The Duke at Gossellies - June 1815

Another busy month has meant fewer Volley & Bayonet games than normal but Friday provided an opportunity for a well overdue 1815 game. More particularly it was time to join the Duke of Wellington and his Anglo-Dutch army forming near the border with France.

The Duke gathered his aides and generals on the road just north of Gossellies. "Gentleman, we shall deploy here and engage the enemy. The Prince of Orange shall advance on our left and sweep the French from his front. Brunswick, you shall hold the town and the area to its flanks. Hill, you shall support The Duke of Brunswick and form the right flank." The Duke now paused. "Soon Picton will arrive and with our cavalry we will secure complete victory". 

It all seemed so simple, well except to the much maligned Prince of Orange, who secretly had doubts about the Duke of Wellington's strategy. 

Massed in the area of the the town of Gossellies was Hill's II Corps, which comprised three divisions. In particular the Allied 2nd and 3rd Divisions as well as the Brunswick Division, the last forming with the Allied divisions to each side. Further to the Allied left was I Corps under command of the Prince of Orange. Again the corps comprised three divisions, but now two infantry and one cavalry division. Strung out on the road from Brussels were two divisions of the Cavalry Reserve and Picton's III Corps. 

While the Anglo-Dutch formed near the border the French moved rapidly north, unlike the allies they were concentrated. 

Opposite Wellington Napoleon had deployed d'Erlon's I Corps and Reille's II Corps. In all the two corps fielded eight divisions. Seizing the initiative the French all along the line were advancing. On the French right the high ground near Gossellies was soon secured while several French artillery batteries deployed forward of the high ground. Even as the guns deployed a combined brigade, comprising the 5th and 6th Lancers of Pire's 2nd Cavalry Division, surged forward against the 3rd Netherlands Division.

Above, the brigade of lancers from Pire's 2nd Cavalry Division attack the left of Baron de Chasse's 3rd Netherlands Division. Below, a more general view from behind the French right. The lancers are can be seen on the right, with the town of Gossellies clearly visible in the distant centre left.

The two brigades the 3rd Netherlands Division both comprised regulars bolstered by several militia units. Now with the Netherlanders under cavalry attack and the British to their right under artillery bombardment the Prince was ordered to fall back. Now the inherent problem of the Allied army was laid bare. While the militia increased the number of bayonets available, their drill limited the ability of both brigades to effectively manoeuvre, including retiring.

Determined to regain the initiative, and provide critical time to reorganise the Allied left, the Duke now personally supervised a limited Allied counterattack using elements of Grant's Cavalry Division. Simultaneously the 3rd Netherland Division fell back. Supported by horse artillery, the 3rd British Light Cavalry Brigade, comprising the 23rd Light Dragoons as well as the 1st and 2nd KGL Light Dragoons, delivered a charge.

Below, a view of the Allied centre as the both the centre and right also realign. The town of Gossellies is still garrisoned by a Brunswick Light Brigade. Like the Netherland infantry the Brunswick infantry and Hanoverian infantry were fragile when required to manoeuvre.

Now, alarming reports arrived of French reinforcements entering the field. It seemed that three French divisions, originally sent to reinforce the attacks against the Prussians, were moving against the Anglo-Allied left. Could it get any worse?

Below, French reinforcements arrive on the Allied left seen here advancing over open ground. Before them lay a small stream, and while not marshy banked it provided some protection for the Allied left.

Sensing an opportunity, even be it brief, the Duke of Wellington now ordered forth the two Guard brigades of Cooke's 1st Allied Division, the brigades of Maitland and Byng. These brigades would be supported by the du Plat's KGL Brigade. 

As standards flicked taught in the afternoon breeze the drums of these veteran brigades provided further motivation to the 6,000 guardsmen and Peninsular veterans advancing. It was to the Prince of Orange a splendid spectacle. To their front was Bachelu's 5th Division. Breaking this division Wellington believed would slow the French advance.

Above, in the foreground, the British attack goes in. The British Guards are on the left and centre, while the KGL are on the right. Below, a more general view.

Below, a view from the French position on the high ground near Gossellies as the attack is delivered.

The steady ranks of the British and KGL brigades moved forward until, at point blank range volleys were exchanged with the French. Then the red coated ranks surged forward. Yet they were met with another series of deadly French volleys. Unbelievably the British brigades were forced to fall back.

Elsewhere, the fighting had been less intensive, at least in the early afternoon. However, the arrival around 4pm of the Allied Cavalry Reserve provided an opportunity to threaten the French left. The two Allied cavalry divisions that comprised the reserve were however of very different calibre. The first division was the Netherlands Cavalry, at best mediocre. The second division was Somerset's Heavy Cavalry Division which comprised the Household Brigade and Ponsonby's Union Brigade. Moving rapidly the Netherlands light cavalry extended the Allied right and quickly forced the French left to fall back. 

Below, the view from the Anglo-Dutch right flank with two of the three Netherlands cavalry on the extreme right. These brigades contained a mixture of light cavalry and heavy. The heavy brigade comprised the 1st and 3rd Dutch Carabiniers as well as the 2nd Belgian Carabiniers.

Yet, by the careful deployment of his infantry and artillery, d'Erlon had effectively neutralised the threat posed by the British cavalry. Now, d'Erlon ordered forward Jacquinot's 1st Cavalry Division who would strike the Netherland cavalry. 

Soon after 7pm the Hussars, Chasseurs and Lancers of the French 1st Cavalry Division surged forward. The Netherlands Heavy Cavalry were first to break, soon followed by a brigade of light cavalry.

Above, both brigades of the French 1st Cavalry Division attack, the lancers have become shaken but so to have both Netherland brigades. 

Below, a more general view of the Allied right flank at 7pm viewed from a different perspective. The cavalry action can be seen in the distance.

Even with the the late arrival of Picton's III Corps the allied situation was now perilous. With the left under pressure and the cavalry of the right falling back the Duke was presented with no other option. It was time to for the Allied army to fall back, fortunately darkness would provide a valuable ally.

The scenario was developed using the "Road to Glory" scenario system and involved four players. Both armies comprised some 4,000 points of troops. The Allies selected card "Build-up Echelon Left, Card #11" while the French selected "Turning Manoeuvre Right, Card #22". The miniatures are from Heroics & Ros 6mm range and are from my own collection.