[AAR]'Oranje boven' : Playing Brigade van Bylandt at Waterloo

I originally posted this AAR as a series in the Steam Forum, but thought it was better placed as an AAR in the guides section.

This is my recent game playing as Major General Willem Frederik Graaf van Bylandt at Waterloo. This was an HQ in the saddle game, so all the information I had was what could be seen and heard from the saddle, and my only commands were those i could give
whilst sitting on a horse.

(Try using the mouse pointer whilst sitting on a galloping horse, its quite a challenge. Also try controlling a horse whilst trying to type a message equally fun.)

My Orders

My orders were to defend the road to Ohain, which is the hedged lane that runs along the top of the allied ridge from the crossroads above the farm of La Haie Sainte to Ohain (off the map to the east).

It's incorrectly referred to as 'The Sunken Lane' in the game briefing, but in reality it was little more than a hedge lined track according to Siborne's map drawn in 1816.
Siborne's map suggests that in places the track had been levelled, probably to avoid the risk of a heavily laden farm cart tipping over on the slope, and that had resulted in a few sections where the upper side of the track was bordered by a short but steep embankment before the hedge.

But the work looks like it was minimalistic in effort, just enough to keep the track level.

At no point on Siborne's map can I see the lane run through what i would consider a cutting that provides earthen cover on both sides, like a sunken lane. Closer to the crossroads above La Haie Sainte this track does run through a cutting for a short distance on both sides of the main Charleroi Road, but that seems to have been a necessity as the main road itself had been sunken into the forward slope of the ridge to reduce the gradient of the slope, and so the Ohain track had to be similarly sunken to meet it at the crossroads, so that wagons could join it safely.

In the game the track it is just depicted as a grey line between two hedgerows. Hardly a strong defensive position, and it seems to offer little real protection.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973182421
So, its was actually in the defense of a hedge that I was now being ordered to face the entire force of the first assault by D'Erlons Corps, and hedges don't stop musket balls.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973185089
As you can see the hedge (and lane) is actually on the forward slope of the ridge, totally exposed to enemy artillery fire, and with only a few leaves to stop the enemy cannon balls, of which there were many.

My men are lying down behind the hedge, with the exception of the skirmishers who are lying down on the open slope below me. The British 'bless them' are 150 yards behind us on the reverse slope of the ridge with a bank of solid earth between them and the enemy.

Initial Orders

There was little to be done at this point. so, I rode the length of my Brigade line visiting each battalion to make sure I knew where they were, and making a mental note of their positions.

My right flank rested just to the east of the crossroads, whilst my left was hanging in thin air just opposite the junction with a lane that leads down to Chapel of St.Roch.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973194069
So, with one brigade I was expected to hold about half the Allied left flank, and i had no support to my left. Although, my right was covered by a knoll and a detachment of the 95th Rifles.

French artillery were now firing and the first men had been hit. I rode back along the line giving each battalion a personal order 'Hold to the last.'
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973197592
On reaching Kapitein Bijleveld's horse artillery battery, which was attached to my brigade I ordered him to concentrate his fire on the enemy infantry, and to use cannister once they were close enough.

I figured that whilst their artillery could kill us, they couldn't make us move, so their infantry were the main threat and the more he could kill before they reached us the better.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973204899
Finally I sent a message to Luitenant-Kolonel Grunebosch commanding Bataljon Jagers No. 27 to deploy his men in skirmish order, as I had noticed whilst looking over the hedge that they were standing in a rigid close order line fully exposed to the enemy artillery. I watched the courier gallop down the slope and deliver the message, and saw the Jagers shake themselves out into a skirmish line across the forward slope.

And that was about it for some time, as there seemed little more I could do, and experience of (HITS - HQ from the saddle) has convinced me that excessive pestering of your sub-ordinates with orders only increases the risks of misunderstanding and panic.

It's tempting though as the natural inclination is to 'Do Something', but when there is nothing sensible to be done then its better to just stay calm and wait.

The First Clash

The first clash occured on my left, where the French apparently aware of my open left flank sent a large column along the line of the lane from St.Roch Chapel.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973145272
The 7th had met the head of that column at the hedge and inflicted heavy casualties on it, but further French troops pushed across the unguarded road to their left, and Luitenant-Kolonel van den Sande had ordered his men to fall back to avoid being rolled back by the enemy.

I arrived soon after his battalion had completed the maneouvre and saw that they were steady and still trading volley's with the Head of the French column, which was now trying to cross the road in front of them. Although to the east they were already across and moving towards the top of the ridge. But it looked like the British were responding and I could see redcoated battalions moving forward to support my left.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973222950
I considered ordering the 7th to counter attack, but decided it would be pointless until the British drove back the French to our left, as it would just expose my flank still further. So, I just stayed the 7th to give moral support.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973224372
The British advanced and formed on my left, extending the line to the east and blocking any further advance by the French.

Holding the Line

At this point I looked over my shoulder and realised (more from the volume of musket smoke than anything else) that the French attack had become general and my entire line seemed to be engaged.

I decided it was time to leave the 7th, which seemed to be holding, and inspect the rest of my line. So, I began galloping west along the rear of my brigade with the intention of visiting every battalion and checking that they were holding.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973229176
Bataljon Nationale Militie No. 8 was still holding the line of the hedge, and for some reason had been joined by what looked like the colour party of a Highland regiment, but where the rest of them were I could not tell.

However, at this point I made what I think was my only mistake of this game.

In moving closer and glancing over the hedge I discovered that the 27th Jagers were still deployed on the forward slope of the ridge, and were standing once more in close order firing into the flank of the column attacking the 8th Militia.

This seemed wasteful to me, and with the desire of saving them from unnecssary losses I sent an order for them to withdraw back over the road and reform as a reserve behind my line. However, as was often the case, and mentioned in several eyewitness accounts of the battle. Ordering troops to move when they are under pressure, especially away from the enemy, is dangerous and often causes panic. What happened was that the 27th started to withdraw, and then they started to double, and then they started to run, and they never stopped. I kicked myself for being so stupid, but I was now one battalion down.

Filling The Gaps

To rub salt in that wound, Bataljon Nationale Militie No. 5 that the 27th fled through on its way to the rear were unsettled by their passing and fell back leaving a battalion wide gap in my line, and just as i thought things could get no worse I looked over my should to see the 7th streaming back across my rear in apparent disorder.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973242516
I immediately galloped over to them and they appeared to rally and settle themsevles. I immediately ordered them to advance and fill the gap in my line. Which they did with great gusto rushing forward at the double with shouts of 'Vive le Roi!'
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973247195
With the 7th now plugging the gap in my line, albiet now slightly shorter than it was, I moved again to see what was happening nearer the crossroads. Merely repeating my earlier order to the 7th to 'Hold at all costs'.

A Moment Of Hope

A gap in the battle smoke as I rode away, (probably due to a reduction in volume of fire on the right,) revealled that the French attack on that flank seemed to be faltering.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973250664
At the same time looking to the east I could see that the British were still holding, although the French had reached the crest of the ridge and were still fighting.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973253508
It was one of those moments when I thought a decisive action might win the day, and so I ordered the Bataljon Nationale Militie No. 7, which was positioned on my right to advance right shoulder forwards and roll-up the French attack along the rest of my line.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973256139
They crossed the lane and wheeling to their left advanced smartly across the forward slope of the ridge shouting 'Oranje boven' as they passed.

Seeing the movement the British 95th rifles also began to move westwards in their support, and I had hopes that this would prompt a massive panic amongst the French and secure my victory.

Snatched From My Grasp

However, it was a moment to soon, and just as things seemed to be going so well the French launched another major push against the British to the west.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973265996
Bataljon Nationale Militie No. 8 which had held the line since the start of the battle without flinching now broke and could be seen running for the rear. They were on the left of the line since the movement of the 7th to fill the gap left by the 5th. Now I was down to three battalions and the 7th were my left flank.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973273276
To make matters worse the Highlanders who had held the British right had also gone leaving a huge gap in the allied line and French columns were now pouring through it towards my exposed flank and rear of the 7th.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973275767
There was nothing now between me and the French, and I was forced to gallop through musketry fire to escape.

The Butchers Bill

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973281234
It didn't feel like a Major Defeat, but that was the official judgement.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=973282390
Admittedly most of my brigade had routed, and only the 7th were still fighting. But they had held the line stolidly until the British gave way on their left.

My men had suffered 1,744 casualties, and inflicted 1,016 on the French. Which seems disproportionate but many of my men were militia, and ultimately we held the line until we were outflanked and driven off.

That open left flank had betrayed us, and allowed the French to reach the top of the ridge and then roll us up from the east. The British cavalry which might have saved us never turned up until just before we lost. There was no 'Charge of the Scot's Grey's' in this game.

The Belgian 7th Line once more covered themsevles in glory, as they did on the day,and as a sample of how the HITS system works I found it fun, and I hope you found it interesting.

[Didz]

Actually it was probably one of your former colleagues I spoke to.

One thing I've done for SOW is replace the rather boring drum taps and march music used in the game with the marching songs the soldiers may have sung to keep their spirits up in battle. So, the French in my game actually sing as they march into battle.

I had to experiment with sound levels, audible distance, and frequency to avoid having multiple battalions singing different songs over each other and allow each to sing a different song without it sounding chaotic

This is one of the test video's I made to try and get the settings correct.
https://youtu.be/8TFEQyeQv2U

[Royale with Cheese]

Aha, I see! It's certainly a testament to your deep diving interest - cool! I used to be a re-enactor with the Belgian 7de Bataljon Infanterie van Linie for years when I was younger, that's why it particularly drew my attention. I mostly chose to focus on portraying a field musician - more specifically a fifer. There's a grand strategy game here on Steam called "The Seven Years War", obviously set in the period of the same name. It's a one-man labour of love and very rough, but it's very impressive for a one man job. I was hired to do historical marches and signals for the game, that play when you click on a certain action button, or order to charge, etc. (the recordings are not the best quality, I didn't know much about how to do things like that back then, slightly embarrassing now - ahem). Anyway, if possible, I'd be interested to record authentic signal calls for all nations in Sourge of War (if any modder happens to read this ;) ) Cheers!

[Didz]

No! I'm not a re-enactor. However, I do have an interest in military history and the 1815 campaign in general and I did check with some Dutch re-enactors to confirm what Netherlands soldiers shouted during the battle.

[Royale with Cheese]

This AAR post was a well written and entertaining read - thanks for sharing! I wonder though, might you by change be a re-enactor? The intimate attention to details such as the Southern Netherlands' "Vive le Roi!" are kind of tipping me off in that direction ;)

[Didz]

Assuming that Bylandt's officers and NCO's were using the tactical drills and doctrines they were familiar with, then the maximum number of men detailed for skirmishing would have been the strength of their third line. Approximately 1,000 men if every battlaion participated. Of this force about 1/3 would actually form the first line of skirmishers operating in extended order. So, about 300-350 skirmishers from the entire brigade. Or about 10% of each battalion.

[LHookins]

http://steamcommunity.com/app/369390/discussions/0/1697167168518873668/#c1697167355213957556

[LHookins]

And if for some reason I need a LOT of skirmishers, how many CAN be deployed for historical reason?

[Didz]

I think the game itself allows the whole unit to be deployed in extended order.

[LHookins]

What is the maximum number of men that CAN be deployed? Depending on the sprite scale you may need them all. Not everyone is going to play at 1:1 scale, so what's the maximum for each battalion?

[Didz]

I think if you wanted to limit to number of skirmishers you can deploy in the game to historic levels then (given that every skirmisher deployed in the game automatically deploys in extended order) you should not deploy more than 10% of the men in any given unit as skirmishers.