by Griff Hosker
“Well, Matthews, we should have plenty of warning if Boney comes this way, eh?”
“I hope so sir.” What I did not confide to the Earl was that the troops I had seen did not appear to have the quality to stand against the French. I had no doubt that they would be brave and they would stand but my former country men had been fighting for almost thirty years continuously. Their leaders knew their business and all had a keen military mind. It was one reason why I had done so well in the British Army. Another worry for me was the number of trees we were encountering. They would provide excellent cover for the French light infantry. I had come to respect them when I had fought them in Italy. They were tenacious.
Perhaps I was distracted by the Earl’s conversation about swords but whatever the reason I failed to spot the Chasseur patrol which was waiting in ambush for us. Their musketoons cracked from the trees. A notoriously inaccurate weapon they merely succeeded in wounding one of the Scots Grey troopers and hitting a couple of horses.
The Earl’s nephew’s mount was one such horse. A ball scored a line along its rump. Unlike the troopers he had no control over his recently acquired mount and it galloped off down the lane. I reacted first. “Sharp! Get the lieutenant!” As Sharp galloped past me I drew a pistol and urged my horse into the woods. I saw a surprised Chasseur trying to reload his musketoon and I fired at him. He wheeled away clutching a bleeding arm. I holstered one pistol and drew a second as I rode parallel with the road. The Chasseurs, all eight of them, had not expected this and my sudden appearance made them panic. I fired my second pistol at point blank range and a brigadier fell dead at my feet.
Suddenly I was surrounded by troopers from the Scots Greys. “Are you all right sir?”
I turned to look into the concerned face of Sergeant Ewart, “Yes Sergeant. I have learned that offence is always the best defence.” As I holstered my pistol I said wryly. “And a brace of pistols help.”
When we reached the road leading the dead Chasseur’s mount the young lieutenant was being helped to his horse. “Good show, Matthews. I had forgotten what a madcap you are.”
Captain Macgregor said, “I can see the value in a pistol now, sir.”
“Hopefully, you will not need them if the Duke has guessed correctly.”
The young lieutenant had sobered up but he was still shaken. “Thank you both. But for your prompt action…”
“I should spend the next few days learning to master your mount, lieutenant. The battlefield does not forgive such mistakes.” I noticed, as we rode back that he had sobered up somewhat and was definitely chastened.
The Duke gave me a couple of days off after my return. I would not be needed until after the fifteenth of June. It seemed that the Prussians and the Dutch were convinced that Napoleon was still gathering his army. Consequently the Duke agreed to allow the Duchess of Richmond to hold her ball and he and his senior officers would attend.
It was unusual for me to be so inactive. It was not in my nature to sit and do nothing. Sharp knew my moods well. On the afternoon of the fifteenth of June we were strolling around the main square. Around us was a sea of uniforms. Officers were busily preparing for the ball. The wives of the officers were in the most expensive shops buying adornments for their clothes. It was too much for me. It seemed a little like Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
After I had almost been barged over by a large and portly matron followed by a servant with several large boxes Sharp said, “Tell you what, sir. Let’s have a little ride down to Charleroi. We can be there and back before dark.”
“Charleroi? Why Sharp?”
He chuckled, “We have had interesting encounters the last two times we went down that road it might stop you becoming bored, sir.”
I laughed, “You are right. If nothing else it will stop these damned hairs from standing up on the back of my neck all the time!”
This time we halted at the crossroads at Quatre Bras. This was mainly because my girth needed tightening but also so that I could view this most important of junctions. As I tightened it I noticed that the land to the north was open and here there were many trees. Dutch troops were digging in south of the crossroads and, after I had finished with my girth, we joined them for a brew. Unlike the British troops the Dutch preferred coffee. They gave us a generous mug each. I enjoyed coffee but I saw Sharp pulling a face. To him coffee was 'foreign muck' and he wanted his tea so strong that you could stand a spoon up in it. They were pleasant fellows. They spoke a little English and, with my knowledge of German, we were able to speak. Suddenly Alan said, “Sir, is that thunder I can hear?”
I looked up at the wispy clouds and listened. I heard it. “I don’t think so. That is cannon fire and it is coming from the south or east. I cannot discern the direction yet.” As I mounted I said, “Ride to Brussels and tell the Duke that I think the Prussians are being attacked.”
"What will you do, sir?”
“Try to find them. Meet me back here, Sharp.” I saw his disapproving look. “I will try to be careful.”
“Where have I heard that before? Make sure you do, sir!”
As he rode away I said to the officer commanding the company. “I would prepare for action. I think the French are coming.”
I galloped south as fast as I could. Half way to Frasnes where I reached the horse artillery battery I saw that they had been alerted by the gunfire too. My frequent visits meant that they knew me to be the aide of the Duke and my rank too.
I saw that Captain Bijleveld, who commanded the horse battery, had placed his guns on both sides of the road and built a crude road block. That was sound thinking. There were five companies of infantry there too. He nodded to the west. “Sounds like a battle. We thought they were the Prussians testing their guns…”
“I don’t think so. Where is the colonel?”
The captain pointed towards Brussels. “He hurt his foot this morning and he has gone to Brussels for attention . Major Von Normann commands. He is at the other side of the village.”
“I would load your guns, Captain, we will have visitors soon.” I left him and his men loading their guns with carefully selected round shot. Your first balls were inevitably the most accurate. The gun crews knew their business.
I kicked my horse on and found Major Von Normann. He took the cigar from his mouth. “Well Major, do you believe as I do that the guns are the start of an attack?”
“I do. I have sent word to Brussels and asked the captain to load his guns." I looked at his five companies. It seemed a little inadequate to me. "Do you have skirmishers in the woods yet?”
The Dutchman looked surprised at the question. “No, Major." He pointed to the end of the village. "But I have a sergeant and twelve men at the edge of the village.”
It was too late to give him a lesson in tactics but a company in the woods would have been able to flank any attacker. I wondered if I should ride and find the Prussians or, at least, where the guns were firing. I was about to suggest sending his flank company there when my worst fears were confirmed. Thundering up the road were the horsemen who seemed destined to be wherever I was; it was the Red Lancers of the Imperial Guard. The French attack had begun without warning. Bonaparte had outwitted the Duke who was busy at a dance while the Emperor was striking at Brussels!
Part 2: Quatre Bras
Chapter 7
To be fair to the Major he was a brave Dutchman. He was not discouraged by the lancers charging up the road. “Lieutenant Muller, take your company forward and give those horsemen a volley or two.”
The detachment in the outpost was firing ragged shots at the horsemen who were galloping towards the vital crossroads of Quatre Bras. I mounted my horse and drew my pistol. The thirteen men needed support immediately. Some of the lancers had passed the outpost. I saw one level his lance at me as he galloped towards what he thought was an easy victim; a civilian who had stumbled into a battle. I fired at ten yards. His head disappeared and his body rolled backwards over his horse’s back. I yelle
d to the Sergeant and twelve men of the isolated detachment, “Fall back!”
A second lancer rode at me from the side. I barely had enough time to pull a second pistol and fire. The flash from the muzzle, the smoke and the proximity of the gun made his horse rear and, as he fought to control it, he dropped his lance. The thirteen Dutchmen left the farmhouse and fled towards me. I heard the Lieutenant behind me order his men into ranks. I fired a third pistol at the advancing Lancers and then turned to follow the detachment. The lines opened to allow us through and I heard the volleys as they fired in ranks. Although not as fast as the British they cleared the road with three volleys and I saw the Polish Lancers fall back out of musket range. We had a brief respite but I knew that the horsemen would not be alone. Infantry would soon be joining the horsemen. The gaping error of an undefended wood might well come to haunt us.
“Well done, Lieutenant. Now I think you ought to take your men back to the major. They will reform and attack again. This time they will come in solid lines and not piecemeal. " I pointed to the south where the lancers had split into two. Two squadrons of each were going to come along the side of the road. The eighty men would be isolated and cut to pieces.
The young lieutenant nodded and ordered another volley before leading the men back to the Major. As I reached the Major I pulled out my telescope. “Major, I can see blue uniforms behind the lancers. That will be infantry. I would suggest you pull back up the road. There is a farm and woods not far from Quatre Bras. You will have shelter for your men and the artillery will discourage the French. At least there you will not be in danger of being outflanked. “
“You are right, Major.” He turned to his Sergeant Major and rattled out orders. I took the opportunity of reloading my guns.
The lancers were not charging but they were trotting purposefully towards us. If these were ordinary cavalry then the Major might have a chance of extricating them easily. He could form square and march north. A lancer could attack a square with impunity. These raw Nassau troops might be brave but they would not stand an attack by lancers.
Our only chance lay with the artillery which was well placed to clear the road. Each company fired in turn and then retired behind the next company . They slowly headed up the road back to the safety of the guns. The Captain leading the retreat had them alternate their fire and keep the lancers at bay. They did not cause many casualties amongst the Red Lancers but they stopped them from coming too close. As the last company ran there was the just the Major and myself left. Like me he drew his pistol and as the Lancers began to charge we both fired. The smoke from the muskets meant that it was hard to see if we hit anything but it warned the lancers that there were still enemies ahead. As we rode the thousand yards to the guns I heard the reassuring crack of the artillery pieces as they sent round shot towards the flanks and the advancing lancers.
We reached the guns at the same time as the last company. Major Von Normann reloaded his pistol. “Thank you, Major. I agree with you. This position is untenable. Sergeant Major, take the men to the farm at Gemincourt and dig in. Captain Bijleveld hold them as long as you can but do not risk your guns.” He turned to me, “Major?”
“I will stay with the guns.” I shrugged, “I have done this before.”
He smiled, “And I took you for a dandified staff officer!”
Smiling I said, “Appearances can be deceptive.”
When the infantry had left it felt lonely and isolated. “Thank you for this, sir. It is my first action.”
“And you are doing very well. If you don’t mind some advice, have some canister ready and when they are a hundred yards away double shot your guns with canister and ball. Then you can limber your guns and ride like the devil is after you.”
He gave the orders and his men continued to send round shot towards the lancers. They were now becoming more daring as they realised that the infantry was retiring. The gunners could not keep up as rapid rate of fire as muskets could and the lancers had the chance to dart in between shots. Their long lances would make short work of vulnerable gunners.
As they advance towards us and reached a spot a hundred and fifty yards away the Captain looked at me and I nodded. He ordered the canister and the shot to be loaded together. I took out two pistols and cocked them. I gripped Pierre with my knees. I had confidence in my mount. At one hundred yards the two cannon spat out their deadly charge. The canister acted as a shotgun while the balls bounced and skipped south. The gunners needed no urging to limber their guns. Miraculously two lancers from the front ranks had survived the canister I fired at both of them. One fell from his horse but the other came on at me. I holstered my pistols and drew my sword as I whipped my horse’s head to the left. The lance came towards my chest and I saw the eager look on the face of the Pole. I hacked down at the lance and then quickly turned the blade sideways putting all of my weight behind the blow. The lancer rode into the razor sharp steel and I cut him almost through to his backbone.
The other lancers had seen the guns limber and they charged after me and the guns. I kicked hard and my horse obeyed both the reins and my knees and sprinted up the road. He was nimble and sure footed. As we neared the farm I saw the Dutchmen ready on either side of the road with their muskets levelled. Major von Normann had left the road free for the artillery to unlimber there. The rippling volleys sent the Red Lancers back to Frasnes, They fired until the crossroads was covered in smoke and dead horses. We had some respite. The battery was quickly unlimbered and readied to face the French. We had beaten off one attack but I knew that it would not be the last.
I looked at my watch. The whole action had just taken an hour. I dismounted and turned to face the major and the captain of artillery. “Well done, gentlemen, and if you don’t mind a suggestion from an old campaigner I would let your men have a drink and a bite of something to eat.” I pointed south. “There will be more soldiers coming up that road within the hour.”
The Major nodded and left to give orders. The captain shouted, "Albert grab some food and water." He turned to me. "Are you always this cool, Major?"
"My heart was beating as fast as yours, captain, but I have done this sort of thing before and know that you need to keep your head and deal with each problem as it arises."
I took my own advice and took a swig from my canteen. I remounted Pierre. He was tired but I knew that I could see further from his back than standing on the road. The men had taken advantage of the lull and were ready again with muskets levelled when I scanned the road to the south with my telescope. I saw the French advancing and this time I made out not only Chevau-Léger but also Chasseurs. This time a battery would not discourage them.
I turned to the Major. “I see cavalry and in some numbers. I would suggest you form square, Major.”
“Your advice has been good up to now." He turned to his Nassauers and shouted, "Form square.”
The square formed behind the guns. Once the cavalry attacked the gunners would shelter beneath the guns of the front rank. The Major and I took our horses inside the square. I had no confidence that two small Dutch battalions could hold out for long. We needed reinforcements and fast. I knew that Sharp would have only been in Brussels for a short time. He would need to find Colonel Selkirk or the Duke. It would all take time. The Duke and most senior officers would be at the Duchess of Richmond's ball. It could prove to be a costly dance. We might only be twenty miles from Brussels but the French vanguard was less than a mile away. We would have to hold out, possibly until the middle of the night. Bonaparte had certainly outwitted both Wellington and Blucher.
Major von Normann nudged his horse next to mine. “My men have never done this before. Have you?”
I smiled, “I have charged a few squares but I have never been inside one. It is the Chevau-Léger who are the dangerous ones. They have a lance. But so long as your fellows show bristling bayonets and are resolute they will endure.”
I looked at the sky. It was getting close to the longest day of the year. W
e would have daylight for some time yet. I watched the steady approach of the French. Their cavalry was using the open ground and fields to the east. I had no doubt that the light infantry would filter in the woods to the west once they closed with us. They could shelter in the trees and use sharpshooters to hit the gunners. If we had had more than two battalions then I would have suggested putting a couple of light companies there. It would be a total waste of the men with our paucity of numbers.
Captain Bijleveld fired a few rounds from his guns. It was merely to discourage the enemy and give heart to the Dutch. One could sense the nervousness of the troops.
I turned to the Major and spoke so that only he could hear me.. “I am going to tell you an awful joke, sir. Pray laugh as though it is the funniest thing you have ever heard and then you tell me one.” He gave me a strange look. “Please.” He nodded. I loudly told him one of Sharp’s jokes. It was not very good; it was more salacious than humorous. When he had finished laughing he told me a joke which I did not understand although the men around did. I laughed out loud .When they smiled and laughed I knew that my simple ploy had succeeded.
We both noticed a distinct relaxation in the men. He whispered to me. “Is this because we laughed?”
I nodded, “If the officers appear unconcerned then their men will believe they will survive. You were nervous and so were they. The Duke of Wellington uses this all the time. He appears calm and in command. It makes the men believe there is nothing to fear. Even when, as now, were are in the most dire of straits."
“Thank you, Major. This is a good lesson for me. We are new to such war."
Just then I heard the tramp of boots coming from behind us, from the village. My heart sank, briefly, had we been outflanked? If the French had taken the Nivelles road then they could get behind us. To my great relief it was Prince Bernard von Sachsen-Weimar who had arrived with two more battalions. We had been reinforced.