BRAVE BEHAVIOUR OF TWO MUSKETEERS DURING THE

BATTLE OF LIGNY

16 June 1815

translated and edited by Geert van Uythoven

“On 16 June, the enemy had dislodged the 4th Brigade out of Ligny village by sheer numbers. A battalion of the 3rd Westphalian Landwehr Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Brigade, which had been send in support, was also pushed back to our side of the village. At this moment, Major General von Jagow ordered both musketeer battalions of the 2nd West-Prussian Infantry Regiment to attack, through both entrances of the village, the enemy which was advancing in masses along the main street of the village. These would at the same time be attacked on both flanks by the skirmishers of both musketeer battalions, and the fusilier battalion of the same regiment, advancing through the gardens and from behind the fences. Together they had to drive the enemy from the streets of the village with the bayonet. This so happened. The colours of both battalions remained at the head of these, and the attack succeeded in such a way that the enemy was pushed back to the far side of the village, only able to maintain a foothold in a single stone farm and inside the church. The latter however was occupied by only a few of the enemy.

The battalions however lost in this attack a number of badly wounded and killed officers; among the former the commander of the 2nd [musketeer] Battalion, among the latter the commander of the 1st [musketeer] Battalion. The commander of the Fusilier Battalion was also slightly wounded. Despite this, the battalion held on against a renewed attack of the enemy, which was also reinforced by fresh troops. Finally, the enemy broke through the village wall on the left side, and a number of enemy skirmishers attacked the flank and back of the 2nd Battalion. The battalion faced about and forced its way back through the village. Already during the advance, the colour [of the battalion] had received various musket holes, and now again not only the colour itself, but also the casing and the flag-pole. The enemy followed up on the column closely, with slightly less pressure however. At this moment NCO Rosenberg, who was with the colour party, was wounded and because he could not keep up he was bayoneted at fifty paces and in full view of the column. In order to secure the colour, the colour-bearer wanted to try to reach the head of the column now that the retreat route had been cleared. He was however not able to make his way through the column itself, and therefore he tried to pass the column through the gardens. The moment he tried to climb a fence, several French soldiers ran out of a shed. One of these immediately tried to grab the colour, but was shot down by musketeer Schwencke, Two more were bayoneted; one by Schwencke, the other one by musketeer Putzke, Several members of the colour party now rushed forward, and provided to colour-bearer with their fire the time needed to secure the colour and to bring it to the head of the column, although not without a bullet grazing his leg and another one through his shako.

His Majesty the King rewarded the brave and alert behaviour of the musketeers Schwencke and Putzke at this day with the Iron Cross 2nd Class. He also stipulated that when, as was necessary now, the colour would receive a new flag-pole, both ends of the old one on which the names of those that have distinguished themselves around the colour and were marked on it during the temporarily riveting of the flag-staff, would be stored in the regimental chest as a memorable remembrance of the regiment.”

Source: Anonymous, “Muthvolles Benehmen zweier Musquetiere, am Tage der Schlacht bei Ligny”, in ‘Militair-Wochenblatt’, 1. Jahrgang (Berlin 1816).

For comparison: Peter Hofschroër, “1815 the Waterloo Campaign – Wellington, his German Allies and the Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras” (London1998) pp. 309, 311: “(…) The flag pole of the 2nd battalion was shattered and the colours of both battalions were ripped to pieces by bullets. Captain von Czarnowkski, commander of the 1st Battalion, suffered several bullet wounds and died. Many others were killed or wounded.⁶⁹

(…) Suddenly, a battalion of French from Le Capitaine’s 1st Brigade of Vichery’s division charged out of a side street. Bojan ordered his men to counter-charge, but the Frenchmen prevailed. They pursued the fleeing Prussians so closely that two Frenchmen attempted to seize the colour of the II./7th [2nd West Prussian] which was being carried by Ensign Schulze. Privates Schwenke and Butzki rescued both him and the colour, killing the unfortunate Frenchmen in the process. For their deeds that day, these Prussians were honoured with the Iron Cross, 2nd Class and Russian Order of St. George, 5th Class.⁷⁰

⁶⁹ Lewinski & Brauchitsch, vol I, p. 150.

⁷⁰ Lewinski & Brauchitsch, vol I, pp. 151-2.”

© Geert van Uythoven