Quatre Bras Tactical Narrative

The period covered is from the end of the French movement phase at 2:30 (which incidently also lets one see where the Allies ended their 2:15 move, of course) through to the end of the Allied 3:00 movement phase - thus effectively one sees 45 minutes of action. Three screen formats are used. The first is a 2D overview to see the deployments in an 'abstract' fashion - I find that helps set the scene. The second and the last shot are 3D zoom outs, showing the relevant formations, etc. The third image is a 3D close up of one particular incident.

The first image shows the overall French plan, Perponcher's Dutch-Belgian Division deployed for battle south of the creek and west of the road, and an attack underway by Bachelu's Division on the Dutch Militia Brigade of Perponcher's Division. As one can see, the French have sent one infantry division, Bachelu's, up the main road, supported by Pire's cavalry division. Foy's infantry divison has gone right, toward Thyle. The Guard cavalry division has gone left but without pressing too much, while Jerome's division of infantry has also gone that way. In the picture, you can see Jerome's light infantry brigade arriving at the front to support the Guard horse artillery batteries south of the Bossu Wood; his second brigade is still south, out of the picture.

Perponcher response is to defend just behind the initial ridge the Dutch start on, from there over to the edge of the Bossu Wood. His batteries on the ridge delayed the French for a short period, but with infantry in the valley ahead of them and French batteries going into position opposite (still visible in our picture), their supporting infantry had to pull back behind the hill to the reverse slope, and the guns then pulled back. You can see the batteries going into position in their new locations: they are about to unlimber and set up where they are - the foot battery (which pulled out earliest) on the ridge west of the road and the horse battery along the road (using its quick unlimber and fire abilities).

The nine battalions of Perponcher's Division (not counting the Dutch Jagers on the road to Thyle) can all be seen in the picture. The leftmost three, just in Bossu wood and one hex outside it, are the Nassauers. The ones in the woods are in column to move in good order; the one just outside (like most) in line. The next two battalions are the Orange-Nassau battalions, one behind the little ridge extending out of the woods, one just ahead of it. The one ahead is there to cover the guns. Together those five make the 2nd brigade and their leader is in the front center of the five battalions (the Nassauers in line formation). The other four on the right are the Dutch brigade, with the two 'line' battalions ahead and the two militia behind. Notice the militia battalions are hiding in a gully, while the line ones are on the reverse slope of the initial ridge. One of those is in column formation though, and are somewhat overextended - that is because the hedges behind them prevented a quick withdrawl in line and they have been delayed by their formation change (to avoid disorder) in pulling back 'in line' with the rest of the division. The Dutch skirmish line runs along the crest of the hill. Notice that if Perponcher had just a little more time, he would have his batteries unlimbered and his forward battalion pulled back. In addition, the brigade on the left is awaiting ammo resupply, due in 15 minutes (and has held off sending out too many skirmishers until that happens).

You can see Bachelu's attack on the Dutch is in progress, while they are still pulling back a bit. Only one of Bachelu's two brigades is involved, having deployed all five battalions in line formation in the previous defensive phase, three west of the road and two east of it (each a regiment). The other brigade of the division is massed in one column behind the hill, moving toward the open eastern flank of Perponcher's division (that is the stack just right of the French supply wagon). Its skirmishers have been detailed to help the other brigade though: those are the ones right of the road. The attacking regiments are set up to push the skirmishers ahead of them back with melees and are in line to maximise the firepower threat to the formed infantry beyond. The other brigade's four skirmish companies will also push. One battalion on the left has advanced to point blank range with the Dutch column (trying to get away over the hedge really), and its neighbour denies the left flank of that regiment to cover the battalion.

Note the threat this attack creates. Without any melee with formed enemies, it threatens (1) to set up a line of line-formation battalions, supplimented by skirmishers, right along the crest of the ridge and point-blank on the Dutch formed on the reverse slope. (2) Any attempt to push against this relatively thin line would put the counter-attackers back in the line of fire of the two batteries on the other side of the hill, at pretty close range. (3) The reserve brigade threatens to continue its march right and north. Next turn it could be where the north-easternmost skirmishers is now, facing northwest; or it could hook in closer and melee the south-easternmost Dutch battalion if that doesn't pull back. The general prospect is a 'fixing' firepower attack in front by one brigade, while the other brigade throws the 'right hook' with a flanking attack in brigade column on the corner battalion, or a little later by two regimental columns on both easternmost Dutch battalions.

Some may wonder why the French cavalry isn't attacking. One, it is too valuable to expend this early on a force and position better suited to the above sort of infantry attack (to 'lever' the Dutch out of the way or punish them for standing). Two, the ground is unsuitable with so many hedges and rough. Only right along the road can the cavalry move north without disordering. And three, with a full infantry division and supporting batteries ahead, in good order, the aftermath of any charge would be very expensive, as firepower took a high toll on the horsemen. They are just far too valuable for that, so the infantry gets the job.

There isn't much new in the next picture, it's mostly a continuation of the previous manoeuvre. But now you see what it looks like in 3-D. The French drive has succeeded and the Dutch skirmish line is gone; some were even pushed into French lines and routed there (2 hexes due east of the road-hill crossing). The Dutch have sensibly pulled back their left flank slightly, to avoid being 'turned' there too quickly, and the previous column battalion (which was disordered by the French attack) is pulling back between the other battalions of the brigade (on the road, just south of the eastern battery). You can see one skirmish company routed back across the bridge. Also, the leading men from Picton's division can be seen arriving just east of the bridge on the north side of the stream. Buying time for those men to arrive and deploy is the main reason for Perponcher's stand, so that is something to watch.

The next picture is a close-up of the next stage of the action. Jerome's light brigade slams into the Nassau, western flank of Perponcher's division in the Bossu Wood. As you can see, the wood-line itself is held only by a skirmish line and a gun-section, though they are backed up by 2 battalions in column. Let's look at the deployment of the attackers in a little detail.

The center of the attack is a two battalion column charging the gun section and its two skirmisher guards; this is the center of the attacking line. Two hexes right of them is a single battalion column attacking the skirmishers at the corner of the wood - notice that this will put that battalion point-blank to the line behind that, but on that battalion's flank. Still a somewhat dangerous operation, since it will be a disrupted column (into cover, the attackers will disorder even against skirmishers) right next to an ordered line. But it will help support the flank of the main attack on the gun section, providing a line of four ZOCs ahead. The rest of the long seven hex attacking line consists of just double skirmishers. The length of the attack is nevertheless important since it prevents local counter-attacks unless the defender wants to allow his men to be surrounded (if he opts them to counter-attack). Each end of the skirmish line is supported by a single battalion in column. If the enemy threatened to push back the skirmishers these could form line to deter such counterattacks, and also provide flaning melee threats in the event the enemy reacts with a concentrated centrr (as described above under length of the line). Finally, two hexes behind where the two melees will end up if successful is another two battalion column, ready to back up either prong of the attack in countered. Also, notice the two covering batteries to discourage going back to the woodline (which also discouraged more than skirmishers along the woodline before this attack was launched), and the cavalry supporting who threaten to wipe out anyone leaving the wood or attempting to rush the guns.

Next, scroll over to the right and look at the main position of Perponcher's divison, between the road and Bossu Wood. You can see five battalions in line, closely supporting each other, and two batteries. There is another line just east of the picture edge too. That is a very formidable position, and the French have avoided attacking it directly. They have moved the whole formation back somewhat by threatening its south-eastern corner and driving in skirmishers. Now they hit its other flank with a fresh new brigade. In the foreground of the right side of the picture, you can see the French in front of this big position - one regimental column pulled back from the crest of a hill (in line with a hedge, just south of the sunken road), screened by its two skirmish companies. Does that mean the Allies could charge? No way, not with their flanks under such threat, it'd be like putting your head in a noose. So the French can afford to leave little in the centre sector, giving them more strength on the wings. Also notice the aftermath of Bachelu's attack which pushed in the Dutch skirmish line, and the new French battery position atop the ridge, those are horseguns and are already in action. Some cavalry is supporting the guns just behind the hill, almost into the open ground ahead, but there's still too much firepower in front for a cavalry attack.

In the final picture much has happened in the intervening turn and a half. Jerome's attack was successful and drove into the Bossu Wood, took the gun section ahead and routed a couple of skirmishers. Bachelu's turning movement on the other flank made some progress but never developed to a full-blown attack. The reason mostly being the poor morale of the Dutch militia. Once they lost their skirmish line, the French skirmishers got shots on the formed infantry. French batteries went into action on the hill too, and contributed to the damage and fatigue. One shot routed a Dutch battalion and did so before a disrupted one got clear of 'morale test transmitting' range: the result was both battalions routed, with a skirmisher or two swept away as well. In the picture, those men are now back on the hill on the left, just east of the Bossu Wood. You can see the Dutch batteries also pulled back, one of them to that same hill.

After the small Dutch rout, Perponcher began an orderly withdrawl. Because of the depth of his formation and its solid right, he did this reasonably well at first and had a reasonable line.  But it was only 1 battalion thick in the center, and the guns were pulling out limbered.  As a result, General Pire of the French cavalry got the order to advance and menance Perponcher's center; this he did will all 4 regiments of his division.  At the same time, Jerome's other brigade advanced to the gap between his light brigade in the Bossu Wood and the road, taking the left side of this space while Pire took the right.  Bachelu swung clear east of the road and advanced toward the creek.  Things looked dicey for Perponcher then, with his 3 battalions up front in the center having chances to form square of 68, 65, and 54%.  But all three made it, and Pire seeing this held off and did not charge.  Still, having 3 battalions in square in the center of a line south of the creek is not exactly comfortable for the Allies, when they were trying to withdraw north of the creek at this point.

With the French batteries on the ridge overlooking the previous Allied position, and with one regiment of Jerome's line brigade ready to go into line formation where his division just was, Perponcher hardly wants to be in square.  But coming to his add is a often overlooked advantage of reverse slope or near-reverse slope deployments - his squares were able to inch back up behind that spur of hill coming out of the Bossu Wood, and shelter behind it at least for the time being.  One square disordered getting across the stream, but that provides another kind of safety from cavalry and had to be accepted to avoid being left behind and surrounded (battalion just NW of the center bridge in the picture).

On the whole, though, Perponcher is doing ok.  His men aren't in the best formations; some aren't where he wants them to be; he is facing Jerome's whole huge division and Pire too, and some of his men are still trying to rally back north of the stream.  But all his battalions are alive, few are fatigued, none badly depleted by losses.  And far more important, help has arrived!

Looking at the center of the Picton300 picture, you see the thing that gives the picture its name.  It is now the end of the Allied 3:00 movement phase (about to be the French 3:15 one), and Picton's 5th Division is fully deployed on the field southeast of Quatre Bras.  Let's look at that deployment.

From just north of the bridge, eastwards, there is a line of 7 British skirmish companies along the line of the creek, pulled back from it 100 yards, thus on higher ground than in front of them.  Behind this skirmish line is a double line of battalion in line formation, spaced 2 hexes apart. Along the road there is only 1 battalion, between the two lines back-to-front; the reason for that is terrain.  You will notice the back 4 of battalions (including the one on the road) are in a gully, out of sight of points south and thus safe from artillery fire.  The three forward battalions are a bit more exposed at present, but one (left side as you look at the screen) is behind a hedge, the others are somewhat hidden by the rye at least from same-level sightings.  BTW, the two on the right end and the center-front one are from the first brigade ot arrive, the other 4 from the second (Pack's).  3 hexes north of the rear line of battalions you can see 2 columns of Hanoverians, two battalions each, in the next gully farther north; they are the British reserve.  With the two gullys, and a sunken road with some hedges as a fall-back position too, everyone where he ought to be and these fine troops, the east side of the road north of the stream is going to be tough going for the French.

At Quatre Bras, the Brunswick cavalry can be seen arriving; if you scroll east you can see the Belgian cavalry hiding behind the hill north of the pond, just above the Namur road and able to support Picton's left.

South of the stream opposite Picton's 5th British Division you can see Bachelu's French 5th, in a line of 4 regimental columns, screened by their skirmishers.  Over on the far right, you can get a glimpse of Foy's 9th approaching the Namur road, facing only a gun-section, a Belgian cavalry squadron, and skirmishers from the Dutch Jagers (already badly depleted trying to slow Foy down) and the Royal Green Jackets detached from Picton's
division.

Picton's position is strong, stronger than Perponcher's was.  And Perponcher faced far more daunting odds.  But he was levered out of his position in some disorder by flanking attacks and combined-arms threats. Foy's 9th represents the same sort of thing on a far grander scale directed at Picton's current position (think of Bachelu's whole division as like his one line brigade in his attack on the Dutch, with Foy like his reserve column), and the French cavalry arm remains far stronger than the allied one.  And so far, they are untouched.  The battle may turn on how well Perponcher recovers, because the Brunswickers (arriving next) could probably stop Foy if sent to the allied left.  But can Perponcher hold off Jerome without relief for another hour or two until Alten arrives, thus allowing all the Brunswickers to be sent to face Foy. Because he withdrew his command intact, and after buying the time for Picton to arrive, the Allied chances are good, but the day is just begining.

That concludes the picture and comment example from forty-five minutes of the Quatre Bras scenario. I hope it was interesting.

[Written by Jason Cawley. Courtesy of the Napoleonic Wargame Pages.]