrassed, most pressed and at the same time totally exposed, a platoon of Grenadiers [of the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment] arrived, sent by whom I do not know but then I was content. I stopped it and use it to rally some chasseurs, then I had it charge with the bayonet, without firing a shot. They went forward like a wall and overthrew everything they encountered.
I remained there in the middle of this hail of shells, lit up by the fire that had started to burn in a number of houses, in a terrible and continuous fusillade; the Prussians surrounded us with numerous skirmishers. I didn't care, we held like demons; I could not form up my men, but they were all hidden away and laid down a murderous fire on the enemy that contained him; they were stopped despite the numbers that should have overwhelmed us.
Whilst I came and went continually between the entry and the exit [of the village], animating and holding in place all those in the middle of this skirmishing, I encountered Colomban {chef de battalion of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Chasseurs) who appeared to me a little pale and I noticed this with regret, for perhaps he was thinking the same of me, although I certainly felt as calm and tranquil as I had only a few times in my life, even in the middle of these enemies that I believed bore me a particular grudge."

This fantastic account gives us an idea of the chaos of the fighting at Planchenoit at this stage. The charge of the grenadiers Pelet refers too was incredibly successful and they chased back the Prussians to their artillery pieces, amusingly the drum-major of the grenadiers, Stubert, used his mace as a club. The scenes of the French cutting the throats of the Prussian prisoners shows the sheer rage and anguish between these two antagonists, though Pelet tried to stop the killing of prisoners, General Roguet, second in command of the Guard Grenadier division, threatened with death any grenadier who should bring him a Prussian prisoner. The two battalions of the Old Guard and the remains of the Young Guard and Lobau's corps who had joined in the recapturing of Planchenoit are believed to have defeated 14 Prussian battalions!
As the Prussians fled from Planchenoit, they were pursued by some of the French from Planchenoit, then Subervie's 2 lancer regiments charged the flanks of the fleeing Prussians inflicting more casualties, the troops from Planchenoit were out in the open and the Prussian artillery forced them to return to the village, but Subervie's lancers also forced the artillery to abandon several batteries. Plachenoit was once again in French hands after a tremendous counter-attack by the French Old Guard and the troops with them.



Attempts to Support Planchenoit and the Prussians Flank
It was at about this time that Pirch I's II Corps had arrived on the battlefield. It was now sometime after seven o'clock and Napoleon was preparing his assault on the Anglo-Dutch line with his Middle Guard. As the Prussians began to surround the village with skirmishers and continued to bombard the defenders, the Prussians were also preparing for a huge attack against the village. As the situation deteriorated, Maudit (Sergeant in the 1er Grenadiers) describes and attempt to seek reinforcements:

"Lt Col Golzio, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Grenadier Regiment, seeing no support arrive, and foreseeing only too clearly the inevitable disastrous outcome of the unequal struggle of his grenadiers, galloped up to inform General Christiani, Major of those Grenadiers, and met him alone in the middle of our square, for his regiment 2nd Battalion had gone with the Emperor beyond la Belle Alliance. The entreaties of Lt Col Golzio were regrettably wasted, our battalion could not abandon the important post that it occupied, covering the exit from Planchenoit. Colonel Golzio returned to his grenadiers broken hearted at not being able to bring these brave men even a hundred reinforcements!!!"

Despite this failed attempt Maudit tells us that there were some efforts made to support the troops fighting in the village:

"...We dominated and guarded the by-road that went from Planchenoit to la Maison-du-Roi, by which the Prussians appeared to be advancing to cut off the army's retreat. each of our four companies received the order to detach twenty-five grenadiers as skirmishers on the extreme right of the village to observe and contain the enemy who was always looking to outflank the right of Duhesme's division.
Hardly had these hundred grenadiers moved a few yards from us, than they found themselves face to face with the Prussian skirmishers hidden in the edge of the wood and in the meadows that were on our right.
There, several grenadiers, who were furthest forward, fell, after a vigorous struggle and covered in wounds, into the hands of the Prussians, as well as adjutant-major Fare, who tried to protect and rescue them. This officer's horse was shot and fell into a ditch. A platoon of Prussians rushed upon him and fired at point blank range. By a miracle he was struck by only one ball but was so seriously wounded that the Prussians thought he was dead and did not take him. Unbelievably, he remained for six days on the battlefield without help, not being able to drag himself to the village, or even to the side of a road where the first person to pass would undoubtedly have helped him.
Captain Crette was killed there, shot at point blank by a Prussian sergeant whose shoulder he had cut through with a sabre blow and who nevertheless still had the courage to aim at his heart. His musket ball struck the cross [of the Legion of Honour] of this officer and knocked him down at the feet of Sergeant Major Stonop. At the same instant, the Prussian sergeant was cut down by one of Captain Crette's grenadiers.
In this incredible struggle of one against seven, several Prussians asked for mercy and received it. One of them threw himself at the feet of my friend Stonop, and begged for his life saying that his father was serving as marechal de logis in the 3rd Hussars."

It is clear from Maudit's account that some Prussian troops were sent around the flanks of Planchenoit and these were engaged by the skirmishers of his battalion.
Too the south of the village was the Chantelet wood and a Prussian unit [the light infantry battalion of the 25th regiment]  were sent through it in an attempt to cut it off. These troops were spotted by Chef de Battalion Duuring(who like our own dear Duuring was Dutch!) of the 1st Chasseurs of the Old Guard, he was at Le Cailou: 

"I was informed by a post to my right that two columns could be seen leaving a wood, so I went to reconnoitre. Immediately I arrived I was convinced that they were enemy; each was of about 800 men[this would suggest that there were two battalions in two columns]. But the rear was still in the wood and it was difficult to be sure lf their exact strength.
I took my dispositions to receive this attack, putting two gun in battery loaded with caseshot and covered by a detachment of an officer and fifty men posted in a manner that it would be difficult to see them, giving them the order not to open fore without my order. My adjutant-major came to inform me that many stragglers were arriving; I had two of my companies that I had kept back in the centre, bayonets crossed, on and either side of the main road with the order to let no one pass that was not wounded. I found amongst this number several officers, including a battalion commander who I forced to take command of an ad hoc battalion that I had assembled, with the threat of shooting him if he did not. I even found a marechal de camp[brigadier] whose name I do not know, who I forced to take command of another column.
The officer that I ha detached to cover the two guns, sent me word that the artillery officer that commanded them had decided to leave with his guns, saying that he was not under my command and that the enemy was approaching. I then begged some senior artillery officers to put other guns at my disposal but without effect.
Seeing myself on the point about to be attacked by a superior force unsupported by anybody else, I decided to form a battalion of about two hundred men that I had assembled, I put them in a position en potence a little behind and to my right to prevent me from being outflanked, I sent off the imperial treasure and equipages and then the guns without a singe man as escort, and then attempted to repulse an attack that would have been very harmful to the army if the road behind us would have been cut. I reassembled my battalion with its back to the farm, detached a hundred men as skirmishers into the wood and a hundred others as a reserve. At the same time, the general(the provost marshal of the army) had the ad hoc battalion of infantry, deploy t short range a the pas de charge, and also to deploy into the wood. This combination had a happy outcome: we suffered few causalities and the Prussians were repulsed. I had, at the same time, sent my adjutant-major to inform the emperor what had happened and that I had held the position."

The Prussian's Decisive Assault on Planchenoit and the Scale of the Slaughter There
It was sometime between 7pm and 8pm when the Prussians next decisive assault began, The attacking force consisted of Ryssel's 14th and Hiller's 16th Brigades (of Bulow's IV Crops), and Tippelskirch's 5th Brigade (of Pirch's II Corps). The French resisted with great determination. Every house became like a besieged fort. Despite being outnumbered by margin of at least 2 to 1, the French were able to hold on for one hour.
The fighting at Planchenoit was possibly the bloodiest episode of the entire battle, historian Mark Adkin said "The level of slaughter in Plancenoit even surpassed Hougoumont." The Young Guard is believed to of suffered over 80% of casualties, by the end of the battle, the bodies in the Churchyard would apparently be 30 times the amount buried beneath it.   

Ziethen Advances on Papelotte
It was sometime between 7pm and 8pm also that the Middle Guard were repulsed, as the were repulsed, on the French right towards Papelotte, suddenly the Prussians appeared on the Anglo-Dutch left, marching to Papelotte, this was Ziethen's I Corps that had taken position on the Allied left earlier, it now advanced on the French assaulting Papelotte, the effect on the French troops fighting in this sector was catastrophic. The French were considerably outnumbered, it appears Durutte (who was a General in I Corps and who's division was still badly mauled from the attack earlier in the day but had been since attacking Papelotte farm) had been ordered to send one of his two brigades into the fight for La Haye Sainte, thus leaving him a single brigade to oppose the whole of Ziethen's corps.
At first they put up a strong fight and Jacquinot's cavalry even made some successful charges against the first Prussian manoeuvres. However, as more and more of the Prussians advanced the extent of their intervention became apparent and the French began an increasingly disorganised withdrawal. It is certain that the final rout of the French army started in the area of Papelotte as Ziethen's men flooded the battlefield. Lieutenant Pontecoulant of the Guard artillery describes the scene "Our line...was suddenly broken. The Prussian cavalry hurled itself into this breach and soon flooded the battlefield, sobering isolated soldiers and making it impossible for us to rally."
The panic that had sezed Durette's men spread itself down the French line, especially the troops in the centre, seeing the Middle Guard retire and now threatened by the Prussians on their right and the Anglo-Dutch to their front and left, they dissolved in panic.

The Fall of Planchenoit
It was between 8pm and 9pm, despite the heroics of the defenders in the village it was becoming clear that Planchenoit was in imminent danger of being overwhelmed. More Prussian troops were being committed and the village was in danger of being completely cut off by the Prussians deploying around the flanks. General Tromelin recalls:

"But towards 8 o'clock in the evening, decimated by the Prussian attacks that were constantly reinforced, outflanked on our right by Bluchers cavalry whose squadrons our own cavalry were not able to contain, and to our left by the English cavalry launched pursuit of the army, one sensed that our battalions were in danger of falling into disorder and the order was received to abandon Planchenoit in flames and retire towards the main road."

The heavily outnumbered and exhausted French were gradually abandoning the village. "In flaming Plancenoit, General Pelet, Golzio, and Colomban with their 600 guardsmen - 'all very pale' according to the General - and the Tirailleurs and Voltigeurs still held out.
Photo of the church in Plancenoit In the cemetery and the church the 2nd Westphalian Landwehr and the Pomeranians were shooting it out with the French at point-blank range when the units, suddenly outflanked, took to their heels. Pelet rallied his chasseurs around him, but it was so dark they could no longer recognize one another at 10 paces. The confusion was complete."
According to Historian Alessandro Barbero "... entire groups of the Young Guard were starting to raise their hands in surrender, although the Prussians maddened by the stubborn defence the French put up, were not always disposed to take prisoners."

For the final moments in the fight for Planchenoit let us again turn to General Pelet:

"My major told me that everyone had made off and that the enemy already had cavalry at the entrance to the village [behind him], that we were outflanked on all sides, and in particular by the wood [the Chantelet Wood] on the side of the Lasne.
I then gave the order to rally everyone who could be found. I ran round the whole village, where the enemy had entered on all sides.
I had the drums beat the rally and I retired with what remained of the battalion and the company of Grenadiers, about half of my men, by the road that ran from Planchenoit to the Cailou farm.
The entry (to Planchenoit) had already been blocked by the enemy. It was between eight and eight thirty. Out of the village, I found myself in a terrible confusion of men saving themselves in rout whilst shouting 'Stop! Sop! Halt! Halt!'. It was those who shouted loudest that ran the fastest. These sounds were accompanied by cannon shots, which hastened even the slowest.
The enemy accompanied us with skirmishers, especially by the wood that stretched from Maransat, from where these rascals outflanked me. I had rallied all the men I could around me. I met the poor Langlois [Lieutenant of the 2nd Chasseurs], then the Eagle Bearer of the 1st Regiment, Baric [Lieutenant of the 2nd Chasseurs] and recall that I embraced the Eagle with great emotion in finding it and raising my hat shouted 'My friends, we must defend it to the death!' This animated them and united them."

The darkness spread even more confusion in the rout, no one could tell friend from foe at ten paces, the Brussels road was filled with fugitives running for their lives while only small groups such as Pelet's and the battalions of the Old Guard that had been in reserve kept some sort of cohesion.
The Prussians would be the force to pursue the French, their cavalry played havoc with the fugitives but overstretched themselves when facing forces ready to meet them like the squares of the Old Guard, all the same, they caused tremendous confusion. Apparently the mass of Prussian infantry that emerged from Planchenoit was had their shako's on their muskets and were singing.

The "growing flood of Prussian troops on the French right flank undoubtedly swung the fortunes of the day.” - David Chandler

The Prussian Pursuit
The Prussian's were full of vengeful hate towards the French, their actions in the pursuit would show just how much the Prussians loathed their enemies.
At 9:30 Generals Bulow, Pirch and Ziethen received orders from Blucher to pursue the enemy, to give no quarter and to “pursue the French as long as they had a man and horse able to stand.” The fugitives were pursued mainly by the Prussian light cavalry. Only a few Netherland and British squadrons participated in the pursuit. General Gneissenau placed himself at the head of advance guard and urged his exhausted soldiers all night long. Gneisenau stated, “The causeway presented the appearance of an immense shipwreck; it was covered with an innumerable quantity of cannon, caissons, carriages, arms, and wrecks of every kind. Those of the enemy who had attempted to repose for a time … were driven from more than nine bivouacs. … it was moonlight, the whole march was but a continued chase, either in the cornfields or the houses.”
Immediately after Napoleon left Le Caillou the Prussians arrived and set fire to the farm and its adjacent barns, burning alive all wounded Frenchmen who had been brought into these buildings.
Major Keller of Prussian 15th Infantry took possesion of Napoleon's sword, medals, hat and purse of diamonds. One Prussian officer wrote that “The fusiliers sold 4 or 5 diamonds as large as a pea, or even larger … the fusiliers have chosen the finest as a present to the king.” (The diamonds had belonged to Pauline Bonaparte and were worth 1 million francs.)
Near Rossomme Lieutenant Jackson of Wellington's staff saw a large group of Prussian infantrymen bayoneting wounded French soldiers to death. He was genuinely afraid that they were going to kill him.  Napoleon's surgeon Dr. Larrey was struck down by Prussian uhlan. The uhlan robbed him, tied his hands behind his back, and brought to the Prussians.
Most of the French army was trying to retreat for Genappe. The horrors of the retreat are well described by Maudit:

"What a distressing spectacle had passed under our eyes between the battlefield and Genappe! A multitude of wounded, not wanting to return to the pontoons, nor to fall into the hands of the Prussians, who, in the flush of an unexpected victory, rarely gave quarter, they re-doubled their efforts to drag themselves along the road followed by the remainder of the army, but soon overwhelmed by fatigue and the need for medical attention, and not even having had the initial care from a medical station, they fell to be finished off by Bulow's uhlans and hussars: some of our wounded blew out their own brains rather than survive such a disaster or return to the English pontoons."

Those fugitives that had stayed on the main road hoping to find safety at Genappe were to be sadly disappointed. They had been beaten there by much of the artillery and baggage, and instead of finding salvation the found even more chaos. Many reasons are given as to the mix-up in the town, some say wagons were overturned to form a line of defence, others that the sheer weight of traffic trying to negotiate the choke point caused a traffic jam. What is clear about this chaos though is that as panic gripped the whole army, the drivers of the various limbers and wagons, fearing that the Prussians would catch them up, cut the traces and fled on horseback, leaving their guns and wagons blocking the route into town. 
The Prussians took Genappe by storm. The French collected some artillery and infantry and entrenched themselves behind overturned carriages. Prussian horse battery came up and blasted through the barrier, then two fusilier battalions and the 15th Infantry charged and broke the French. Count Lobau managed to rally a few hundred troops at the front of Genappe. However at the first 'hourrahs' of the Prussian cavalry they immediately dispersed and the general was captured. Also captured in the town was General Duhesme.

The battle was over, the Prussians had lost a total of over 7000 men killed, wounded and missing and had taken part in some of the most bloody fighting of the battle, the Prussians alone would continue the pursuit over the following days. The Prussians had made a vast impact on the battle, their presence changed the course of the battle in favour of the allies.
On 19 June Blucher sent off three of his four corps in pursuit of the French.

The End

If you read all of this thank you, I hope you enjoyed reading as I enjoyed writing and researching :)

8
Historical Discussion / Favourite Napoleonic Commanders
« on: March 07, 2013, 10:24:47 pm »
Title says it all, who're your favourite army commanders from the armies of the Napoleonic wars? By this I don't just mean the obvious ones like Napoleon and Welligton etc, try to select a more obscure one, one who is often overlooked. So choose your favourite marshals, generals, etc. I'll start off.

France
Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout, Duc de Auerstadt, Prince of Eckmuhl
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One of Napoleon's best Marshals, his outstanding victory at Auerstadt was an amazing victory considering he was outnumbered by over double his numbers, not too mention it put the bulk of the Prussian army in dissary, sadly this victory is overshadowed by Napoleon's victory at Jena. Through training and discipline, he made the III Corps one of the finest Corps in the Grande Armee, his leading skills were legendary, giving him the nickname of "The Iron Marshall" his administritive skills were also very good. Davout participated in many of the key battles in Europe and performed fantastically, he is one of, if not THE best Marshal of France in my opinion.

Marshal Michel Ney, Duc d'Elchingen, Prince de la Moskowa
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Ney is unfortunatley mostly remembered for his poor performance in the Waterloo campaign, what is often forgotten is that he was truly one of the greatest leaders in the Grande Armee, from the start of his career to Napoleon's abdication he was charasmatic, unbelievably brave and he could make decisions quickly, making his attacks decisive and effective. His greatest moment is probably during the retreat from Russia, when he without a horse lead a large group of survivors out of Russia, he managed to slip past the Russian army and showed tremendous bravery throughout. When Napoleon saw him, he declared him "The Bravest of the Brave". He has his own legend of being the last man to leave Russia, though that cannot be literal it is true that Ney made sure to save as many lives as he could. Despite his performance in the Waterloo campaign, Ney was truly a great leader and the bravest of men.

Marshal Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, Duc de Trévise
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Reliable, talented and brave, and the tallest of Napoleon's marshals at 6,6". During the Austerlitz campaign, Mortier won great acclaim for his courageous handling of a small force of men at Durrenstein. His 5000 men were left behind by Marshal Murat's pursuit of the Russians after Ulm and found themselves attacked by some 40,000 enemy troops. Mortier's men fought tenaciously and extricated themselves from the suicidal position. Both sides lost some 3000 men. After Austerlitz, he took over V Corps, then later VIII Corps. He led the Young Guard in 1812 and after and he led them to victory after victory in the campaigns of 1812-1814. He was fiercley loyal to Napoleon, even when the other marshals (including Ney) told the Emperor he should abdicate, Mortier still supported him, upon Napoleon's return he welcomed him with open arms but was sadly taken with illness and could not participate in the Waterloo Campaign, it'd would've been interesting to see what he could have provided. Gotta love Mortie.

Great Britain
Lieutenant General Thomas Picton & Major General Robert Crauford
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Too me, these two men are quite interesting and of course they were great commanders, they were incredibly similar, both enforced rigid discipline in the divisions, both had fiery tempers, they were also incredibly skilled in administrating their divisions and of course many of the men in their divisions were inspired by their commanders. Crauford inherited the nickname "Black Bob Crauford" in referance to his temper and discpline. Despite their many similarities however, both these men hated each other, Picton even refused to support Crauford on some occasions during engagments, they constantly disagreed and did not get along, it exasperated Wellington to some extent. Another similarity of these two is that they both died in action, Crauford died at Ciuiad Rodrigo and Picton at Waterloo.
Anyway, Crauford was in charge of the Light Division, which he handled with great skill, for example, he forced marched them many miles too Talavera, and though they missed the battle it was still quite an acheivment as forced marches were very difficult for British forces to perform at the time. Picton commanded the 3rd Division, he handled it so well that it gained the nickname "The Fighting 3rd". These two are probably my favourite British generals of the period.

Austria
Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
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I consider Charles as an incredibly skilled and capable commander during the Napoleonic period, he conducted operations with high skill and in the changing art of warfare Napoleon was introducing, as part of Austrian plans to start another offensive against France, Charles attempted to modernise and reorganise the Austrian army between 1808-09. He did this with some succsess, alas he could not prevail in some areas, the Generals under his command were very reluctant to accept these new changes such as the corps d'armee system. Charles was also plagued by Phillip von Stadion's quite unrealistic and impractical aims for a war with France, Charles had little hope of success against the French in 1809, but later when the war happened he still performed well at Aspern-Essling.
I consider Charles as an Austrian commander who stands out from others, he was intelligent, good at managing but still restricted by the Austrian slowness at embracing the new military structures.

Prussia
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
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I chose Blucher mainly because he can be a little overlooked sometimes, but to be honest the reason I like Blucher so much is that he was...pretty badass. I mean he was about 72 when he fought in the Waterloo campaign, he'd fought in many wars before that, but the fact this old geezer led his army the way he did at his age is quite cool. That and he was trampelled by a great deal of cavalry at Ligny and lay there for several hours, when he was found he was only relieved for a few hours and was then back too it. Now that had to of taken a lot just to even carry on after that ordeal, but the old guy just carried on, 1# Badass ofver 70! Another fun fact about Gebhrard was that apparently he was quite the womaniser, what a lad! Anyway, Blucher was a skilled and charasmatic leader, he was also a born cavalryman, he was in the cavalry for his early career and incredibly skilled in handling his regiment the Red Hussars.

Russia
Prince Pyotr Bagration
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Bagration was an incredibly skilled General and my favourite Russian general along with Kutusov, he handled the rearguard action during the Ulm Campaign fantastically, and though at Hollabrunn he lost two thirds of his army, he had delayed the French for 18 hours, a vital amount of time. He performed excellently during the Russian wars against Sweden in 1808 and the Ottomans in 1809. His next command would be in the 1812 campaign, where he was mortally wounded at Borodino and died, fun fact, when viewing the advance of the battalions of the 57e de Ligne, "Les Terribles", Bagration shouted "Bravo! Bravo!" in the way the regiment advanced. Bagration was a fine general, as I say he's my favourite along with ol' One Eye Kutusov.

Well, those are my favourites, so far, I'm sure as I learn more about other generals I'll like some of them too.
So go ahead, post your favourite Napoleonic generals for whatever reason, be it their skill as a general, or something awesome about them!

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Community / Favourite Paintings of the Napoleonic Wars
« on: November 11, 2012, 04:43:09 pm »
Hello community, this is a thread for sharing your favourite awesome paintings for the Napoleonic Wars.
So basically post your favourite paintings depicting whatever parts of the Napoleonic wars, whether its whats in the painting that you find great or the lighting, or an epic particular part of a painting that you like, any painting based in the era you like, post it here.

I'll start with mine:
Old Guard Chasseurs charging at Waterloo
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Painting of the Battle of Leipzig I think?
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Square at Waterloo
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An Old Guard Grenadier who looks a lot like my ingame character :)
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Painting of the Battle of Hanau 1813
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Painting of the battle at Placenoit at Waterloo
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Waterloo
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My favourite picture of the Old Guard
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The Old Guard on parade
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Marshal Ney, the Bravest of the Brave supporting the rearguard from Russia
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And heres a little more info about the event itself: Marshal Ney then formed the rear guard while the Cossacks quickly closed on him. He formed his troops into square and, taking musket in his own hand, let them onwards. By midnight he reached Dnepr River and crossed it. On November 21 he reached Orsha and Napoleon.
Ney's die-hards' arrival in Orsha raised the morale of the army. For this action Ney was given the nickname ‘the bravest of the brave’ by Napoleon.

Dorsenne and the Guard at Aspern-Essling
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