JG Miniatures is releasing a diorama of Hougoumont Farm this month. The diorama includes three fully three dimensional buildings , the centre house having a lift off roof, two pieces of garden wall and two detailed terrain bases, total overall dimensions when set up - 4 feet long x 18 inches deep x 14inches high. The piece will be available in its entirety at http://www.bgstoysoldiers.com/ in 3 to 4 weeks for: $1590.00 retail price. We will also be carrying the individual pieces separately. We will be putting the piece up for pre-order soon on our website. Due to the high cost of this entire diorama, we will only be ordering two full sets for starters, reserve yours today. This piece will go well with Collectors Showcase: Battle of Waterloo collection, Frontline Figures Napoleonic set, and King & Country's Napoleonic figures.
Hougoumont is a chateau/farm about 5km south of the town of Waterloo and played an integral part in the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. Wellington placed Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonnell in command of all the forces positioned at Hougoumont. This included the 2nd Battalion of Coldstream Guards, the 2nd Battalion of the Third Guards, and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the First Guards. Napoleon sent a concentrated attack on Hougoumont to draw Wellington's forces to his right flank in order to aide in defending Hougoumont. Napoleon then planned a counter attack at the British's main forces on the left center. Lt.-Colonel Macdonnell and his forces held off the French until the end of the battle.
Throughout the battle of Hougoumont, Napoleon directed 14000 troops to the fighting at Hougoumont and its surrounding areas. The turning point in the battle is believed to be when Sous-Lieutenant Legros, "The Slasher", wielding an axe broke through the Northern gate with a small group of the 1st Legre. As a counter, Macdonnell and a small party of officers fought through the ongoing fighting between the British troops stationed at the North gate and Legros and his raiding party to close the gate, which they did successfully. All 30 Frenchmen inside, including Legros himself were killed at this point. The only French survivor was a French drummer boy, who was released by the British forces. Each wave of French forces were repulsed from Hougoumont and the surrounding areas. Napoleon ordered the artillery to shell Hougoumont in the late afternoon, causing all of Hougoumont to burn. The only building left standing at the end of the battle was theChapel. Most of the surrounding areas were also burned. Today, the North gate and Chapel still stand as a memorial to the troops that bravely defended the chateau.
