Battles of the Hundred Days Campaign: Part II
Ligny:
The Prussian team for the battle of Ligny comprised Alastair Penny (Prussian left flank), Robin Sutton (Prussian right flank) and Adrian Powell (Blucher and the centre). The French were commanded by Barrie Cameron (Napoleon and French left flank), Stan Walker (French right flank) and Keith McNelly (Grouchy and the centre).
Following a pre-battle discussion the French commanders to determined to make a faint to their right flank with a number of weak French cavalry divisions and another to the extreme left. It was felt that this would draw off Prussian reserves and that then an assault could be achieved in the centre of the Prussian line between the towns of Ligny and St Amand La Haye. To this end the French Guard Corps was brought up and one division, Morand's Chasseur Division, was allocated to Grouchy as was Gerard's IV Corps. The Young Guard was to move in the direction of St Amand La Haye under the direct eye of Napoleon, along with Vandamme's III Corps. The Guard Heavy cavalry division and the Guard Grenadier division was to remain as a central reserve.
Immediately the main battle commenced French forces attacked Ligny and St Amand. The attacks by IV Corps against the southern part of Ligny were successful and the initial Landwehr garrison was evicted. Briefly regrouping, the now disordered French advanced to clear the Prussians from the northern extremes of Ligny before they in turn could reform following the route of the Landwehr. However, the French were thrown back across the bridges linking Ligny.
 |
Grouchy and elements of IV Cops have just captured the southern portions of Ligny. |
Meanwhile, III Corps failed in its attempt to capture St Amand. The attacking regiments were thrown back with heavy casualties and in some disorder. Casualties were in fact so heavy that further attacks were cancelled and artillery was deployed in depth to soften up the Prussian garrison. St Amand was in fact to remain in Prussian hands for the duration of the battle. Napoleon was already concerned at the tenacity of his Prussian opponents.
With the French units weakened from their attacks against Ligny and with little to show for it a new plan was considered. A gap was opening in the Prussian line around Boignee as a result of Pajol's and Excelmans' feint to the right. Grouchy was issued with new orders. He was to apply pressure in that direction and if possible force a crossing using the Guard Chasseurs. Elements of IV Corps were immediately moved to the sector and the reserve Guard infantry division and Guard cavalry moved into a reserve position south of Ligny.
The Prussians were however not idle. They too moved troops to the threatened area and away from the area directly around Ligny. After a two hour period, and before Grouchy was in a position to force a crossing, the gap was plugged. The Prussian movement however meant that it would be difficult to quickly transfer them back to the Ligny area due to the terrain that slowed movement.
| The
situation around Boignee. Elements of IV Corps are moving to
reinforce other French elements that have moved up to what was an
undefended ford.
|
 |
Now, Grouchy found himself with two Guard infantry divisions as well as the Guard cavalry and other covering troops in the vicinity of Ligny. With a thinning Prussian defence he again launched attacks across the Lingny stream and against Ligny itself.
French infantry and cavalry waded across the stream and reformed before charging Prussian units. At one stage the Grenadiers a Cheval were hit by one of the few Prussian cavalry stands in the area. They withstood the charge and repulsed the Prussian cavalry with great elan. Not all was going well for the French however. In the ensuing hours entire brigades of Old and Middle Guard were thrown back across the Ligny stream suffering heavy casualties. However, the Guard were each in turn rallied and sent forward again no doubt inspired by Grouchy's unfailing commitment to the attack.
 |
| General view around 8pm. Ligny is on the lower right and St Amand la Haye on the lower left. Marbais can be seen on the top left. Visible are Guard units attacking Ligny and Prussian artillery and infantry between Ligny and St Amand la Haye with a guard grand battery deployed in support. On the left and ttop left further French attacks have commenced in desperate attempts to drive the Prussians back. |
Napoleon to now acted. Though concerned with the failure of Excelmans and Pajol's crossing of the Ligny stream and frustrated by Grouchy's failure, he finally determined to push forward on the left flank. By passing the Prussians who were established in Marbais, III Corps, Milhaud's Cavalry Corps and the Young Guard were launched at the now stationary and formed ranks of Prussians. Only one outcome was possible. In one hour the several divisions were effectively destroyed, including the entire Young Guard Division.
| The situation on the French left flank. Marbis is on the left around 8pm when in the fading light the last assaults were launched. |  |
Casualties had been high. When darkness brought the fighting to an end no fewer than seven French divisions were exhausted. It hard been a costly battle with no gain for the French against a resolute Prussian defence.
Battles of the Hundred Days Campaign: Part III