Catastrophe at Ligny

Lieutenant General Count von Gneisenau at the Battle of Ligny, on the heights near the Windmill of Bussy
Richard Knötel (PD)

"Where is the Generalfeldmarschall?" von Gneisenau could barely make himself heard over the roar of battle, yet he did his best.

One of his aides did hear him and grabbed von Gneisenau's sleeve, "We have no idea where he is, Sir! He galloped off to lead that last cavalry charge and hasn't been seen since!"

That left him in command of the army, von Gneisenau thought for a moment then gathered what was left of his staff, three of them still lived, perhaps others were still out delivering messages, taking command where needed, nonetheless, they were all caught up in the looming debacle.

"Kurz, gallop at once to General von Pirch, tell him, no order him to fall back on ..." he paused trying to remember the name of the place he had discussed with von Blücher some days ago.

"Wavre, Sir? Isn't that the place?"

Von Gneisenau nodded, "Yes, yes, tell him to fall back on Wavre, to the north."

As that aide galloped off, von Gneisenau turned to another, "Waltripp, head towards Lüttich,¹ find General von Bülow, give him the same orders, march on Wavre!"

Von Gneisenau flinched as a cannon shot whistled just above his head, his horse began to buck, the mare wanted to be as far from this place as she could and nearly unseated her rider.

"Verdammt! Easy old girl, easy."

Looking around he realized that he was alone, where was von Leben, the young captain of hussars should have been ...

That's when he saw his last aide, dead, next to his horse.

Blüchers Rettung durch seinen Adjudanten Nostiz bei Ligny²
Clemens Otto Fikentscher (PD)

"Help me, Nostitz, my leg is trapped!"

The old field marshal was struggling to free himself from his dead horse. His heart was pounding in his chest, he could see more French cavalry coming their way. He had led, in vain, a last charge to try and blunt the inexorable advance of the French infantry. Only at the last moment had he realized that they were facing the French Imperial Guard.

They had formed square faster than von Blücher could have imagined, their quick volley had emptied many a saddle. His own horse had been hit, staggered forward, then collapsed. The old man had gone down hard, he feared something was broken. He didn't feel quite right.

Von Nostitz was struggling to control his mount, if it ran off, he and the field marshal would both be doomed. "I'm coming Herr Generalfeldmarschall! I must ..."

The old field marshal watched in horror as a party of French lancers, providing flank cover for the main body of French heavy cavalry assaulting the disintegrating Prussian lines, swerved in their direction.

Source

Von Nostitz let go of his horse's reins, drawing his sword he turned to face the threat. Perhaps the cavalrymen wouldn't notice his commander on the ground, perhaps he could ...

Von Blücher winced as he saw his aide pierced by a French lance, von Nostitz went down hard, no doubt killed instantly. Rather than play dead, the old field marshal cursed at the oncoming Frenchmen, trying desperately to draw his sword, not realizing that the horse's weight had bent its scabbard.

The last thing Generalfeldmarschall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Prince of Wahlstadt, heard was the man who killed him shouting, "Ce salaud est encore en vie!"³

Lieutenant von Schmeling repelling French infantry in front of the farm of En Bas, Ligny
Adalbert von Roessler (PD)

"The day is ours, Sire!" an aide shouted, his face a mask of enraptured joy.

The Emperor turned as he watched a party of dragoons gallop past, one of whom was holding aloft a captured Prussian standard, all bellowing, "Vive l'Empereur!"

Le Trophée⁴
Édouard Detaille (PD)

Napoléon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French laughed and lifted his famous hat into the air. He was well pleased with his army this day. He wished he could say the same of his ass, after being in the saddle all day, it burned. He had to dismount, and soon, or he feared the pain would show on his face. He wanted nothing to taint this victory.

"Soult!"

"Sire?"

"Organize the pursuit, have Vandamme report to me before he sets off, order Gérard give two of his divisions to Vandamme, Grouchy will provide Pajol's cavalry corps⁵ to Vandamme the remainder to march with me. We shall move to join with Davout. We shall sup in Brussels before Sunday evening!"

"Sire, Gérard is down, Général de Division Pécheux has taken command of IV Corps!"

Before the Emperor could respond, Vandamme was before him, hatless, his uniform ripped and filthy, "You sent for me, Sire?"

"Yes, yes, is this any way for a Marshal of France to appear before his Emperor?"

"Sire?"

"Berthier, issue the necessary orders, as of this day, you, Dominique-Joseph René Vandamme, Count of Unseburg are raised to the position of Marshal of France. Well done this day, Sir. Well done. Now go, destroy what remains of those Prussians. I must turn to deal with Wellington. Is there any word from Davout?"

The last question was directed at no one in particular but Berthier had an answer.

"Sire, Maréchal Davout has routed the English at Quatre Bras, they are fleeing towards Brussels, the Maréchal is already in pursuit. We have this information from d'Erlon whose corps is currently driving what is left of the Prussian right wing before him."

"Good, good."

Turning quietly to an aide, Napoléon whispered, "I need to get off of this horse, my ass is burning."

¹ The German name for Liege.

² Blücher's rescue by his adjutant Nostitz at the Battle of Ligny

³ This bastard is still alive!

⁴ The Trophy

⁵ Pajol commanded the I Cavalry Corps which consisted of light cavalry.