Battle of Ligny Refight at Sandwell Skirmish November 17th 1996
I will be running a refight of the Battle of Ligny ( June 16th 1815).
There will be about 6 of us playing each with about a Corps . We will
using
- Principles of War (POW) Napoleonic Ammendments
Historical Situation
In 1815 after a brief period of exile on the Island of Elba Napoleon returned to France
and in a Coup became Emperor again. The Allies declared war on him and
so he began preparing his Army and plan of Campaign.
Napoleon knew that the distant Russian and Austrian Armies would be no
threat for weeks. In Belgium were the Anglo-Dutch under Wellington and
the Prussians under Blucher. Wellington was to the west and Blucher to the East.
The plan was simple . He proposed to push the Armies apart and hold off one
while destroying the other. Then he could turn on the remainer. The Allies
would surely sue for peace.
The Campaign
Napoleon's Army was divided into two wings and a reserve. Marshall Ney took the
West Wing ( D'Erlon and Reilles Corps and kellermans Cavalry Corps). His orders were to seize the crossroads of Quatre Bras
and then fall on the Prussian right flank while holding off the Prussians.
Meanwhile Grouchy commanded the east wing (Vandamme and Gerards Corps). Napoleon added to this
from the reserve that he controlled the Imperial Guard Infantry and Heavy Cavalry division and
the three reserve Cavalry Corps (Pajol, Exelmans and later Milhaud). This Force decended on
the Prussians at Ligny. Napoleon hoped that Ney would soon join him and crush the Prussians
Ney however found as he engaged the British at Quatre Bras on the 16th June that he would be
in no position to aid his Emperor . Hour by hour more Anglo-Dutch units arrived. Matters were not helped
by the fact that Napoleon ordered D'Erlons Corps to march to Ligny and arrive at Wagnelee without consulting Ney. By night fall
it was Ney who had been forced back after a bloody battle which cost both sides heavy losses.
At Ligny Napoleon and Blucher's positions are shown on this map:
Blucher hoped to hold the French on the line of the Ligny brook and its fortified villages
and hamlets.However much of his army was untried Landwehr and he had few Elite troops. He also
posistioned much of his reserve infantry on the forward slopes looking down on Ligny. They would
suffer heavily from French artillery during the day.
He expected help from Wellington who had promised to come if not attacked.
As has been said that help would not come as the British themselves were attacked.
The Battle
Napoleon used his Cavalry Corps to tie down the Prussian Left. His 2 Infantry Corps attacked
Ligny,St Amand, St Amand La haye and Wagnelee. The battle was bloody with French battalions loosing hundred of casualties.
However the Prussians were weakening too and having to commit reserves. Napoleon readied the Guard.
However just as he was apart to unleash them Vandamme galloped over to report a unidentified body of men
closing on Wagnee from the North West.
Could it be the British?
As it happened this was D'Erlons Corps marching to Ligny as per Napoleons Orders. However just as they could have been used at Ligny
Ney recalled them to Quatre Bras .( they fought at neither battlefield)
Finally as night approached Napoleon committed the Guard and burst through the Prussian centre. The battle was won despite
a last minute Prussian Cavalry charge led by Blucher personnaly - easily repelled by the Guard.
The Prussians fled .
Casualties and aftermath
The Prussians lost over 16,000 men at Ligny and 21 guns.
The French lost 11,500 men.
The French had won the day but could they win the war. As the Prussians withdrew the French were slow to pursue . As a result Blucher was able to rally his battered Army
at Wavre to which he added Bulows fresh Corps. Grouchy's wing pursued him but slowly. Wellington fell back
on Mount St Jean (Waterloo). Napoleon swung round on the Anglo-Dutch. On the 18th he attacked Wellington at Waterloo.
However this "Sepoy" general failed to crack and the French failed to break through for 10 hours.
Then the Prussians arrived from Wavre . Grouchy had failed to prevent Blucher aiding Wellington.
Combined together the French were defeated.
Why not come and have a look on the 17th of Novemeber
Click here for details of the French Army
Click here for details of the Prussian Army
I will be running a refight of the Battle of Ligny ( June 16th 1815).
There will be about 6 of us playing each with about a Corps . We will
using
Historical Situation
In 1815 after a brief period of exile on the Island of Elba Napoleon returned to France and in a Coup became Emperor again. The Allies declared war on him and so he began preparing his Army and plan of Campaign. Napoleon knew that the distant Russian and Austrian Armies would be no threat for weeks. In Belgium were the Anglo-Dutch under Wellington and the Prussians under Blucher. Wellington was to the west and Blucher to the East. The plan was simple . He proposed to push the Armies apart and hold off one while destroying the other. Then he could turn on the remainer. The Allies would surely sue for peace.
The Campaign
Napoleon's Army was divided into two wings and a reserve. Marshall Ney took the West Wing ( D'Erlon and Reilles Corps and kellermans Cavalry Corps). His orders were to seize the crossroads of Quatre Bras and then fall on the Prussian right flank while holding off the Prussians.
Meanwhile Grouchy commanded the east wing (Vandamme and Gerards Corps). Napoleon added to this from the reserve that he controlled the Imperial Guard Infantry and Heavy Cavalry division and the three reserve Cavalry Corps (Pajol, Exelmans and later Milhaud). This Force decended on the Prussians at Ligny. Napoleon hoped that Ney would soon join him and crush the Prussians
Ney however found as he engaged the British at Quatre Bras on the 16th June that he would be in no position to aid his Emperor . Hour by hour more Anglo-Dutch units arrived. Matters were not helped by the fact that Napoleon ordered D'Erlons Corps to march to Ligny and arrive at Wagnelee without consulting Ney. By night fall it was Ney who had been forced back after a bloody battle which cost both sides heavy losses.
At Ligny Napoleon and Blucher's positions are shown on this map:
Blucher hoped to hold the French on the line of the Ligny brook and its fortified villages and hamlets.However much of his army was untried Landwehr and he had few Elite troops. He also posistioned much of his reserve infantry on the forward slopes looking down on Ligny. They would suffer heavily from French artillery during the day. He expected help from Wellington who had promised to come if not attacked. As has been said that help would not come as the British themselves were attacked.
The Battle
Napoleon used his Cavalry Corps to tie down the Prussian Left. His 2 Infantry Corps attacked Ligny,St Amand, St Amand La haye and Wagnelee. The battle was bloody with French battalions loosing hundred of casualties. However the Prussians were weakening too and having to commit reserves. Napoleon readied the Guard. However just as he was apart to unleash them Vandamme galloped over to report a unidentified body of men closing on Wagnee from the North West.
Could it be the British?
As it happened this was D'Erlons Corps marching to Ligny as per Napoleons Orders. However just as they could have been used at Ligny Ney recalled them to Quatre Bras .( they fought at neither battlefield)
Finally as night approached Napoleon committed the Guard and burst through the Prussian centre. The battle was won despite a last minute Prussian Cavalry charge led by Blucher personnaly - easily repelled by the Guard. The Prussians fled .
Casualties and aftermath
The Prussians lost over 16,000 men at Ligny and 21 guns.
The French lost 11,500 men.
The French had won the day but could they win the war. As the Prussians withdrew the French were slow to pursue . As a result Blucher was able to rally his battered Army at Wavre to which he added Bulows fresh Corps. Grouchy's wing pursued him but slowly. Wellington fell back on Mount St Jean (Waterloo). Napoleon swung round on the Anglo-Dutch. On the 18th he attacked Wellington at Waterloo. However this "Sepoy" general failed to crack and the French failed to break through for 10 hours.
Then the Prussians arrived from Wavre . Grouchy had failed to prevent Blucher aiding Wellington. Combined together the French were defeated.
Why not come and have a look on the 17th of Novemeber
Click here for details of the French Army
Click here for details of the Prussian Army