Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
On the Right, TIPPELSKIRCHEN's Brigade (the Fifth) was ordered to
renew the attack upon St Amand la Haye; and, as an auxiliary movement,
a bold push was to be made upon the group of houses in rear of that
village, and of Wagnelé, called the Hameau de St Amand. Both of the
3rd Battalions of the 2nd and 25th Regiments, under Major WITZLEBEN,
advanced against the latter point, while the 1st and 2nd Battalions of
the 2nd Regiment, the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Westphalian Landwehr,
and a Battalion of the 25th Regiment made a direct attack upon St
Amand la Haye. Both movements were supported by the Foot Batteries
Nos. 10 and 37, and Colonel THÜMEN was detached, with the Silesian
Uhlans, and the 11th Hussars, to cover the Right of the Brigade: the
1st and 2nd Squadrons of the 5th Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry were posted
in reserve. The 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment opened the attack
upon the Hameau de St Amand, and being well protected on their right by
the 11th Hussars, carried it by storm. The French appeared determined
to regain this point, which from its position, was, in fact, the key
to the defence of the three Villages of St Amand, St Amand la Haye,
and Wagnelé; and the struggle for its possession was most obstinate
and sanguinary. All the Battalions of TIPPELSKIRCHEN's Brigade became
successively engaged. Four times was St Amand la Haye lost and retaken
by the 2nd Regiment, which suffered severely. General JÜRGASS ordered
forward the Horse Battery No. 6, on the right of which the Foot Battery
No. 10 then took post. The Silesian Uhlans and the 11th Hussars
suffered considerably from their exposure to the Enemy's Artillery.
Colonel THÜMEN was killed at their head, by a cannon shot, and was
succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel SCHMIEDEBERG, who ordered both these
Regiments to make a change of front to the right; when the Prussian
Lancers dashed forward to meet the advance of a French Regiment, which
they completely defeated, and having followed up the attack with a
vigorous pursuit, fell all at once among the Enemy's Reserves; but they
immediately recovered themselves, and rallied with great celerity,
order, and precision.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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