August von Kruse Major - General August von Kruse ( 1779 in Wiesbaden , Nassau ( modern - day Germany ) – January 1848 ) , was a general in the army of the Duke of Nassau during the Napoleonic Wars and an experimental farmer in his retirement . von Kruse organized the military of the state of Nassau during the Napoleonic Wars , and participated in the lengthy French campaign in the Iberian Peninsula ; under secret orders from his Duke , he switched sides in 1814 , and fought against the French in northern Europe . He commanded the Nassau infantry brigade at the Battle of Waterloo . In his retirement , he experimented in new farming and cattle breeding techniques on a small acreage given to him by the Duke of Nassau , exploring the problems in raising healthy cattle . Family and military career . August von Kruse was born in Wiesbaden in 1779 . His father , Karl Friedrich von Kruse ( 1737 – 1806 ) , a state official in the service of Nassau - Usingen , wrote several books on husbandry and household management , including " Lehrbegriffs der Landwirtschaft und Haushaltungskunste " for the Naussau schools in 1780 , and " Wahren Darstellung der grossen französichen Staatsrevolutions " in 1790 , which entered into several printings . His mother was Philippina Catherina von Bitburg ; he was their only son . Against the wishes of his father , at the age of 17 he joined the military . For seven years he served in the military of the Prince of Brunswick - Lüneburg . On 1 July 1803 , he accepted a commission as a captain in the Nassau - Weilburg military . At that time , the army of the principality consisted of two companies . With the merger of the principality of Nassau Weilburg with Nassau , the army expanded considerably , and Kruse received the rank of major . As a client state of France , Nassau supported Napoleon in the Prussian campaign of 1806 . By the end of the campaign , Kruse had been promoted to lieutenant colonel . In the summer of 1808 , Kruse commanded the 2nd Nassau Infantry Regiment No . 88 , and fought for the French in the Peninsular War . On 13 October 1808 , the regiment crossed the Spanish border . The Nasssauers participated in 42 battles , including the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813 . On 10 December 1813 , as Napoleon ' s empire crumbled in northern Europe , Kruse received secret orders from the Duke to join the British . He carefully maneuvered his men so they could march to the British line , upon which he announced their change of allegiance . Nassauers . Commanded by Major General von Kruse : Kruse ' s Nassauers , the 1st Nassau Infantry , were actually on the ridge in Wellington ' s left center at Waterloo , not at Hougoumont , as is sometimes reported ; Wellington apparently was familiar enough with Kruse ' s actions in the Peninsula to comment to him prior to the battle : " I hope , General , that your actions today are as clever when you are fighting for me as they were in Spain when you were fighting against me . " A small Dutch light infantry battalion was in the woods of Hougoumont throughout the daylong fight there . The 2nd Nassau Infantry , under Prince Bernard of Saxe Weimar , was on the Allied far left at Waterloo . Awards . von Kruse ' s decorations included the Grand Cross with Diamonds of the Imperial Russian Order of St . Anne , the Legion of Honour , Nassau ' s silver Waterloo Medal , and the insignia of a Knight of the Royal Netherlands Military Willems - Order . As a reward for his service , in 1822 the Duke gave Kruse received a farm by Eisenbach , in the Taunus . On this farm , he experimented with new methods of construction and cattle breeding , and published his findings , which formed the basis of new practices in farm management . He also experimented in the development of social networks to alleviate widespread suffering , such as alcohol abuse . Kruse married Baroness Henriette von Dungern , who died in 1873 , and they are both buried on the farm .