Die Schlacht von Ligny 16th Juni 1815
Timeline 7.50PM
Tirallieurs from 1st brigade De La Jeune Garde, Lieutenant-general Pierre Comte Barrois, assisted by elements from 12th Infantry Division, Lieutenant-General Baron Marc-Nicholas Pecheux assault the Ferme den Bas.
Elements from 2nd Brigade Marechal-de-camp Dupeyroux, commence their advance from St Amand towards ligny as the French artillery begins to redeploy through the village.
2nd Brigade De La Jeune Garde, Marechal-de-camp Guye supported by 7th Infantry Division, Lieutenant-general Baron Jean-Baptiste Girard attempt to ‘pin’ the Prussians before Brye. If successful this will allow the Guard advancing from Ligny to envelop their rear and destroy them.
Feldmarschall Blucher is organising the defence of Ligny in person . In his absence Generallieutenant August Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau orders the withdrawal of all Prussian forces west of Ligny in order to prevent their envelopment.
The skies begin to darken to an inky blackness as the storm arrives.
The gunfire is drowned out by thunder and the dark is torn by sheet lightning as the Guard move through a blazing Ligny scenting victory.
Pas de quartier, Vive L’Empereur!