Grymauch's Solo Wargaming Blog : Battle of Quatre Bras using General de Brigade Rules

This was a first attempt at this battle using the Deluxe Edition General de Brigade rules.

Foy's 9^th Division were tasked with capturing Germoincourt before attacking Quatre Bras. Bachelu's 5^th Division took the right flank attacking towards Quatre Bras from the north supported by the 2^nd Cavalry Division. The Guard Light Cavalry anchored the left flank. Most of Perponchers 2^nd Netherlands Division were positioned in Bossu Wood and across to the village of Quatre Bras.

Bachelu's division swept aside the 27^th Dutch Jaeger as they swung towards the north of Quatre Bras. Foy's division however struggled to capture Germoincourt due to the stubborn resistance of the 5^th Dutch Militia. They only fell back after suffering severe losses and delaying Foy's advance.

Merlen's Netherlands light cavalry brigade arrived followed by Picton's 5^th Division who were immediately moved towards the allied left flank blocking Bachelu's march. Pack and Kempt's brigades lead supported by the 5^th Hanoverian Brigade.

Meanwhile Jerome's 6^th Division arrived on the French side and moved to attack Bossu Wood. They were followed by the heavy cavalry of the 11^th Cavalry Division which moved to support Bachelu.

With pressure steadily building along the allied line the arrival of the Brunswickers came at a critical time. The infantry and artillery advanced to occupy the central position including Quatre Bras and across to the western end of Bossu Wood. As they arrived the 2^nd Netherlands Division crumpled under the French onslaught. The Dutch/Belgians streamed from Bossu Wood in full flight having put up minimal resistance. The Dutch/Belgians to the immediate front of the Brunswickers performed better but finally broke leaving the gap to be filled by them.

The Brunswick Cavalry Brigade joined the allied left flank attempting to counter the threat by the considerable numbers of French cavalry. They had initial success against the French Dragoons but this was quickly reversed by charges of Cuirassiers. The Dutch/Belgian cavalry performed poorly with the 6^th Dutch Hussars routing from the field. All was not lost though as Pack and Kempt's Brigades had stopped Bachelu's Division in its tracks with Campy's brigade suffering particularly badly.

Then disaster struck! An event that will go down in history as “the ride of the 6^th Chasseurs” very nearly destroyed Picton's Division. With the general mayhem and confusion of battle, the battalions of Kempt's Brigade who had been instrumental in stopping Bachelu's battalions, failed to take account of the close proximity of the 6^th Chasseurs. Seeing the British battalions still in line the 6^th Chasseurs charged. The closest battalion, the 28^th Line, failed to form square and promptly routed before the cavalry struck. As the Chasseurs continued the 32^nd Line and the 79^th Highlanders also fled from the onslaught. The Chasseurs finally made contact with the routing 28^th Line who were promptly ridden down. The impact on Kempt's Brigade proved devastating and they routed from the field (a failed Brigade morale check and all retreating or more than 35% casualties). The Chasseur charge finally came to and end with blown horses.

This one charge and left a huge gap on the allied left flank and the loss of an elite brigade. Only the Hanoverian conscripts were left to plug this gap.

Alten's 3^rd Division now arrived and were rushed to the allied right flank to face Jerome's Division which were now emerging from Bossu Wood. The Brunsickers desperately hung on to the centre although part of the village was eventually captured by Foy's division.

The allied left flank had become something of a stalemate with the French cavalry repeatedly charging the allied squares. French artillery was however, having some effect gradually whittling away at the strength of the allied battalions. The Hanoverians in the ground to the immediate north of Quatre Bras were struggling however, as a combination of Foy's division and the surviving battalions of Husson's Brigade gradually pushed them back.

Cooke's Guard Division now arrived with Maitland's Brigade deployed to shore up the Hanoverians and recapture Quatre Bras. The situation was now stabilised as the guards successfully threw back the French. Byng's Brigade with the divisional artillery formed a line across the centre to support the Brunswickers.

Then disaster struck on the allied right flank. Jerome's division, obviously fired up with their successes so far, piled in to Alten's Division routing several battalions and destroying his two artillery batteries. This caused Kielmansegge's Hanoverian Brigade to break leaving just Halkett with the 69^th Line and 73^rd Line in position to stop the French horde. Jerome's 2^nd Brigade under the command of Soye, ejected the Brunswickers from the western end of Bossu Wood and were now facing directly Byng's Brigade.

With the Brunswickers streaming past the British final defensive line, Soye launched 2 of his battalions at the 2^nd Foot Guards but were met with a devastating volley which caused them both to falter.

On the allied right flank the 69^th and 73^rd Line battalions poured steady musket volleys into the French columns buying valuable time to allow a hasty defensive line to be thrown up to their rear, with the rallied surviving Hanoverians and Brunswickers. With their exposed flanks and hopelessly outnumbered it was only a matter of time before the 69^th and 73^rd were overwhelmed. When they did finally break it coincided with the Guards being driven out of Quatre Bras and the Brunswickers and Hanoverians tasked with holding the right flank calling it a day in the face of Soye's advancing battalions.

With the total collapse of the allied right flank and with the loss of Quatre Bras, the allied army broke and fled the field.

A special mention must be given to the British 3^rd battalion of the 1^st Line who steadfastly held on to the far left of the line like a rock seeing off attacks by infantry, Cuirassiers and artillery barrages. It had lost almost 50% of its number by day end and never once fell back from its position.