Northumbrian Gunner: Battle of Waterloo

Monday 24 March 2014

Battle of Waterloo

Napoleon Bonaparte became Consol of France in 1799 and proclaimed himself Emperor of France in 1804.

He fought a series of wars (Napoleonic Wars) in which France fought with coalitions against other coalitions. Initially successful, he extended French Power and influence throughout continental Europe. However the Peninsular War (1807–14) and the French invasion of Russia in 1812 saw his Grande Armée reduced in capability, and he was eventually defeated at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813. The Army defeated, France was invaded, and Napoleon was exiled to Alba.

In 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba, returning to France where he seized power. Many states who were opposed to Napoleon began to mobilise their armies. Napoleon sought to attack his enemies before they could form an effective coalition against France. He took the army of the North into Belgium to conduct a preemptive strike against the coalition allies.

On the 16th June 1815, he defeated the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny, and a blocking action at Quatre Bras prevented the Anglo-Dutch Army from reinforcing the Prussians .

Two days later he met Wellington at Waterloo.

Battle of Waterloo

The Waterloo battlefields runs north south over rolling countryside with a number of ridges. Key features include Hougoumont and La Haye Sante.

Waterloo Ground

Battlefield looking south - Hougoumont on the right

British positions looking east - La Haye Sante on the right

Battle of Waterloo - Plan

The Battle of Waterloo commenced at 11am with the French artillery bombardment of Hougomont. In response, the British artillery began to cannonade the infantry on the French left flank. At noon the French infantry began their assault on Hougomont.

At 1:30 pm, D'Erlon's Corps moves it's guns and infantry forward, and 74 guns commencea bombardment of the British left flank. The British infantry moved behind the ridge on which they were located and lay down, the effect being to reduce the effectiveness of French cannon fire. After 30 minutes of firing, the artillery stopped and 17,000 French infantry advanced. The assault on La Haye Sainte began with the Kings German Legion holding firm. As the French advance over the slope, the British infantry stood up and engages the French infantry, forcing them back.

The British cavalry were committed to charge into the French infantry, and then recalled once the French attack was broken up. Some units did not hear the recall signalled on the bugle, continuing to the French gun line where they were overwhelmed by the French cavalry.

At 4pm Blucher's Prussians began arriving at the battlefield, threatening the French flank. To try to turn the battle before the Prussians brought all their troops to bear, the French made 12 cavalry attacks to try to break the British centre, however they were unable to penetrate the British infantry squares.

At 19:30 Napoleon committed the Imperial Guard in a last attempt to break the British line as more Prussians arrived. The British Guards , so far uncommitted, forced the French Guard to retreat by volleys of musket fire and bayonet charges.

With the French Guard in retreat, Hougomont still in British hands and the Prussians on the Battlefield in numbers, Wellington gave the orders for a general attack in pursuit of the French.