Bouillé and the Battle of Grünberg.

The Hills of Stagenrod - ("It burns and it dares"),

 

Once the dragoons reached the hill top, they form a column as they prepared for the attack. The men struggled to keep the horses calm. They felt the cold wind in their faces but the heavy coat of the uniform kept the cold away. Their eyes were fixed at the Comte. The very first order was to head for the hills of Stagenrod and await further instructions. “Hold – stay in line” the Captain shouted and then he turned his attention to Comte, as the Comte contemplated their next move. Francois Claude was thrilled; he had trained and study for years in order for a day like this. He was nervous and yet his heart was filled with joy as he had longed to join his forefather´s long history of military conquest. He was only 16 when he joined the army – but now at the age of 22 he felt as ready and determined as ever before – this was his time to shine. On that hilltop there was good view of the surrounding landscape. The French army was an impressive sight and yet the thing that caught everyone attention was the large group of soldiers at the foot of the hill. They filled the plain fields just outside the small village. A huge numbers of men, horses, tents and small camp fires this was clearly an significant part of the allied army at rest. But Bouillé had his eye fixed at one very important thing he had recognized the banner of the Prince.  This was not just any part of the allied army this was the prince himself.

-“This is it” he thought to himself. Not to rush things or disobey orders – but prove that he belong amongst his families great warriors. –“Now and just in this moment I´ll success and make my family pride and my name honor”.  He looked to the Comté. He so hoped for the order to attack. He could see that the Comte too was surprised by their find but the Comte was not one to act without careful planning. Bouillé was also a man of preparation but now he was eager to fight. During his many nights of studying he had learn a lot about successful army campaigns’ and he knew that this element of surprise was a great advantage for them and waiting too long would be a loss of this advantage. He was thoroughly tempted to leave his station and ride when the sound of soldiers attacking froze both the French as well as the allied troops. Closen had preferred to open with his artillery on the closest Allied units.

The Comte was left no choice:” Attack” he cried out and lifted his sable. Bouillé drew his sable and drove his horse forward. “For King, country and glory” he thought and looked for the first allied soldier in his path.

This premature attack gave the prince and the Allied army to opportunity to retired precipitously from the village and formed on the heights behind Atzenhain.
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Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand
Hereditary Prince of Brunswick (1735-80) and Duke of Brunswick (1780-1806)