Montclairen - June 1815

 

The following is a battle report of a fictional engagement using the Volley & Bayonet rules and 6mm miniatures. It involved five players with the scenario developed using the "Road to Glory" scenario system. To provide some context the Hundred Days Campaign historically began on the 15th of June when French forces crossed the border. This scenario assumes the Allies crossed the border into France two days prior launching their own invasion of France.

Wellington had managed to steal the initiative from Napoleon and had massed a significant proportion of the Anglo-Allied army. Now on the 13th of June, having crossed the border, he moved against a scattered French army before it was fully concentrated. 

As the Allies advanced the formations can be described as follows. In the centre was Hill's II Corps which comprised the 2nd and 3rd Allied Divisions as well as the Brunswick Division. On the Allied left was I Corps under the Prince of Orange. The corps comprised the 1st Allied Division, the 3rd Netherlands Division and 3,000 cavalry under Vivian formed of British Ligh Dragoons and Hussars. On the Allied right was Picton's III Corps which comprised the 5th Allied Division and the 2nd Netherlands Division. 

A view of the Allied centre & left. The Allied cavalry are in reserve.

In reserve, and available for use across the field, were Somerset's Heavy Cavalry along with three brigades of Netherland cavalry. In all some 38,000 bayonets, 9,500 cavalry and 96 cannon.

The Allied left with the town of Monclairen visible.

Deployed opposite the Allies was Lobau's VI Corps, a mere 8,000 bayonets, 1,000 cavalry and 28 cannon. Other French troops were available, but they were still moving to the battlefield. 

By noon the Allied advance was gaining momentum as infantry and cavalry advanced across a broad front. Yet now Wellington's advanced halted. Later it was revealed that Wellington was concerned by two factors. Firstly, he was apprehensive that his flanks were exposed and that French reinforcements would conduct turning actions on one flank. Further, he was reluctant to commit his Dutch and Belgian foot early, preferring to fight defensively with them. Wellington's hesitation was a relief to Napoleon and provided three critical hours for the Emperor to reinforce Lobau's Corps. 

With Lobau's VI Corps formed on the French left around the town of Fleurville the French reinforcements deployed progressively to the right. These reinforcements, along with their dispositions, can be briefly described as follows. Vandamme's III Corps, some three infantry divisions and one cavalry division were placed to the right of Lobau and would form the centre. The centre was subsequently bolstered by Gerard's IV Corps, two more infantry divisions and Jacquinot's 1st Cavalry Division. Finally, around 2pm, three French cavalry divisions arrived. They, along with Curial's Guard Division deployed on the French right. In all Napoleon had 32,000 bayonets, 13,000 cavalry supported by 100 cannon.

A general view with the French on the left with the French right in the foreground.

With the Allies deployed to his centre and left Napoleon ordered a turning movement by his right. Tasked with this undertaking this were Friant's Grenadier Division along with three cavalry divisions. The cavalry comprised Strolz's 9th Cavalry Division, Chastel's 10th Cavalry Division and Delort's 14th Cavalry Division. The two former divisions comprised dragoons while the last two brigades of cuirassiers. 

The French right with Strolz's dragoons & Delort's cuirassiers in the foreground. 

The French attack on the Allied left opened with attacks by a brigade of Guard Grenadiers and Delort's Cuirassiers. The three brigades cut a striking image and were confident of success.

Yet, the French attack had mixed results. The French Old Guard Grenadiers were initially thrown back, having engaged part of Cooke's British Guards Division, specifically Maitland's brigade, who fought with great determination. Despite the setback the French Guard Grenadiers reformed and two hours later, now supported by the Middle Guard Grenadiers, pressed Cooke's 1st Allied Division in a series of limited attacks which would last a further two hours. 

If the attack by the French Grenadiers had stalled that was not the case for the French cavalry who would seem unstoppable. Initially surprised by the attack of the French cuirassiers Vivian's cavalry attempted to regain the initiative. Yet. over two hours of fighting Vivian's cavalry would be decimated.

The opening attack by the French right.

The French cavalry attacks, and Allied failures, were soon drawing in more Allied cavalry and eventually both French dragoon divisions were engaged. By 4pm IV Corps' 1st Cavalry Division was reinforcing the French turning movement, having been transferred from the centre earlier. Now no less than four French cavalry divisions were engaged in the fields north of the town of Montclairen.

Wellington, clearly having lost the initiative on his left, moved what mounted reserves he could to halt the French cavalry. This included the Netherlands cavalry. Formed into a division under General de Collaert the division comprised two light cavalry brigades and one heavy brigade. Much was hoped of them with the Dutch Carabiniers advancing with confidence. However the Netherland cavalry charges were disjointed and soon all three brigades were fleeing to the rear. 

The French cavalry attack the Netherland's cavalry.

Below, a more general view of the situation on the Allied left. The infantry on the Allied left remain in position stretching east from Montclairen. French cavalry can be seen behind the Allied line as Wellington's cavalry attempt to stabilise the position.

A general view as the French outflank the Allied left.

Despite the situation Wellington was far from despondent. The Netherlands cavalry had allowed time for Somerset's heavy cavalry to redeploy to the Allied left. Now charging down on the exposed French dragoons victory seemed assured. Alas, for reasons unknown, the attack by the Union Brigade failed. Again more allied cavalry were shattered.

As the Allied left unravelled on the Allied right Picton had finally taken the offensive. The French left relied heavily on the defence of the town of Fleurville, a situation clear to Picton. His attack comprised both his divisions, in particular the 5th Allied Division and the 2nd Netherland Division. Both divisions advanced slowly aware of the Lobau's cavalry brigade that lurked on the flank, a threat in being if not realised. But with dusk approaching Picton's brigades attacked with determination. As expected the town of  Fleurville was the primary target. While musket and cannon fire engaged much of the French left leading the attack on Fleurville were the 8th and 9th British Brigades under Kempt and Pack respectively. In confused fighting Simmer's 19th French Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties. Indeed, Jamin's Brigade was thrown out of the town it's 2,000 men suffering heavy casualties and broken as a fighting force.

Now as darkness descended across the battlefield fighting began to slow. Unfortunately for the Allies their left flank was in disarray and the rear threatened by French cavalry. The centres of both armies had been largely unengaged meaning overall casualties were low. However, casualties for the Allies amounted to some 5,000 men with these greatest number from the cavalry where the divisions of Vivian's and Collaert had both collapsed. Amongst the French some 3,000 casualties had been suffered, these mostly in the ranks of the Friant's Guard Grenadiers and Simmer's Division on the left. Friant's division was exhausted  but would reform over night. However Simmer's Division, holding the left, had been badly handled by Picton and had collapsed. However, casualties aside the Allied position was clearly compromised. 

With few options available Wellington ordered a retrograde movement under darkness. Perhaps a more defensible position could be found on the road to Brussels? What was clear however was an enquiry on the unpresented failure of the Allied cavalry was needed.

As to the scenario it was developed using the "Road to Glory" scenario system. The Anglo-Allied commanders had selected "Full Deployment #26". In contrast the French had selected "Advanced Guard - Echelon Right #4". Together they produced what initially was a very unbalanced deployment. Yet reinforcements over several turns would reduce the imbalance. As to the miniatures they are all from the Heroics & Ros 6mm range and are from my own collection. They are based for half scale where each massed infantry or cavalry stand is 1.5” square and 1” represents 200 yards. The table measured 4' x 3'.