Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
BLÜCHER now decided on a renewed attack upon St Amand la Haye, in
order to occupy the front of GIRARD's Division, while he should carry
into effect his previously projected movement against the Enemy's Left
Flank; and, anxious to ensure the due execution of his instructions
and to direct the attacks himself, he repaired in person to this
part of the Field. General TIPPELSKIRCHEN's Brigade, having advanced
along the Roman road, was already formed in Brigade order, in rear of
Wagnelé, while JÜRGASS had posted his Cavalry more to the left, and
opposite to the interval between that Village and St Amand la Haye,
whence he could with considerable advantage fall upon the Enemy, should
the latter venture to debouch in that direction.
These movements did not escape the watchful eye of NAPOLEON, who
detached a Division of the Young Guard and a Battery of the same Corps
in support of his Left Wing, as also General COLBERT's Brigade of
Lancers from Count PAJOL's Corps, to reinforce the Cavalry on the Left,
and to preserve the communication with NEY.
When all was ready for the attack, BLÜCHER, who felt how much depended
on its result, galloped up to the leading Battalions, and thus
earnestly and impassionately ordered the advance:--"Now, lads, behave
well! don't suffer the _Grande Nation_ again to rule over you! Forward!
In God's name--forward!" Instantly his devoted followers rent the air
with their re-echoing shouts of "_Vorwärts!_"
Nothing could surpass the undaunted resolution and intrepid mien
which PIRCH's Battalions displayed as they advanced against, and
entered, St Amand la Haye, at a charging pace; they completely swept
the Enemy before them; while Major QUADT, who commanded the 28th
Regiment, supported by some Detachments of the 2nd Regiment (from
TIPPELSKIRCHEN's Brigade) gained possession of the great building. The
1st Battalion of the 6th Regiment, after having forced its way right
across the Village, sallied forth from the opposite side, in pursuit
of the Enemy, with a degree of impetuosity which its Officers had
the utmost difficulty in restraining, while numbers of the men were
on the point of plunging into the very midst of the French Reserves.
The Cavalry on the right of the Village seemed to have caught up the
intrepid spirit and enthusiastic devotion of the Infantry; and, as
if impatient to join in the struggle, a Squadron of the Brandenburg
Uhlans supported the attack of the Village by a charge upon the
Enemy's Cavalry: after which, the remainder of this Regiment, with
the 1st Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry, advanced under General TRESKOW,
into the plain on the left of the Village, of which the whole contour
now bristled with the bayonets of the 46th Regiment, while the 28th
Regiment held the Post of the Great Building, which it had so gallantly
carried, and the 2nd Westphalian Landwehr stood in Second Line, as a
Reserve.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account