In his highly detailed report of the 19th June 1815, Friedrich von Wissell recalled the heavy enemy cannonade at the start of the Battle of Waterloo on Sunday 18th June: ‘At 11 o’clock in the morning we were ordered to occupy a height in three lines, which the enemy cannonaded at once. Nevertheless, our losses were slight; Major Chuede of the 4th Battalion and some 30 men were killed. Shortly before four o’clock we advanced, formed square (4 deep) in line and with the cavalry, whereupon Colonel du Plat’s horse was shot and he was wounded in the abdomen. We then advanced in echelon. Half a battalion was formed from the four rifle companies, and placed under the command of Captain Heise of the 4th Line Battalion. They had to clear a wood on our right flank of Tirailleurs, and met with determined resistance, but charged and threw them back.’ It should also be noted that the entire contents of this file are available in the on-line archive.

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