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Battle of Wavre
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{{Short description|1815 battle during the War of the Seventh Coalition}}{{Use shortened footnotes|date=June 2021}}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}- the content below is remote from Wikipedia
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Background
Following defeat at the Battle of Ligny two days earlier, the Prussian army retreated north in good order and formed up at Wavre. Wellington's Anglo-allied army won a tactical victory at Quatre Bras, but had been unable to come to the aid of the Prussians at Ligny and retreated northwards, to a defensive position at Waterloo. Napoleon moved the bulk of his army off in pursuit of Wellington, and sent Grouchy in pursuit of the retreating Prussians with the right wing (aile droite) of the Army of the North (L'Armée du Nord), a force consisting of 33,000 men and 80 guns.{{sfn|Chandler|1999|p=485}}The French units in the order of battle were:The figures given for unit strengths in the order of battle are not accurate for the battle of Wavre and are, in fact, impossibly precise for any such military action given the inevitable effects of any battlefield's confusion and the "fog of war." Both forces had been engaged and suffered casualties at the battle of Ligny, and some 8,000 men of the Prussian army had become stragglers during the retreat from Ligny. There would also be a number of men not at the battle for other reasons, although as the campaign had only just started, there would have been little of the usual attrition due to sickness so common to field armies during the Napoleonic wars.- III Corps (General Dominique Vandamme)
- 17,099 infantry â 38 guns
- IV Corps (General Ãtienne Maurice Gérard)
- 15,013 infantry â 38 guns
- II Cavalry Corps (General Remy Exelmans)
- 3,392 infantry â 12 guns
- IV (Hussars) Cavalry Division (General Pierre Soult)
- 1,485 infantry â 8 guns detached from the I Cavalry Corps
- 5,000 cavalry from the Reserve Army
Prelude
{{See also|Waterloo Campaign: From Ligny through Wavre to Waterloo}}French positions
Marshal Grouchy was in Gembloux with III Corps commanded by General Vandamme and IV Corps commanded by General Gerard. The 4th Cavalry Division, commanded by Pajol, and the 21st infantry division, under Teste (from Lobau's corps), formed the remainder of his force.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=154}} Reconnaissance by Pajol's horsemen during the 17th of June found that the Prussians had left Namur.French movements
(File:La Dyle à Wavre (2).jpg|thumb|left|210px|The Dyle river in Wavre (early 20th century).)At around 06:00 of 18 June 1815 Grouchy reported to Napoleon that the Prussians had left Tourinnes by marching all night. He further reported that he was moving on Wavre with all haste. At 10:00 Grouchy reported to Napoleon that the Prussian I, II, andâmistakenlyâIII CorpsIn fact the Prussian force that marched to Waterloo comprised I, II, and IV Corps. Thielmann's III Corps was the force opposing Grouchy at Wavre. were marching in the direction of Brussels, and that Prussian officers were talking of joining Wellington to offer battle to the French army. His despatch included a Prussian requisition form by way of proof. He suggested that by attacking and standing at Wavre, he could block the Prussians from intervening against the rest of the French army.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=155}} At 11:30, Grouchy and his corps commanders heard in the distance the noise from the Grand Battery as the Battle of Waterloo started. Grouchy's corps commanders, especially Gérard, suggested that they should "march to the sound of the guns."{{sfn|Chandler|1999|pp=484â485}} Grouchy, however, had written and verbal orders from Napoleon to march on Wavre and to engage the Prussians there,{{sfn|Roberts|2005|p=53}} and knew that Marshal Ney had been taken to task by Napoleon two days earlier for not following orders at the Battle of Quatre Bras. Grouchy therefore declined to follow his subordinates' suggestion, pointing out that Napoleon had more than enough force to deal with Wellington.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=156}} Minutes after this conversation, Exelmans reported strong Prussian positions {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} at Wavre. At 13:00, elements of Exelmans' cavalry were in contact with the Prussian 14th Brigadeâs rear guard.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=156}} Further argument was ended by the arrival at 16:00 of another order from Napoleon, repeating the instruction to Grouchy to attack the Prussians before him.Prussian movements
Blücher had ordered Thielmann to defend the position of Wavre in the event of Marshal Grouchy advancing in force, or, if otherwise, to follow the main Prussian army in the direction of Couture-Saint-Germain and the battlefield of Waterloo. Thielmann was on the point of leaving Wavre to march towards Couture-Saint-Germain when the French III Corps (Vandamme's) arrived in front of his position, at about 16:00, and the French artillery immediately opened a cannonade upon the Prussians.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=601}}All the brigades (the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th) of the Prussian III Corps (Thielmann's), had, at that time, received the order to commence the general movement to the right (west). A detachment of only two battalions (the Fusilier Battalions of the 30th Regiment and of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr), under Colonel Zepelin, from the 9th Brigade, which had not yet crossed the river Dyle, was to be left in occupation of Wavre. The 12th Brigade was already in full line of march, and the 11th had just been put in motion.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=601}}When General Borcke, who commanded the 9th Brigade, fell back upon Wavre for the purpose of carrying out his instructions, he found the bridge already barricaded, and therefore proceeded with his brigade to Basse-Wavre (a short distance east and down-stream of Wavre). Having crossed the Dyle at this point, he left a detachment there, consisting of the sharpshooters of the Fusilier Battalion of the 8th Regiment and those of the 1st Battalion of the 30th Regiment, under Major Ditfurth, whom he directed to destroy the bridge immediately. He then detached the 2nd Battalion of the 30th Regiment and his two squadrons of the Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry, as a reinforcement to Zepelin at Wavre. With the remainder of his brigade, he then continued his march.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|pp=601â602}}In the meantime, French Tirailleurs were observed extending along the opposite heights, and in their rear considerable masses of French troops appeared to be advancing. It soon became manifest to the Prussians that the French contemplated forcing a passage of the river.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=602}}Prussian preparations and dispositions
Thielmann, judging by the want of vigour displayed in the French pursuit and by the French not having attempted to secure the passage of the Dyle at Mousty,{{efn|{{coord|50.66077|N|4.56664|E}} Mousty is called "Moustier" by Siborne.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=318}} }} {{Interlanguage link multi|Limelette|fr|vertical-align=sup}}, and Limal, considered that it was only a weak detachment that was advancing upon Wavre, confining itself to the design of creating some little uneasiness by its movement along this road to Brussels. He had hitherto been of the opinion that the occupation of Wavre by a few battalions, as directed by Blücher, would be quite sufficient, but he now plainly saw that a moment had arrived which required him, in pursuance of his instructions, to maintain the position at Wavre. Accordingly, he ordered the halt of his whole corps for this purpose.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=602}}The town of Wavre is situated on the left (north) bank of the Dyle, having a suburb on the opposite side of the river, with which it was then connected by two stone bridges. The principal of these bridges led towards the middle, and the smaller one towards the upper end of the town. Higher up the stream, at the Mill of Bierges,{{Efn|{{coord|50.69680|N|4.58566|E}}: The Mill of Bierges was located at what is now "Rue du Moulin à Eau 11, 1300 Wavre, Belgium" (south-west of Wavre town centre)}} at Limal, and at Limelette. Below the town at Basse-Wavre, there were wooden bridges. The river Dyle is not deep, but because of the very heavy rain over the previous 24 hours it was swollen.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=602}}The low range of heights on either side of the valley was covered in many places with woods. The heights on the right bank are generally more elevated, but those on the left have steeper declivities, and offer a greater command of the river and its passages. The shortest road from Namur to Brussels passed through the town, besides which there were numerous crossroads practicable for the movement of all arms. The great number of hollow ways forms a prominent feature in the vicinity, and these, being in a miry state from the rain, were unfavourable to the progress of troops passing through them.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|pp=602-603}}The position was thus occupied:{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=603}}- the 12th Brigade (Colonel Stülpnagel), with the Horse Battery No. 20, was posted on the height in rear of Bierge. The bridge in front of this village was barricaded, and the Mill occupied for the defence of the bridge.
- The 10th Brigade (Colonel Kämpfen) stood upon the heights in the rear of Wavre, its right resting on a wood which lay between it and the 12th Brigade.
- The 11th Brigade (Colonel Luce) was formed across the Brussels road.
- The reserve cavalry was drawn up, near {{Interlanguage link multi|La Bawette|nl|3=Golf du Château de la Bawette|vertical-align=sup}},{{efn|{{coord|50.72943|N|4.59624|E}} ({{convert|2|km|mi}} north of Wavre). Siborne and Kaart van Ferraris calls it "La Bavette."{{sfn|Kaart van Ferraris|1777|loc='Wavre - Wavre' 95}}{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=287}} }} in columns of squadrons.
- The artillery was distributed along the heights. Horse Battery No. 18 remained in reserve.{{sfn|Siborne|1848|p=603}}
Battle
(File:Battle of Wavre, 18 & 19 June 1815 (Alison).jpg|thumb|350px|Detailed map of the Battle of Wavre, 18 & 19 June 1815 (Atlas to Alison's history of Europe))missing image!
- Bataillon Stoffel 1815.jpg -
Commemorative plaque to the 1815 battle, Dyle bridge, Wavre.{{efn|The wording on the plaque translates as: "To the soldiers of the STOFFEL battalion, of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (Swiss) created on 24 April 1815 - integrated into the 10th Division of the 3rd Corps of the French Army (Army of the North) - who took part in the Belgian campaign and who were decimated, at Wavre, while twice conquering the Christ Bridge, on the evening of Sunday, 18 June 1815."
]]- Bataillon Stoffel 1815.jpg -
Commemorative plaque to the 1815 battle, Dyle bridge, Wavre.{{efn|The wording on the plaque translates as: "To the soldiers of the STOFFEL battalion, of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (Swiss) created on 24 April 1815 - integrated into the 10th Division of the 3rd Corps of the French Army (Army of the North) - who took part in the Belgian campaign and who were decimated, at Wavre, while twice conquering the Christ Bridge, on the evening of Sunday, 18 June 1815."
missing image!
- Eglise St Jean Wavre.jpg -
Plaque at the St. John-the-Baptist church, Wavre{{efn|The wording on the plaque translates as: "On 18 June 1815, the French Artillery bombarded the Prussian troops retrenched in Wavre. Homage to the victims. A cannonball is (still) embedded into one of the church pillars".
]]Late in the afternoon of 18 June, as Napoleon was heavily engaged against Wellington at Waterloo, Grouchy, commanding the corps of General Gérard and General Vandamme, prepared to attack the Prussian forces confronting him over the River Dyle between the towns of Wavre and Limal.General Vandamme opened the Battle of Wavre at 16:00, unlimbering 3 batteries, then moved Habert's division in an attempt to take the bridges by quick assault.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=159}} Marshal Grouchy, having just received Marshal Soult's order to move against Wavre, ordered Exelmans' cavalry with an infantry battalion against the bridge at Bas-Wavre while Lefol's division moved against the bridge at Bierges.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=162}} The fusilier battalion of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr Regiment defended the Bierge bridge by removing timbers from it under French fire and counter-charging any attempt to repair it.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=162}} The Kurmarkers held the right bank of the stone bridge at Wavre for some time, forcing Vandamme's troops to waste precious time taking it. Once this was done the French rushed across the bridge and straight into a vicious street fight. A battalion of the 2nd Kurmark Landwehr Regiment moved to support the 1st and threw the French back across the bridge.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=162}} A renewed French assault penetrated further down the same street, only to be ambushed from side streets by the fusiliers of the 1st Kurmark Landwehr and 30th Line Infantry Regiments using point blank musketry. A bayonet charge sent the French scrambling across the bridge again. This see-saw battle would continue throughout the night.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=162}} Later attacks by the French upon Wavre met with no more success. The Prussians assigned another battalion and three guns to the bridge. The bridge at Bas-Wavre had been destroyed by the Prussians.{{sfn|Kelly|1905|p=109}} The attacks by Lefol upon the bridge of Bierges had no more success, being hampered by muddy ground and the tough defense of the Prussian 31st Line Infantry Regiment supported by the 2nd battalion of the 6th Kurmark Landwehr Regiment and a horse battery.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=163}} Three small battalions and three squadrons of cavalry under Stengel were to guard a bridge to the west at Limal.Marshal Soult's 13:00 letter ordering Grouchy to move quickly to join Napoleon and to attack Bülow arrived after 18:00. Grouchy at once began gathering additional divisions and headed to Limal, arriving at 23:00, where he found that Pajol's cavalry had forced the bridge there. Prussian scouting cavalry noticed the strong French columns moving to Limal and the Prussian 12th Brigade moved covering forces to the area. The Prussians made a bayonet charge in an attempt to retake Limal, but without success. Night closed the major actions of the battle of Wavre, although outposts fired on each other all night.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|pp=163â165}}At approximately 20:00 the French attack at Waterloo was irrevocably lost as its left, center, and right collapsed within a few minutes of each other. Grouchy was by then across the Dyle, but meanwhile the remnants of the ArmÄe du Nord were streaming south towards the imagined safety of French territory.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=150}}Fighting renewed in the early hours. The forest south of Limal was forced by 09:00. Thielmann then elected to retreat as the campaign had been decided by the fighting elsewhere. The definitive report of the victory at Waterloo reached Thielmann at 10:00 as his retreat started.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=169}}Grouchy, watching the Prussian retreat, was beginning his planned move upon Brussels when the news reached him at 10:30 that Napoleon had been defeated. Though in shock, Grouchy realised he was in danger of being trapped and his entire command destroyed. He at once had Exelmans move his cavalry to secure the bridges and (Waterloo campaign: Waterloo to Paris (18â24 June)|began a retreat by forced marches) that would take him back to Paris.{{sfn|Hofschröer|1999|p=170}} The victorious French forces had held the battlefield for only 30 minutes.{{sfn|Buttery|2013|loc=Chapter 7}}- Eglise St Jean Wavre.jpg -
Plaque at the St. John-the-Baptist church, Wavre{{efn|The wording on the plaque translates as: "On 18 June 1815, the French Artillery bombarded the Prussian troops retrenched in Wavre. Homage to the victims. A cannonball is (still) embedded into one of the church pillars".
Conclusion
While the battle ended in a French tactical victory, with the Prussians in retreat and Grouchy firmly athwart Prussian lines of communication to the east, this victory proved hollow as Napoléon was defeated at Waterloo.{{sfn|Buttery|2013|loc=Chapter 7}}{{sfn|Dawson|2011|p=162}} The Prussians had held their ground long enough to allow Blücher's transfer of 50,000 troops to Wellingtonâs aid at Waterloo.{{sfn|Dawson|2011|p=162}} In addition, the Prussian rearguard of 17,000 troops had tied down 33,000 French troops that could have otherwise taken part at Waterloo.{{sfn|Buttery|2013|loc=Chapter 7}} Thus, for the Prussians, the battle was a strategic success, as it contributed to the decisive victory at Waterloo.See also
Explanatory notes
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}Notes
{{Reflist|30em}}References
- BOOK, Bodart, Gaston, 1908, Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905),weblink registration, 11 June 2021,
- BOOK, Buttery, David, 2013, Waterloo Battlefield Guide, Pen and Sword, 978-1781591215, Chapter 7: The Battle of Wavre,
- {{Citation | last= Chandler | first=David | year=1999 | author-link=David G. Chandler | title=Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars | orig-year=First published 1993 | publisher=Wordsworth Editions | location=Ware, UK | isbn=978-1-84022-203-6}}
- BOOK, Dawson, Paul Lindsay, 2011, Dragoons of the Guard: 1806-1830, Association Britannique de la Garde Imperiale, en, 978-1447502531, 162,weblink
- {{citation | last=Ferraris | first=Joseph de | year=1777 | ref={{SfnRef|Kaart van Ferraris|1777}} | chapter='Braine la Leud' 78 'Wavre - Wavre' 95; 'Cour St. Etienne' 96; 'Gembloux - Gembloux' 97; 'Perwez le Marchez - Perwez' 114; and 'Namur' 116 | chapter-url=http://www.kbr.be/nl/kaart-van-ferraris | title=Kabinetskaart der Oostenrijkse Nederlanden et het Prinsbisdom Luik ('Kaart van Ferraris')| trans-title=Cabinet map of the Austrian Netherlands and the Principality of Liège (also known as 'the Ferraris Map')}}
- {{Citation | last=Hofschröer | first=Peter | year=1999 | title=1815 The Waterloo Campaign, The German Victory | volume=2 | location=London | publisher=Greenhill Books | isbn=1-85367-368-4}}
- {{Citation | last=Kelly | first=Hyde | year=1905 | title=The battle of Wavre and Grouchy's retreat; a study of an obscure part of the Waterloo campaign | location=London | publisher=John Murray | url=http://www.greatest-battles.webs.com/GB/Wavre/WavreByHydeKelly.htm}}
- {{Citation | last=Roberts | first=Andrew | author-link=Andrew Roberts (historian) | year=2005 | title=Waterloo, June 18, 1815: The Battle for Modern Europe | publisher=HarperCollins | isbn=978-0-06-008866-8 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/waterloojune181800robe}}
- {{Citation | last=Siborne | first=William | year=1848 | title=The Waterloo Campaign, 1815 | edition=4th | location=Westminster | publisher=A. Constable | url=https://archive.org/details/waterloocampaig01sibogoog}}
Further reading
- weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110714153710weblink">French Order of Battle {{in lang|fr}}
- weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110709154605weblink">Prussian Order of Battle {{in lang|de}}
- French Order-of-Battle at Wavre: 18 June 1815 by Stephen Millar
- Carl von Clausewitz's analysis of the Waterloo campaign, which includes a rather detached discussion of events at Wavre that had been, for him personally, rather harrowing, can be found in Carl von Clausewitz and Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, On Waterloo: Clausewitz, Wellington, and the Campaign of 1815, ed./trans. Christopher Bassford, Daniel Moran, and Gregory W. Pedlow (Clausewitz.com, 2010).
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