Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
PIRCH's Corps (the Second) broke up from its position between St Anne
and Aisemont, on the right bank of the Dyle, about noon, for the
purpose of passing the Defile of Wavre. The 1st Battalion of the 14th
Regiment, which occupied this town, was relieved by a Battalion of
the 30th Regiment, belonging to the Third Corps (THIELEMANN's). PIRCH
had just put his Corps in motion, with a view to cross the Dyle by
the town of Wavre, when the approach of the Enemy was announced. The
Defile was crowded with the troops; the progress of their march could
not be otherwise than slow; and at this moment Lieutenant Colonel SOHR,
whose Brigade formed the Rear Guard of the Corps, sent in word, that
the Enemy presented a force of six Regiments of Cavalry, ten pieces of
Artillery, and two strong Columns of Infantry.
The Wood of Sarats, close to the Farm of Auzel, was now occupied
by some Battalions of the Eighth Brigade, the command of which had
devolved upon Colonel RECKOW. PIRCH placed the whole of the Rear Guard
under the Orders of General BRAUSE, the Commander of the Seventh
Brigade, and reinforced Lieutenant Colonel SOHR with the 11th Hussars
and four pieces of Horse Artillery. BRAUSE posted the remaining
Battalions of the Eighth Brigade in rear of the Wood, and the three
Regiments of Cavalry on the right, with the Foot Battery No. 12 in
their front. The Seventh Brigade, deployed into line, remained in
reserve.
Lieutenant Colonel LEDEBUR retired slowly before the Enemy, and
formed a junction with the Eighth Brigade, under Colonel RECKOW; who
maintained his position until three o'clock in the afternoon, against
the Advanced Guard of VANDAMME's Corps. Between three and four o'clock,
General BRAUSE ordered the retreat. Lieutenant Colonel SOHR crossed the
Bridge at the Mill of Bierge, which was occupied by two Companies of
the 2nd Battalion of the 14th Regiment; and then followed the Reserve
Cavalry of PIRCH's Corps, to which his Brigade belonged, but which he
did not overtake until he reached the Field of Waterloo. The Enemy did
not advance with much vigour; the retreat was conducted with perfect
order, and the Fusilier Battalion of the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr, under
Major KRÜGER, distinguished itself on the occasion. After the passage
of the river had been effected, the 1st Battalion of the Elbe Landwehr
remained at Bierge until the Bridge was destroyed and the Mill set on
fire. The 11th Hussars and the 2nd Battalion of the Elbe Landwehr were
posted in observation of the passages across the Dyle, and did not
rejoin the Corps before the following day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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