Incoming! Epic Battles: Blücher’s Prussian Army

Upon the launch of Epic Battles: Waterloo early this year, there was one army that was conspicuously absent in the lineup. It seems they were caught up in a minor skirmish at Ligny, but have successfully disengaged and are now marching to support Wellington in Epic scale. Pre-orders open for the brand new starter box, brigade boxes and supporting scenery sets this Friday 15 April 2022.

The Prussian Army

After Napoleon entered Paris and started the Hundred Days campaign, King William II of Prussia recalled Blücher from his retirement in Silesia and set him the task of facing down the upstart Frenchman. He was placed in command of the Army of the Lower Rhine and quickly marched west to join the Anglo-Dutch allies, hoping to consolidate their forces.

Unfortunately, the Prussian army was hastily assembled and pressed into the field ill-equipped. Over a third of the force was Landwehr (militia), some of which marched barefoot to war. At the Battle of Ligny, the Prussian army faced Napoleon directly and was roundly beaten, Blücher himself being trapped and injured under his dead horse for hours. The Battle of Waterloo provided a chance at redemption.

A considerable amount of praise must be heaped upon the Prussians at Waterloo. Blücher kept his promise to Wellington and through sheer determination ensured that Prussian forces arrived to swing the balance in the favour of Britain and her allies.

New Box Sets

Blücher’s Prussian Army Starter Set

As with the French and British starter army boxes, the Blücher’s Prussian Army starter box is absolutely stuffed with well over 1,000 model soldiers, and a tremendous Windmill MDF scenery piece with which to dress your battlefield.

A trio of brigade box sets will be available to augment your forces:

Prussian Infantry

Smartly dressed in sombre dark uniforms the ranked columns of Prussian infantry marched steadily to face Napoleon. Even after suffering a bitter defeat Ligny, in the midst of retreat, the disciplined professional soldiers were still able to muster their resolve and turn to England’s aid, falling on Napoleon’s flank at the pivotal moment during the Battle of Waterloo.

Hundreds of men marched and fought in formation, led by able commanders, and supported by the furious roar of 12-pounder artillery batteries. The timing of Prussia’s arrival at Waterloo proved impeccable.

Prussian Cavalry

Thousands of cavalry rode with the Prussian army, forming intimidating walls of charging horse flesh. The Dragoons formed the shock heavy cavalry, pounding the enemy, while the more numerous Hussars acted as the eyes and ears of the divisions. It was brave lance-armed Uhlans that charged to Blücher’s rescue at Ligny. Following behind, ahead of the main army, were the skirmishing Jäger (hunter) light infantry.

While the cavalry ranged, searching for the enemy and attacking targets of opportunity, the 6-pounder horse artillery rapidly moved to a position to lay down fire.

Prussian Landwehr Brigade

After losing to Napoleon in 1806 the Treaty of Tilsit neutered the Prussian army, allowing the once proud country only a tiny standing army. Despite ingenious efforts to circumvent the wording of the treaty, the Prussian army that mustered to fight in the Hundred Days campaign was mostly made from volunteer Landwehr militia (literally, country defenders).

Ill-equipped and poorly trained, the Landwehr infantry and cavalry regiments made up for this deficit with sheer numbers and fierce determination. Regardless of the Landwehr quality, the elite jäger (hunter) units still skirmish ahead, protecting them and harrying the enemy.

New Scenery Sets

Alongside the new miniatures, we’ll be introducing two brand new scenery sets to add even more authenticity to your Waterloo themed games.

Plancenoit

The village of Plancenoit saw bitter hand-to-hand fighting and close-quarters carnage as von Bülow’s Prussian IV Korps entered the fray at Waterloo. This area of the battle is the subject of one of the scenarios in the Epic Battles: The Waterloo Campaign rulebook.

Papelotte Farm

The Allied garrison at the farm at Papelotte was instrumental to delaying Napoleon’s forces during the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon committed large numbers of troops to the capture or elimination of the site. Though they eventually achieved its capture, the Prussian arrival and the French troops’ general exhaustion prevented any further advance, and around an hour later the site (and La Haye Sainte) were in Prussian hands.

Pre-Order this weekend.

Pre-orders for the Prussian box sets and new scenery sets open Friday 15 April. There’ll also be a number of pre-order bundles, which will be the only way to secure the glorious limited edition miniature vignette Prussian Plancenoit Assault:

This depicts the Prussians storming into the fray at Waterloo late on the afternoon of June 18th 1815. It is based on the famous painting by artist Adolph Northen: