Proportion of the German Legion in the liberation struggles of the years 1813 and 1814 in North Germanyby Bernhard Schwertfeger It was the night before the Christmas festivities of the year 1812, as the 29th Bulletin of the large army of the 3 December 1812 in Malodeczno known in Hamburg. The whole enormous army never better destroyed Napoleon's health, which was the main content of this message beyond compare. Not long, and fleeing generals, soldiers and officials crisscrossed the German cities and spread the news of the horrific disaster. Happy thought blazed up everywhere, whether probably finally beat the hour of liberation for Germany.On March 4, Berlin was been cleared before the advancing tip of the Russian corps Wittgenstein from the French occupation, soon swarms of nimble Cossack roamed on the Elbe. Tettenborns Russians, stormy welcomed by the population, moved in Hamburg on March 18.This first easily attained profit moved up the weighty consequences. In all those Hanoverian land marks, which were free by the retreat of General Carra St. Cyr to Bremen, the population rose up, and immediately began the creation of volunteer corps. Still before the March of end of, the tribes were already for the field battalion Lauenburg major v. Bailey, the field battalion Lneburg under Lieutenant-Colonel von Klencke, the field battalion Bremen-Verden under major de Baux, a military police corps under Colonel Graf von Kielmansegge, a Hussar Regiment under Colonel von Estorff, Lneburg a Hussar Regiment under Colonel Lieutenant von dem Bussche Bremen-Verdenbuilt. (The merit of establishing falls for the Lneburg Legion, Oberstleutnant von Estorff, for the bremen-verdensche Legion Rittmeister v.d. ceiling and the Councilor v. Zesterfleth, for the military police corps the hunting Junker von Dring to.) The above commanders took over the troops in part later.) Happy in the home of the former Legion officers rushed from all sides, to take over command. Major v. Berger, Oberstleutnant von Klencke, Colonel von Estorff and major v.d. Bussche (1816 Colonel has v.d. Bussche to retaining his British half pay in addition to the Hanoverian content. Wellington himself wrote in this matter to Lord Palmerston and stressed, Bussche had built his regiment at a time, where the output of the arms decision was still doubtful and a failure would have plunged him into inevitable ruin. Just at the time it felt very serious lack of war-experienced officers in Hanover.) were among the officers who had served in the Legion with distinction and turned immediately again available. The formations won a larger viewing this from the outset a firmer grip and to the public.Yet it lacked trained former soldiers and appropriate instructors. To remedy this deficiency, England starting April sent a division of 400 Legion infantry under Lieutenant Colonel Martin, also a co-located Cavalry Division of 60 men and 40 horses under Knight-Captain Krauchenberg of the 1st Hussar Regiment and Lieutenant von Estorff of the 2nd Hussars regiment to Northern Germany. 2 Fireworks, were 1 upper scorcher of the artillery, 3 bombardiers and 37 Gunners with 6 unbespannten guns under Captain Wiering and Lieutenant Whler passed. The high recognition of the services provided by the German Legion so far by the Prince Regent is in following the instruction out, who overheard the secret war Council count Kielmansegge friend in March to England:"Because not only the largest number of Marie troops keep foreign wars and there namely the Royal German Legion, which has received the old war glory of Hanoverian arms on the most brilliant States during the whole period of hostile usurpation of Churbraunschweigischen, Fanny anjetzt against the enemy in Spain as the Prince Regent, searched for HRH Highness your Allied Russia and Sweden to a community expedition to move North Germany."The budget of for sending troops was set as follows in the same instruction:

1 Lieutenant-Colonel 1 Major 3 Captain 8 Subaltern officers 15 Sergeants 15 Corporal 6 Tambours 300 Men of the infantry"""""""

40 Man artillery with 2 guns and 1 howitzer

1 Captain 1 Lt. 1 Sergeant 2 Corporal 1 Trumpeter 40 GBby the cavalry"""""

This budget was exceeded as we have seen above, from the outset.The 400 infantry were taken from the existing two companies of the 1st and 2nd light and the 1st, 2nd and 5th line battalion to Bexhill, to which each of these battalions because of strong losses recently was been increased.Went with officers, much envied by the remaining companions: Major G. Mller, 2nd line battalion, commanding, Conradi, 2nd light battalion Adjutant, Lieutenant Lieutenant wiper man, 5th line battalion, as a quartermaster, Assistant surgeon Dr. Brggemann from 7th line battalion, Captain v. Sasse of the 1st line battalion Captain Holtz Hale of the 1st light battalion By the 2nd light battalion, Captain Schaumann Lieutenant v. wind home from the 7th line battalion Lieutenant Baker from the 2nd light battalion Le Bach Ell of the 7th line battalion, Lieutenant Dehnel Lieutenant of the 3rd line battalion Lieutenant Salam of the 8th line battalion Lieutenant Kster of the 1st light battalion.(In the Hanoverian new formations of the year 1813 following the 4 mentioned commanders outside former joined members of the Legion: Captain v. Ludowig in the Feldjger Corps;) Major Clamor v.d. Bussche and major A. v. Estorff at the Hussars Lneburg; Major H. v.d. ceilings, major H. v.d. Beck and major A. v.d. Knesebeck at the Hussar Regiment of Bremen-Verden. Major Gideon v. Benoit at battalion Lauenburg; Captain v. Roden at battalion Lneburg; Captain Scharloock of the infantry battalion of Bremen-Verden; Captain v. Mller at the battalion v. Bennigsen. Captain Schffer was one of the first who found themselves up in Hamburg by the engineer Corps of the Legion. Probably even more officers than the came over top listed from England.)The Cavalry Division of the Legion has been embarked to Harwich, and only on the Elbe estuary, merged with the main carriage, which reached Heligoland on April 17. The troops were shipped out on the 25th at Cuxhaven and set the Oste in March on the 26th to Neuhaus, greeted jubilantly by the population as the first back home. Due to approach to French troops on 27 again loaded aboard, sailed it on April 29 after the Russians occupied Hamburg and went into the quarters after stalwart took before General Tettenborn.In Hamburg were immediately meetings between the General count wallmoden-Gimborn certain "Commander of a mixed troop Corps on the lower Elbe" (son of field marshal, who surrendered in 1803 at Suhl in Germany. As Chief of the 1st Light Dragoons Regiment 1813/14 Member of Legion.), which from England to the direction of the Hanoverian new formations sent General Lyon and the General Tettenborn instead, was determined in which that all new formations as British troops to look at, that should be governed by the formation and drilling regulations of the Legion for same and the Legion divisions of England are now distributed among the troops. The officers should form the root for a battery to be built as surplus will be adjusted at the same, the artillery with their 4 cannons and 2 howitzers.Accordingly the 400 infantry on April 30 were divided into 2 light and 2 companies of the line; the latter under major Mller came to mountain village to the battalion Lauenburg, the 1st light under Holtz er man to the battalion Lneburg, and 2nd light both at the time on the island of Wilhelmsburg under Captain Schaumann to Bremen-Verden battalion. The small Cavalry Division was spread out on the two Hussar regiments in establishing; Knight-Captain Krauchenberg served mostly in the General wall wear.The artillery Department first arrived in Hamburg on May 2 and was moved to Ratzeburg, where Captain Wiering took the construction of a battery in the attack.Hamburg should not long enjoy his liberation from French rule. Marshal Davout moved his troops against the Elbe together, and the end of April already entered the troops asked to cover the city on the islands of Wilhelmsburg and Ochsenwerder East of the Elbe with the French of VANDAMME touch. On 10 may the General Montesquieu-Fzensac Cuxhaven had again occupied the whole left bank of the Elbe was French again. The surveys in the Hanoverian lands therefore provisionally found an end. The failed policy of the allies, Bernadotte to love Denmark to the French in the arms and thus to weaken Hamburg, several thousand defenders soon also resulted in the loss of this important town.

The fighting at Hamburg in May 1813

In the night of 8/9 may the French undertook an attack against the islands of Wilhelmsburg and Ochsenwerder, pushed back on the former on the northern edge of the island the crew, but were expelled again tomorrow at the other. Major v. Berger repelled the attack of the French battalion Lauenburg and freed the Ochsenwerder. The detachments of the Legion had already proven themselves good this, 1 Sergeant had fallen.Tettenborn retired now his forces up on the Feddel, what the French heavily occupied the remainder of Wilhelmsburg. An offensive thrust myself on May 12th with support of the Danes by about 1,500 men against the French ended up very unhappy and with significant losses. Now granted the island Wilhelmsburg. Only by the bold stance of the 2nd light company under Captain Schaumann succeeded the retreat across the Norder Elbe without causing excessive losses. Lieutenant Baker with the last people of the rearguard reached a boat to travel to floating under the bullets of the enemy.

Happier, the rejection of a French passage at Zollenspieker turned out for the allies on May 13. Major v. Berger threw himself with the battalion Lauenburg, the two line companies of the Legion and a battalion of Hanseatic League on an already flowed Department of 200-300 men and captured the most. 2 Vierundzwanzigpfnder, operated by Legion artillerists and Hanseatic League, contributed significantly to the success of the company. The loss of the Legion's Department were not significant, Lieutenant le Bach Ell and 1 Sergeant were wounded; the latter died on the 14th at Bergedorf on his wound.In the following days, the location of Hamburg was always worse. The Danes withdrew on May 19 the promised Sweden came while on the 21st, were recalled again but on the 26th by Bernadotte. Tettenborn remained up to and kept occupied, now only the Islands Ochsenwerder and Kano while VANDAMME bring heavy guns on the Feddel in position.29 May deteriorate even more Tettenborns location.To guard the Ochsenwerder battalion Lauenburg had occupied in the evening the Elbe Dyke to Wilhelmsburg on May 28 with 2 companies of outpost, 130 Legion stood ready under Lieutenant Dehnel at Ochsenwerder Church for their support. On the night of May 28/29, had major Mller after the Ochsenwerder translated the rest of the battalion Lauenburg and stood in dehnel's height, as he had received news of a planned assault.About 4 o'clock in the morning, a violent artillery fire began apparently suddenly by the Moorwerder, the southernmost tip of the island of Wilhelmsburg. Major Mller immediately advanced on the Elbe Dyke in support of there two companies of outposts when they came to meet him in full resolution. The French had quietly put some 100 men over the Elbe river arm and completely surprised the young Lauenburgischen troops. Major Mller decided now, to throw the already landed Department, by rapid advance and had run his people. But a few direct hits from the French guns were sufficient to cause the whole battalion to go back. Only at oak tree, beyond the Dove Elbe, major Mller was the battalion to collect.So the defense of Ochsenwerder was left alone the 130 Legion under Dehnel and some scattered Laue burgers. 6 Hours that subsection back step by step, stopped the overpowering opponents and went over finally sold at a large loss on ships Eichbaum. The Legionnaires lost 15 men 1 corporal and 31 man dead, wounded or captured, about one-third of their holdings.Tettenborns position in Hamburg was now untenable. Still in the night of 29/30 may he went back over mountain village to Lauenburg, where his multi-faceted Corps gained wallmoden. The heavily recurring opponent by a brilliant bayonet charge of the marchers in the rearguard Prussian battalion von Borcke suffered a loss by 200 men.Hamburg was again occupied by Davout on the 31st. More hostilities not held, because the lasting until August 16 great truce came into force on June 4. (Initially until 20 July closed, until August 10 extended 6 day period were allowed for the termination. Communicated to the allies on August 15, that on the 17th the hostilities were reopened.)

The cease-fire in the summer of 1813

General count wallmoden-GimbornThis truce, for Napoleon from the worst consequences, since it led to Austria's joining the Coalition, was of the greatest importance for the Wallmodens Army Department. The young formations were given the opportunity to settle in their new associations and to gain a certain military grip. The Hanoverian new formations has been catered for through more posting by Legion troops.First 14 officers, 10 non-commissioned officers and 60 men under Lieutenant-Colonel H. Halkett arrived on 20 June KSTER in Wismar as well as a small Division of the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons under Lieutenant. The transport was gone off from England on May 15, but long delayed by adverse winds.This desired increase in trained officers and soldiers allowed to complement the Legion Infantry Division back to around 400 men. She remained divided in 2 light and 2 line companies, was placed under but now the captain Holtz Ali and is usually called a half battalion Holtz er man in the histories of the Northern army. Lieutenant-Colonel Halkett took over a Hanoverian Brigade.To supplement the gaps in the battalion Lauenburg, the Lieutenant v. Windsheim and le Bach Ell from the 7th line battalion to Komapaniechefs were appointed in the same. Lieutenant Dehnel, as a trained artillery officer of the Brunswick Corps, joined Lieutenant potential to an English rocket battery to the foot battery of Captain Wiering, included 50 non-commissioned officers and gunners of the Legion which is approximately. (In this capacity he participated only Legion officer at the battle of Leipzig.)The most significant gain but was carried out by the arrival of the 3rd Hussars Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel v. Tbing and the two horsemen batteries under major Brckmann.The 3rd Hussar regiment was 1808/09-constantly since the unfortunate campaign under Sir John Moore in England; a request for the officers to re-use of the Regiment in Spain was been granted negative early 1812. On June 10, 1813 the ships; it, 5 squadrons with approximately 800 excellent horses climbed strongly in Ramsgate the departure had must be moved but adverse winds due to 3 weeks. Very bad drive, it landed on the 17th of July in Gothenburg, where already 17 horses wounded through the rigors of the journey had to be killed. On August 5 the regiment arrived happy to Wismar, was shipped out and Zarrentin reached in mid-August. The leaders had for the diseased in Wismar Lieutenant-Colonel v. Tbing (Tbing died on September 3, 1813 to Wismar). Acquired major Kalani.The two horsemen batteries had since 1807 no military use had more. On 8 August, she arrived under the leadership of major Barakat in Wismar and had to be hauled there first new. On August 23 until they came to the Wallmodenschen Corps.Wallmodens army had won the now following outline:Avant-garde: Major-General v. Taggart4 Cossack regimentsJger battalion v. richLtzow free Corps(3 Battalions, 5 cornets, 8 guns)Russian German Division: Major-General v. ArentsschildtBrigade Ratzmer (3 battalions)Brigade Wardenburg (3 battalions)Anglo German Division: Maj. Gen. LyonAdjutant Lieutenant Mac Glashan from the 2nd light battalion of the LegionLight brigade: Lieutenant-Colonel MartinAdjutant Captain v. Sasse of the 1st line battalionBattalions of Lneburg, Bremen-Verden, AnhaltLine Brigade: Lieutenant-Colonel HalkettThe 2nd light battalion Adjutant Captain SchaumannBattalions Bennigsen, Langrehr, Lauenburg, half battalion Holtz er manJger Corps: Count Kielmansegge(2 Hanoverian, 1 Russian German company)Hanoverian foot battery: Captain Wiering, 6 gunsCavalry Division: Major-General v. Dornberg2 Russian Hussar regiments of 4 Squadre3Rd Hussars Regiment of the German Legion to 5 squadronsHanoverian regiments of Hussars Lneburg and Bremen-Verden(4 weak squads)2 horse batteries of the German Legion to 6 gunsMajor Banik1 horse battery, Captain A. Sympher2. riding battery, Captain Kuhlmann2 horse batteries of the Russian German Legion to 8 gunsLieutenant-Colonel MonhauptBritish rocket battery, 32 framesSwedish Division: Lieutenant-General von Vegesack5. Swedish Brigade(6 Battalions, 4 squadrons, 1 foot battery)Mecklenburg Brigade(4 Battalions, 4 squadrons of riding hunters,2 Prussian Hussar squadrons under Saha, 2 guns)Hanseatic Brigade(2 Battalions, 8 squadrons, overriding each half)and half foot battery to 4 guns)Towards the end of the truce could wallmoden about 24,000 men in the field to, while its total strength was 27,000 men.A heavy duty was to make significant, with an army to Motley, the attitude of Bernadotte, Crown Prince of Sweden, as Commander-in-Chief of the army of the North was an uncertain and contradictory. Anyway, half military, half diplomat, was well suited for this difficult position, wallmoden."A clear head, polite and gentle character, be militarily well anlagt, in the battles proud silence with the utmost bravery he uniting and permitted by the service in four armies with a keener eye for people and relationships, a man who would have done no doubt perfectly efficient, when it would have the fate to a different place of the astronaut and a better composite force assigned him to."His Chief of staff, the brilliant Lieutenant-Colonel v. Clausewitz, adapted this Commander in the happiest way.Against Davout in Hamburg commanded over 25.788 man, Army Corps and a Danish auxiliary corps under the General Prince Friedrich of Hesse, with little Cavalry consisting of 13th.August 16 the opponent at the stood demarcation line to, on pages of the allies through the line Ratzeburger see - called Stecknitz - Elbe, on the French by Lbeck, the Holstein border and the river Elbe. Wallmoden was distributed to his troops, that right-most in grevesmhlen, about 30 came Northeast Ratzeburg, which, Arentsschildt and Lyon were Sweden and Mecklenburg under Vegesack South of the divisions in the General line of Gadebusch (25 miles east of Ratzeburg) - Wittenburg - Hagenow - Lbtheen (compare the sketch map). Tettenborn watched the Stecknitz and had stronger outposts at Mlln, Bchen and Lauenburg (Lauenburg is the influence of the Stecknitz, in the Elbe), the Cavalry Division of Drnberg between Zarrentin and Boizenburg.A detachment of Hanoverian Jger, a battalion under Colonel count Kielmansegge to Dmitz Hanseatic League and 50 horsemen were the orders from here to the left bank of the Elbe, and disrupting Davout connections with Magdeburg.Zarrentin the German Legion Hussars arrived 6 days later the horsemen batteries on August 17, and have been used against the enemy immediately.

New start of hostilities

3Rd Hussars KGLDavout had in fulfilling its mandate, to contribute to the support of Corps posted to Berlin from Hamburg and Northern army at least covered the wallmoden Corps of a reinforcement of the Berlin to hold on August 17 a forward movement started with 2 columns by Bergedorf Lauenburg and Schwarzenbeck against Mlln.Near Lauenburg was the French General Pcheux fierce opposition and was stopped by the Ltzow Freikorps 2 days. Only withdrew the Ltzow on Garcia, 10 km southeast Bchen, on the 19th.Lallemand was occupied with the left French column by Schwarzenbeck on the 17th Mlln, but went back on the 18th on Schwarzenbeck and had seizes on the evening of that day of the Stecknitz passage near Bchen.Davout was on the 19th in the possession of the Stecknitz section. From his headquarters from Lauenburg he reported to Napoleon that he would break up on the 20th against Schwerin.This movement allowed the possibility of a later panning against Berlin. Also, the General Vegesack standing still in grevesmhlen could be cut out if Davout advancing further East.Both dangers had to meet wallmoden. He moved so his force at Wittenburg and Hagenow (sketch map). Tettenborn watched the enemy at Gresse, 6 km north of Boizenburg, Dornberg Zarrentin held easily occupied and attracted to Tettenborn.Slowly, Davout took his March on August 20, reached with a right column of Lauenburg and Boizenburg Zahrensdorf, with a left Garcia, still in the hope to get news about Oudinot encroachment against Berlin and then afterwards to set up its operations. His columns received the direction of Vellahn, Goldenbow and Camin (4 or 7 km north of Vellahn) for the 21.The slowness of French movements prompted wallmoden decided to confront proceed in a favourable position on the heights between Vellahn and Goldenbow infantry and 3,000 Cavalry of Davout with 6,000 troops. Camin and the forest forward this place was through a Russian German battalion occupied, thorn mountain with the German Hussars of the Legion, the Hanoverian Hussars and a blind battery also there installed, whereas Tettenborn at Vellahn formed the left wing. The 2nd Russian German Hussars Regiment covered the middle on the Windmill Hill by Goldenbow. The Division of Arentsschildt was pushed up in the forest of Friedrichsdorf.On the afternoon of 21 August, the French in 3 columns exceeded the Sadashiv and penetrated against Camin and Goldenbow Vellahn. First, the attack took place on Camin. The here asked battalion went back. Goldenbow had the 2nd Russian German Hussars almost 2 hours to conduct the Defense alone, cavalry friend for and artillery was supported but then by thorn mountain of Camin. Unfortunately, the grounds with hedgerows and ditches cut prevented a successful riding of the squads who now suffered some losses from enemy artillery fire. The French artillery shot very badly, and so the German Legion Hussars lost only 1 guy and 3 horses dead, 1 man wounded.Decisive successes were not reached also by inserting the Tettenbornschen Cossacks. Camin remained in the hands of the French, greater clarity on strength of Davout had wallmoden but its purpose, to get he estimated it now to 16-18,000 man - achieved through the meeting.The Legion Hussars received a recognition of General von Drnberg general order by August 22nd for "the good, steadfast and set behavior of the Regiment in the affair of Camin."Wallmoden went back on August 22 after Hagenow.The events of the next few days, Davout advancing to Schwerin, Wallmodens standby position at Ludwigslust-Neustadt, we could ignore short, because they offered no opportunity for successful activity the German Legion troops.Unexpectedly, Davout, the news of the battle of grobeeren to cover for Hamburg made by concerned, went back on the night of 2/3 September von Schwerin and now took a strong position behind the watercourses of the Stecknitz, the Ratzeburger Lake, the Wakenitz and Trave. The transitions at Lauenburg, Bchen, Mlln, Schlutup, Lbeck and Travemnde were heavily occupied; Davout in Ratzeburg stood with his main forces. Thus, the foreland of Hamburg was protected by a wide list from the Baltic to the Elbe.The sudden withdrawal of Davout, behind the marked line generated the thoughts that the Marshal under the protection of this strong position with main forces west of the Elbe via Magdeburg to Napoleon's main army March to remember at wallmoden. Quickly he rushed - only Tettenborn and Vegesack the Stecknitz compared with leaving - with his main forces to Dmitz, pushed out there standing Corps Kielmansegge according to Dannenberg and left immediately in Dmitz bridge, a French to be able to move southward into the side cover. Kielmansegge was sent to the investigation against Lneburg, added him to the 6th company of the German Legion Hussars under Captain Jack. The points of passage observed particularly in Winsen and Harburg.When a Danish officer received over reported on 9 September that Davout don't remember to deduct to Magdeburg, Wallmoden marched back again the following day to Hagenow. The company Janen was replaced by Cossacks and rejoined to their Regiment.

The meeting of the Ghrde on 16 September 1813

The meeting of the GhrdeThe meeting of the Ghrde is 1897 extensively portrayed to the military weekly by the author in the booklet 5/6. The old Hanoverian traditions were not yet awarded the Prussian military units. Since meeting tribes of the 73rd Fusiliers, of the infantry regiment 77, the Dragoon regiments, 9 and 16 and of the field artillery regiment von Scharnhorst were involved, the 9th Dragoons and 10 Gunners now also the motto: "Ghrde" wearing of the helmet, so it seemed necessary to treat this only important arms Act of wallmoden's Corps and in particular, the share of the Hanoverian troops because at this point little detail.Taken preparations should be, however, not in vain. On 12 September a French ordnance officer with a letter was caught in the area of Mlln, from which emerged that Davout wool let go the General Pcheux with 3,000 men at Zollenspieker across the Elbe and send to Magdeburg with the order, once to clean the left bank of the Elbe by the enemies. Lemarois, the Commander of Magdeburg, Pcheux should drop a Department to advertise.Messages from the left bank of the Elbe were was that there in the villages for 10,000 men quarter was said to infantry, 3 batteries and 600 riders. This troop strength too high given by the French to the intimidation of the population prompted wallmoden, 9,000 to 10,000 Ltzow, Hanseatic League and Sweden - to leave only the absolutely necessary forces - Davout at the 70 km-long Stecknitz - Trave line, with all other troops but in Dmitz across the Elbe Pcheux to tackle.September 14 wallmoden gathered in a bivouac at Dmitz 15 battalions, 17 squadrons, 3 regiments of Cossacks, 38 guns and half rocket battery, together approximately 12,300 men, including 3,300 riders. Almost all Hanoverian troops were involved in this enterprise for her closer home.The military division was the following:Avant-garde: Major-General v. TaggartInfantry v. Ltzow Freikorps1 Battalion first lieutenant StaakJger battalion under Captain v. rich, 1 BTL.Hannoversches Jger Corps (2 companies)and Russian German Jger companyunder Colonel count KielmanseggeCavalry under major von Ltzow5 SquadronsHanseatic riding battery under Captain Spoormann4 GunsCossack regiments Komisarow, Denisov, Sulin3 RegimentsTogether: 2 battalions, 5 squadronsand 3 regiments of Cossacks, 4 gunsRussian German Division: Major-General v. Arentsschildt1St Brigade - major von Natzmer1St Battalion v. Schaper, 2 v. Mohan, 5 v. Dobschtz2Nd Brigade - Lieutenant-Colonel v. Wardenburg3Rd Battalion von Tiedemann, 4. v. Horn, 6 v. Natzmer1St Hussars Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel v. Goltz4 Squadrons1 horse battery - Lieutenant v. Scheele8 GunsTogether: 6 battalions, 4 squadrons, 8 gunsAnglo German Division: Maj. Gen. LyonLight brigade - Lieutenant-Colonel MartinBattalion Anhalt - major KrohneBattalion Bremen-Verden - major de VauxBattalion of the 73rd British infantry regiment(detached from Stralsund)Lines Brigade - Lieutenant-Colonel HalkettBattalion Lauenburg - major v. BnoitBattalion of Lieutenant-Colonel v. BennigsenBattalion of the majors v. LangrehrHalf battalion of the Legion - Captain Holtz HagerHanoverian foot battery - Captain Wiering, 6 gunsTogether: 6 battalions, 6 gunsCavalry Division: Major-General v. Dornberg3Rd Hussar Regiment of the German Legion - major Kalani5 SquadronsHanovarian Hussars Lneburg - Oberstleutnant von Estorff2 SquadronsHanovarian Hussars Bremen-Verden - Lieutenant Colonel v.d. Bussche1 SquadronHorse artillery brigade of the German Legion - major Brckmann1 horse battery - Captain Sympher, 6 guns2. riding battery, Captain Kuhlmann, 6 guns2. riding Russian German battery - Lieutenant v. Tiedemann8 Gunshalf British missile battery - Lieutenant of StrangwaysTogether: 8 squadrons, 20 guns, 16 rocket racksThe 14 evening Pcheux on the Elbe had gone, and move forward on Lneburg learned wallmoden in his bivouac at Dmitz. In the still of the night, he went over the bridge of the ship, and encamped on September 15 hard East Dannenberg. Cossacks posted on Dahlenburg soon noticed the coming of the enemy on Oldendorf. Its strength should be 5,000 to 6,000 men, 6 cannons, infantry and some cavalry.This message was excessive with regard to the strength of infantry - Pcheux had only 5 battalions (4 battalions of the 3rd line Regiment, 1 battalion of the 105th light Regiment), together about 3,000 man - was true but the rest. In addition to only 80 riders, Pcheux had a mounted battery to 6 guns. Baron de Pcheux was a very competent officer of the guard emerged and Marshal Davout assigned with special recommendations of the emperor. Its officers and non-commissioned officers were excellent, steeled in Napoleon's battles, the teams mostly very young recruits, but good einexerziert and full of soldatischem ambition.On the 14 evening, Pcheux had come to Lneburg, with the intention, after Hitzacker to March and if possible to prevent the completion of a bridge in Dmitz. As the numerous everywhere around grazing Cossacks showed him that even more significant forces in Dmitz had to be moved, he stood, Davout command, Dahlenburg versus the Ghrde. On the 15th he pushed back the Cossacks on the whole line, left his Gros on a Hhenzuge hard West Lakare and even with a battalion of the 3rd line Regiment at the hunting lodge past up to the forest. His outpost was occupied by the edge of the forest to Metzingen.

Wallmodens Cossacks went back to Metzingen, the avant-garde was pushed above still evening Lg Gau, 1 km west of Dannenberg, Metzingen occupied a strong position.From the determined actions of the French against the eastern edge of the Ghrde their intention of further advance against Dannenberg inferential, his entire Corps in a floor sink South Sarvesh provided on 16 September morning wallmoden. The French inspired not but, and could be warned in the concern, Pcheux, wallmoden had to decide finally to the March on Oldendorf. While he was aware of the danger, in which an energetic push of Davout on the right bank of the Elbe against Dmitz could bring him and the weak of the Stecknitz left behind troops. Succeeded, however, still beat the enemy, so you could meet a maybe in time enough yet in Dmitz.12 Noon, wallmoden was following command:"The enemy that faces Oldendorf in the Ghrder forest itself and maybe behind same in position, is attacked in 2 columns. The a column under General v. Arentsschildt is left the main road about Riebrau against the forest; it hits any enemy or only the items that so penetrates through, comes out when Forester's lodge Rthen, right opposes the likely position of the enemy and probably cut him retire on Dahlenburg, connects the distant attack but the other column.The other column, where Graf wallpaper wear itself, and the avant-garde on the straight road from Dannenberg to Lchow before. The Cossacks pull first the forest right completely work around him, while the infantry of the avant-garde is attacking him. To assist the General Lyon follows. In the Directorate as the Cossacks, the cavalry and artillery under General von Drnberg oppose to the left flank of the enemy. The forest is only weakly occupied, so all troops regroup beyond to attack."12 P.m. Arentsschildt broke up and reached the forest against 2 hours on Riebrau. From there, he had to go another 7 miles up to the Forester's lodge Rthen, could so probably not occur before 4 o'clock there in the open.The main column had to walk 7 kilometres to the north end of the forest less and would have to compete therefore 1 hours later. Now you probably expected a long resistance of the French in the forest and was therefore already after about an hour. A short time later you heard Cannon thunder from the area of Boizenburg, which wallmoden in unpleasant ways was reminiscent of the vulnerable situation of his troops abandoned right of the Elbe. To reverse it was launched; too late, the attack so he had to look for possible quick end to come.To 2 hours reached Tettenborns infantry replaced the forest, supported by Cossack swarms, the Metzingen in outpost company supplied the edge of the forest and penetrated, without serious resistance, forest and hunting lodge Northwest through the forest before. The outpost battalion initially personally led by Pcheux withdrew recently obstacles at basically meadow South of the hunting lodge on Oldendorf.The threat against chased Pcheux now to his main forces and directed the immediate occupation of the position reinforced by some field fortifications on the height of 89 Southwest Lakare probably. Comp. the plan.2 Guns were at this altitude, hard West was a Pine Grove, 300 metres east were the 4 other guns. The battalions were at or slightly behind the line of guns, such as in the Plan are marked (French battle reports are missing). The ridge is quite wide, so that one up over the Lbener has an exquisite, almost glacis-like shot Bachgrund by low going back but completely against view by its front edge and flat fire is covered.This Lbener Bachgrund formed a pretty significant barrier notwithstanding the paralleling the nearby watercourse through his swampy margins and was to go on the road. The left flank of the French position was secured as a result. The right wing lost although overview through the Pine Grove, Pcheux not expected but with a so far collecting ring and left it vacant. To secure his line of retreat on Lneburg he put 2 grenadier companies after Oldendorf and a small Department after calibration village.Against half you threw back 4: 00 Hunter the French outpost battalion from forming the northern edge of the Ghrde border ditch with the bayonet on the main position in Tettenborns avant-garde of the top marching Ltzow and Empire ash, real battle started.To facilitate the withdrawal of the beleaguered battalion, the 80 French horsemen hunters against the border trench had revealed riding, both flanks of the same.Ltzow had held some time in the edge of the forest with his horsemen, now he took the opportunity for a successful attack to come. With 4 squads - without the 4th Squadron, which now covered the driving of the Hanseatic battery Spoormann - he threw himself on the French riders, who quickly declined, and then on the outpost battalion itself. This made loin and forced a full loss retreats the Ltzow by his fire. Major von Ltzow himself not more usable was severely wounded his regiment for the other day.A precipitous attack of the Ltzow infantry and the Empire ash Hunter had no better success. The attempt with the declining French battalion at the same time the enemy main position to penetrate, had been cut off with big losses. A howitzer carelessly far advanced by the French probably dropped the Ltzowern as the only prize in the hands to better effect in the foreland.It was 4 o'clock, when arrived at last new troops on the battle field. Until now, Tettenborns avant-garde with 2 battalions had led the infantry fight alone and already significant losses. The other columns were not in time for the job, and there was not much, so Tettenborns troops had can be destroyed completely. You miss the influence of higher troop control, which had the task, individually to stop acting out columns so long existed forces to attack out of the forest until sufficient here.The Division of Lyons had to follow on the foot Tettenborns troops, had snapped but at the Jagdschloss half an hour, to make only clean the forest by the avant-garde. Since the cannon thunder of now driven battery Spoormann of Oldendorf here echoed against 3 hours, and now was with the biggest rush back to. At the same time the Cavalry Division sought to Thorn Hill via Dbbekold to the northern corner of the forest around the battle field, at their peak the 3rd Hussars of the German Legion under Maj. Kalani. 2 Squadrons of the regiment hunted with the horsemen battery Kuhlmann at a gallop on the column of Lyon over, the battery ran right by the Hanseatic and immediately opened fire against the French position. Both batteries had little effect, because the distance was too large (1,000 metres) and Pcheux his troops to better cover temporarily moved back behind the height.Meanwhile Lyon infantry marched so, as it is indicated in the Plan . Holtz er Mann's Legion infantry was in the 2nd meeting, the foot battery Wiering before the forest remained standing first aufgeprotzt left of their infantry, only the first gun train under Lieutenant Dehnel was sent forward and fired without special effect against the returning battalion. Immediately, it was divided the battery zugweise and d ' Huvel of Martin, Lieutenant Whler of the Halkett's Brigade Brigade Lieutenant assigned to.After 4: 00 the thorn mountain Cavalry Division had - reached the battlefield order: 3rd Hussars, battery Sympher missiles battery Tiedemann, Estorff Hussars - were immediately except the rockets 30 guns in action. Was but his retreat; their effect for the specified reasons shall only low Pcheux decided given before his position increasingly developing superiority too late, because already the troops of the Russian German Division arrived in Arentsschildts bypass scow.First, the fire of the Russian German battery Scheele from a position South Rthen made palpable. Pcheux realized that he no longer can take his retirement about Oldendorf, the there posted grenadier companies sought to involve itself and strengthened the weak crew of oak village.As now noon 4 the Russo German infantry under Lieutenant-Colonel v. Schack in the free appeared, with the Brigade Natzmer right over the moor to Lyon drew himself, proceeded with the Brigade Wardenburg against Oldendorf, da Pcheux ' situation was become desperate truly. Outstripped by 12 fresh battalions on all sides, threatened by a strong artillery, bypassed by numerous Cavalry in the back, nothing was left him, than to take the deduction on calibration village with his still unshakable 5 battalions.Would now von wallmoden a thorough General bombardment from more remote places been made, the French had to resist a comprehensive attack of infantry coming soon no longer. As a determining influence in the higher leadership not to days occurs but in the whole history of the battle, so we see here that in itself admirable fighting zeal led individual units to a single attack that barely promoted the success of the whole. See do not escape to their declaration in an attempt, the enemy. Here is also the attack of the 3rd Hussars Regiment of the Legion to be expected.The 3rd Hussar regiment was after 4 o'clock, Southeast of the missile battery, front the 5th Squadron, as General von Drnberg came up and demanded a Squadron for an attack against the closed dating back just by the Lbener Bach reason French battalion. It would have been the most natural, if major would have determined the foremost Squadron, Kalani; He, however, gave the ambitious ride master v. Biela please post and certain his Squadron, the first to attack.Even before the wing pull-forward was finished, Biela full combat zeal threw himself on the enemy. The ride passed across the Dahlenburger road, then left onto off Lbener why. Here, the right wing of the Horseman couldn't get through, the horses got stuck in the swampy terrain, could work out difficult under the fire of the enemy slowly and had back. The rest of the squad was followed before breaking Rittmeister v. Biela in disarray, disintegrated but the fire of the battalion, which had formed loin in full relaxation, and chased right and left same past. Biela schwerverwundet collapsed before the loin.The 2nd and 3rd Squadron had joined the attack without orders, which avoided marshy place and came over straight roaring off 15 step on the loin on the main position. The French horsemen hunters were expelled and rode through the guns at the height of their covering had fled, at times. But now came the Hussars in devastating fire of infantry. Pcheux had to close his battalions at imminent risk of berritten in columns together so that they reject enemy attacks were also without loin education. The fire forced the Hussars continued in the guns to ride completely through and then East to turn out.The ongoing fire of a battalion on the French left wing now led the Rittmeister v. Hugo, a number to collect Hussars and the repeated attack against this battalion of backward to bring. It was a heldenmtiges, but hopeless companies. Rittmeister v. Hugo chased 50 step before his Hussars on the battalion started, but schwerverwundet broke down before same. Some French jumped out the column, bayonet wounds to make kill him, there succeeded a likewise deposed Hussars Schrader, out work under his horses and his mortally wounded officer after backward to bring in safety.Hugo's Hussars followed their guide only to the part fought in defeated scuffle, Saber against bayonet for a while, but then again had back and makeshift gathered North of the Steinker Hill. Most of the horses was sideways when the attack broke out. Great hunting through animals into, continually bombarded, on the battlefield in the direction Rthen to. Here came the Hussars protecting divisions of the 1st Russian German battalion and were probably for enemies, held, animated Plackerfeuer what gave reason to again turn out. Several Hussars and horses were already wounded, when finally the fire was hampered by the officers of the battalion.Thus ended this first ride of German Hussars Regiment, which could have no result despite of all heroic bravery. Had it remained in the attack against a single battalion, you maybe could have success. The attack but against the still not shaken infantry level, undertaken with not quite 3 squadrons had to lead to destruction. The remnants of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Squadron behind the French position is gathered only with difficulty.The Russian German Division had now by Rthen Oldendorf and oak village strongly before, fought with varying success and Pcheux led further to the East to bring his line of retreat. Particularly successful, the horse battery had been this Scheele under the leadership of Lieutenant Monhaupt from changing positions. (See map.) Now, wallmoden gave the order to move to common assault.At the same time the Halkett brigades with the battalions of Bennigsen and Langrehr, Martin with the battalions were to half 6 o'clock Anhalt and Bremen-Verden and Natzmer with the 1st and 2nd Russian German battalion on the decisive attack against the enemy position.Only the attack of the Halkett's Brigade against the left wing of the enemy succeeded in completely. Halkett and Bennigsen led berritten to increase the confusion still again collected parts of the 3rd Hussars and Cossacks their troops, subject itself to horses, with such cutting into the enemy, that the French guns threw down and flooded back into wild escape. The simultaneous action of the Haubitzzuges of the battery Wiering under Lieutenant Whler until directly at the enemy had effectively supported the attack. (The charge of the Brigade Halkett is the subject of a major by Professor Jordan in Hanover of carried out mural for the patriotic Museum in Celle.)Towards the middle of the attack less was happy, and only through the excellent attitude of a turn of the Hanoverian foot battery Wiering, which is going on in the height of the already supporting battalions under Lieutenant d ' Huvel and shoots with grape shots at the enemy, it manages to throw the enemy. At the same time, the 3 first squads of Germans riding on against the back of the French Hussars, which now have joined forces behind the French column, and blow it apart. With rage and exasperation, the German rider share their blows and revenge as the large losses in their first attack. The Hussar Heymann is lucky in the break-in at the column to capture the French General Milczynski and backward to bring, from where he was brought back on a Panda of the train d ' Huvel to the meeting point of the German battery in safety.At least Arentsschildts was failed attack against the right wing of the French, and it was here Monhaupts artillery to thank that Pcheux had to withdraw after Kovahl finally instead on Oak village of Breese in the main.About 6 o'clock at a breaking dawn, were the French in full retreats and Monhaupts were pursued only by the Legion battery Sympher, the rockets and artillery fire for a while, while 170 Hussars under Captain Jack, Cossacks and some Estorff Hussars continued the pursuit until bar camp. The German Hussars declined this his last guns and ammunition wagons the enemies at a substantial loss.Walking, Pcheux, the 2 horses under the body had been shot, attributed the debris of his troop about Bleckede to Lneburg. Here he reached after strenuous night marches in the morning, broke up again after a short break and marched via Winsen after the Zollenspieker and crossed the Elbe. At the same time with Pcheux, French officials with their funds had left lung in the right feeling that they are no longer safe from now on on the left banks.Pcheux can have returned only to 1,500 men. His loss was about 400 man dead, 1,100 men trapped, including 700-800 wounded. In addition, had fallen 1 Eagles, 6 guns, 16 ammunition wagons and 1 portable forge the allies in the hands.Wallmoden was also dearly bought his victory with the loss of 32 officers and 306 horses and 526 man. To a follow-up with infantry, he felt no need, because the troops were exhausted and had expected large marches the next day to make. He had therefore his Corps in the northern edge of the forest gather and then refer bivouacs near the hunting Castle. The wounded had to be left behind from lack of carriages on the battlefield which was so distressing, as it rained heavily during the night.The 3rd Hussar Regiment of the Legion had the greatest losses of all military units. 14 Male and 59 horses were dead, 8 officers, 7 Chief, 66 men and 87 horses wounded, of which 4 officers and 9 men soon succumbed to their wounds.There were mortally wounded: the Rittmeister v. Baker, v. Hugo (Rittmeister v. Hugo died in the night of 16/17 September in the district, the other officers later), and v. both, as well as the Kornet Cremer. Rittmeister von Biela and Kornet Cremer found death on the battle field, who himself had been shortly before embarking to Wismar as opponents in a heavy Sabre duel against two comrades. The 4 wounded officers were Oehlkers Rittmeister Heise, the lieutenants Brggemann, and v. Humboldt.The half battalion Holtz er man had stood in the reserve and therefore apparently to only lament the loss of the Ensign Baron le Fort of the 1st line battalion. (Information on losses of the half battalion Holtz er man are not found. Ensign le Fort of the 1st line battalion died on September 16 at his wound. As a result of the composition of the half battalion Holtz er man of 5 battalions the evidence is unwise battalion and separated not for events.) The foot battery Wiering had only 1 horse lost the two horsemen batteries of the Legion 1 upper scorcher and 11 men wounded; also, five horses were killed and 8 wounded.As you on September 17 morning buried the dead, that the entire artillery of the allies had had relatively little effect and the most injuries from Sabre blows and bayonet stitches brought were a testament to the large distances and the bad conditions of the observation showed.During the whole campaign, smoke and powder steam so close before the batteries had stored, that by the target hardly knowing had been. Fire management and setting had been complicated. However, the moral effect of the entire artillery, particularly the train d ' Huvel, must is estimated highly. His special recognition expressed in his general order of 17 September the entire artillery wallmoden.The 17th morning message that Davout was driven only a weak investigation against Boizenburg on the 16th and had been rejected by the Ltzow received wallmoden in the hunting lodge to the Ghrde. This, his concerns were so widely scattered that he had with his troops on the left bank of the Elbe on the 17th against Lneburg proceed Tettenborn. By forays against Hanover, Bremen and to the North Sea Tettenborn endangered Davout rear connections then in the near future so, was that that soon no longer able to run Bremen with the main army in Saxony directly with France only about Stade -.With his main forces, wallmoden attended the 17th according to Dannenberg and, as he in the evening received report on the 18th French troop build-up at Zarrentin, 19 across the Elbe, from now on Davout from any active participation in the operations of the large army holding TV.The significance of the meeting of the Ghrde is been exaggerated somewhat in contemporary literature explaining to it, that it was the only major battle in the campaign on the lower Elbe. Given the significant superiority of the allies on all military branches would have to expect a complete destruction of the 3,000 men under Pcheux. But this escaped with half of his Corps after excellent valiant defence. The explanation for this is that the big superiority nowhere is brought to bear and that, considered in detail, have continually fought against a majority of minorities."In a few units of the allies, so many perfectly intelligent and war-experienced officers were United as in the wallmoden's Corps, rarely a force has fought brave like in the battle of the Ghrde; What was missing was the training of the large Association, the Eingelebtsein officers and crews in the wider context, correctly understanding the ability of the officers, a tactical situation and to act accordingly and the discipline to subordinate General."The value of the victory lay in the insulation of Hamburg, which now became an outposts. The French Empire in Hanover was shaken, again German Lneburg, and a newspaper founded by Tettenborns officers there supplied all the lands of the North Sea until the resin with the true reports about the victories of the German weapons, which to conceal the French administration had given out all sorts of trouble.The Royal German Legion had Honorable share this first success on German soil. Had Colonel Lieutenant Halkett and Martin at the top of their Brigade distinguished themselves particularly, the Legion artillerists to tactically correctly and successfully used single foot battery Wiering provided the main contingent, the mounted battery Sympher tracking collaborated ("even of the artillery under the leadership of majors Banik do I let happen to justice, that she won victories has contributed not a little, and would I EW. Royal Highness very be connected, if you want to witness the major Brckmann Hchstdero satisfaction, which especially must flatter him, deign." Wallmoden to the Duke of Cambridge, Dmitz, 24 September.), so the self-sacrificing stance of German Hussars above reproach was sublime.In the already mentioned General ordre (Dannenberg, September 17) the 3rd Hussar Regiment is the Royal particularly excellent German Legion, because it "had such excellent share at the honor of the day yesterday". In a report to the Duke of Cambridge, wallmoden then continued (Dmitz, September 24):"EW. Royal Highness I'm connected to notice that the 3rd Hussars Regiment the Royal German Legion under leadership of major Kalani particularly noted on this day. The loss of thereof is unfortunately not as Hchstdieselben to see will deign from the adjacent list, however, has covered the regiment with fame."Major Kalani it received the following letter from the Duke Adolph Friedrich of Cambridge (London, October 17):"Lieutenant-General count wallmoden-Gimborn sent me about your and reported of the 3rd Hussars Regiment's that day you brave stance in the battle of the Ghrde. Please accept my warmest thanks and communicated it to the officers, non-commissioned officers and crews of the regiment."As a special and lasting recognition, the motto "Ghrde" was awarded the 3rd Hussars and artillery. This Dragoon was carried until 1866 the regiment Duke of Cambridge to Celle and blind artillery to Wunstorf and no. 10 risen now to the helmets of the 1st Hanoverian Dragoon Regiment No. 9 to Metz and the field artillery regiment von Scharnhorst (1 drop) again, a lasting and Honourable memory of German soldier loyalty in difficult times!The memory is held by a monument at the Steinker Hill to the battle. The Hanoverian courier of September 16, 1906 described the monument as follows:An unadorned stone obelisks "If you aspired to the Ghrdewald a few years ago on the road from Dahlenburg here, you saw behind the village Oldendorf on a Heidhgel scrub of load of-covered. This stone landmark contained the inscription: 16 IX. 1813. The monument is built to commemorate the victorious battle of the Ghrde. The district North Hanover of the Prussian War er Association occasionally someday warrior in Hitzacker, decided to take the monument under his supervision and care. A floor space of some morning was purchased and fenced by a spruce hedge. From the road, a handsome Maple Avenue leads to the monument. The land behind the Avenue are transformed by planting tree groups to friendly parks. To the Memorial itself, two terraces, equipped with wide stairs rise from erratic boulders. On the monuments themselves, an iron Panel is now attached with the inscription: "To commemorate the victorious battle of the Ghrde on 16 September 1813, dedicated by the District of North Hanover of the Prussian War er Association." The emperor has let to the decoration of the place transfer nine gun barrels from the artillery depot in Magdeburg. Two gun barrels crowned with Eagles are perpendicular to the sides of the staircase, the other on lorries fitted at the corners and in the middle of the terrace. In between are iron pillar built and connected the whole thing by a chain from the pillars to the guns. On the occasion of the return of the memorial day a celebration ward held on September 16, 1906 at the monument, in which about 1,400 warriors participated."

More events at the Wallmoden's Corpson the lower Elbe until the December of 1813

The other campaign on the lower Elbe offers little important for the history of the Legion and it is practicable so to represent him to obtain a clear overview only in broad terms, the experiences of Legion troops - half battalion Holtz er man, Hussars, battery overriding 1st and 2nd foot battery Wiering - but only as an aside to handle 3. For the individual history of the troops sufficient sources at its disposal are available except for the half battalion Holtz er man.All attempts of the Crown Prince of Sweden, to the offensive from its strong position in Ratzeburg Davout, were unsuccessful. Wallmoden, too weak to a violent action against the now daily more reinforced Hamburg, had to confine itself to tire the opponent by enterprises of the small war and weaken.Here is a failed foray of General von Drnberg with 6 battalions, to count 2 squadrons and 2 batteries, which Barakat horse artillery was involved with Lieutenant v. Schade was wounded on October 6 against Bchen. A simultaneous operation of General von Vegesack against Ziethen failed also. Wallmodens troops remained standing during the October in Kantonierungen between Lbeck, Boizenburg, and Dmitz.A parade of the entire Wallmodenschen interrupted the monotonous occupation of the camp, a harbinger of the restoration of an independent Hanover Corps on 29 October to Hamada before the Duke Ernst v. Cumberland. On November 4th the Duke with the jubilation of the population intruded its in Hanover, rejoined the old Ministry of work, and the Duke of Cambridge took over the reins of the country as Governor-General.On October 22, Davout had learned the outcome of the great battle of Leipzig from leaflets of the allies and left Ratzeburg now hastily, to complete the defenses from Hamburg to possibility. Did he not hide himself, it would most benefit the thing of his Emperor when he added his 25,000 French of the weakened army of Napoleon, on the other hand the Hamburg's detention in all circumstances had been worn on him and it was very doubtful whether a retreat of the occupation of Hamburg after Holland was possible at the intrusion of the allies against the Rhine. There was also the possession of the wealthy Hanseatic City in any peace negotiations as more important than indeed Dresden, Torgau, Wittenberg and Magdeburg, Gdask, Szczecin and Cstrin were still in the hands of the French. As Davout on 11 November for the first time since August 18 a direct message received by the Grand Army, and a command from November 1 from Mainz through mediation of the General Carra St. Cyr, stating that he retreat under abandonment a strong crew in Hamburg, Germany to Holland or, if this not possible, should go to Hamburg, since it was already too late, to leave the Hanseatic City the whole left bank of the Elbe was penetrated Tettenborn in the possession of the allies, already on the Weser. (The 1st were on a major exploration Commission against Harburg in the beginning of November involved squadron of the German Legion Hussars been. 30 rider see Rittmeister von Goeben had while in a skirmish near Winsen on November 3 distinguished themselves, lost five men and 8 horses.)Davout hesitated to leave the position at Ratzeburg unnecessarily far forward under the changed conditions.On the night of 13 November, declined the French behind the Stecknitz, Davout his troops informed but equal, that he will soon vacate this position. He threw into himself with his troops to Hamburg, so it arose by itself, that the Danes could also no longer keep now assigned section of Mlln to the Lake and had to seek to take the connection with their homeland via Lbeck and Rendsburg.Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Sweden about Hanover - Bremen - Celle - lzen - had arrived on November 24 with stronger forces at Boizenburg in the intention to include Hamburg and Harburg and - thus a threat by Davout secured against the Danes to proceed against Lneburg. He had, of VI Russian corps of count Strogonow (about 8,000), which he wore on the inclusion of Harburg, the Swedish Army Corps of field marshal count Stedingk (18,000 men), the Russian III. Army Corps count Woronzow (over 7,000), the wallmoden's Corps, the Freikorps Ltzow and the Cossack Brigade Tettenborn.Davout not waited an attack against his line at the Stecknitz, left its positions on the 1st of December and reached the 3rd after minor losses of his rearguard by the Cavalry of the Hamburg created a strong fortress to Vorontsov now. The Danes went back under the Prince Friedrich v. Hesse Oldesloe, and Lbeck.Immediately let Bernadotte by the Corps complete Vorontsov Hamburg on the right bank of the Elbe, moreover interrupt the connection between Hamburg and Lbeck by Taggart and began his Holstein campaign against the Danes with 35,000. To do this, the German troops of wallmoden's corps had to help him.The fight on the lower Elbe hereby totally loses his previous character. Not for liberation of Germany is more gefochten, but for dynastic purposes of the Swedish Crown Prince, which here has a favourable opportunity to fall upon the national enemies of his adoptive homeland and to snatch them under utmost Swedish blood in Norway.It should be borne in mind that Denmark had been didn't averse in the spring of 1813, to put on the side of the allies. Sweden asked but even then the Norway associated with Denmark as a price for its accession, and Alexander of the first policy had finally opted for Sweden and pushed into Denmark in the Alliance with Napoleon.

The Holstein campaign of 1813-14 The battle of Sehestedt on 10 December 1813

Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh HalkettThe advance against the Danes was such that the Crown Prince himself on Lbeck went wallmoden on Germany, after he had collected his Corps between Ratzeburger see and Stecknitz on December 3.The wallmoden's corps had the following divisions:Avant-garde - General v. DornbergLight Hanoverian Brigade - Lieutenant-Colonel MartinBattalions of Lneburg, Bremen-Verden, Kielmansegges Hunter2Nd Brigade3rd and 4th Russian German battalion1 Russian German Hussars3Rd Hussars Kgl. German LegionLneburg Hussars2. Russian German riding battery1 (Russian German) Division - General v. Arentsschildt1St Brigade1St, 2nd, 5th battalion2Nd Brigade6th and 7th Battalion1 Foot battery2. (German) Division - General LyonHanoverian line Brigade - Lieutenant-Colonel HalkettBattalions of Lauenburg, Langrehr, Bennigsen, Dessau andHalf battalion Holtz er man of the Kgl. German LegionFoot battery WieringCavalry Division2. Russian German HussarsBremen Verden Hussars1 and overriding 2nd battery of Kgl. German Legion1 Russian German riding batteryAlso the Swedish Division under General von Vegesack (1 Swedish, 1 Mecklenburg, 1 Hanseatic Brigade), but was retained by the Crown Prince was assigned to. Only the Hanseatic Brigade (2 battalions, 8 guns and 8 squadrons) sparked off by the same and followed the Corps wallmoden, it thereby complementing on approximately 14,000 man.The advance against the Danes was in the way that the Crown Prince had reached, whereupon the there ordering Lallemand acknowledged the city and with the Prince Friedrich of Hesse United via Segeberg, before Wallmodens coming to Germany on the night of December 6 abandoned its local position of on December 5, Lbeck and retreated to Segeberg.Wallmoden arrived on the 6th before Oldesloe, learned the move out of the Danes and sent further avant-garde under thorn Hill immediately against Segeberg them. Dornberg pursued on the road to Neumnster, the tracking on the great road to Kiel leaving the Sweden. Wallmoden same road used, since it was considered, to cut off the Danes of Rendsburg.Prince Friedrich of Hesse had, meanwhile, pushed by the Sweden sharp, reached Kiel and covered well, as the Crown Prince of Sweden rejected any negotiation to win the desperate decision in link March behind the Eider Canal Rendsburg and sustain these important military training his Kings. On the 9th, he sent his excess guns to Friedrichsort, a part of his riffraff to Eckernfrde and marched along about 9,000 men, North of the Eider Canal to Rendsburg with 14 battalions, 12 squadrons, 34 guns.The battle of Sehestedt on December 10, 1813This movement had to lead to the clash with Wallmoden, which penetrated of Neumnster in Conceivedimmense against Kluvensiek, to cut off the Danes of Rendsburg. The important bridge of Kluvensiek was occupied by the forward troops thorn Hill on December 9. In the evening, wallmoden stood with his bulk at Kluvensiek and surrounding area, with the avant-garde in wood Bunge Witten Lake, roads both to Rendsburg leading before troops.Wallmoden was received no message from thorn mountain on the move towards of the Danes from Kiel. The removal of large columns on Eckernfrde had quite mad led the General, causes some of his troops to plunder, and deducted from further education. The 3rd Hussar regiment was taken 2 squads on Gro Wittensee and had sent patrols against Eckernfrde, also the March of Danish ammunition wagons of Eckernfrde on Rendsburg. Any enlightenment which keel failed on the part of the General von Drnberg.For December 10th, Dornberg arranged the March of GR. Wittensee, where he gathered his troops, 8 o'clock in the morning, after Eckernfrde. Although rifle fire from Habye North Sehestedt sounded across during the Assembly of troops, he ordered but the move and moved without leaving the cause of gun fire, on the road to Eckernfrde until Marienthal before, only in thought, still get the Danes on their March to Eckernfrde. At Marienthal, he learned of a squadron of Russian German Hussars that his assumption was erroneous, and now after reversed Gr. Wittensee, came but too late even to access a.Also Wallmodens troops were lined up against 8 o'clock in the morning. In the March column, they went over the bridge from Cluvensiek, crossed Osterrade and reached with the tip just Sehestedt, Holtsee on resin Court-Eckernfrde continue to move, when they were attacked by the Danish avant-garde of the Prince of Hesse with great severity. Northwest Habye small departments of Spike response were to avant-garde, East on the March after Gr. Wittensee were walking around the Wittensee, suddenly attacked by Danes at Habye, and the collector Gr. Wittensee not reached had, already in the fire. Wallmoden itself was close to it, to be taken prisoner, succeeded him but still fast with the battalion to occupy Anhalt Sehestedt, before the enemy approach was. The 6th and 7th Russian German battalion and the Hanoverian foot battery Wiering were brought forward in great haste.

Sehestedt a fierce battle developed now, as the Danes had to necessarily have this place if they wanted to keep marching on Rendsburg. Wallmodens troops arrived only slowly from the long column, while the Danes were densely closed up marches. Thus succeeded the latter to throw back the forces of the allies of Sehestedt on Osterrade about 10 o'clock to remove 2 guns and a number of prisoners on them.Northwest Osterrade, the fight came to a stop. Here also the half battalion of the German Legion under Holtz er man lineup had taken under other battalions.All attempts, again taking Sehestedt, this thorn Hill to restore the connection and to move the March to Rendsburg, the Danes failed to the bravery of the Danes, their superiority and advance time, they had won. Wallmoden had to go back behind the channel. At 3: 00 the fight stopped and the Danes moved, from protected by an Arrieregarde under Lallemand, undisturbed to Rendsburg.The losses of the Corps of wallmoden in this battles were 1,129 man, of which about 600 prisoners very significantly, namely 42 officers. The Danes lost only 17 officers and 531 men. The half battalion of the German Legion had to lament the loss of the captain's Holtz er man who was caught with 10 men and the wounding of Lieutenant Macdonald. About further losses, information are not available for the already stated reasons.The flag of the battalion Lauenburg would have been almost in the hands Fnenscher Dragoons as Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Halkett, the brave legionnaire, niederhieb the front rider with his short curved sword.The horsemen batteries of the Legion, divided on this day of the avant-garde of Dornberg, did not come to intervene.The mishap of the Corps of wallmoden in Sehestedt must be regarded as a totally undeserved. It is especially characteristic evidence of warfare of the Crown Prince of Sweden, the largest March effort seemed to not only the Wallmodenschen Corps, but entrusted him with even the most dangerous items, and still on top of the promised Division robbed the General Vegesack. (Follow-up to the very interesting operations before December 10 and during the battle at Sehestedt has to fail is the author here unfortunately, because the German Legion, it is not particularly emerged.)The battle of Sehestedt made yielding against the peace proposals of the Danes the Crown Prince. A biweekly truce was first closed on December 15 while the wallmoden's Corps watched the fortress of Rendsburg.Also the Danish fortifications Friedrichsort and Glckstadt by Swedish troops had now been included. 2 Howitzers of blind Legion artillery Lieutenant Bacon man and 2 of battery Wiering under the Lieutenant Dehnel and Whler were sent against the latter. Lucky city was bombed by the 26th of December and only surrendered on January 5; the German Gunners lost 2 men from this fortress.

The Holstein campaign of 1813-14 Termination of the Holstein campaignand let's go to Holland

On January 5, 1814, at the end of the truce the Danes still not wanted to agree to the Swedish conditions, the fine Beatitudes on the new began and now only a cease-fire on 9 led to the Treaty of Kiel (January 14, 1814), which Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden, Helgoland in England and only Swedish Pomerania (June 4 Denmark Swedish Pomerania against Lauenburg to Prussia traded.), Rgen and the immediate evacuation of Holstein were entitled to received. For Bernadotte was the conclusion of this peace of just yet to right time, on the day before a very determined held touch of England had entered the, in which the immediate posting of wallmoden's Corps was called and threatened with setting another Subsidium payments if the Crown Prince did not immediately move up to joint warfare against Napoleon to Holland.Wallmodens Corps remained until January 17 at Neumnster, was then on the Elbe, this with the British and Hanoverian troops on the 21st on the ice between Blankenese and Borstel North Buxtehude and step now - after a few days of rest in quarters at Buxtehude - to blockades of Harburg.Dehnel writes about this Elbe transition:"The crossing over the river Elbe up against Glckstadt down with ice-covered was for several days this specially prepared, that had covered the ice rink foreseen from with straw and again sprinkled it with water, causing a new ice situation was formed in severe cold conditions in and over the straw. In this way, you had side by side produced several cars, but still very annoying and not were to happen without danger.In fact, it granted a peculiar spectacle our hauled on the sledge similar documents used guns and powder car, in whose wake the individual riding horses in the distance in a row on this fragile way over the wide power take more than an hour to see something would later occurring thaw here made the transition almost to the impossibility."We have here not to deal with us as Hussars and the two horsemen batteries the command were the 3rd increasing Graham's Corps before Antwerp and after some weeks of rest in quarters in Bremen, the Hussars and Osterholz Scharmbeck, marched off to Holland with the blockade of Harburg.From their quarters, they departed on 15 February and mid March, where a few months later the whole corps of wallmoden again found himself together reached Holland. They no longer came to a warlike use.The Legion was only Captain Jasper to the lead of foot battery Wiering in the Corps of wallmoden; all other Legion officers resigned on February 1, 1814, to the Legion, Royal during the Hanoverian new formations of the year 1813 as the root for the new Hanoverian army on that day in Hannover sold came over and instead of the previously mentioned English badges that her country applied.The Legion infantry of Holtz er Manns remained in Bremerlehe and erected a promotional for the Legion. Still located at foot battery Wiering Legion members were now a sufficient number of trained artillerymen was available, allocated the 5th laid during this time to Hanover foot company.Should be mentioned, that when leaving the 3rd pronounced wallmoden Hussars from his Corps in an order of the day "with regret, no longer able to be personally to say goodbye, his special satisfaction with the behavior and the services of the regiment from the regiment".The remaining Corps of Wallmoden did not triumph, removing Hamburg during the war , as it was also in the Netherlands and in France Legion troops not to see the fall of Antwerp and Bayonne.As General Lyon (wallmoden itself was already on February 26 with the Russo German Legion and the Kielmanseggeschen hunters from Bremen to the Netherlands marched off.) Mid-April was replaced by Russian militia from Harburg and now also moved to the Netherlands via Bremen, that blew the French flag by displaying and Hamburg's ramparts still undefeated. In brave hand, Davout held the fortress, until he finally received the full certainty on Napoleon's fall and the recognition of the Bourbons from Paris. Only on May 31, 1814 - on the anniversary of the occupation of Hamburg by Taggart - Russians under Bennigsen moved into the hard tested Hanseatic City."The fortification and defense of this city is one of the militarily most important and most interesting achievements of all time, they submitted, also like you have written so much opposite this, Marshal Davout to glory that fadeth not away, but only in the eyes of those who have sense and understanding, are enough in objective to recognize these properties even when the opponents for military energy, rigour and perseverance." (That has been Davout by no means "the executioner of Hamburg", but one of the finest and noblest characters under the Napoleonic marshals is already proven. Nevertheless the traditional condemnation of Davout in a large part of German history literature continues again and again, and a regrettable mistake went under in this regard even a Moltke in his last Reichstag speech.)Davout in Hamburg, Thouvenot in Bayonne, Carnot in Antwerp: there were three Shining stars in the darkened sky of Napoleonic war glory!

The service the German Legion gave was finished with the Holstein campaign. From the confusing plethora of far from the sole proprietorships we enter now into the massive transmission of a historical campaign, in the blood-soaked fields of Waterloo.Fate that placed the Royal German Legion against the great God of battles ;though few in number ,they gained immortality in battle, and the fame acquired in the Spanish wars proved their worth beyond doubt!