Battle of Waterloo

The battles of Waterloo was held the June 18th 1815. It ended in the decisive victory of two armies: that of the British Allies made up mainly of and Dutch, ordered by the duke of Wellington, and that of the Prussians, ordered by the marshal Blücher; both opposed to the French army known as Army of North taken along by the Emperor Napoleon i.

The commune of Waterloo is located at a score of kilometers in the south of Brussels, in Belgium. The battle is also called by the partisans of Napoleon battles of Mount Midsummer's Day , place more precise of effective engagement.

This battle is the last to which share Napoleon Bonaparte took directly, which had taken again the control of France during the period known as of the Hundred Days . In spite of its desire to continue the fight with new forces which were reconstituted, it had, for lack of support political, to abdicate four days afterwards on its return to Paris.

Be a prelude to

In March 1815, a new coalition is constituted with the Congress of Vienna to fight Napoleon, which left the isle of Elba. Louis XVIII fled with Ghent. The army of allied (cf will infra) of Wellington and the Prussian army of Blücher arrive the first in Belgium.

The June 16th, the French troops are, the same day, opposed to units of Wellington to the Four-Arms (ten km in the south of the battle field of Waterloo) and to three of the four Prussian bodies with Ligny (ten km in the south-east of the Four-Arms).

The command of the French left wing (1 {{er}} and 2 {{E}} Body) is entrusted to the marshal Ney with the mission of seizing the Four-Arms. Ney loses much time; what allows the arrival of allied reinforcements.

With the 3 {{E}} and 4 {{E}} Body, Napoleon manages to fix the Prussians at Ligny. He wants to seize the occasion to neutralize them definitively. For that, it orders with the 1st Body (reserve of Ney) to come to cut the Prussian backs even if it means to delay the catch of the Four-Arms. Badly or not informed of this decision of the Emperor, Ney recalls this unit which will thus make an useless return ticket; thus depriving Napoleon of a decisive victory over the Prussian .

The army of Blücher loses 12  000 men with Ligny. The old man marshal 73 years, whose horse was killed, escapes from little from the capture but its brilliance chief of staff, Gneisenau, organizes a remarkable fold on Wavre. It is only the following day, the 17, that Napoleon entrusts the command of its right wing (: 34000 men) with the marshal Grouchy with mission of continuing the Prussian .

Informed of the defeat of the Prussian , Wellington makes fold up its units of the Four-Arms on the recognized position of Midsummer's Day Mount when Blücher promised to join it. The movement is done discreetly, covered by the Cavalerie. Ney realizes of it only the 17 afternoon whereas the storm transforms the ground into mud pit.

The battle

Forces and the plan of Wellington

The army of Wellington, called “Armed with the Allies”, includes/understands, in Waterloo, 68  000 men divided as follows: 25  000 British , 17  000 Belgo - Dutch, 10  000 Hanovriens, 7  000 Brunswickois, 6  000 men of the King' S German Legion and 3  000 Nassauviens .

Wellington deployed its Armée on the plate with Mount-Saint-Jean, vis-a-vis the south, on both sides of the axis Charleroi - Brussels. By protection measure and of surprise, the majority of the units are on the counterslope but the device is preceded, of west in is, by three fulcrums made up of large barricaded and defended farms: Hougoumont, Holy $the Hague and Papelotte.

Forces and the plan of Napoleon

The morning of the June 18th, the army of Napoleon gives an opinion with approximately a Kilomètre in the south of the plate with:

  • in the west of the road, the II {{E}} Body of Reille (20  000 men) preceding the III {{E}} Body by cavalry of Kellermann (3  400 riders) and the division of cavalry of the Guard of Guyot (2  100 riders);
  • in the east of the road, the Ier body of Drouet d' Erlon (20  000 men) preceding the IV {{E}} Body by cavalry of Milhaud (2  700 riders) and the division of cavalry of the Guard of Lefèbvre-Desnouettes (2  000 riders).
  • behind, the Life Body of Lobau (10  000 men), divisions of cavalry of Domon and Subervie (each one 1  200 riders) and three divisions of infantry of the Guard (9  000 men).

The plan of Napoleon is to lead the principal attack to the east and the center by including there the farm of $the Hague Sainte (center of the allied device). It makes deploy 80 gun S (called the large battery) in front of the I {{er}} Corps.

In order to attract the reserves of Wellington towards the west, it gives the responsability initially the II {{E}} Corps with launching, with only division Jerome (ordered by the brother of the Emperor), an attack of diversion in the west, on the Hougoumont farm.

It rained all during the night. The softened ground delays the beginning of the attack. That obstructs the installation of the Artillerie and, thereafter, the effectiveness of the shootings (by preventing the rebounds of the balls) as well as the progression of the Infanterie and the Cavalerie.

The attack of diversion

With 11:30, in the west, starts the attack of diversion carried out by the Prince Jerome against the farm of Hougoumont. The Prince baits and asks for even the reinforcement of a Brigade but all the French attacks will be pushed back. To 13:30, some men manage to penetrate by a breach open to blows of axe in a door; they all will be massacred except a young drum. Hougoumont becomes, all the day, a battle in the battle mobilizing 8  unnecessarily; 000 men on the French side against 2  000 on the allied side.

The attack of Ier Body

With 13:00, in the east, the 80 gun S of the large battery deployed on 1400 m open fire. With 13:30, Ier Corps of Erlon starts the progression with its four divisions of infantry. Each division has a face of approximately 140 m (180 men) and a depth of 24 rows. In the west of the device of Erlon, the division ordered by Quiot (in the absence of Alex) is charged to take $the Hague Sainte. It is flanked of a Brigade of cuirassiers of the Body Milhaud (two, according to certain sources: brigades Through and Dubois).

$the Hague Holy is firmly defended by the Bataillon of the Major Baring of the King' S German Legion. To the east of the farm, the Général British Picton (which will be killed there) leads a counter-attack with regiments of infantry Scot. Wellington load the commander of his cavalry, Lord Uxbridge, to make counter-attack the brigades of heavy cavalry Sommerset and Ponsonby (of which famous Scots Greys). The French, surprised in full deployment are disorganized and fold up themselves. In their dash, the two British brigades of cavalry go even until attacking the large battery but they are then made decimate by the behind remained French cavalry and are put definitively except combat.

Loads of the French cavalry

To 15:00, after reorganization of the I {{er}} Body and new shooting of preparation of the large battery, a new attack is conducted to seize the bolt which $the Hague Sainte constitutes. Following the cannonade, Wellington makes fold up its center. Ney believes in a general fold. Of initiative, it involves all the Cuirassier S of Milhaud followed by the division of cavalry of Lefèbvre-Desnouettes in loads to the west of Holy $the Hague, where the allied infantry is always intact. It is the famous confrontation of the French cavalry and the squares of British infantry. It is also the episode (exaggerated by Victor Hugo) of the sunken lane.

Napoleon considers the action premature but, to 17:00, considering the situation, sends, in reinforcement, the body of cavalry of Kellermann and the division of cavalry of Guyot. With the already engaged cavalry, that makes a total of more than 10  000 French riders.

The arrival of the Prussians

Meanwhile, of 14 with 16:00, Napoleon had to deploy on its side Is divisions of Domon cavalry and Subervie and the Life Body of Lobau in order to face the arrival of the Prussian avant-garde. The capture of a Prussian rider sent as a scout had revealed the threat. Napoleon had made send, as of 10:00, a mail with Grouchy ordering to him to approach. The marshal would have received the order only with 17:00. The hours of sending, reception and the interpretation of the message make the subject of debate between historians. The marshal Soult, chief of staff in Waterloo, charged to transmit and make carry out the orders of the Emperor, did not have, in this function, the rigor and the effectiveness of Berthier.

The catch of Holy $the Hague

On face principal (in front of the current Lion of Waterloo raised at the place where the crown prince to the Netherlands was wounded), the continuous battle to make rage. At the time of each French load, the British artillerists fold up themselves in the squares. The combined guns, placed ahead, neither are encloués (depression of a nail in the light of the part returning its impossible firing) nor carried so that they become again usable before each new load. There is of it more than one ten and Ney has five horses killed under him. Tactical error, the French cavalry is not followed of infantry and the II {{E}} Corps of Reille (less committed division Jerome in Hougoumont) attacks only with 18:30. At this time, $the Hague Sainte falls finally to the hands from the French. Ney advances guns which take row the British positions. The situation of the Allies is critical. Ney request of the reinforcements to finish some but considering the Prussian threat, Napoleon refuses.

Combat of Plancenoit

On the side is, under the pressure of the Prussian , the body of overflowed Lobau had to fold up itself. The division of the Jeune Guard ordered by Duhesme was sent to take again Plancenoit. With 18:30, it has even due being reinforced by two Bataillon S of the Old guard which dislodge the enemy with the bayonet.

Napoleon makes give the Guard

Protected in the east by the arrival from the Prussian , Wellington can recover units to reinforce its center. Also, with 19:30, when Napoleon makes give the Garde on the allied positions, it is too late. The elite of the elite that constitute the pomegranates of Friant and the hunters with foot of Morant (to which belonged the famous general Cambronne) can nothing against the conjugation the Artillerie, of the Infanterie and the Cavalerie of Wellington. The imperial Garde moves back, which creates the distress in the remainder of the French Army.

French rout

With 21:00, Wellington and Blücher meet with the farm of the Beautiful Alliance (predestined name due to the marriage of a farmhand with its rich person sponsors become widowed). Napoleon fled. Wellington whose troops are exhausted leaves with the Prussian the task continue. Wellington returns to its HQ, there writes his report/ratio and gives to the battle the name of the place where it is: Waterloo.

Conclusions

The leading causes of the French defeat are the following ones:

  • Bad transmissions and ambiguity of the orders: with Ney (1st Body with Ligny), with Grouchy blocked in Wavre: the important thing was not that Grouchy joins Waterloo but which it prevents the Prussian from arriving there.
  • late Engagements on June 16th with the Four-Arms and Ligny and on June 18th in Waterloo where the battle could have started earlier (the state of the ground did not thwart the Prussian movements !) and where the Garde could “have given” when Ney required reinforcements for the thrust.
  • Lack of coordination of the weapons: Jerome attacks Hougoumont without preparation of artillery; Ney lance of the loads of Cavalry by forgetting its Infantry; the Garde “gives” without support of Artillerie and when there is no more Cavalerie.
  • Bad choice of the place of the last attacks: Ney lance its loads of Cavalry in the west of Holy $the Hague where the allied position is most solid whereas the Infanterie was not even weakened there; the Garde attacks in the west (taken along by Ney) rather than in $the Hague Sainte.
  • considerable Detail: the captured allied guns are left intact, allowing each time to the artillerists Wellington to re-use them.

Technical considerations

rifle

the rifle of the time is rifle with flint. The range and the precision are reduced. The loading (by the mouth) is long. The shooting produces enormously smoke (blasting powder). In wet weather (what is the case in Waterloo), there are many failures. During the confrontation, the infantry opens fire (shooting of salvo) with less than 100 meters of the enemy. The combat continues then with the bayonet that the grognards call the fork.

There are significant differences between the weapons of the belligerents.

the French rifle (model 1777 modified year IX) car a lead bullet of 21 G. The tightening of the ball in the gun makes the shooting more precise but the weapon longer to charge (1 blow per minute). For technical reasons, it has more failures than the British model.

the British rifle known as " Brown Bess" draw a ball from 32 G what makes it more effective against the horses. The precision is less than the French model but the rate of shooting is faster (almost 2 blows per minute).

the Prussian rifle (modified model 1782) comprises a blade on the weapon which makes it possible to tear the cartridge more easily than with the teeth. This makes it possible to reach a rate of quasi 3 blows per minute.

There is also in Waterloo the rifle Baker . It equips two British regiments and very professional King' S German legion of which units defend the farm of Holy $the Hague. It is about a rifled bore weapon. The loading is long because the ball should be forced but the precision is remarkable for the time: 200 meters. This explains why $the Hague Sainte could be taken only when the men of King' S German Legion were with court of ammunition.

In conclusion, one can deduce from it that the firepower of the infantry of the allies was larger than that of the French.

Formation of the 1st French Corps

At the time of the attack of the 1st Corps, contrary with use, three divisions of right-hand side progressed in three so compact blocks (without in-depth interval) that certain historians even qualified the fact of " formation macédonienne" by comparison with the Greek warriors of Antiquity.

This formation with the advantage of allowing to spread itself (to widen the face) very quickly for the final attack. It has, on the other hand, a great disadvantage: that not to be able to reorganize in squares, only action allowing effectively to be opposed to a counter-attack cavalry. One is unaware of the reasons which led the French to act of the kind. Certain historians choose an undervaluation of the British cavalry.

the result that the counter-attack of the Picton general supported by the British heavy cavalry put three French divisions of right-hand side in rout and that, being found was insulated, the division of left had to be folded up in its turn. The principal attack was from the start a fiasco.

the artillery

the artillery of the time is primarily made up of guns. The principal ammunition is a ball whose weight could be 6,8,9 or 12 pounds according to the type of gun with a maximum range of 1.800 meters for the parts of 12. These balls are out of iron and do not explode. There are also " boxes with mitraille" ; i.e. light metal envelopes containing of the balls (called biscaïens) which function as of enormous cartridges of hunting. The effective range does not exceed 400 meters. The British have a new ammunition: the shrapnell. It is about a ball filled with balls and which explodes in the air. This ammunition which has a range of 900 meters is proven terribly effective in Waterloo. The British would have drawn some more than 300.

the French artillery batteries include/understand 6 guns but generally also 1 to 2 howitzers. The latter draw from the shells, i.e. projectiles which explode after the impact. These weapons are completely suitable to shoot at enemies cut off in buildings to which they pare fire. The French particularly were long in employing them against the farms of Hougoumont and $the Hague Sainte. Also, they never took the first and it is only with 18:30 that $the Hague Sainte will succumb.

the British have an experimental battery which draws what we would call today of the rockets. It is about " Congrève" rockets;. They were used to protect the fold from the Four-Arms but apparently not in Waterloo. This system misses precision.

Anecdotes

the ball of the duchess of Richmond
the duke and the duchess of Richmond, prone British residing at Brussels, had organized, the night from June 15th to 16th a ball in their hotel where all the local aristocracy had been invited. The duke of Wellington and the generals of his army, of course, had been invited there and much of them were present. A little before midnight, a estafette sent face by the Constant-Rebecque general (chief of staff of Prince d' Orange) warned the duke who the French were with the Four-Arms. With its British phlegm, Wellington could reassure the noble assembly and the ball found all its cheerfulness. With same phlegm, it ordered with its officers to discreetly leave the festival and to join their troops. Around 3 hours of the morning, the duke spun itself " with the anglaise" and as of 7 a.m., it gallopped towards the Four-Arms.
Hougoumont or Goumont

the orthography of the place of the initial attack (of diversion) conducted by Prince Jerome varies according to the writings. This ambiguity is due to an erroneous annotation of the chart used at the time by the belligerents. It is about the edition " Captain and Chanlaire" of a first large chart of the Netherlands realized in 1777 by the Austrian general of Ferraris. The chart in question indicates Hougoumont instead of Goumont; the origin of the error is probably phonetic.

Confusion of farms

In its orders, Napoleon indicates the farm of $the Hague - Holy by calling it firm of Mount-Saint-Jean. Actually, the latter is 1 km behind. Confusion probably comes from the chart of Ferraris which indicated the farm of Mount-Saint-Jean to the west of the road whereas it is in the east.

King' S German Legion

the prince voter of Hanover was not other than the king of England. Also, in 1803, after the French invasion, a great number of soldiers hanovriens took refuge in Great Britain. One decided to integrate them in the army of his majesty all while keeping them joined together. They thus formed the King' S German Legion of which two brigades (1e KGL Brigade of the colonel of the Dish and the 2nd KGL brigade of colonel Ompteda) and five squadrons of cavalry (1e, 2nd and 3rd Hussars, 1e and 2nd Dragoons Light) fought in Waterloo.

the old ones of the Large army

the Chassé general who ordered the 3rd division Dutchwoman had been used in the French Army during the war as Spain (1807-1812) and had even been high under baron.

the Trip general who ordered a brigade of cavalry of the army Dutchwoman had ordered the 14th regiment of Cuirassiers during the countryside of Russia.

Decoster

Decoster was an innkeeper of the area. He was enlisted, against his liking, by Napoleon to be used as guide. As it hid with the least shot, the history tells that the emperor made it attach on his horse. The mission probably had to inspire it because, later, the situation having become calmer, it offered its services as guides with the many tourists who came to visit the battle field.

the lieutenant Legros

At the time of the attack of Hougoumont, lieutenant Legros, a former sapper, arrived, with blows of axe, to smash a leaf of the northern door of the farm. Some men entered the farmyard but he were immediately shot by Coldstreams. Only, a young drum was saved and made captive.

Lieutenant Général Picton

the Picton general ordered the counter-attack which disorganized the attack of Ier Corps French. This extremely qualified British officer was killed there. He had been already distinguished with the battle from the Four-Arms where he had been wounded. The trunk containing its uniform not having arrived, Picton fought out of civil dress and top hat (talk with the National Army Museum in London).
.

Général - major Ponsonby

the General - major Ponsonby ordered one of the brigades of cavalry which after having charged Ier Corps French ventured until the position of the large battery where they were counter-attacked by the French cavalry. It was made prisoner but when its men tried to deliver it, a French lancer did not hesitate to kill it and its lieutenants were also massacred.

Colonel Hamilton

colonel Hamilton ordered Scots Greys which took part in the load of the British cavalry against Ier Corps French. It was not certainly to miss bravery because when his body was found, it had the two cut arms.

attrapeurs of bird

At the time of the load of the British cavalry against Ier French Body, the sergeant Charles Ewart of famous the " Scots Greys" (name due to their gray horses) succeeds in seizing the flag of the 45e regiment of French line and the eagle which surmounted its pole. For this time, the badge of the 2 Royal North British (Royal Scots Greys) Dragoons has been surmounted drawing of an eagle and the unit be was called the " Bird Catchers" (Attrapeurs of bird). The captured eagle is always exposed to the museum of the Castle of Edinburgh.

the sunken lane

In " Misérables" , Hugo described a ravine in which piled up horses and riders. The aforementioned " way creux" corresponds to the current macadamized road which leads roadway Charleroi - Brussels to the hillock of the lion. In 1815, the way was certainly boxed on approximately 150 m but the account of Hugo is completely fictionalized and incredible because no testimony of the time reports similar tragedy.

the freemasons

the French officers captive facts were generally stripped of their money and other values. The freemasons who were made recognize by their " frères" opposite camp escaped this plundering and were well treated.

the leg of Lord Uxbridge

a last shooting of French gun carried the left leg of Lord Uxbridge. The amputation was practiced and the leg was buried in Waterloo in a fall suitable which accepted besides, into the years which followed, the visit of many British tourists.

When Lord Uxbridge died (in 1854), the leg was exhumed, brought back to England and was placed in the tomb of the large rider. The prosthesis made the way reverses and is with the museum of Waterloo!

the word of Cambronne

This answer passed to the posterity. Some say that he would have rather said " The guard dies but does not go pas". Cambronne survived the battle. Wounded, it was taken along as prisoner to England. Returned to France in 1830, he was on several occasions questioned on the subject. He always claimed never not to have said neither the word nor the sentence. Nevertheless, in 1862, Victor Hugo, in “the Poor wretches”, wrote that to the English general who shouted “Honest French, go! ” Cambronne answered: “Shit!”

the fortune of Rothschild

Like the majority of the bankers, Rothschild had a network of information. As soon as the exit of the combat was certain, an agent left for London via Ostend. Informed as of on June 20th in the morning, Nathan Rothschild openly sold its titles with the Stock Exchange then after having caused a crash repurchased these same titles at the last time whereas the courses had crumbled. The report/ratio that Wellington wrote after the battle arrived in the British capital only the 21 at the evening. As of the following day, the victory caused a rise of the Stock Exchange. Rothschild however claimed that their profits had been over-estimated.

the equipment Wellington

on July 8th, 1815, Guillaume Ier, king of the Netherlands from which Belgium forms part then, named Wellington " Prince de Waterloo" with transmissible title with the male descent by primogeniture. This makes it possible still today the Wellington family to draw the incomes of more than 1  000 hectares of domanial goods. In the event of extinction of male descent, the property will return at the Belgian State. These grounds came from the former nationalization of religious goods by France.

the tree of Wellington

At the time of the battle, Wellington would have occupied, on several occasions, an observation post close to the crossroads of the chaussee of Charleroi and the way of the Cross (current road leading to the Lion). Beautiful a Orme rose at this place. An English merchant had the idea to buy the tree to make memories of them. He made even two armchairs of them that he offered one to the Victoria Queen, the other with the duke of Wellington. About 1980, a new tree was replanted at the same place for the pleasure of the fond of delicacies tourists of anecdotes.

the imperial trucks

Like its marshals and generals, Napoleon had trucks transporting all that was necessary and to facilitate the life in shift even more. After the battle, at the time of the continuation, the Prussians discovered, around 11 p.m., in Genappe, the vehicles which the Emperor had had to give up. It discovered there trucks of luxury equipped particularly well for the voyage and even a " Panzerberline" , genuine safe on wheels, container invaluable stones, money and gold coins. It was about a considerable treasure. The soldiers hastened to fill their pockets and their gibernes but, on order of the officers, the spoils almost was reconstituted and offered to King de Prusse. One of the trucks of luxury was repurchased by the wax Museum of Mrs. Tussauds in London where it was exposed since 1842. The " Waterloo berline" disappeared in 1925 in the terrible fire which devastated the building.

the Bourbon Cavalry Body

According to British sources, many French riders, especially from the police officers, would have deserted and joined the camp of the allies. Considering their number, Wellington would have called them the " Bourbon Cavalry Corps"

British pomegranates

the British brigade of the general - major Maitland, made up of two battalions of the 1e Regiment of Guards, illustrated himself at the time of the attack of the imperial Guard on the plate of Mount-Saint-Jean. In reward of this action, a royal proclamation allotted to the 1e Regiment of Guards the name of " Pomegranate Regiment off Foot Guards". Curiously, it is not with Pomegranates but with the Hunters of the imperial Guard that Guards British had been confronted!

Myths and lies

To Saint-Helene, Napoleon devoted most of his time to rearrange the history. The " Memorial of Holy-Hélène" became the " bible" the romantic ones. Not very concerned historical truth, of the writers like Thiers and Mullié truncated the truth. The battle of Waterloo whose Napoleon himself wrote several different versions does not have escaped with the lie.

  • the strawberries of Grouchy

on June 18th with 11:45, Grouchy was in Walhain (22Km in the south-east of Mount-Saint-Jean) where one says, it tasted strawberries in company of the Hollert notary to the terrace of an inn. The noise of the gun indicating that the battle had just started in Waterloo there was incontestably heard. The Gerard general who ordered the 4th Body with suggested with his " chief; to go to the canon". The marshal refused to take such an initiative to stick to the orders which it had received. Later, Napoleon and others made this passivity the cause of the defeat of Waterloo. One wrote as much on the mail as the emperor made send to 10 Hr. One often overlooks, the fact that the 18 to 2 Hr of the morning, Napoleon received a written letter of Grouchy four hours before and informing that a column of Prussians was folded up in direction of Wavre. One can be astonished that Napoleon did not take any immediate action pursuant to this letter.
the current historians are convinced that, in any assumption, Grouchy could not have gathered its forces and to bring them in time in Waterloo.

  • the errors of Ney

Napoleon regarded the majority of his marshals as simple agents of execution. One day, he had not said " besides; You hold strictly with the orders that I only give… me to you, I know what I owe faire". In Waterloo, Napoleon directly gave orders to the subordinates of Ney. If the marshal, who was an extremely courageous but inefficient chief on his level of command, made indisputably faults, the emperor let it make whereas it was in measurement of to prevent it.

  • treasons

According to an account of the British sergeant Knitting machine, a captain of the French carabiners would have deserted right before the attack from the imperial guard and would have revealed the imminence of this attack and the place where it would take place. Following this information, partisans of the Emperor claimed after the battle that this treason would have made it possible Wellington to adapt its plans to prevent the opening of the guard.

  • the attack of the guard

It is obvious that the imperial guard, which was incontestably a unit of elite, had to move back after its attack on the English line of defense. Indeed, as of the arrival of the French on the peak, the brigade of the British guards of Maitland which had been dissimulated in corns, abruptly rose, opened fire has bearing end. By agitating its hat, Wellington ordered with its troops to go forwards. What could thus make of other the guard to move back? These facts are reported in all the serious historical accounts and on the majority of Internet sites covering the subject.

Appendix: Imperial Guard

Composition

has Waterloo, the imperial guard includes/understands:

* the Pomegranate division to foot of the Fond of delicacies general:

** pomegranate regiment (Old guard) with two battalions: small brigadier general
** 2nd pomegranate regiment (Old guard) with two battalions: brigadier general Christiani
** 3rd pomegranate regiment (Average Keeps) with two battalions: brigadier general Poret de Morvan
** 4th pomegranate regiment (Average Keeps) with only one battalion: brigadier general Hanret

* the division of Hunters to foot of the Morand general:

** regiment of Hunters (Old guard) with two battalions: brigadier general Cambronne
** 2nd regiment of Hunters (Old guard) with two battalions: brigadier general Pellet
** 3rd regiment of Hunters (Average Keeps) with two battalions: brigadier general Mallet
** 4th regiment of Hunters (Average Keeps) reduced to a battalion: brigadier general Henrion

* the division of the Young Guard of the Duhesme general:

** 1st brigade with the Riflemen and 1e Voltigeurs (four battalions)
** 3rd brigade with the 3rd Riflemen and 3rd Acrobats (four battalions)

* the division of light cavalry of the Lebfèvre-Desnouettes general:

** 1e brigade: hunters with Horse
** 2nd brigade: red Lancers

* the division of heavy cavalry of the Guyot general:

** 1st brigade: pomegranates with Horse
** 2nd brigade: dragons of the Empress
** 4th brigade: gendarmes of Elite

* the Artillery of the Guard with 10 batteries with foot and 4 horse

batteries

the infantry of the guard had victoriously tackled two days before with the battle of Ligny. The 4th Hunters had paid a heavy tribute there so that its two battalions were amalgamated in only one as of on June 17th. Each battalion had a manpower from 500 to 600 men.

the cavalry of the guard

the cavalry of the guard was decimated during the many loads carried out by the Ney marshal.

Plancenoit

In the infantry of the Guard, it is the division of the Young Guard which is the committed first. Whereas the Body of Lobau tries to dam up IV Prussian Coprs on the right side, another Prussian body occurs more in the south and invades Plancenoit. To be opposed to it, towards 18:00, the Emperor sends the Young Guard to it. The engagements while not finishing, the 1e battalions of 2nd Pomegranates and the 2nd Hunters, both of the Old guard, are dispatched in their turn. It is with the bayonet and without drawing only one shot that they take again the village. The Pelet general who orders them loses the life there but the Prussians fold up themselves in disorder, terrified.

Mount Midsummer's Day

After 19:00, the Emperor grants " to make donner" guard on the plate of Midsummer's Day Mount. Last nine battalions are available. The situation is the following one:

*Vieille Guard: three battalions available

** Pomegranates, and 2nd battalions: personal guard of the Emperor
** 2nd Pomegranates, battalion: Plancenoit
** 2nd Pomegranates, 2nd battalion: available
** Hunters, battalion: keep HQ (firm Stone)
** Hunters, 2nd battalion: available
** 2nd Hunters, 1e battalion: Plancenoit
** 2nd Hunters, 2nd battalion: available

* Average Guard: the six battalions are available

** 3rd Pomegranates, and 2nd battalion
** 4th Pomegranates, only one battalion
** 3rd Hunters, and 2nd battalion
** 4th Hunter, only one battalion

the nine battalions are divided into two groups: in front of, five battalions of the average keeps and approximately 500 m behind, four battalions including three of the old guard. The historians do not dispute this device but are not agreement on the back mission of the battalions: attacks or not and which objective?

the events proceed as follows:

Towards 19:30, five battalions of the Average Guard go up to the attack of the positions of Wellington located at the west and the place where currently the lion draws up itself. An artillery battery with horse of the guard accompanies. The Ney marshal leads the attack to foot because its 5th horse has just been killed under him. The battalions, each one in square to face a possible load of cavalry, go in level refused towards the left. Of west in is, one observes:

* 4th Hunters (reduced to a battalion since Ligny)
* the 2nd battalion of the 3rd Hunters
* the 1e battalion of the 3rd Hunters
* the 4th Pomegranate (only one battalion)
* the 1e battalion of the 3rd Pomegranates

three western battalions, i.e. the Hunters, undergo on their left side the shooting of the British batteries. He face Guards of the Maitland general. The latter were dissimulated in corns. As soon as the French arrive, they draw up and empty their weapons; 300 men of the 3rd Hunters crumble. The 4th Hunters goes to the rescue. The body with body engages.

In the east, the two Pomegranate battalions manage to insert the British brigade of the general Colin Halkett. It is by holding up a standard to try to gather its men that the general will be seriously wounded. However division belgo-Dutchwoman of the Chassé general that the Duke had made return from Braine-l' Alleud emerges, lance a counter-attack. The report/ratio of the forces is of 10 against 1; the Pomegranates are driven back.

Wellington then orders the counter-attack with the whole of its men. Submerged, the guard moves back.

panic invades the French Army except for the four battalions of the guard laid out in squares on one second line 500 m behind. They endeavor to collect their brothers in arms and to stop the counter-attack that Wellington has just launched. They can only slowly be folded up while slowing down the progression of the enemy. After hard combat, the British has a presentiment of them to go. At this point in time Cambronne would have released its mot.

The battle field today

Vue on 180° towards the South of the battle field such as it is presented to the visitor. (Photographs taken of the Hillock of the Lion)

Places

The Belgian Parliament voted on March 26th, 1914 a law protecting the site from the battle. This law until now summer respected except for the convent of Dominican of Fichermont which was unfortunately built in 1929 in the north-eastern part of the battle field with the " bénédiction" government of the time.

The following buildings of 1815 are always in place:

  • along N5 (axis Charleroi/Brussels):

    • Holy $the Hague (private property)
    • Beautiful Alliance (private property)
    • the Stone, sum of money HQ of Napoleon in which this one spent the night from June 17th to 18th 1815 (worth visiting). Each year is held to with it a “bivouac” which joins together in behavior of time of the observers representatives the various armies, ranks and functions.
    • the last HQ of Wellington in the center of Waterloo, vis-a-vis the church (worth visiting).
  • Elsewhere:
    • the farm of Hougoumont (private property)

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  • the museum of waxes

Located opposite the hillock of the lion
After 1815, the battle field was the place of visit of many tourists of on the other side of the channel. The sergeant major Cotton of the British hussards, who fought in Waterloo, had the idea to open a hotel there to receive his compatriots and gathered there at the same time some memories of the battle. In 1909, the building was sold and arranged in wax museum
  • the museum of the Stone
Situé on the roadway of Charleroi (N5), in the south of the battle field
farm of Stone, last HQ of Napoleon, was plundered the evening of June 18th by the Prussians and was set fire to the following day. Later, it was partially rebuilt and became since 1950 a museum or memories were gathered.

  • the museum Wellington

Located on the roadway of Brussels (N5), in Waterloo centers
This place was the general headquarter of Wellington. The course of the battle is clearly explained there stage by stage. The collection of behaviors and weapons is extremely rich. One can see there, inter alia, the four different types of rifle used by the belligerents, an English gun, a Congrève rocket, etc

  • the turn of the Battle field

a truck any ground makes the turn of the battle field in order to show the positions of the involved armies. The turn in the truck lasts 45 minutes with comments in several languages and sound effects of the battle.
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