Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo took place on Sunday 18th June 1815 to the south of Brussels. Forces of the French Empire led by Napoleon were beaten by the Seventh Coalition led by the Duke of Wellington.
The previous year, 25 years of war had come to an end with the surrender of Napoleon has his exile on the island of Elba. On 1st March 1815, Napoleon escaped and returned to France. By 20th March he was in Paris and had regained the title “Emperor”. European allies once again assembled their armies and moved to resume the war to overthrow Napoleon.
Napoleon planned to defeat the British, Prussian, Belgian and Dutch armies before other nations could come to their assistance. At the strategically important crossroads at Quatre Bras, Marshall Ney had been expected by Napoleon to take the crossroads thus opening the Nivelles-Namur road towards the French and Prussian forces at Ligny. However, Ney failed to take Quatre Bras which meant Napoleon had a smaller force to engage the Prussians.
The Prussians were engaged at Ligny, subsequently defeated driven away to the East. Napoleon sent Marshall Grouchy in pursuit while he turned his attention to the British. Significantly, the Prussians had not been decisively beaten. If Ney had given Napoleon the victory he wanted at Quatre Bras, the Prussians may have been knocked out of the war.
How The Battle of Waterloo Played Out
The Battle of Waterloo took place on Sunday 18th June 1815 to the south of Brussels. Forces of the French Empire led by Napoleon were beaten by the Seventh Coalition led by the Duke of Wellington.
The previous year, 25 years of war had come to an end with the surrender of Napoleon has his exile on the island of Elba. On 1st March 1815, Napoleon escaped and returned to France. By 20th March he was in Paris and had regained the title “Emperor”. European allies once again assembled their armies and moved to resume the war to overthrow Napoleon.
Napoleon planned to defeat the British, Prussian, Belgian and Dutch armies before other nations could come to their assistance. At the strategically important crossroads at Quatre Bras, Marshall Ney had been expected by Napoleon to take the crossroads thus opening the Nivelles-Namur road towards the French and Prussian forces at Ligny. However, Ney failed to take Quatre Bras which meant Napoleon had a smaller force to engage the Prussians.
The Prussians were engaged at Ligny, subsequently defeated driven away to the East. Napoleon sent Marshall Grouchy in pursuit while he turned his attention to the British. Significantly, the Prussians had not been decisively beaten. If Ney had given Napoleon the victory he wanted at Quatre Bras, the Prussians may have been knocked out of the war.
How The Battle of Waterloo Played Out
Wellington had positioned himself on a ridge running East-West. In front of the ridge was the chateau of Hougoumont and to the extreme left, the hamlet of Papelotte. Both were fortified and garrisoned. In front was the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte which was garrisoned by 400 infantry.
On the morning of the 18th June 1815, Napoleon was told that the Prussians were heading towards them but dismissed the report believing they would take 2 days to arrive. Heavy rain the previous day had left the ground sodden which meant it was difficult for Napoleon to manoeuvre his artillery and cavalry. The attack commenced at 11am with a French bombardment of Hougoumont. British cannon replied and French infantry attacked. Fighting around Hougoumont continued all day.
At around 1:30pm, the French started to attack from opposite La Haye Sante on Wellington’s Left and Centre. After a 30 minute barrage, the French advanced straight by La Haye Sante and up to the crest of the ridge. As the French approached the British on the ridge, they were driven back.
Cavalry supported the British infantry but as they charged, they were ordered to recall. However, recalling committed cavalry is easier said than done and some continued across the valley and into French cavalry where they were overwhelmed.
In late afternoon, the Prussians that Napoleon believed were 2 days march away arrived on the field. Napoleon ordered Ney to take La Haye Sante and it was during this assault, Ney saw what he believed was parts of the Allied army withdrawing. In response, the impetuous Ney sent a massive cavalry charge on the Allied lines. The Allies formed Square and time and again they repelled the French attacks. Ney finally attacked and took La Haye Sante and with Wellingtons Centre exposed, Napoleon committed his last reserves to action – the previously undefeated Imperial Guard.
As the Imperial Guards advanced, the split into 3 distinct forces. One defeated Wellington’s first British line but they faltered and broke when charged at by Chasse’s Dutch brigade. Further West, 1,500 British Guards had been lying down to protect themselves from the artillery. As the Imperial Guards approached, the British rose and devastated them with point blank fire. The third section of Imperial Guards came under crippling fire from the 52nd Light Infantry. With this, they broke too.
Panic spread through the French lines as these elite soldiers fell back, a beaten force. Wellington stood up in his stirrups and waving his hat in the air, signaled a general advance.
The Seventh Coalition suffered around 22,000 casualties at Waterloo while the French suffered around 25,000. The decisive victory saw the end of 26 years of fighting between France and the European powers.
