The Adventures of Henri Bonhomme - Episode 2: The Battle of Blasthof Bridge

Previous Episodes

Episode 1: The Affair at Seusslitz

The Battle of Blasthof Bridge - 22 September 1813

Henri Bonhomme was pleased that not only had he secured a tidy haul of artwork from Schloss Seusslitz, but the fighting around the town had been conducted with minimal loss. Since the Austrians appeared not to be pursuing he sent word ahead for the rest of the division to press on while he and his small force would catch up. His temporary delay in the retreat would probably go unnoticed by higher command.

His little column had left Seusslitz at 1:30 PM the previous day and marched until 5:30, when he halted for the night. With Baillard he viewed and then carefully packed the treasures that had been gathered at Schloss Seusslitz for transport back to France. Baillard would accompany them back to the estate near Bordeaux, but there were still more treasures with the divisional train that would need to be packed first. They planned to merge the collections when they got to Leipzig.

Bonhomme consulted with Colonel de Serville about the best route to take to rejoin the division. De Serville said they would have to cross the Pizzlewitz River. 

"It's not wide", the colonel explained, "but it is steep banked and there are few practical places to cross the guns and the wagon. With the Austrians behind us the nearest good bridge is at Blasthof".  

Bonhomme instructed him to set off at daybreak to secure the place. He then settled down to sleep for the night.

*******

At 44 years of age Major General Helmut von Pannewitz had been a soldier for 20 years. He had suffered the humiliation of 1806 and had reluctantly gone to Russia when Bonaparte forced Prussia to supply a contingent for the 1812 campaign. Now with Germany rising against the French he was desperate to get at them. An opportunity had come his way as a result of the affair at Seusslitz.  Rumour has it that bumbling the Austrian Hockmiseter sent a single landwehr battalion to Seusslitz when he should have send a full brigade. The landwehr had been roughly handled and the French were free to move towards Blasthof, where the nearest bridge of any substance stood. Pannewitz sought to intercept them if they made for the place.

*******

Bonhomme had his troops up before dawn and as the skies lightened had them on the road. Blasthof was only three kilometers away so he should cover the distance in less than an hour and be across the river an hour later. From there it was a relatively short march to catch up with the rest of the division. But the column had been on the road for no more than twenty minutes when smoke was seen up ahead. De Serville rode in shortly after reporting that Russian cossacks riding far forward of their main body had beaten him to Blasthof and fired the bridge. The first of his troopers had ridden up as the locals were damping out the last hot spots.

Fortunately only the centre span had been damaged, but repairs were required to permit the troops to cross. 

De Serville went on to report that the Austrians at Seusslitz had been reinforced and were moving slowly forward, while Prussian troops had been reported moving in from the Northeast.

“Is Blasthof defensible?” Bonhomme asked.

“Yes”, was the reply. "The town itself is quite compact and the ground to the north and east is broken so any attacking force would struggle to form up. But it's exposed to the south.”

Bonhomme though for a moment. There was no choice he had to go on, repair the bridge and get across the river. He ordered that the head of the column pick up the pace and secure the town while the remainder of the column, with it slower moving wagon, continued.

*******

Pannewitz recieved permission from his divisional commander to move on Blasthof, but his brigade was make up was less than optimal. His most reliable troops were a unit of jägers, while the reminder of his brigade was made up of four battalions of landwehr and two reserve battalions. He had managed to convince his senior to assign him a half battery and a regiment of landwehr cavalry. It was hardly a strike force, but he had heard that the bridge at Blasthof had been destroyed so if he could get there quickly the French would be forced to attack him in a fixed position.

*******

Albrecht Hockmiseter was annoyed that his afternoon with the lovely Helga had been interrupted by that affair at Seusslitz. His subordinate, Holzinger, had panicked when he encountered a small French force and called for reinforcements. A battalion of infantry was sent to support him and the French retreated. Where was the problem? That evening he was ordered to push those French harder. Unwilling to allow Holzinger’s panicking to further interfere he decided to take is entire division after the French, giving orders to Holzinger to locate and hold the French in position, but not engage them seriously until he could bring up the whole force.

*******

Bonhomme arrived in Blasthof shortly after 8:00 AM. He could see the damage and was pleased to see that the supports were intact, but it would take some time to make repairs sufficient to allow troops and traffic to cross.

He had with him 1st and 4th Battalions, 33rd Legere, a company from 3rd Battalion and three squadrons of de Serville’s Chasseurs a Cheval. The rest of the column was a good 45 minutes to one hour behind. He sent the cavalry out to the north and east to watch for Prussians and put the two battalions in position to cover the northeastern approaches of the town. The men from the single company he assigned the task of rebuilding the bridge, instructing them to take the timber from an abandoned barn nearby. 

Then he sent back to the main column to send the remainder of 3rd Battalion and the regimental guns forward at the double.

De Serville soon made contact with the leading elements of the Prussians and fell back slowly in the face of superior numbers.

*******

Pannewitz rode forward to the of crest of the hill that overlooked Blasthof. He didn’t like what he saw. The French held the town and at least two, maybe three battalions and an undermined number of guns. Less than 300 paces from the edge of the town stood a two small woods and a small farm. The area in front of the town was swarming with French skirmishers, protected by several squadrons of cavalry.

“My God,” the thought. “There is nowhere to form up that will be safe from fire!” He looked to the south where there was space, but he would have to swing wide to get there and he could see French troops there too, at least two battalions and some cavalry. Maybe bring the guns and the jägers up by the farm, hold the French in the town in place then swing south to hit that second group before they could get to the town....

He gave the order. The landwehr cavalry and five battalions would extend to the left, with the sixth battalion as liaison between the flankers and the jägers. His plan was to get in between the two French bodies, destroy the smaller one and then move on the town. If he could keep the pressure on them he might be able to hit them before the bridge could be rebuilt.

The columns moved smoothly and swiftly to the left and he watched them with pride. Way to the south, in the distance, past the French he saw something. He focused the telescope. 

“AUSTRIANS! ” he thought. “Damn it! That bumbling idiot Hockmeister coming up to claim the glory. Well not today!” Pannewitz hurried on to the head of the column. He ordered the colonel of the cavalry to deploy then advance as quickly as he could and strike at the French infantry column on the road.

*******

Bonhomme watched as his light companies skirmished with the Prussians around the farm while the rest of the column progressed slowly. Fearing that the Prussians might swing south he ordered de Serville to leave one squadron in support of the battalions facing northeast and send the other two back towards the column on the road.

The chasseurs had only just cleared the town when the Prussian squadrons wheeled into line. De Serville deployed two squadrons en-echelon between the town and the column, the second squadron some 50 paces behind the first. The third squadron, that was with the marching column, formed almost at right-angles to the other two squadrons. Both French and Prussian squadrons were wary. Bonhomme watched nervously. He had known de Serville for years and knew him to be a skilled cavalry officer, but after the losses of the Russian campaign the cavalry in 1813 was not the cavalry of earlier years. 

The infantry escorting the wagon were equally nervous. If the French troopers failed the Prussians could spill through onto them. The 2nd Battalion, that was in the lead, formed square while the 5th Battalion, escorting the wagon, passed behind them.

Suddenly it was all on. The Prussian troopers surged forward en-masse. De Serville counter-charged with his lead squadron and although outnumbered the French troopers slowed the Prussian attack. When the second squadron charged the Prussian troopers were halted. Then finally the third squadron slammed into the flank of the Prussians.

*******

Pannewitz was amazed that the cavalry had surged forward in one mass. Wisdom said to commit squadrons sequentially. He watched in horror as the French drove in the flank. 

The Prussian horsemen came thundering back with French cavalry in pursuit. A landwehr battalion fearing the worst broke and fled to the woods, but the two reserve battalions behind them coolly formed square. Some of the French troopers plunged out of control into the wall of bayonets, but most managed to rein in and fall back on their own infantry.

Pannewitz scrambled to stabilise his line, but it was no easy task to settle the nervous landwehr. By the time he had sorted out the battalions, the French of the marching column had reached the town and were forming up. 

*******

With relief Bonhomme watched his wagon reach the shelter of the town. 

All of the infantry was soon safely positioned around the town and de Serville's Chasseurs à Cheval were reforming along the river bank. The bridge repair was progressing, albeit slower than he wanted, but within the next hour or so it would be strong enough to take traffic.

He was happy with his position. It was strong and difficult for the enemy to get at him, but what concerned him was that there was a column of Austrians coming up from the south and if they possessed artillery they could interfere with the crossing and possibly damage the fragile bridge repairs. 

As midday approached the Prussians had established a fighting line of four battalions faced by the reformed chasseurs next to the river. Seeing that de Serville's troopers could achieve little in their position Bonhomme brought them inside the town limits. As he watched the last of the chasseurs pass though the battle line there was a burst of musketry to the south. It started with a spattering of skirmisher fire, followed by a crashing volley. The Prussians were surging in.

*******

Pannewitz had ordered the jägers and the artillery create distraction. They were to increase their fire and make it look as though an attack on the northeastern side of the town was immanent, while he organised the troops to the south.

The landwehr battalion that had fled to the woods was reformed and left there. The battalion that had been in the woods as the liaison with the jägers was brought forward, The two reserve battalions were formed in line in the front with three landwehr battalions in column to the rear. A few groups of of Frei Korps riflemen covered the front.

He looked to the south and could see the Austrians getting closer. It was time to strike and he gave the order to advance.

The riflemen were quickly engaged is a heavy skirmish with the French voltigeurs, who fell back in the face of the Prussian advance. When the advance got to within 200 paces of the town limits, the French light infantry fell back into their lines. The French opened with a noisy, but ineffective volley. The range was too great and Pannewitz pushed the battalions on. The reservists were doing well. When they got to within 100 paces he ordered them to halt and fire. The line was quickly shrouded in smoke and he could not judge the effect of the fire.

The French returned fire, this time with good effect. Both sides began to trade volleys. Losses amongst the reservists began to mount and they began to give ground.

Pannewitz knew he could not win a fire fight here, the French were too well positioned. He ordered the three landwehr battalions forward. They were to carry the village at bayonet point.

*******

Bonhomme watched the developing action to the south with concern. The activity to the northeast did not look serious so he bought the five companies of 3rd Battalion back from that front to the southern end of the town as a reserve. Then he rode over to where the bridge builders were at work.

“When will it be ready?” he asked the captain in charge.

“Soon Sir.” was the reply. “We have just some boards on the central section to secure now.”

“As soon as you can, get that wagon across, then the cavalry.”

The captain nodded and Bonhomme headed for the southern part of the town.

*******

The landwehr surged passed Pannewitz as he urged them on. Their columns passed through the stalled reserve battalions into the deadly final 50 paces in front of the town.

Immediately two crashing volleys and canister from the regimental guns tore into the Prussian columns that staggered to a halt a mere 30 paces from the French position. The Prussian officers urged the men to push on, but the advance had stalled. The columns were too tightly grouped and they could not form line to meet the French fire that tore into them again.

*******

Bonhomme arrived at the line to the south just at the Prussian advance was brought to a halt. He called on the men to reload and fire as rapidly as they could. Some companies continued with volley fire while others opened independent fire, but the fire was maintained and he could see that the Prussians were staggering backwards. The ground before them littered with dead and wounded.

After a few moments he saw that they were in a disordered retreat. His lines had held and the immediate threat was removed. But through the smoke, behind the retreating Prussians he could see more troops coming up.

He glanced back at the bridge and saw the first of de Serville’s chasseurs crossing, leading their horses, but the wagon was still on the near bank. “Damn it,” he thought. “I said the wagon first!”. But there was nothing to be done now.

*******

Pannewitz was astounded at how quickly the landwehr had been repulsed. They came streaming back in complete disorder. Some were running in full panic. Many were without weapons. He was immediately fearful that the French would counterattack. He rode into the mass of retreating men and tried to rally the companies that were still in good order. Some men rallied but the vast majority headed for the high ground beyond the woods.

Having built something of a line he was relieved to see that the French we not following. But he was deeply annoyed to see that the Austrians were beginning to deploy.

*******

During the previous evening Holzinger had received word from Hockmeister that the division would follow the French at daybreak, but he was to await the arrival of the main body before commencing his advance. However, Holzinger had no intention of waiting and set his column in motion at daybreak. Shortly after 9:30 he heard gunfire ahead and send a squadron of hussars forward to scout. The hussars quickly reported that the Prussians were engaged with the French at Blasthof.

Anxious to avenge the embarrassment of the previous day Holzinger pushed on. By 10:00 he had deployed about 1,000 paces south of Blasthof and was watching the last of the Prussians retreat from a failed attempt to storm the place when Hockmeister galloped up.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Hockmeister demanded.

“I moved at first light, as instructed sir. Locate and hold were the orders. There they are, sir and I am positioned to hold them,”, Holzinger replied.

“I don't want to start a fight until the main body to arrives,” Hockmeister said. "I don't want a repeat of yesterday."

Smarting under the insinuation that he had bungled the previous day's fight Holzinger asked “what am I to do, sir? If we wait for the main body, they will get away”

Hockmeister paused, then said “we have to attack and drive them into the river!”

“Do you think that wise, sir? They look to be in a strong position and it seems that they have just driven off an attack by the Prussians. We only have three battalions, a battery and some hussars. They look to have a five or six battalions, but don’t seem to have many guns, so might it not be better to sit back for a while and bombard them. We might even be able to do some damage to the bridge that they are working on.”

Hockmeister thought on the matter. After a minute or so he said’ “what we will do is hold position here and soften them up with gunfire. See if you can direct fire on that bridge.” And with that he turned and rode back towards the main body, the head of which was visible two or three kilometers back.

“Idiot,” Holzinger said under his breath and rode off to see the battery commander.

*******

Bonhomme was pleased that the Prussians had been beaten off so easily, but the sight of the Austrians deploying behind them was alarming. He looked back at the bridge and the chasseurs were still crossing and his wagon was standing by. He rode back to hurry things along.

As he arrived at the bridge the last of the chasseurs were crossing. He sought out the supervising captain.

“Get that wagon across the bridge now,” he demanded.

The captain nodded and called to his men to get it moving. Just then the Austrian battery opened.

The first shots fell amongst the infantry, but Bonhomme knew it would only be a matter of time before the gunners would take aim on the bridge - its what he would do - and now that his precious wagon was lumbering its way across the rickety bridge he needed to make preparations to extract the rest of his command.

First he ordered the 3rd Battalion, its bridge building company having rejoined it, to take post nearer to the bridge that it could cover the withdrawal of the other battalions. Then he ordered the 2nd and 4th Battalions, east of the town to begin to withdraw, stepping back one after the other, and to detach their voltigeur companies and send them to the southern edge.

He glanced across the bridge and saw that the wagon was on its way across, but the Austrian gunners were trying to get a line on the bridge, their roundshot splashing in the water.

It was time to go. He called the 1st and 5th Battalions back with instructions to screen the withdrawal with the voltigeurs.

As soon as the battalions began to move back the Austrians began to advance. This might be close run thing.

*******

Holzinger saw the French infantry start to withdraw and saw his chance he ordered the jägers and the grenz battalion to push forward. One section of the battery was tasked with firing on the bridge, while the other three threw shot at the retreating French. The landwehr battalion was held back in reserve. He wanted to take the town and capture as many French as he could before the idiot returned.

********

Bonhomme watched with relief as the wagon reached the further bank. He then ordered the regimental guns across to be followed by 2nd and 4th Battalions. The commander of the guns was instructed to place charge in the centre of the bridge that would be blown when the last troops crossed. He then went to the 3rd Battalion near the bridge to make sure all was well.

Three battalions were gathered here and five companies of voltigeurs were covering them deployed in the houses and gardens of the town.

The Austrians were closing in. These were good troops, jägers and grenz infantry, experts in this type of fighting. He could see them moving is small groups, house to house, yard to yard. He heard firing on the left and reports came that Prussian jägers were entering the town from the east. He looked back and saw the last platoons of 4th Battalion start on the bridge. He ordered the 1st Battalion to move off, it was going to be at least another half hour before the town was cleared.

He could do little more now. He called the commanders of 3rd and 5th Battalions to him and instructed them to fall back across the bridge as soon as it was clear. The voltigeurs were to continue to cover the retreat then cross themselves.

With those instructions given he rode across the bridge with the 4th Battalion.

*******

The Austrian jägers entered the town first. They quickly secured the first group of houses but then became engaged in a sharp fire fight with the French voltigeurs. The grenz battalion was slow in coming up, but when they entered the fight the Austrian superior numbers began to tell and the French began to give ground. Holzinger was forward with the jägers and to the right he heard German voices. He soon saw Prussian jägers moving to their support. The French were falling back rapidly through the town. Holzinger joined the lead company of the grenz battalion in the square near the bridge, where a mass of French troops were preparing to cross. He tried to form the company to charge the French and capture as many of them as possible, but before he could get them into line they were struck by a fearful volley.

 *******

From across the river Bonhomme could see that the last two battalions had not yet cleared the bridge and, seeing the voltigeurs retreating at pace, they began to panic and run. The officers tried to calm and slow them, but their efforts were to no avail. Bonhomme began to fear that the bridge would not hold up. 

Looking back across river he saw the first Austrians enter the square.

"My God," he thought, "they could cut off an entire battalion."

A roundshot from the Austrian battery plunged into the water too close to the bridge supports for comfort. He ordered the regimental guns to unlimber and see if they could distract the Austrian gunners.

Then from across the river he heard the crash of musketry. He quickly trained telescope on the end of the bridge and to his delight saw that the grenadier company from 5th Battalion had turned about and fired at the Austrians. Then he heard a shout and saw the grenadiers advancing rapidly with bayonets levelled. The Austrians were not properly formed and  broke before the advance, running back into the streets, obstructing the others trying to push forward. The grenadiers halted, then facing the town began to step back across the bridge that was now clear of other troops. 

As the grenadiers made it to the half-way point the Prussian jägers appeared at the far end and began to fire. Several grenadiers fell and the jägers pressed forward. Another roundshot splashed near the bridge, then another struck it taking down several grenadiers. The survivors began to run across the bridge. The river bank was now lined with French infantry and the Prussians thought better than to try to push any further forward. 

As the grenadiers neared the end of the bridge, with their comrades cheering them on, an artillery sergeant lit the fuse to the charge and sprinted back. No sooner had he reached the river bank than the charge blew, sending the timbers flying into the air.

*******

With some annoyance Holzinger watched the French move away from the river bank, out of the range of his guns. The French skirmishers had put up a good fight, gaining just enough time for them to withdraw. He had only just managed to escape from the attack of the French grenadiers himself by diving across a fence by the tavern.

Doubtless the idiot Hockmeister would find fault with his actions. If the gunners had been able to hit the bridge he might have been able to capture some of them, but there wasn't much else that he could have done. He ordered that pickets be placed and then had the rest of the force go into bivouac.

*******

It was a satisfactory day for Bonhomme. He had managed to extract the brigade from an awkward position for the cost of no more than 150-170 casualties. More importantly his wagon load of loot was safe. It was just past 1:30 PM  when he got the column back on the road. Within a two or three hours he would be back with the rest of his division.

TO BE CONTINUED...