The North-East of the Battlefield

 

Over the last few years, I have researched the least known part of the battlefield, the North-East - the area that anchored Wellington's left.  The ground is complex and marked by four locations: first, the farm of Papelotte; a second farm at La Haye; thirdly, the hamlet of Smohain (sometimes called La Marache) and finally the chateau of Frischermont.  

These locations run west to south east through complex country and presented a defensive opportunity that was arguably just as formidable as Plancenoit or Hougoumont.  Of course, the difference being that while a whole corps was thrown at Hougoumont, only Durutte's division was available to attack these four locations.

While information about the rest of the battlefield is plentiful, our understanding of certain aspects of the North-East is much more tentative, notably in respect of Smohain and Frischermont, nevertheless it is possible to piece together a coherent picture.

This entry provides a summary of what has been learned so far, plus some updates on Smohain.

Papelotte

Despite Durutte's claims, the French never captured Papelotte, but did manage to get into the garden.

Papelotte Farm and garden

Close up

Dutch half battery above the farm

Nassau infantry to the West of the farm

La Haye Farm

The farm will be garrisoned by these Nassauers:

Smohain/La Marache

A battalion of the Orange Nassau Regiment will defend the hamlet. These are in production:

With help from Liam I have taken the buildings in the village at the time of the battle and given each a number that equates to what is there today.  My father has then worked his magic to interpret how they would have looked.  The odd one out is the school building which clearly existed in 1815 but there is no evidence today.

Building 1 - The Three Ducks

Building 8 - School House

Building 9 - Oak frame gable

Building 12

the rear of the building

Frischermont

Frischermont was held briefly by the Orange Nassau regiment but was quickly taken by the French and then captured by the Prussians later in the day.

The Brussels-Charleroi Chaussee

 

The Waterloo battlefield has two main roads: the first to the West runs diagonally from Nivelles to Brussels and was the road Wellington expected Napoleon to use as a way of outflanking his right, cutting off his avenue of withdrawal to the Channel Ports.

In fact, it was the second road from Charleroi to Brussels that dominated the battle and was the axis that Napoleon actually chose to exploit.  The Brussels-Charleroi Chaussee is therefore intrinsic to our understanding of the battle.

So far, I have constructed the buildings at the southern end of the battlefield from Rossomme to La Belle Alliance.  I have also completed the northern area from Mont St Jean to La Haye Sainte.

My task now has been to join these two areas to create a single 20 metre long strip through the battlefield.  In preparation, I have studied the topography and given special attention to the rolling nature of the ground.  At first glance, the land seems flat and featureless but closer inspection reveals subtle undulations that cause the Chaussee to descend into cuttings and allowed the French to move much of their artillery reserve forward onto an advanced ridge from where the famous "Grand Battery" played onto the Allied ridge.

The road is no longer paved but it is possible to find other examples in Belgium that show how the road surface looked in 1815.

The undulating nature of the ground is captured in this well known image looking south from La Haye Sainte.

This photo of La Belle Alliance is striking for the poplar trees that line the route.  My view is that on balance there were no trees in 1815.

The panorama does suggest poplar trees but it was painted sometime after the battle.

One of the cuttings is clearly shown in this image

Dighton's image shows the rolling nature of the ground.

Another Dighton image, this time highlighting the corn.

La Belle Alliance in the distance

The bank just North of La Haye Sainte

And towards La Belle Alliance - a good view of the cutting.

Siborne's model from above - it is hard to make out the lie of the land

But the oblique view gives a better impression, this one looking south from Mont St Jean.

Modern Google Earth street view images show that the banking survives to this day

Siborne's map uses hatching to show the rolling nature of the ground.

His 3d map shows the relief.

Another image showing the banking on the road

Looking from the East westwards towards La Belle Alliance

A good view of the width of the chaussee from the monuments

The cutting is very deep here.  Is it slightly exaggerated?

Having studied the ground I began to build the sections of scenery.

First view of the ground.  The road is surface laid and the faux fur is uncoloured.

The road is now cut into the terrain

The La Belle Alliance section is added to the south.

And the orchard at La Haye Sainte is added to the North.

The road looks rough at this stage.

Starting to paint the corn.

First coat on the adjacent dark borders to the paved road

Colouring is beginning to come together.

Mont St Jean

The full length of the Chaussee from Mont St Jean in the North looking south.  The full length is 20 metres. I recently held an event in my garden to show case the whole model.

And from Rossomme in the South looking North.

Rossomme

Maison Lacoste

Old Guard beside Maison Lacoste

Trimotion

2nd Lancers Service Squadron

Old Guard caissons

La Haye Sainte

Mont St Jean

Waggon Train

Ghigny's Light Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the 8th Belgian Hussars and the 4th Light Dragoons, just south of Mont St Jean.

French prisoners approaching Mont St Jean.