Osprey - Men-At-Arms 043 Napoleon's German Allies (2) Nassau & Oldenburg (Osprey MaA 43)

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Osprey - Men-At-Arms 043 Napoleon's German Allies (2) Nassau & Oldenburg (Osprey MaA 43)

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43 OSPREY - MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES Napoleons German-Allies (2) Nassau and Oldenburg Text by OTTO VON PIVKA Colour plates by G. A. EMBLETONMEN-AT-ARMS SERIES EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW “ipoleons Goines Allies (2) Nassau and Oldenburg Text by OTTO VON PIVKA Colour plates by G. A. EMBLETON OSPREY PUBLISHING LIMITEDPublished in 1976 by Osprey Publishing Lid 59 Grosvenor Street, London W1X gDA © Copyright 1976 Osprey Publishing Lid Reprinted 1991 All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, critic as permitted under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, ig or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers. 1m or review, record ISNBo 85045 255 4 Filmset by BAS Printers Printed in Hong Kong imited, Wallop, HampshireNapoleons German Allies (2) : Nassau and Oldenburg The Organization of Neassaus Troops 1806-1815 In 1806 Nassau consisted of twin duchies — Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Weilburg. Thes lands were the rump of the ducal possessions which existed up to that point; those lands on the west bank of the Rhine and many of those on the bank having been taken by France or by the newly founded Grand Duchy of Berg Napoleon's German Allies (1) in this series). Among the lost provinces were Nassau-Saarbrucken and Nassau-Oranien, As compensation for these losses, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau- Weilburg received the districts of Limburg and Ehrenbreitstein (opposite Koblenz on the Rhine Moselle junction). It was traditional under the old Holy Roman Empire of German Nations that the various states of Nassau banded together to provide part of the infantry regiment known as the ‘Oberrheinisches Kreisregiment’ together with the troops of the micro-states Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Isen- burg, Lichtenstein and von der Leyen. Prince Carl Wilhelm of Nassau-Usingen was compensated for his territorial losses by part of the ands of the old Electorate of Mainz including the districts of Kénigstein, Cronenberg, Hochst, Hochheim, Castel, Eltville and Riidesheim, the old Cologne Electorate districts of Linz and Deutz, and the old Hessen-Kassel district of Braubach. These new territories each brought with them smaller or larger bodies of troops of varying states of efficiency and the composition of the four infantry battalions which the united houses of Nassau 1803) raised was as follows: ast now Nassau—Usingen 1st (Leib) Bataillon : Wiesbaden. th Bataillon : Based on one old company in Biebrich. These became the ist Nassau Based on one old company in Infanterie-Regiment in May 1808, Baron Conrad Rudolph von Schiff mander of the Nassau brigade in ‘shows uniform of a licutenant-gener: Hagen-Osen, Hanover, in 1770, In 1764 he served Hanoverian Cavalry (Prince of Wales's Light Dragoons), transferring to the service of Mainz in 1799, as a capi the newly-raised Jaigerkorps. This unit was eaken into the service of Nassau~Usingen in 1802 and von Schiffer retained his then rank of major. The unit became the 3rd (Jager) Battalion of Nassau's tiny army. On 28 May i8og he was: [promoted leutenant-colonel, taking command of the Na ing to. colon poral 388, he di Nassau, handing over command ofthe brigade to von Kruse and taking an appoigement in the war department after his ‘The Baden recovery. He retired in 1833 and died in 1: gold buttons ‘uniform illustrated is dark blue faced red wit and embroidery. 3NasseaWeilburg and Bataillon: Gaxvisoned in Weilburg. gud (Jager) Betaillon: Gaxrisoned in Deutz and Linz Each infantry battalion had two three-pounder regimental cannon’. In May 1808 these two battalions became the 2nd Nassau Infanterie- Regiment. There was also a company of garrison troops in the Marxburg fortress On 17 May 1803 Fiirst (Prince) August succeeded to the throne of Usingen and when, on 16 July 1806, the houses of Nassau joined Napolcon’s Confederation of the Rhine, Friedrich August became Herzog (Duke) of Nassau and Furst Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg was. confirmed as Prince of Nassau. Friedrich August was thus head of state of Nassau and he was charged, under the terms of the treaty of the Confederation of the Rhine, with co-ordinating and organising the military efforts jedrich ssa of all the tiny states previously mentioned as well as those of Frankfurt, Aremberg and Salm, This remained a pious hope, however; Frankfurt remained independent until 1866 and Aremberg and Salm until 810, when they were incorporated into Metropolitan France. One unit was newly raised at the time of the 1804 reorganisation of Nassau’s lands; this was a regiment of Jager ; = ifif tt ft |) ton?) CU With the collapse of the Confederation of the Rhine in 1813 the old principality of Nassau Oranien was recreated and an Infantry Regiment of Nassau-Oranien of two battalions and a Jager Company under Oberstleutnant von Schafiner was formed. The Jager company was attached to Oberst von Winzingerode’s Jiger Corps, the infantry regiment operated with the Nassau brigade and in 1815 was in Dutch service. The Duchy of Oldenburg in the Napoleonic Wars By a fortunate mixture of clever diplomacy and luck, Herzog Peter Friedrich Ludwig of Olden- burg managed to keep his duchy out of the wars of 1805 and 1806, Napoleon pursuaded him to join the Confederation of the Rhine by the Treaty of Erfurt on 14 October 1808. ‘The military contingent to be maintained by the duchy was set at an infantry battalion of 800 men in six companies (one grenadier, four fusilier and one voltigeur). On 13 December 1810 Napoleon abolished the Kingdom of Holland, the Duchy of Oldenburg, the old imperial cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Liibeck and combined them (and parts of the old Electorate of Hanover, the Grand Duchy of Berg, the Kingdom of Westfalia and the Duchy of Ahremberg) into Metropolitan France. ‘THE RUS SIAN CAMPAIGN 1812 On 28 February 1811 (the day that Oldenburg became part of Metropolitan France) the milital contingent of the duchy marched off to Osna- briick to enter French service as part of the 129th Line Infantry Regiment, which drew its con- scripts from the ‘Departements’ of the Weser estuary. (Some officers resigned their commis- sions rather than enter French service.) The tst and 2nd Battalions of the 129th were brought up to full strength and then sent to Maastricht, where the grd Battalion was raised. The two complete battalions were then ordered to march forstaff in Prassia jes at Jena and Anerstidt in 1806, Murat and othersNapoleon's entry into Berlin, 27 October 1806. Never had Prussia been so humiliated as on this day! A few short weeks after hot-blooded young Prussian officers had ostentatiously shai their swords on the steps of the French embassy, the Prussian army was shattered and almost annihilated and much of the country was under harsh occupation. ‘The dazed citizens of the capital had to watch as their hated conqueror rode in state through the Brandenburg Gate. Russia and became part of the roth Infantry Division of General Ledru in Marshal Ney’s HII Corps of the Grande Armée. The other units of the III Corps were: 10th Infantry Division 2gth Légere (French light infantry regiment 4 battalions (6th French Line Infantry Regiment 7end French Line Infantry Regiment each of 3 or 4 battalions 1agth French Line Infantry Regiment 2 bat Ist Portuguese Legion Infa 3 battalions One company of French foot artillery One company of French horse artillery lions try Regiment 11th Infantry Division (General Razout The Regiment Hlyrien 4th French Line Infantry Regi tath French Line Infantry Regi ggrd French Line Infantry Regi each of 4 or 5 t One company of foot and one company of horse artillery sth Infantry Division (originally the Crown Prince of Wairttemberg, later General Mar- chand Ist & and Warttemberg Light Infantry Battalions st & and Wiirttemberg Jager (Rifle) Battalions gth & 6th Wairttemberg L ts (later also the 7th Wartte ne In berg In Artillery Reserve Five foot artillery batteries Total Artillery — go guns (includ emberg pieces in two horse a ce foot batteries Light Cavalry Brigade (General Mouriez) 4th French Chasseurs, ith French Hussars, 4th Wiirttemberg JiigersLight Cavalry Brigade (General Bearmann) 6th & and Wiirttemberg, Chevau-légers Regiments French Lancers, 1st In June 1812 the IIT Corps erossed the Russian border and advanced towards Moscow. Both battalions of the 129th took part in the Battle of Smolensk on 17 August 1812 but it is not recorded that they were presented with an eagle for their valour in this action, the first large battle of the campaign. For the next three months, until mid- November, the 129th remained in the Smolensk area on garrison duties, maintaining security along Napoleon’s ever-extending and vulnerable n, which eventually reached lines of communica into Moscow itself. s the starving mob that was all that was left of the Grand Armée staggered back through Smolensk in the bitter winter of 1812, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the r29th took part in the rear-guard, action at Katowo on 18 November, an action which ended badly for the French. Ney’s IL Corps now formed the rearguard of Napoleon’s army and it was ground to pieces by the relentless Russian troops in the bitter weather. Only a handful of officers and men of the 12gth survived to reach their homeland ag: The grd Battalion of the 129th also contained Oldenburgers, and its history in this dramatic year is as follows. In May 1812 it marched to Berlin and then on through Magdeburg and Stettin to the Island of Rigen. In mid-November it advanced eastwards to Danzig and remained here until after Christmas, By mid-January 1813, the grd Battalion joined the remnants of the IIL Corps in Mulhausen, retiring with them on Kiistrin and later to Spandau, where they became part of the garrison of this fortress. After Spandau capitulated in May 1813, the remnants of the 3rd Battalion marched back to their depot in Maas- tricht, Asa result of a reorganisation of the French, infantry the 12gth was disbanded, the men being used to bring the 127th and 128th regiments up 10 strength. The dispossessed Duke of Oldenburg had left his duchy in 1811 and had taken refuge in Russia where his second son was the Tsar Alexander’s brother-in-law. Both his sons fought with distine- tion on the Russian side in the campaigns of 1812 and 1813, The duke himself was given the task by n-German the ‘Tsar of organising the ‘Ru: Legion’. This formation consisted of infantry cavalry and artillery and was recruited from among German prisoners of war in Russian hands; on 2g March 1815 it was transferred into Prussi \g raw material for the goth and gist Infantry Regiments, the 8th Ulans, the 18th and 19th Horse Artillery Batteries and the 1gth Artillery Park Column. On 27 November 1813 Peter, Duke of Olden- burg, re-entered his duchy and set about re- aising his armed forces. ‘These consisted of 800 line infantrymen and 800 Landwehr (Home giment of two bat- There was a band Guard) organised in one talions each of four companit of twenty-one musicians, and cach company had three drummers, Commander of the regiment was Oberst (Colonel) Wardenburg, who had been a brigade commander in the Russian-German Legion, The regiment was mobilis Days Campaign of 1815 and was attached to the North German Army of General Kleist. von Nollendorf This consisted of three infantry , the Oldenburgers being part of the puringian Brigade of Major General von Eglofistein of Saxe-Weimar. This brigade contained a battalion cach from Lippe-Deunold, Saxe- Weimar, Saxe-Gotha, Saxe-Anhalt, Wal- deck and Schwarzburg; in all eight battalions with 6,800 men. A squadron of Hessian Dragoons was later attached to the brigade. The brigade was used to blockade the small French fortress of Bouillon besiege Sedan and Mezieres. The Battle History of fassaus: Troops THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1806 AND 1807 d for the Hundred and, later, to Under the terms of the treaty governing the Confederation of the Rhine (Rheinbund), whic! Nassau joined on 12 July 1806, the military contingent which had to be provided for service with the French against Prussia, Saxony, Sweden, England and, later, Russia, was an infantry 9Since 1961, no one rides in state through the Brandenburg Gate — the concrete wall in the foreground, built by the Communists, prevents all access. brigade of four battalions and the Jager zu Pferde mounted rifles) regiment. The infantry mobilised at the end of S 1806, and, the 3rd (Jiiger) Battalion was then ordered to Frankfurt am Main to join Marshal Augereau’s IIT Corps. This corps took part in the battle of Jena on 14 October 1806, where the Prussian-Saxon army was decisively crushed by the French. The Nassau Jiiger battalion marched thence with the III Corps to Berlin and then farther east to Driesen and Posen, following up the disorganised remnants of the once-proud Prussian army. They were then detached to escort a convoy of prisoners back to Magdeburg, where they met up again with their comrades of the 1st and and ‘assau Infantry Battalions who arrived there on 26 October 1806. The 4th Battalion remained in Hanau until 7 January 1807 and then marched for Berlin where it arrived on 15 February and was joined by the rest of the brigade, who wer now used on convoy duties to Spandau, Magde- burg, Stettin and Warsaw. The Nassau Jager zu Pferde regiment was now also mobilised at a strength of two companies, the 1st Compa going to Berlin in May 1807. (On 15 October 1806 the Nassau troops were ordered to adopt the French system of rank badges to avoid confusion with their allies ‘The Nassauers were now attached to the VIII Corps of Marshal Mortier, who had the task of ptember covering the northern flank of Napoleon’s lines of The main French army was nst the allied Prussian co municatior operating far to the east a 10 nemies in the iglish Allies in included Si and Russian armies. Mortier's north were the Swedes and their E: Swedish Pomerania, which then sund and the island of Rage After a Swedish raid had caused heavy losses to the French division of General Grandjean, the bulk of the Nassau infantry brigade was ordered to leave Berlin and to reinforce the now shaky French front. Oberst von Schaffer commanded the brigade and they reached Pasewalk on 15 April 1807, joining Marshal Mortier, who now commanded 12,000 men. Next day he attacked the Swedish force under General Armfeld at Ferdinandshoff, beat him soundly and pushed him back on Anklam, Mortier sent General Vaux with Oberst von Schiiffer’s Nassauers and the 72nd French Line Infantry Regiment to capture Uckermiinde, which they did, taking 500 Swedes prisoner and capturing three guns at the same time, On 18 April Mortier entered into a ten-day with the Swedes, and the Nassauers were transferred to reinforce the besieging force around Golberg, where the famous Pruss officer Leutnant Schill led a spirited defence, and in fact saved Prussia’s honour in the dark years 806 and 1807. The Nassauers only stayed he! for three days before being sent back to Berlin to rejoin the rest of their brigade, On 26 June 1807, however, the and, 3rd and 4th Nassau infantry battalions were back at Colberg which was still holding out, supplied with warlike materials by the Royal Navy. (Unfortunately, the British Board of Ordnance sent quant cannon barrels to Colberg, but no chassis to go with them; and as there was no suitable wood in the town to make these on the spot, the barrels just lay about until the siege was raised!) The Nassauers formed the 2nd Brigade of the be- siegers, together with the grd French Light Infantry Regiment. The Treaty of Tilsit (9 July 1807) put an end to hostilities between France and Russia and Prussia. Sweden was still in the ring against Napoleon, however, and England sent 8,000 men of the King’s German Legion (see The King’s German Legion in this series for details) to Riigen to support him. Napoleon therefore sent Marshal armistice an Brune with 40,000 men to end this insolence. Among Brune’s troops was the Nassau brigadeunder Oberst von Schaffer which formed part of General Pino's Diviston. The Swedes, however, now found themselves alone when the English troops left them to take part in the attack on Copenhagen and the capture of the Danish fleet ‘The Swedish king, Gustay Adolf LV, withdrew into Stralsund and then across to the island of Rigen. Marshal Brune followed as quickly as, possible but on 7 September 1807 peace was agreed upon and the French occupied Rigen unopposed. The Nassauers returned home, ac- companied by several letters from their various commanders, praising their conduct in the past campaign THE 1809 CAMPAIGN AGAINST AUSTRIA. By this time the four inf reorganised into two regi ment had marched off f and Squadron of the Jager zu Pferde regiment in September 1808, and the 1st Infantry Regiment was mobilised for the Austrian campaign and became part of General Dupas’s Reserve Division, hal Davoust’s Corps at Donauwérth on the river Danube. The division had the following units ntry battalions had been nents. The 2nd Regi pain together with the of Nassau (or grd Rheinbund-Regi- Oberst Pollnitz bund-Regiment (Saxon Duchies 5th Rheinbund-Regiment (Anhalt and Lippe! 6th Rheinbund-Regiment (Schwarzburg, Reuss and Waldeck: ist Regimen ment th Rhei ‘The Nassauers did not come into action during this campaign but were part of the garrison of Vienna from 22 June until 21 October 1809, During this time, Napoleon gave the regiment two cannon (taken from Vienna’s arsenal) and ordered that a regimental artillery company should be-formed. This step had already been taken by the French infantry of the Army of Germany before the battle of Wagram markable tactical ‘gimmick’ which had been generally abandoned in all European armies at the turn of the century. The Nassau regiment’s artillerymen received their own uniform, with red plumes, epaulettes, collars and cufls, a re. THE NASSAUERS IN THE PENSINSULAR WAR 1808-15 While the 1st Nassau Regiment was in Austria, the and Regiment and one squadron of the Nassau *Chasseurs Cheval’ were mobilised and sent to Spain to take part in what still stands as one of the most vicious and merciless campaigns in military history. There were refreshing occasions in these dark years when glimpses of chivalry lit up the bloody gloom but generally this war w. conducted both by the Spanish and Portuguese on the one side and the French, Italians and Poles on the other (most German contingents retained their code of conduct and their discipline under the extremely adverse conditions in these cam- on ae lon von Todenwarth, 1806 — a Knitel plate illus {ating the uniform worn in the war ofthat year, The high black leather helmet with yellow metal furniture and stuffed black wool crest is similar, but not identical with that worn by the Bavarian cavalry of the day. The uniforms in the wsual Nassau dark green but with red facings and yellow buttons and piping; the facinge changed to biack in 1809, and the helmets were also exchanged for brown fur colpacks of Ihussar pattern at that time, The white trousers and gaiters rere! ammer weary im winter grey breeches were worn Inside black gaiters reaching to below the knee.1 the ‘Black Duke’ of Brunswick. His cussian marshal, was killed in 1806 at Jena, and Frederick William swore to avenge him. His hostility (0 Napoleon caused him to be deposed in 1807; he fled to Austria 09, he raised the ‘Black Horde’ to fight the Cor: ‘ceator, When Austria collapsed he fought his ws North Sea coast and took his 8x5; he was killed at Quatre-Bras. Itmust ad brutality paigns) with mutual sadi be mentioned that Nap his armies to live off the countries in which they fs jcon’s system of forcing were fighting was a major factor in generat and maintaining, a high level of hostility amon the Spanish and Portuguese populations against the occupation troops. Wellingt p enemy country armies ex need no such problems even when in an because as in France in 1814 they were regularly supplied by a highly developed logistic system which did not overstrain the cconomy of the country in which they were operating, By November 1808 the 2nd Regiment of Nassau (With two battalions and commanded by Oberstleutnant ant Colonel) von Kruse nd the 2nd Squadron of the Lieute Nassau Chasseurs a eval reached Burgos in northern Spain and 12 sual early portrait of General Michel Ney, 1769-1815 — vainting by Brune now in the National Museum at jes. It shows Ney in hussar uniform, with his hy 77 in the cavalry Joo guns at Erfurt and Magdeburg, Arriving late on the field Of Fylau, 8 February 1607, his command sealed the Russian defeat; and as commander of the French right at Friedland ‘on 14 June 1807 he made a great contribution to the vietory. became part of the IV Corps of General Sebasti- ani, The infantry regiment was in Gencral Leval’s and Division: 131 Brigade Oberst von Porbeck (Baden) (killed at the battle of Talavera on 28 July 1809 try Regiment and Nassau Inf 2 battalions 4th Baden Infantry Regiment battalions ‘One battery of Bade 6 guns cond Brigade General Chassé (Holla Infantry Regiment ‘Holland’ (ro ‘French’ Line Infantry Regimet 2 battalions One company of Dutch sappers and miners One Duteh horse artillery battery 6 guns n 1810 the 12‘The Battle of Talavera, 28 July 1809 ~ the confusion of a Napoleonic battle is well conveyed by the artist of this scene, which from the proliferation of Spanish units seems to show the southern end of Wellington’ line, near Talavera town on the river Tajo. It was atthe junction of British and Spanish units that Leval’s German Division was thrown by the French; contingents from Nassau, Baden, Berg, Westfalia and Hessen-Darmstadt suffered heavily. A little to the north, ‘on Wellington's left, other Germans were fighting for the Allies ~ the Hanoverians of the King's German Legion. (National Army Museum) grd Brigade General Grandjean (France Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment ‘Gross und Exbprinz’ 2 battalions Infantry Regiment of Frenkfurt (Oberstleutnant von Welsch 1 battalion Parisian Guards 1 battalion Cavalry of the IV Corps grd Dutch Hussars 4 squadrons Westfalian Cheva 2 squadrons Nassatu Chasseurs & Cheval 1 squadron leégers The Nassaners were now armed and organised completely as for the French army (each battalion having one grenadier, four fusilier and one voltigeur company) and wore French badges of rank. Later in the campaign French drill regulations were also introduced. ‘The gnd Squadron of the Nassau Chasseurs & Cheval were commanded by a major and had also a Rittmeister (captain of cavalry), one first licutenant and two second lieutenants, one surgeon, a qu sergeant-major, a veterinary surgeon, a quarte master’s assistant, a rough-rider, eight sergeants, riermaster, a two trumpeters, eight corporals, and ninety-six, troopers (Jiigers) including a smith, a saddler and a waggon driver. The Nassau units had an eventful time in Spain and casualties were very heavy, more men dying from disease than by enemy action. From 1809 until the end of 1811 the squadron of Chasseurs & Cheval received reinforcements from their depot totalling five officers, seven N.C.O.s and fifty-four In July 1813 the rst Squadron joined and the ‘Premier assau’ as the French trooper their comrades in Spain Régiment des Chasseurs de N called them were used for security duties on the lines of communication of King Joseph's ‘Army of the Centre’. They were skilful and daring horse men whose bravery won them the respect of friend and foe alike; Bernays, in his Schicksale des Grossherzogthums Frankfurt devotes much time to 13Nassau infantry uniforms, 10-15 a Knétel plate from the regimental history of the tat Regiment, sho iment over the seven-year period. On the loft bicorne, gorgct, cpauletien, baldric and tascelled Hessian boots. Hus later counterpart of the French period {i ground) wears a Prenchestyle shako but retains all the other Status, items. Second from left-and third from left are Erenadiers, both withthe uuual French-style Accoutrements Ststatus red plumes, epaulettes and sabre-knote ‘but both with special ‘The rat in a gure of BoB, with the Bavarlanstyle botled-lesther helmet with a blach crest; the second is of io, with the hussar-type brown colpck wi red bag and cords. The fwslier (ight) has a skako plate bearing the regimental number 2. See colour plates and commentaries for further detail. their exploits, which are often of almost legendary proportions. Due to the hard campaigning and the poor forage in Spain, horse losses were high and it was not long before the Nassauers were mounted on the highly-blooded Andalusian horses By October 1813 the Nassau Cha: theval were in action in Catalonia (north eastern Spain) and on 25 November of that year they, like all other German troops serving with the French armies, were disarmed and made prisoners of war. This was due to the recent events at the Battle of Leipzig when whole brigades of 4 curs a. Westfalians, Saxons and Wiirttembergers had gone over to the Prussian-Russian-Austrian armies which were tightening their grasp around Napoleon's hard-pressed forces. The 1st Squadron, was disarmed in Gerona, the and in Fornells near Figueras. The strength of the regiment was then twelve officers and 231 men, The commander, Major Baron Oberkampf, wrote in a report to Marshal Suchet: ‘During the last five years I have been in French service and I have received many flattering commendations of my conduct and of that of my regiment. I have obtained, and will retain, eternal proof of this in my receipt of the officers’ cross of the Legion of Honour’. The men were interned in Perpignan and returned home in April 1814. Those still fit for military service we tansferred to the reformed Nassau infant iments, mentof Nassau Infantry remained in the so-called German Division of General Leval and in October 1808 were part of Napoleon’s force which marched via Vittoria, crossed the upper Ebro and reached Madrid via Burgos, Valladolid, the Duero, Segovia and L’ Escorial In January 1809 the German Division left Madrid to block the bridges over the river Tajo (south of the city) to prevent the advance of a Spanish army, For this task the Division was aug- mented by the following French foreign units “Regiment Prusse’, ‘Régiment Westphalie” and the ‘Légion Inlandais’. A number of minor clashes took place along the Tajo from Talavera to Almarez. Later the German division advanced south of the river and took part in the battles of Mesa de Ibor (17 March 1809) and Medellin on the river Guardiana (27 March 1809). In both these battles the znd Regiment of Nassau so distinguished itself that they wore these battle honours on their helmets until after the First World War. At Medellin the Spanish general Cuesta with 30,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 30 guns was rash enough to attempt to stand up against Marshal Victor with 17,000 men. ‘This may initially sound odd but, apart from two regiments of Swiss mercenaries, most of Cuesta’s men were raw recruits, badly equipped peasants with lite or no military training. Victor’s men were by now all well-experienced, well-disciplined (in battle if not elsewhere!) and hard-bittenregulars. Cuesta was heavily defeated. Cuesta’s force consisted of: Infantry. 4th Battalion, Spanish Guards znd and 4th Battalion, Walloon Guards and Regiment of Majorca ~ 2 battalions and Battalion, Catalonian Light Infantry Provincial Battalion of Badajoz Provincial Grenadier Battalion Regiment Badajoz Regiment Merida Regiment La Ser Regiment of, Regiment Irlanda ~ 2 battalions Provincials of ‘Toledo — 1 battalion Provincials of Burgos ~ r battalion and Battalion, Voluntarios of Madrid grd Battalion, Voluntarios of Seville Regiment of Campo Maior incials of Guadix ils of Cordova Regiment Osuna 2 bs Granaderos del Gene Tiradores de Cadiz 2 battalions 1 battalion na — 1 battalion n— 2 battalions talions all Total ~ about 20,000 bayonets Cavalry Ist Hussars of Estremadura (late ‘Maria Laisa’ jth Hussars (Voluntarios d’Espagne Rey Regiments which had been sent to Denmark in Marquis de La Romana’s Infante > Division and had subsequently. returned on English ships to fight against Almanza ? Napoleon Cagadores de Llerena new levies Imperial de Toledo Most regiments had a squadron detached in Andalusi looking for remounts. Total about 3,200 sabres Artillery Sappers 30 guns and 650 men two companies ~ 200 men THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA 27-28 JULY 1809 In his first attempt to operate against the French, in Spain, the Marquis Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) moved out from his base in Portugal and advanced against Madrid in conjunction Officer of the Nassan Reitende Jager, 1806-8; a plate by Weiland from his work Darstelluitg der Kaiserlich Franson: ischen Armee 1St2, in which the French and their alles are portrayed, Weiland subvttles this plate ‘Nassau Usingschen Cheveux Leger Offcier, and the figure obviously served ne anc of Kndte's sources for his plateof four ofthe men ofthis Fegiment. Kndtel mistook the sabretasche cypher clearly FA and also omicted the handolier picker equipment. The helmet shown here in definitely of Bavarian cavalry pattern bbucthe green plumerising from the front of the erest remains mystery. [See colour platen) with a Spanish army under the same General Cuesta. Strengths were: English, Portuguese and Germans ~ 20,000; Spanish ~ 32,000. Most of the Spanish forces had been involved in the débacle of Medellin and thus their morale was, at the best, brittle. With this in mind, Wellesley put the Spanish troops in, and to the north of, the town of Talavera on the river Tajo; the English, Portuguese and German troops (King’s German, Legion) were extended north of the Spaniards 10 the hills about two miles away, and were arranged behind the Arrojo Morapejo stream. LF| and Nassau Infantry Regiment in Spain, 1810, By this time toch regiments were organised on the French model, exch battalion comsinting of one gremadier, one Hight or voltigewr, sailor ier companich tel shows relic of cach type of company. The voltigenr (left) wears a shako with a buglchorn badge. surrounding. the regimental number, green pompon, green epaulettes with yellow crescents, green Enbre-knotand yellow cords andyellow-tipped green plume. The grenadier (contre) wears red epaulettes and fed beg, cords, pompen, and plume, attache fir colpacie The fiailier (right) wears a tufted company” Coles pompon on his sha ands yellow plate with 2 ‘mental number. His shoulder-scraps are green piped yellow. Noce that unlike French centre-company men, who had thandoned the side-arm, he wears a sabre~ the knot would itave been plain yellow-buff leather King Joseph, with his 46,000 strong Army of the Centre, moved against Wellesley from Madrid and attacked the Allies on the night of 27 July; the battle was violent but the Allies held even though the Spanish army was paralysed and ineffective from the start of the action. The a newed next day with the German divisi again in the forefront of the combat just north of Talavera. But all the French and German valour in these attacks was in vain; Wellesley’s line held fast and after the battle King Joseph had to fall back on Madrid. The the German Division were 103 dead, 827 wounded and 77 16 ault was re on one losses of captured ; as their total strength in the battle was 4,267 men this meant 25 per cent losses The 1st Regiment of Nassau was sent to join the VII Gorps under Marshal Augereau in Catalonia north attached to General Rouyer's Division at Barcelona, which in March 1810 consisted of: 1st Brigade (General Schwarz st Regiment of Nassau 1.494 men 4th Rheinbund Regiment (Saxon Duchies s battalions 929 men end Brigade (Colonel Chambaud ~ Saxony-Anhalt sth Rheinbund Regiment z battalions 1,258 men 6th Rheinbund Regiment 2 battalions 876 men The Spanish forces in Catalonia O'Donnell were conduct with the aim of breaking the communications between the French TIT and VII Corps and then, of destroying their hated enemies in detail. As usual, the Spanish forces of this era were no match for the French and their allies in the open, field, but concentrated on cutting off isolated detachments and destroying them in ambushes. Augereau gave them one such opportunity when on 1g March 1810 hesent General Schwarz’s brigade to the remote Spanish-held town of Manresa (then a flourishing gunpowder manu- cturing centre for the Spaniards) with orders to occupy the town and to destroy the powder-mills but with no instructions as to when to return to their base at Barcelona. (This is probably the first military application of the ‘use and throw away” principle!) Leaving Barcelona on 19 March, Schwarz’s brigade stormed the pass of Mont cast. Spain) and French) nder General ng guerrilla operations Serrat and on 2tst reached the target ~ Manresa. The town was deserted except for the old and sick, and the brigade entered and put it into a tate of defence, for already the surrounding hills were filling up with thousands of Spanish armed peasants who finally outnumbered the brigade by six to one. Manresa was now ina state of siege and only parties of over company strength could venture out of the town. On the 25 March an ammunition convoy escorted by a battalion of the French 67th Line Infantry Regiment arrived in Manresa, having lost two of its waggons en roue from Barcelona andhaving been saved from massacre only by the timely arrival of the and Battalion and both élite flank) companies of the 1st Battalion of the Nassau Regiment, who had come out of Manresa to meet them, The French battalion left again on 27 March to fight its way back to Barcelona, and on 2 April was given the unenviable task of escorting a second convoy of ammunition to the beleaguered force in Manresa. General O'Donnell and his Spaniards captured this convoy and the few survivors of the escort who staggered back to Barcelona convinced Marshal Augereau_ that General Schwar2’s brigade was lost. In fact, the sitmation in Manresa was so desperate that Schwarz at last decided to abandon the town during the night of the 4/5 April; his food was exhausted, ammunition and powder very low, and only by stripping the church roof and melting down pewter plate could he provide his surviving men with even go rounds each. The wounded had to be abandoned in the care of some Spanish monks even though this usually meant a slow death for the poor wretches at the hands of the Spanish women. Miraculously, Manresa proved an exception to the rule; the Spanish monks defended their charges from the peasants with force of arms when they streamed back into the bandoned town, and the wounded were handed over to the Spanish army. Schwarz’s attempt to slip through the enemy lines unnoticed failed when at about midnight the Spanish sentries heard them and gave the At once the church bells in all near-by alarm villages began ringing ~ a signal for the militia to turn out — and the chase to Barcelona was on. In the darkness the column of Schwar7’s brigade became separated and the and Battalion of the 1st Regiment of Nassau struck offon the wrong path, only picking up the correct one again after finding fresh horse dung on one of the roads leading from a junction, which indicated that mounted officers had shortly before ridden that way. Under con- tinuous fire from all sides the column joined up gain at daybreak and pushed on as fast as possible towards Barcelona and safety. Many men dropped. out from exhaustion on the way and once the brigade had to stop and fight a rear-guard action, to case the pursuit and to allow the men a little rest in the blazing sun, All day the chase con- eS oa a RS ‘The Oldenburg Rheinbund contingentin 1810~aKnétel plate. Shortly before being absorbed ato Metropolitan France, Oldenburg raised an infantry regiment which was dresved in the singular uniform illustrated here. The coat is very Prussian: dark blue, double-breasted, and with red fncings: ‘The hat worn by the fusiliers and light company is, however, reminiscent of the headgear worn by Austrian Jagers, artillery, pontoniers and engineers at this time. The officers wore the braid straps for epaulette attachment on their Shoulders, but not, apparently, epaulettes — perhaps these Were reserved for parade and gala dress. The grenadiers wore French-type bearskin: tinued, but by evening the pursuit slackened and, the brigade bivouacked at St Andres, having been marching and fighting for over twenty hours Next day, 6 April, to the great astonishment of the garrison of Barcelona who had given them up for dead, Schwarz’s brigade marched into the city with bands playing. Augereau had already ordered the quartermaster of the Nassau Regiment to take stock of all his stores and hand them in as his regiment had been captured ! The Nassaucrs’ losses were high: Officers N.C.0.s Mei Dead 3 6 33 Wounded 10 250168 Captured 5 1 58 Missing 1146 TOTALS 18 61 45‘The gates of Spandau fortress; to the north-west of Berlin, ithad been one of the city’s strongest defences for centuries Although {in good repair in 1806 it was shamefully surrend- the collapse of the Prussian army. wre later in that campaign. Under ‘Spandan held out stubbornly in hesiegers. Today the citadel I museum and the bastions, still in good repair, The Ducal Saxon regiment had lost 5 and men. Augereau published the following order of the day to praise the considerable achievements of these German troops in his Corps: Barcelona 6 April 1810 His Excellency Marshal of the Empire, commander in chief of the Army of Catalonia, charges General de Division Rouyer to relay to General Schwartz and to the superior officers of his German Brigade detached to Manresa his complete satisfaction for the brilliant conduct of their troops particularly in the series of various combats which they fought against superior forces General Schwartz responded perfectly to the in- Lentions of the mission with which His Excellency charged him. That general officer is to commend to His Excellency those of his officers and soldiers who have particularly distinguished themselves Augereau When one considers that the Manresa expedi- tion was a very representative example of the sort of life that French units in Spain endured from 1809-13 it is easy to see how the ‘running sore’ of this campaign drained the resources of trained manpower and warlike materials of the French Empire. So life for the 1st Regiment of Nassau went on grinding, boring garrison duty being relieved by periods of intense and exhausting activity as task forces were sent out into the hostile hills to attempt to bring the elusive foe to battle. On to July 1811 Oberst von Péllnitz, commander of the 1st Nassau Regiment was killed by a cannon shot from a British ship at Mataro near Tarragona, and his place was taken by Oberst- leutnant von Steuben until 28 February 1812 when Oberst Meder was transferred from the 2nd Nassau Regiment and promoted to fill the post. In August 1812 the garrison of Barcelona (1st Regiment of Nassau, 18th French Light, 5th and 115th French Line Infantry Regiments, some cavalry detachments and the artillery ~ 10,000 men in all) was issued with bread (itself a rarity!) which had been poisoned by the Spanish workers who had brought in the flour, Luckily there were no fatal casualties as a result of this but on other occasions this, and other French garrisons. in Spain lost numbers of men due to poisoning, Reinforcements for the Nassauers came to Barcelona in July 1812 (4 officers, 24 N.C.O.s and 426 men) and in June 1813 (20 N.C.O.s and 238 men). Napoleon's disastrous defeat in Russia in 1812 turned the tide of war against him in Spain as well, and the French were gradually pushed up out of the peninsula and into France. In June 1813. the British General Murray landed in Catalonia with an international force of 20,000 men and besieged ‘Tarragona, General Mathieu was sent from Barcelona with the entire garrison of the city (6,000 men) to relieve Tarragona butMurray had by then already re-shipped his army losing most of his heavy equipment in his haste), and Mathieu returned to Barcelona, Murray was sacked for his timidity; General Lord Bentinek took his place and re-invested Tarragona, so the Barcelona garrison once again came to its aid. Marshal Suchet (now commanding in Catalonia) decided to destroy the fortress of Tarragona and to abandon it, which he did on 18 August 1813. As already mentioned, Napoleon's German allies began abandoning him at about this time and Nassau officially joined his enemies on the 16 November 1813. In accord with secret orders, the and Regiment of Nassan went over to the English on 10 December. No such secret orders reached the unlucky 1st Regiment (vast amounts of French despatches were captured by the Spanish guerrillas in this war) and although Lord Clinton, commander of the English forces in Catalonia, sent Oberst Meder a letter from Oberst, Kruse urging him, Meder, to follow his example and to bring his troops over to the English, Meder proudly refused (as he thought) to sully his military honour. On 22 December 1813 the 1st Regiment of Nassau was disarmed in Barcelona and escorted to French prisons by the 117th French Line Infantry Regiment. The authorities, did not trust the 5th, 115th French Line or the 18th French Light Infantry Regiments to do this job as these regiments had shared the fortunes of their Nassau comrades and it was feared that they would have allowed their prisoners to escape. Oberst Meder seems to have done well for himself; after the disarming of his regiment he entered French service. Fate caught up with him a few weeks later, however, when he was killed just outside Barcelona fighting the Spanish. THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN On g May 1815 Nassau concentrated her forces two infantry regiments each of two line and one Landwehr battalions, each of one Grenadier, four Jager (three in the Landwehr battalion) and one Flanquer company. Commander of the 1st Reg ment was Oberst von Steuben; Oberst von Kruse was promoted General and commanded the Nassau contingent. The 1st Regiment was part of the Hanoverian Reserve Corps under Lieutenant General von der Decken which was organised as follows: ist Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel von der Decken) Feld-Bataillon Hoya Landwehr-Bataillon Mélln Landwehr-Bataillon Bremerlehe 2nd Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel von Beaulieu lon Nordheim lon Ablefeldt Landwebr-Baiaillon Springe ard Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Bodecker Landwehr-Bataillon Otterndorf Landwehr-Bataillon Celle seit cored Cin neer On MEER nd bette nihle dnvphad prdeier “The Happy Hunter’ ~ a cartoonist’s view of Napoleon after the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. The text of the verse, very loosely. translated and with mo attempt at rhyming, reads: ‘He always stays calm and unruffled; He’s not the best or worst because he has shot (?); If his expression is not too happy, T's because he smells the goat's tail 19jth Brigade (Lieutenant-Colonel Wi Landwehr-Bataillon Hannover Landwehr-Bataillon Uelzen Landwehr-Bataillon Neustadt Landwehr-Bataillon Diepholz Heannoverian total ~ 9,000 men Nassau Contingent (General von Kruse’ rst Nassau Infantry Regiment 2,880 men ‘he znd Regiment of Nassau was detached and placed together with the Regiment of Oranien Nassau (Nassauers in Dutch Belgian serv the 2nd Dutch Belgian Division of Leutnant General Baron de Perponcher in the Prince of Orange's T Corps: c) in 1st Brigade (Major-General Baron de Bylandt 7th Line Infantry Regiment 701 men 27th Jiiger Battalion 80g men 5th Militia Battalion 482 men 7th Militia Battalion 675 men th Militia Battalion 566 men end Brigade (H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of Saxe- Weimar) and Regiment of Nassau (3 battalions 2,709 men Regiment of Oranien-Nassau (2 battalions; 1,591 men Artillery (Major van Opstal) Horse battery ~ Captain Byleveld Foot battery ~ Captain Stievena Thisdivision was presentat the battle of Quatre-Bras. It would be beyond the scope of this book to describe the entire battle of Waterloo in detail. We must concentrate on the participation of the Nassauers themselves, On 15 June 1815 the vital crossroads of Quatre-Bras — lying between the Allied British and Prussian armies ~ was held only by the and Nassau and the Nassau-Oranien Infantry Regi- ments and the attached battery of eight Dutch Horse Artillery guns. 20 THE SSAUERS AT QUATRE-BRAS, ‘The left wing of Wellington's army on the eve of Quatre-Bras was the 2nd Division of General Perponcher, in the area of Genappe, Prasnes and velles. The and Nassau Regiment was around Quatre-Bras (the 2nd Battalion being south of this place with a battery of Netherlands horse artillery, was the unit closest to the expected rench advance from the south). At the appear- ance of the enemy, the division was to concentrate on the vital eross-roads at Quatre-Bras, On the 15th Napoleon sent Marshal Ney (“The Bravest of the Brave’) north towards Brussels with instructions to take Quatre-Bras and thus to prevent a unification of Wellington's army with that of Bliicher (troops of Prussia and other German states). Ney’s force consisted of the I Corps (General d’Erlon), the II Corps (General Reille), General Piré’s Light Cavalry Division, and (initially) the Chasscurs and Lanciers of the Imperial Guard Although the gnd Division at Quatre-Bras had heard heavy cannon fire from the Prussian positions at Ligny early on the 15th, no great alarm was caused. bei it was interpreted as just another Prussian artillery practice and at that time no communication existed between the two Allied armies. In fact, this cannonade was audible expression of the desperate fight then taking place as Napoleon’s simple, but terribly effective plan of destroying his separated enemy in detail before they could unite was put into practice. When, by the afternoon, the firing had not died down, Major von Normann, with the and Battalion of the and Regiment, and the Netherlands horse artillery battery, took up battle stations behind the village of Frasnes with patrols south towards Gosselies and informed the regimental commander of his actions. This intelligence was in turn relayed to headquarters, 2nd Division. At about 6 pm Piré’s advance guard drove in Normann’s patrols and soon Normann was forced to fall back on Quatre-Bras, his pre-determined Map of Quatre-Bras, showing position of Nassan and Nassau. “Oranien (‘Orange Nassau’) contingents. Key to place ‘names: (1) Gemioncourt Farm, (2) Lairalle Farm, (3) Grand Pierrepont Farm, (q) Petit Pierrepont Farm, () Marais (6)To Nivettes HHH Cannon TEN 2 asau ttanery Regiment WY Fetimens nassau onanien French nies To CHARLEROI 21Interesting engraving by J. Voltz showing French prisoners being transported through « Bavarian town in Wig, The motley collection appears to include infantry, carabiniers, cuit aa jers, hussars and chasseurs. The mounted escort Sisible with drawn sabre behind the care seems to be a Trooper of the yth National Chevau-légers Regiment of Bavaria, talking (0-4 Bavarian hussar trooper. rallying’ point where the end Brigade of the 2nd Division was also in position. Nightfall ended the fighting, Phe dispositions of the Nassauers at Quatre- Bras on 16 June may be seen on the map on page 21), At 6 am on 16 June the Prince of Orange (who had arrived there during the night and assumed command) ordered von Normann’s battalion to push south to Frasnes and recon- noitre. Normann chased off light French cavalry picquets and reoccupied his position of the previous day. At 11 am the Duke of Wellington arrived and ordered von Normann to engage the enemy with two companies. Combat followed but remained at low-intensity. By now there were 7,000 men, 16 guns and 50 Prussian hussars under the Prince of Orange at Quatre-Bras; Wellington instructed him to hold his position until help arrived and then rode off to confer with Blicher over a common operational plan for the coming battle At 2 pm Ney, with 9,000 infantry, 1,850 cavalry and 22 guns began a very cautious assault on the Quatre-Bras position (Normann’s force had by now withdrawn into the main Netherlands line). Despite tough resistance, the French soon occupied Piroaumont and Gemion- court, the Allies being much hampered by their almost total lack of cavalry (the 50 Prussian hussars had also returned to their parent corps 22 during the day), The position was beginning to look grim for Perponcher’s division when at last reinforcements came up. They were General von Merlen’s Netherlands Brigade and General Pic- nglish division (altogether 7,000 infantry, 1,100 cavalry and 12 guns). Shortly after this the Duke of Brunswick (“The Black Duke’) also arrived with part of his division (3,000 infantry and 800 cavalry) and the balance of power tipped slightly in favour of the Allie Encouraged by these new forces, the rash and impulsive Prince of Orange launched a hurried attack to win back most of the plateau which he had lost but was repulsed with losses. Wellington then returned from his meeting with Bliicher and assumed command. Ney launched an assault to follow up his withdrawing enemy and Wellington countered ~ the struggle raged back and forth for some time ~ the young and untried Brunswick hussars being overthrown by the French Chasseurs a Cheval of Piré’s command and the frenzied energies of the Prince of Orange contributing as much to the enemy’s success as to that of his own troops. By the early evening, with reinforcements on both sides, the Allies had 37,000 men against Ney’s 21,000 on the battlefield. At 7 pm Ney broke off his assaults and withdrew south to Frasnes. The day had cost about 4,000 dead and wounded on each side. The Allies bivouacked on the battlefield, the Prince of Orange resumed his position on Wellington’s staff’ and gave up command of his brigade. ‘The rst Regiment of ton’s Map of Waterloo, showing positions of Nasnu and Nasea ranien contingents, Symbols representing units do m relate to acral ize of unl of tactical formation, Ke ice names: (+) Mont St Jean Farm, () Hougoumont, (3) La Hive Sein () Pupeottes Sonam (6) Lx Delle Alitance, (7) Plancenoit, (8) Rossome. At Waterloo the detailed deploy- tment of the contingents was as follows: Hougoumont Garrison (General Bymg): 1st Bn., and Regt. of Nassau (Hauptmann Basgen) — companies shown individ- tally on map. Two companies of Hannoverians. Four Companies of British Foot Guards. Lii-Btalon, Avant ‘ede, and 1st Light Bo. of Brunswick rhe Centre: Front rank ~ rst Bn. rst Regt. of Nassau. Rear rank aad Bn., ret Regt. of Nassau. La Haye Sainte Garrison (Major Baring kot) both Flanquer companies, ist Regt. of Naseau, together with and Light Bn. Xct, Hannoverian ‘Lisneburg, and light troops) of other aL . of andwehr-ln., znd Regt. of Nassau; 1st Bn, ne Nguene_Oranien/ end Bn Regiment Naens-Drasien, illige Jager Coy., Regiment Nassau-Oranien; Papelotte (Hauptmann von Retiberg) Flanquer coy., 3rd Bn., 2nd Regt. of Nassau, shown by platoons on map.Nassau's flags, like those of most were nailed to the staffs. The re iment was a great occasion, and the king or his represent ative in the case of Prussia, the scene of the ceremony illustrated here ~ would be on hand to strike in the first of the gold-headed nails with a suitably decorative hammer. Lesser dignitaries would then each strike in one of the other nails. Holes were bored in the staff beforehand to prevent possible embarrassment! Nassau arrived at Quatre only in evening and did not take part in the da fighting. That same day, 16 June, Bliicher’s army had been beaten by Napoleon at Ligny and was now withdrawing north-east on Wavre, but Wellington did not receive news of this until the morning of the 17th. The 18 June 1815 Having successfully disengaged from Ney at Quatre-Bras, Wellington now concentrated his British-German—Dutch-Belgian army at Mont St Jean. The 1st Regiment of Nassau was in the centre of the position, which was composed also of General Cooke’s British Guards Div General Alten’s British manded by the Prince of Orange petuous and overbearing decisions had cost many Allied lives at Quatre-Bras and were to cause the destruction of the 5th Line Battalion of the King’s German Legion this day. From west to cast the dispositions of the centre were as follows: North of Hougoumont up against the road to Nivelles was Byng’s British Guards Brigade of two battalions, then Maitland’s Guards Brigade also two battalions, General Colin Halkett’s British Brigade with four battalions, General -gge’s Hanoverian Brigade of five bat- mann: 24 talions, and finally the King’s G Brigade of Colonel Ompteda with four battalions. ‘The left flank of Ompteda’s brigade reached to the Genappe road and the farm of La Haye (in front of this brigade) was occupied by the 2nd ight Battalion of the King’s German Legion. The 1st Regiment of Nassau was in the second line behind the brigades of Halkett and segge. The brigades were arranged in two lines; the battalions in column. In the tst Nassau Regiment the first line consisted of the 1st Battalion divisional columns; the second line was formed by the 2nd and the Landwehr Battalions, both in assault columns. The 2nd Regiment of Nas was on the western and eastern ends of Welling ton’s line, north of Hougoumont (where the 1st Battalion of this regiment took part in the defence of this vital farm, the struggle for which absorbed so much of Napoleon’s generals’ interest and cnergy (in vain) throughout the whole battle) and north of Papelotte — see below. In spite of being in the second of Wellington’s battle lines and being situated on the reverse slope of the position, the 1st Regiment of Nassau suffered heavily in the artillery bombardment which began at 11 0’elock and went on all day — most of the shots which struck the regiment being ricochets. By 2 pm a heavy French infantry assault D’Erlon’s Corps and Durutte’s division) was progress against Wellington’s centre and left and a fierce struggle was centred around the farm of La Haye Sainte, In addition to the original garrison of this place (2nd Light Battalion, King’s German Legion) two companies of the rst Light Battalion, King’s German Legion and 200 men, (both Flanquer companies) of the line battalions, of the 1st Regiment of Nassau were called in to reinforce this important post. By 3. pm this French assault had failed, and a massive cavalry attack began to develop against Wellington’s centre and right flanks. ‘This glittering mass of horsemen charged through the intervals between the bat talions in the first of Wellington's lines (who had already formed square to receive them) and then descended upon the 1st Nassau Regiment which was also in square. As the vast majority of the Nassauers were young recruits in their first action, their conduct in this crisis was difficult to forecast Imann- au1 Private, rst Bat dress, 103 5, Fusiliers, 4th Battalion, summer campaign dress, 180 2 Drummer, 2nd Battalion, summer campaign dress, 18061 Fusilier, and Battalion, parade dress, 1806 2 Grenadier sergeant, 4th Battalion, winter parade dress, 1806 3 Rifleman, ged Battalion, summer parade dress, 18061807x Officer (Premierleutnant) of Voltigeurs, parade dress, 1810 2 Voltigeur Corporal, campaign dress, 1809-13 Drummer of Fusiliers, and Infantry Regiment, 1809-131 Oldenburg: Corporal, Voltigeur Company, Bol 2 Na major of Grenadiers, 5 Oldenburg: Drummer, Grenadier Company, drill order1 Fusilier sergeant, 129th ‘French’ Line Infantry Regiment, 1812 2 Officer, Regiment Oldenburg, winter parade dress, 1814 43 Private, Freiwillige Jager Detachment of the Regiment Oldenburg, field dress, 18141 Jager, 18t Infantry Regiment, 115, (at Waterloo} 2 Officer of the General Staff, parade dress, B15 3 Officer of Grenadiers, rst Infantry Resiment, 15and, if they wavered, it could have caused Wellington's centre to break. Buoyed up by the excellent example of their British Allies in Halkett’s brigade, who had held their fire until the cavalry was at a range of Go paces and had then mown down dozens of horses and riders, the young Nassauers stood firm and repulsed the French cuirassiers’ attacks. English dragoons then counterattacked the dismayed French cavalry and pushed them down the slope towards their own lines. This brought no relief to the long- suffering infantry, however; as soon as the cavalry had gone, the great battery of French artillery opened up on the English lines again and casualties began to mount A second massive cavalry attack followed at about 5 pm and the much weakened Allied squares in Wellington’s centre almost vanished beneath the flood of sabres and helmets. But even now, in this moment of crisis when Wellington's slim reserves were committed, Biilow’s Prussian corps began to appear from the cast through the villages of Conture and Hanotelet, and gradually a flanking pressure was brought to bear on Napoleon’s line, In spite of this, it was well over an hour before the French cavalry fell back from the Allied centre in this second attack, and over ten separate charges were made; but no squares, broke. At6 pm the situation of the small garrison in the farm of La Haye Sainte became untenable when their ammunition supplies ran out. Major Baring (of the King’s German Legion) who commanded this outpost had repeatedly sent messages to the rear asking for ammunition resupply but for some reason none arrived, Now the French ttackers could shoot down the defenders with impunity and Major Baring was forced to withdraw up the hill to the main British line. ‘The French swarmed after him and a battery of guns, was set up about goo paces in front of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Nassau Regiment and began to tear this and other units to shreds with dis- charges of canister. In a few minutes all officers of the Nassau grenadier company were dead or wounded. In an effort to put an end to th slaughter, the 1st Battalion’s commander, Major von Weyhers, ordered a bayonet charge to take the battery but a few seconds later he was badly wounded by canister and the charge came to a halt, Wellington then sent an order that the battalion should return to its place in the line but for some reason the grenadier and the ist Jager company remained halted in a fire-fight with the French battery. Suddenly some French cuirassier squadrons, who had regathered by the guns, swarmed over the isolated Nassauers and cut them down. Between 7 and 8 pm Napoleon, see- ing the growing power of the Prussians in his right rear and being as yet unable to break the Allied army on his front, decided to chance everything on one last desperate throw. The Imperial Guard, invincible in battle (largely because it had so rarely been used!) was launched at Wellington’s army with the aim of bursting through his tired and weakened line and thus opening the way to Brussels, The incredible happened : the Imperial Guard was met by the steady British line and thrown back with heavy loss! The entire French army groaned in despair; the day was lost, and the French began to stream away to the south, fleeing i sing confusion from the Prussians who had taken over the pursuit. On Wellington's left flank the assault columns of the Middle Guard were met by Halkett’s brigade and the 1st Regiment of Nassau (now commanded by the Grown Prince of the Netherlands); General von Kruse and Oberst von Steuben were also there, ‘The prince was wounded but the Guard was also pushed back. Napoleon’s last effort had been made and had failed ; the Battle of Waterloo had been won by the Anglo-Dutch-German Allies and the feared and hated dictator of Europe had his claws drawn for the last time. The ond Regiment of Nassau at Waterloo At 10 am the 1st Battalion, and Regiment of Nassau, had been sent into the farm of Hougou- mont on Wellington’s right flank together with some Brunswickers, two Hannoverian companies, four companies of British Guards and General Cooke’s British division. ‘The and and 3rd Battalions of the end Regiment of Nassau and the Regiment of Orange-Nassau were on the extreme left flank of Wellington’s line, and the village of Papelotte was occupied by the Flanquer company (under Hauptmann von Rettberg) of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Nassau, The map on 25German Army Corps in the Hundred Days campaign. The ‘Sider Regiment wna part of this cone Kein uniform is dark bine with red facings an tions, embroide tnd shoulder cords. Among his decorations cam be seen the iron Croos (created in 1013 by King Frederick William IIL of Prussia), che Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, che Austrian Maria-Theresia Order, and the Russian Star of the Order of Se George. page 23 shows the dispositions of the Nassauers this fateful day. Just before 4 pm a heavy French assault on Papelotte forced Hauptmann von Rett- berg to abandon the outlying village houses and to withdraw his company into the main building in the hamlet. Now the roth, rith and rath Companies of his regiment came to his aid and the French were expelled again, The 2nd Regiment of Nassau remained in possession of Papelotte until the end of the battle, From about 4 pm onwards, von Biilow’s 30,000 strong Prussian corps began deploying into combat formation on the eastern edge of the battlefield and advanced towards the French right rear at La Belle Alliance. They were opposed by Lobau’s French corpsand a fierce fight developed in the burning village of Plancenoit from which the French were ulti: mately driven. Hauptmann von Rettberg, with the four companies of the znd Regiment of Nassau under his command, joined in the Prussian assault on Plancenoit. Most accounts of the Battle of Waterloo are remarkably vague as to the correct state of affairs in Papelotte and as to the actual participation in the battle of the znd Regiment of Nassau As its part of the booty taken after Waterloo, Nassau received four 6-pounder cannon, two 7- 26 pounder howitzers and 12 train vehicles. As part of the reorganisation of the German mini-states which took place in 1815, Nassau had lost some land to Prussia and all inhabitants of this lost territory became Prussians. Thus, on 28 November 1815, 832 men of the znd Regiment were transferred to Prussian service and were replaced by 832 men of the Regiment of Orange Phe Regiment of Orange-Nassau was disbanded on 3 January 1816, the men going into the ist Nassau Infantry Regiment or to Prus cording to their place of birth, The Landweh Battalion of the 1st Regiment of Nassau was also disbanded, those N.C.O.s and officers who were ansferred to it to help in the training returned to their parent unit. Until 1820 the and Regiment of Nassau (at a strength of three battalions) served with the Netherlands army and was then reduced to two battalions on returning home. ‘The two Nassau infantry regiments were absorbed into the Prussian army in 1860 and assumed the titles: Das 1'° Herzogliche Nassauische Infanterie- Regiment Nr 87 asa. and Das 2!° Herzogliche Nassauische Infanterie~ Regiment Nr 88 The 2nd Regiment wore on its helmets the battle ‘La Belle Alliance’, ‘Medellin’ and ‘Mesa de Ibor? until after the First World War. The 1st Regiment wore ‘La Belle Alliance’. honours NASSAU ORDER OF BATTLE 1815 1st Infantry Regiment and 2,974 men st Battalion and Batiation Landiveha Battalion and Infantry Regiment Sachsen-Weimar (later 738 mex sist Battalion - nd Battalion Major Ph. von Normann Landieh Battalion ~ Major Hegmann This regiment, together with the Regiment of Orange Nassau, formed the and Brigade of Lieutenant General Perponcher’s 2nd Division of the Netherlands Army The Regiment of Orange Nassau (Nassan-Oranien) This Oberst von Steuben (71 officers Major von Weyhers Major von Nauendorf Major von Preen, Oberst Prinz Bernhard von Major Sattler) (89 officers, Hauptmann Biisgenregiment was in Dutch-Belgian service and was part of the Netherlands Army. tt Battlin 30 officers, 1,427 men ‘and Battalion Freivillige Jager Company ~ 9 officers, 166 men Total Nass troops ~ 193 ofcers and 6,832 men {From a letter by General von Kruse to the Hanoverian Captain Beme] Wiesbaden 7 January 1836 *.... The Ducal Nassau Brigade, consisting of two fafantry regiments was dispersed from 15-18 Jane 1815. The znd Regiment had been in Dutch pay since 1814; the 1st Regiment (which formed the real Nassau contingent) had only arrived a few days previously and had not yet been allotted to a ‘Corps. Until the 16th it lay dispersed in cantone- ‘ments between Brussels and Lowen, “The 1st Regiment consisted of three battalions ‘until August 814 both regiments had only had 2 battalions, and at this time were reinforced by men from the then disbanded rd Nassau Infantry Regiment “Each battalion had six companies, namely, 1 grenadier, 4 Jager and 1 Flanquer company. The grenadicrs formed on the right wing (of the battalion). ‘The Flanquers on the left wing. “Each company had 3 officers and 160 N.C.O.s and men, The battalion thus had 18 company officers and 960 N.C.O.s and men, the battali headquarters had 13 officers and 40 N.C.Os and men. “This regiment, which until then formed my entire brigade, marched out of its camps early on the 16th and went to Quatre-Bras which they seached on the evening of the fight ‘On the 18th the Brigade, without being attached to any division, was ordered to join the First Army Corps commanded by H.R.H. the Prince of Oranien “The end Regiment had 3 battalions each of 6 companies as for the ist Regiment but each company had q officers and 150 N.C.O.s.and men, Thus the Regiment had 24 officers and goo C.0.s and men in the companies and. 12 officers and 33 N.C.O.s and men in the regimental headquarters. ‘The Oldenburg Infas iment in 18 Uherated from the French yoke in 1013, 01 another line infantry regiment and a force fe Service with the Allies against Napoleon. All military necessi- ties were in short supply, so it cannot be assumed that the regiments which fought in the 1813 campaign appeared in perfect regulation dress; it was a case of ‘come as you are’, and many Prussian Landwehr regiments fonght for months, with a high proportion of men barefoot. Prussian influence Can be seen again in the eut of the uniforms shown here, but, ‘with many north German regiments, the Oldenburgers British Tower-marked Brown Bess muskets. “This regiment, together with the Regiment Nassau-Oranien, formed the 2nd Brigade of the and Royal Dutch Division. the former was commanded by Prinz Bernhard von Sachsen-Weimar, the latter was commanded by Gencralleutnant von Perponcher. (The Reg ment Oranien-Nassau, like the 2nd Nassau Regiment, had been taken into Dutch service for six years from 8 November 1814. Even so, the Regiment Oranien also. wore Dutch uniform. On 3 January 1816 the latter regiment was combined with the ist Nassau Regiment and with the Prussian 35th Fusilier Regiment and Battalion of the still carried Nassau “On 15 June 1815 the Dutch regiment Oranien— French pattern muskets and each man had only artridges. The Freiwillige Jager had rifles of four different calibres and no more ammunition than the men of the znd Battalion.” lassau ten Uniform “The grenadier companies had round bears (colpacks), all other companies wore shakos. The uniform of both regiments was dark green with black collar and cuffs and short skirts. The coat 27 ins,had a single row of yellow buttons on the front, and the uniform, and the side pockets, were piped yellow. The breeches were dark green trimmed with yellow cord and the gaiters were black. Belts, bandoliers and pack straps were of buff leather, ‘The uniform and headgear of the officers was as for that of the men, except that officers’ coat- skirts were longer and they wore light grey and black striped pantaloons instead of green. All officers wore cpaulettes which indicated their ranks and orange silk sashes. [Jn Volume XVI, Plate 8 of Knotel’s “Uniformkunde” there is a rep resentation of the Nassau infantry. The text to this plate tates that the uniform was worn from 1814-33 but in 1814 the epaulettes of officers in the flank companies iwere replaced by red or yellow “Achselwiilste” -wings.] The Jager companies wore on their shakos a ball- shaped woollen pompon with a small tuft above i aried by company as follows: The colours 1st. Company yellow and Company white 3rd Company ight blue jth Company black “Under the pompon (at the front, top centre of the shako) I leather cockade. In was asi Hougoumont, 18 June 1815 ~a French assault is aken in flank by a British Battalion. Although fiercely contested throughout the battle, the farm never fell into French hands. Tt was defended by an Anglo-German garrison including numbers of Nassauers. (Natfonal Army Musenm) era ee 28 summer white linen trousers were worn, “The regimental and battalion commanders nd the six mounted Adjutant-majors, wore colpacks; only the general staff, 4 officers, wore bicorns with white, drooping feather plumes. All mounted officers carried sabi ‘The flags, of which each battalion carried one. were of pale yellow silk with the ducal badge i the centre embroidered in blue silk. The staff tip was gilt and from it hung two golden tassels ‘It is correct that on the day of the battle of Waterloo the men of the 1st Regiment were wear- ing white covers on their shakos and pouches but Thad these removed at about 3. pm as they gave the enemy artillery a good aiming point. The men of the end Regiment had the same covers but in blac waxed cloth. ‘No mounted officer rode a distinctive horse during the battle; only 1 rode a Falbe [a light coloured horse].” Strength of the 1st Nassau Infantry Regiment on 18 June before the batlle Headquarters 3 Battalion surgeons 1 Divisional surgeon 12N.C.0s 1 Corporal 33 Soldiers 1 Colonel 1 Oberstleutnant 3 Majors 3 Adjutant majors 1 Regimental surgeon1st Battalion 6 Captains 67 Corporals 6 Oberleutnants 18 Musicians 6 Unterleutnants B01 Soldiers 47 N.C.08 ‘The 2nd Battalion and the Landwehr Battalion had almost exactly the same strength and the whole regiment had 61 officers and approximately 2,840 men Strength of the snd Nassau Regiment on 16 June 1815 before the battle of Quatre-Bras Headquarters 12 Officers 33 N.G.O.s and men 1st Battalion 2g Officers 847 N.C.O.8 and men 2nd Battalion 24 Officers 842 men grd Battalion 24 Officers 853 men TOTAL 8 officers and 2.575 men Hougoumont today, taken from the south ~ the direction taken by the assaulting French troops, The heavy mature of the ground can clearly he seen, and must have made the advance physically tiring as well as militarily perilous. Jac Weller photograph, courtesy National Army Museum) looking south, towards the line held by the French. troops took part in the heroic defence of this bastion of Wellington's line at Waterloo, which eventually fell through lack of ammunition. Its loss precipitated the crisis of the battle, (Jac Weller photograph, courtesy Na- Honal Army Musewnt) 29Losses of the rst Regiment at Waterloo on 18 June 1815 Unit Dead Wounded Missing Total Offs Men Ofis Men Opis Men Ofis Men Headquarters 2 3 1 3 5 ist Battalion 115 n 157 116 1 386 and Battalion 3 96 4 131 8r 7 308 Landwehr Battalion 2 39 2 B2 65 4 186 TOTALS 5 250 20 370 — 269 25 885, as and its loses there were Unit Dead 1st Battalion 4 and Battalion 10 3rd Battalion: 1 At Waterloo they then lost Unit Dead Wounded Missing Total Offts Men Offs Men Offs Men Opis Men Headquarters 2 — 1st Battalion 2 27 6 46 8 and Battalion 1 13 > 45 8 grd Battalio ' 27 7 62 8 TOTALS, 4 69 20 153, =- or 24 Source: Staatsarchiv Wiesbaden, VIII Nassau, Kriegsdepartement Nr 532, 26-27. Th Uniti ok Facings — Butions Belts Me niforms of Néaissaus ist Battalion Bright red Yellow Buff . endBattalion Brick red Yellow Buff Troops 1803-1815, grd Battalion Lightred White Black ~ 4th Battalion Dark red White Buff Parade breeches Waistcoats rst Battalion Grey White ‘The four infantry battalions wore dark green, 2ndBattalion Dark green Grey long-skirted coats with red facings, piping and 3rd Bautalion Grey Dark green turnbacks. In the tails were vertical pocket-flaps 4th Battalion Grey White with four buttons and yellow laces. Initially there was one grenadier company per battalion (a Carabinier company in the grd Jager Battalion) and three fusilier companies; the grenadiers wore red plumes and epaulettes, the others black plumes and dark green shoulder straps. The shade of the facing colour and the colour of the buttons varied from battalion to battalion as shown here: 30 Other distinctions were the headgear; the Ist Battalion wore Bavarian style black-leather helmets with black crest, black plume (red for grenadiers) a brass grenade badge and brass fittings; the 2nd Battalion wore what seem to have been Prussian-style, black-felt shakos with a black leather top band (N.C.O.s and drummers hadLa Haye Sainte isolated during one of the French cavalry attacks; British fire from the garrison and the 95th Rifles in Support north of the farm badly mauled the right flanks of French cavalry charges. This view seems to look south from point close to the cross-roads marking the centre of the ‘tish front line. Note French foot and guns in background, iting (0 enpleie he cavalry charges. (National drmy gold top bands according to rank), black cockade, white cords, black plume; the 3rd Battalion wore bicorns with black cockade, yellow pompon, white loop, button and cords and the 4th Bat- talion wore shakos as for the znd but light green in, colour with yellow (gold for N,C.O.s) top band, black cockade, bottom band and peak, and yellow cords. The grenadiers of the 4th Battalion wore the black shako with copper grenade badge and red plume and cords as shown in the colour plates Until 1809 all officers wore bicorns with black cockade, and loop and button in the regimental colour. Collar and cuffs of the jackets were edged in yellow piping and badges of rank were shown by gold orsilverlace to cuffs or collar or both. N.C.O.s and officers carried sticks as signs of office and it may be assumed that at this time officers wore silk waist sashes (in orange?). From 28 October 1806 they also wore gilt sword knots. Legwear was, for parades, close fitting breeches with side-stripes and thigh-knots in short black gaiters with black leather buttons; in summer white trousers over short white gaiters. Officers wore black Hessian boots with gold trim and tassel. The Reitende Jager were dressed all in dark green with silver lace and buttons, blick leatherwork, black-leather helmets, high-crowned, Ba- rowned for other varian style for officers, low ranks. The helmets had black crests and green plumes with white metal front plate, chin-scales, peak edging and side struts. Weapons were a carbine, pistols and a curved, light cavalry sabre in a steel sheath, Sabretasches were of black leather with the crowned cypher ‘FA’ and those of the officers had a broad silver edging. In 1808, when the infantry was reorganised, the uniforms were also altered. ‘The helmets of the old 1st Battalion (von Todenwarth) were given to the first _grenadier companies of the two new regiments, the second grenadier companies wore French style grenadier shakos. By 1810 all grenadiers should have been issued with the brown fur colpack with red bag, pompon, plume 31esis Neste heey Se Sree eras Loe alerts beet ech terete helen Sear sheds 62 pele lion we hil, afl at ed and cords shown in the colour plates. ‘The élite companies (grenadier and the newly raised Volti- geur) wore French style distinctions: grenadiers — red hat-trim, red epaulettes and red sabre-strap, red grenade-badge in the turnbacks; voltigeurs, green plume with yellow tip, brass horn shako- badge, green cords, green epaulettes and sabre strap, yellow-horn badges in the turnbacks. Fusiliers wore shakos with white cords, black cockade, company colour pompon (1st Company yellow, 2nd — white, 3rd ~ light blue, 4th black) and a badge in the shape of a brass ov. bearing the regimental number, surrounded by a trophy of arms and flags. The jacket remained dark green but facings became black, buttons yellow, turnbacks green, edged yellow, waistcoats initially white, later dark green with yellow piping, legwear cither grey breeches in black gaiters as before or, later, dark green trousers over short black gaiters. The 32 trousers had yellow side-stripes and thigh-knots, On 15 October 1807 French muskets and sabres were issued to replace the old-fashioned and worn-out weapons which the Nassauers previously had and French badges of rank and ¢ were introduced. For other ranks these serv consisted of diagonal stripes across both lower sleeves: Corporal two red stripes Sergeant one gold stripe edged red Company Quartermaster two red stripes (and two gold cheyrons on the upper sleeve) Sergeant Major _ two gold stripes edged red. Service badges were also after the French pattern and took the form of yellow chevrons, point up, on the upper left sleeve. Officers wore gilt gorgets and gold sword knots and their rank was indicated by gold epaulettes on the shoulders: Lieutenant fringed epaulevie right; contre-epaulette left Premier Licutenant fringed epaulette left; contre-epaulette right Hauptmann two fringed epaulettes Major two epaulettes with silver straps and gold bullion fringes Oberstleutnant —_ wo golden epaulettes, only the left with bullion fringes Oberst two golden epaulettes with gold bullion fringes Officers wore gold shako cords on parade, ‘The cavalry uniform changed little at this time except that the helmets gave way to black fur colpacks with dark green bag, (officers with silver tassel, the men with white). Dark green pelisses with black fur and white lace and buttons were added, and the expensive, close fitting dark-green breeches in hussar boots gave way to dark-green overalls with black leather fittings. Badges of rank were a series of white (silver for officers) chevrons situated over the cuff.The Plates NASSAU 11 Private, 1st Battalion, summer dress, 1803 This battalion was also known as the ‘Leib- Bataillon’ (Life Battalion), a commonly used title on the Continent for the most senior regiment, battalion, company or squadron. It was also the custom to name units afier their commanders and, thus the rst Battalion was also known as the taillon von Todenwarth’, The boiled-leather helmet is very similar to that worn at this time by the Bavarian The front badge was a flaming grenade in brass; the grenadiers wore a red plume at the side of their helmets, the musket- ccrs the black one shown here, For winter wear the men wore grey trousers with black thigh-knots and side-stripes and black gaiters to below the knee, the gaiters over the trousers. The coat was single-breasted and cut away in an oval shape at the bottom so that the white waistcoat showed. he coat was edged in red piping. The pouch plate bears the lion of Nassau. army 12 Drummer, znd Battalion, summer capaign dress, 1806 Here the new yellow shako trim is shown; the Nassau drummers did not wear reversed colours but were distinguished by the yellow lace on their chests and the yellow chevrons on their arms, The ist and and Battalions wore buff leatherwork, the grd (Rifle) Battalion wore black. The brass drum, was the modern design and much lighter to carry than the older, bigger wooden models; this was important as the drummers were usually boys of

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