Report to the Senate of France
On the Evening of the 15th of June
I have the honor to present to the soverign Senate of the French people, a report of a glorious Victory won by the arms and valor of French soldiers in battle along the Djile River. Our allies, the British army under Marshall Wellington, simultaneously assaulted the town of Grez-Doiceau. Although at first repulsed, the town was occupied by our forces by evening. The enemies forces are heavily defeated and have fled in the directions of North and Eastward. Pursuit will resume at first light.
British Order of Battle
Marshall Wellington
1st (Foot) Brigade
4th Regiment of Foot
35th Regiment of Foot
42nd Regiment of Foot
42nd Gordon Highlanders
2nd (Light) Brigade
51st Light Battalion, 2nd Yorkshire West Riding
52nd Light Battalion, Oxfordshire
95th Light (Rifle) Battalion
10th Regiment of Hussars, The King's Own
Artillery Brigade
R.F.A. Bolton, 9 lb.
R.F.A. Lloyd, 9 lb.
R.F.A. Roger, Howitzers
R.H.A. Bull, Horse artillery
General de Brigade Harada
Harada's Brigade
Battalion of Foot
Battalion of Foot
95th Light (Rifle) Battalion detachment
Regiment of Hussars
R.H.A battery of 9 lb.
French Order of Battle
General de Brigade Lafayette
Brigade de Infanterie
15e de ligne
33e de ligne
48e de ligne
9e de legere
1er de Vistule Legion
Battery of 6 lb.
Battery of 6 lb.
Battery of howitzers
Cuirassier Brigade
2e de Cuirassier
General de Brigade Malchance [bahd-ruhk]
Brigade de Infanterie
7e de ligne
12e de ligne
21e de ligne
Battalion de Voltiguer
Brigade de Artillerie
Battery of 6 lb.
Battery of 6lb.
Allied Totals:
19 Regiments of infantry (1 large, 2 small)
3 Regiments of calvary
10 batteries
Austrian Order of Battle
General de Division Hereunder
Line infantry brigade
1st and 2nd battalions of the 1st Regiment
Line infantry brigade
1st and 2nd battalions of the 2nd Regiment
Grenadier Brigade [Garrisoning the town of Grez-Doiceau]
1st and 2nd battalions of the 2nd Austrian Grenadiers
Russian Order of Battle
General de Division Mikhael Pikesky
1st Brigade de Infanterie [Garrisoning the town of Grez-Doiceau]
Battalion of Foot
Battalion of Foot
Battalion of Pavlov Grenadiers
Battery of artillery
Battery of artillery
Battery of artillery
Battery of howitzers
Battery of horse artillery
2nd Brigade de Infanterie
Battalion of Foot
Battalion of Foot
Battalion of Pavlov Grenadiers
Battery of artillery
Brigade de Cheval
1e de Cuirassier
2e de Hussards
Battery of horse artillery
Coalition Totals:
12 Battalions of Infantery (6 large)
2 Regiments of calvary
7 Batteries
The Twin Battles of Grenz-Doiceau and Djile
With the Austrians in the van and Russian calvary screening the advance, the Coalition reinforcements make for Grenz-Doiceau.
French forces descend on the highway, with Lafayatte commanding the far right and Malchance taking his brigade towards the crossing of the Djile.
The British generals begin their assault on the town.
The British forces advance on the town, Harada occupying the far left and the highlanders advancing as the spearpoint of Wellington's assault on the redoubt. Harada's Hussars, hunting for glory, ford the river.
The Marauders of Harada launch a daring charge straight into the advancing ranks of on-coming Austrians and Russians to saber and scatter a battery of limbered Russian guns!
Malchance's Brigade place themselves between the Austrian 1st Regiment and the river. Lafayatte's Brigade form up in line to the right as Pikesky's 2nd Brigade advance in a column of battalions.
An Austrian battalion of the 1st Regiment scatter, but the other battalion deploys in line as the 2nd Regiment's battalions form into attack columns. Musketry errupts up and down the line as Russians and French forces exchange volleys. The Russian cuirassiers menacing the Polish, force a square. The Russian horse artillery promptly unleash round shot into the dense ranks then wheel their guns closer to unleash canister to brutal effect.
The Highlanders advance on the redoubt before Grenz-Doiceau braving the storm of musket balls and solid shot.
General Komura unleashes his 2nd Regiment on Malchance's French. The opposing attack columns collide in a fierce and grim battle for the crossing. The large Austrian columns violently overpower the smaller French battalions. One is set to flight. The other is driven to the banks of the Djile. The Austrians seem to be on the cusp of breaking into Grenz-Doiceau!
The Marauders pounce again! They tear into the flank of one battalion. The Austrians are scattered and the horsemen fly into the next battalion which absorbs the impetuous charge.
The 9th Legere charge the horse battery that has been menacing the French flank. The French Cuirrsiers having swung about the woods charge the Russian hussars, a very familiar foe. After a long running combat, the Russian hussars escape the grasp of the Cuirrsiers but the formation is shaken.
The desperate melee continues about the bridge and the brave men of the Austrian 2nd regiment rout the exhausted Marauders of Harada. But, their own doom is sealed as Malchance's infantry have recovered and pour enfidaling fire into the poor Austrians as shell and solid shot devastate rip the ranks from the front.
The British Light Brigade begins an assault on the Grenadiers occupying the town houses.
The Russian line is flanked. The French cuirassiers menace the rear. The 2nd Brigade begins to break under the protracted musketry exchange.
In a last attempt to break through the French left flank the Russian cuirassiers attempt to attack the French guns posted on a high position. Instead their way is barred and their are subjected to canister which devastates the men and horses. The unit routs.
So, ended the twin battles of Grenz-Doiceau and Djile. The British assaults on the Russo-Austrian positions wore down into a protracted attrition with foot brigade broken, but the Russians paying dearly in loss of infantry and artillery men.
The Battle of Djile was altogether decisive. The Russo-Austrian forces lay entirely broken or routed. The way into Grenz-Doiceau barred.
With reinforcement not coming, the brave and bloodied defenders are sure to have quit the town and left it to the equally bloodied British.
Yet, what is memorable was the honor and glory all about.
The Russians horse artillery gallantly attacked the British guns on the Allied extreme left. On the far right, another battery attacked the Vistula Legion. They came an ace of a break through.
Primarch's British led a valiant attack on fortified infantry. The most memorable moment might have been when the 10th Hussars "blundered" their way into a charge straight up the redoubt and successfully drove back the Russians.
Badruck's French brigade boldly cut off the Austrians and proceeded to envelope the Austrians in a scrappy battle.
Komura's 2nd Regiment led an awesome attack on the bridge that scattered a battaltion drove back the other. They came so near victory.
Possibly most glorious were Harada's Hussars! They charged a battery of guns in the teeth of the enemy advance! They charged a large battlion of Austrians and broke them! Then carried on the assault into the next battalion. This may have been the unit that won the day!
Hopefully it will be remembered as a day of glory, by all the participants.
I hope there will be a reprieve sometime.
