Quatre Bras

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Battle of Quatre Bras

16 June 1815

Quatre Bras is one half of the twin battles of Quatre-Bras Ligny and is perhaps the best known side as this was the one under Wellington’s command. The Emperor Napoleon sought to split the Anglo-Allied and Prussian armies down the middle and defeat each individually. On June 16 he managed to do this inflicting a defeat on the Prussians and almost breaking the British but for delays caused by inaccurate orders to d’Erlons corps and to an uncharacteristic bout of lethargy from Ney.

This scenario begins with part of the Prince of Orange’s corps deployed just south of Quatre Bras at Gemioncourt facing elements of the 2nd corps. Reinforcements for both sides arrive throughout the day. This scenario is taken from the From Valmy to Waterloo scenario book, the Waterloo Osprey book and the Napoleon Series. There are some disagreements between the From Valmy to Waterloo scenario book and the Waterloo Osprey book - I am inclined to believe the Osprey.

Note this map is a little too small for the scenario - the one in From Valmy to Waterloo is excellent and much bigger.

 

Scales and Scenario Requirements

The distance between Gemioncourt and Quatre Bras is 1100 m (11 inches in Principles of War). Base other distances from that.

All terrain is considered to be low terrain for spotting purposes except the woods which are high terrain. Historically the Prince of Orange attempting to conceal his small numbers in the tall rye on the field.

All movement is at regular rates.

Each turn is ½ hour. The game runs from 12 noon to 9 PM.

Victory conditions

French decisive - Capture Quatre Bras and hold to 6 PM. Rout or eliminate the British 3rd and 5th divisions and the Brunswickers.

French marginal - Capture Quatre Bras and hold to 5 PM

Allied decisive - Have troops within 500 m of the southern baseline on the Brussels road

Allied marginal - Hold Quatre Bras to 6 PM.

 

British

High Fire Discipline

Prussian System

Steadfast

Arrival Times and Movement Bases

Time Troops Location Move base #s
12 PM Perponcher and Belgian Line, Dutch Militia Gemioncourt 1
  Nassau 28th regiment Grand Pierrepoint 2
  Prince of Orange and Nassau 2nd regiment Quatre Bras 3
2 PM Dutch/Belgian cavalry

28th, 79th, 1st, 42nd line

Picton

 Brussels road 1500m north of Quatre Bras 4,5
2:30 PM Hanoverian Landwehr, 5th Division Artillery

Brunswick Guard and Cavalry

 Brussels road 1500m north of Quatre Bras 6
3 PM Brunswick Line and Light Brussels road 1500m north of Quatre Bras 7
  Duke of Wellington Avelines - wavy road at centre right of map 8
  Alten, 30th Line, 69th Line Nivelle Road 2000m from Quatre Bras 9
4 PM Hanoverian Line, KGL Artillery Nivelle Road 2000m from Quatre Bras 10
5:30 PM 1st Division, Cooke Nivelle Road 2000m from Quatre Bras 11

 

 

Prince of Orange is C in C until Wellington’s arrival.

 

Army Commander

  Wellington Good Ps

 

18 points

1st Corps

  Prince of Orange Ave. Ps                              
  Dutch Belgian Light Cavalry Lc(r) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

1st Division (Guards)

  Cooke Good Ps                              
  Maitland’s Brigade BSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
  Byng’s Brigade BSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

2nd Division (Dutch/Belgian)

  Perponcher Ave Ps                              
  7th Belgians FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  5th Dutch Militia Fm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10            
  7th Dutch Militia Fm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10            
  2nd Nassau FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  28th Nassau FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

3rd Division

  Alten Good Ps                              
  30th Line PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  69th Line PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Duke of York (Han) PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Bremen (Han) PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Luneberg (Han) PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  KGL Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

 

 

Reserve Corps (commanded by Wellington directly)

5th Division

  Picton Good Ps                              
  28th Line BSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  79th Line BSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  1st Line BSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  42nd Line BSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Goffhorn Landwehr Pm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10            
  Hildeshiem Landwehr Pm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10            
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

Brunswick Contingent

  Brunswick Ave. Ps                              
  Guard Brigade PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Light Brigade PLm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Line Brigade PSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Hussars Lc(r) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6                    

 French

French System

Steadfast

+ 1 morale bonus if attacking

 

Arrival Times and Movement Bases

Time Troops Location Move base #s
12 PM 2nd Corps cavalry + Reille, 5th Infantry Division, Guard Cavalry and Artillery 1000 m of Brussels Road south edge 1,2
12:30 PM Ney, 9th Infantry Division,2nd Corps Artillery Brussels Road south edge 3,4
1:30 PM 6th Infantry Division Brussels Road south edge 5,6
4 PM Kellerman, Guitons Cuirassier Brigade Brussels Road south edge 7
5: 30 PM Carabiners Brussels Road south edge 8
6:30 PM 1st Division, d’Erlon Brussels Road south edge 9,10
7: 30 PM 2nd Infantry Division Brussels Road south edge 11,12
8 PM 3rd Infantry Division, , Donops Cuirassier Brigade, Dragoons Brussels Road south edge 13,14

 

 

Army Commander

  Ney Good Fs                              
  Staff Officer Good Fs                              
  Guard Lt. Cavalry Lc 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Guard Horse Art. HA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

52 points

1st Corps

  d’Erlon Good Fs
  Staff Officer Good Fs

20 points

 

1st Division

  du Passage Ave. Fs                              
  54th Light FLm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  55th Light FLm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  28th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  105th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

2nd Division

  Donzelot Ave Fs                              
  13th Light FLm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  17th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  19th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  51st Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

3rd Division

  Marcognet Ave Fs                              
  21st Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  48th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  25th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  45th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

2nd Corps

  Reille Good Fs                              
  Staff Officer Good Fs                              
  Chausseur Brigade Huber Lc 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Lance Brigade Walthiez La 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Heavy Artillery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10            

 5th Division

  Bachelu Ave. Fs                              
  3rd Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  61st Light FLm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  72nd Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  108th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 6th Division

  Jerome Bonaparte Good Fs                              
  1st Light FLm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  3rd Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  1st Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  2nd Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

9th Division

  Foy Ave Fs                              
  92nd Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  93rd Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  100th Line FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  4th Light FSm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14    
  Medium Battery FA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

 

 

3rd Reserve Cavalry Corps

  Kellerman Good Fs                              
  Staff Officer Av Fs                              
  Carabiner Brigade Cu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Cuirassier Brigade Donop Cu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Dragoon Brigade Hc 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Cuirassier Brigade Guiton Cu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12        
  Light Horse Art. HA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8                

This scenario kindly provided by Tod Creasey OTT [Tod_Creasey@oti.com]

Contact me by clicking here Richard Holling