Waterloo Campaign

Waterloo Jun 14-18, 1815

Strategic ContextNapoleon Bonaparte returns to France in February 1815, assimilating every French soldier he meets into his growing army. Bonaparte reaches Paris in March and offers peace to the opposing Allied coalition – but they choose war. Bonaparte appoints his most talented and trusted subordinate, Louis Davout, as his minister of war and begins rebuilding an army. By June, Bonaparte is able to field forces numbering over 230,000 against Allied forces of over 850,000 although the latter are dispersed and under various commands. Bonaparte deploys small, defensive armies to guard the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Rhine River against the Spanish, Italian and Austrian armies and concentrates a large, offensive army against the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies; the Russian armies march slowly but steadily across Europe. Bonaparte plans to destroy the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies before the other Allied armies can affect the situation. The French situation is not hopeless; Britain’s military is still dispersed after its war with the United States, Belgians, Germans and Poles are relatively anti-Allied while a decisive victory may force others to switch sides. Allied commander-in-chief Karl Phillipp Schwarzenberg plans an advance towards Paris by all armies on June 27 but Bonaparte strikes two weeks earlier.

Stakes+ A French victory would strain the Allied coalition and gain Bonaparte valuable time to build up his armies to deal with the Austrians, Russians, Italians and Spanish if need be.

+ An Allied victory would contain Bonaparte and demoralize the French nation, allowing the vast Allied armies to invade France.

By Jonathan Webb, 2010 ©

Waterloo, 1815Strength

Grande Armée

Well

Allied Armies

Well

Napoleon Bonaparte

217,000123,000

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher


Duke of Wellington

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Bl%C3%BCcher.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Duke_of_Wellington_2.jpg

VIVIIIIIII

IIIIIIIVIV

Anglo-Dutch Army(Wellington)

Grande Armée(Bonaparte)

Prussian Army(Blücher)

IVIV1st DB1st DB

2nd2nd 2nd DB2nd DB

3rd3rd

3rd DB3rd DB

4th4th

RESRES

GDEGDE

DBDB

IIIIII

IIIIII

IVIV

II

GDEGDE

Bonaparte concentrates his army behind the Sambre River. Bonaparte plans to organize his army in two wings and a reserve – left under Ney, right under Grouchy, reserve under himself – and drive a wedge between the two opposing armies, thus invoking a different response from each of their vastly different commanders temperament-wise. After using his reserve to support one wing and crush the most vulnerable army, he plans to turn against the other, defeating each in detail. Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch army is spread out and expects no imminent attack and feels its western flank is secure, believing it to be Bonaparte’s best option. Blücher’s Prussian army is less spread out and is ready to begin concentrating due to confused but insistent reports of French preparations. Wellington and Blücher’s only plans are to concentrate at Nivelles and Sombreffe respectively.

Bonaparte crosses the Sambre but traffic congestion and desertion of a division commander in Gerard’s IV Corps slow the maneuver. Nonetheless, French cavalry surprise Ziethen’s I Corps which falls back on Fleurus, prompting Blücher to order his army to concentrate at Sombreffe. Pirch and Thielmann begin marching but Bülow does not take the report seriously and does not march. On the left, Ney assumes command as Reille’s II Corps approaches Quatre-Bras which Perponcher’s 2nd Dutch-Belgian Division resolves to hold. Bonaparte orders Ney to occupy Quatre-Bras, using his numerical superiority, but he bivouacs for the night instead; his units are slow to advance, he can hear fighting to his right rear and is familiar with Wellington’s tactics of concealing his troops. Wellington meanwhile attends a social event and does not send out orders until late at night.

(+)

(-)

IIII

GDEGDE

IIII

IIIIII

II Corps (Hill)

I Corps (Orange)

I Corps – Ziethen

II Corps – Pirch

III Corps – Thielmann

IV Corps - Bülow

Subordinates

Subordinates

NN

Landmarks

Subordinates

Brussels

Tirlemont

St. Truiden

June 16June 15

French I Corps

(D’Erlon)

19,000:

1st Division (Quoit) 2nd Division (Donzelot) 3rd Division (Marcognet) 4th Division (Durutte) 1st Cavalry Division (Jacquinot)

Prussian I Corps

(Ziethen)

30,800:

1st Division (Steinmetz) 2nd Division (Pirch) 3rd Division (Jagow) 4th Division (Donnersmarck) 1st cavalry division (Treskow) 2nd cavalry division (Lützow)

French IV Corps

(Gérard)

16,700:

12th Division (Pécheux) 13th Division (Vichery) 14th Division (Bourmont) 7th Cavalry Division (Maurin)

French II Corps (+)

(Reille)

25,200:

5th Division (Bachelu) 6th Division (Jérôme) 7th Division (Girard) 9th Division (Foy) 2nd Cavalry Division (Piré) Light Cavalry Division from Guard (Lefèbvre-Desnoüettes)

French IV Cavalry Corps

(Milhaud)

2,900:

13th Cavalry Division (Wathier) 14th Cavalry Division (Delort)

French II Cavalry Corps

(Exelmans)

3,100:

9th Cavalry Division (Stroltz) 10th Cavalry Division (Chastel)

Prussian III Corps

(Thielmann)

24,000:

9th Division (Borcke) 10th Division (Krauseneck) 11th Division (Witten) 12th Division (Stülpnagel) 1st cavalry division (Marwitz) 2nd cavalry division (Lottum)

Anglo-Dutch Army(Duke of Wellington)94,000

Prussian Army(Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher)123,000

VIVI

II IIIIIIIVIV

IVIV

2nd DB2nd DB

RESRES

IIIIII

IIIIII

IVIV

II

During the night, Wellington issues orders for his units to conduct forced marches east. They make substantial progress but none reach Quatre-Bras by dawn. The French army is in firm possession of the central position and does not see any British units, only a Dutch-Belgian division, so Bonaparte assumes Wellington is withdrawing. In accordance with Bonaparte’s plan to strike at the first force which presents itself, he resolves to strike at Blücher who is rushing his other corps to Sombreffe; Bonaparte orders Reille to detach Girard’s 7th Division to the right wing.

IIII

GDEGDE

IIIIIIIIII

II Corps (Hill)

I Corps (Orange)

1st DB1st DB

2nd2nd3rd3rd

3rd DB3rd DB

4th4th

GDEGDE

DBDB

Ney’s occupation of Quatre-Bras is proving difficult; it takes time for him to extract his units from the traffic around Charleroi – not completely sure of all of their exact locations – and Reille suspects Wellington is preparing a trap. Ney sees no reason to hurry and rests his units while an aide to Napoleon bearing a penciled note finds D’Erlon’s I Corps and orders it east, unbeknownst to Ney. In the east, Blücher deploys his available forces for battle against Bonaparte who leaves Lobau’s VI Corps near Charleroi, ready to march in any direction. Wellington’s forces draw nearer to Quatre-Bras and he can only tell Blücher that he will send troops east only if he is not attacked himself.

Blücher vs Bonaparte at Ligny

II IIII IIIIII

IIIIII IVIVII IIII IVIV

GDEGDE

Orange vs Ney at Quatre-

Bras

2nd DB2nd DB

IIII

(+)

(-)

NN

French II Corps (+)(-)

(Reille)

20,200:

5th Division (Bachelu) 6th Division (Jérôme) 9th Division (Foy) 2nd Cavalry Division (Piré) Light Cavalry Division from Guard (Lefèbvre-Desnoüettes)

Landmarks

Brussels

Tirlemont

St. Truiden




I Corps – Ziethen

II Corps – Pirch


IV Corps - Bülow

Subordinates

SubordinatesSubordinates



French I Corps

(D’Erlon)

19,000:


Prussian I Corps

(Ziethen)

30,800:


French IV Corps

(Gérard)

16,700:



(Milhaud)

2,900:


French II Cavalry Corps

(Exelmans)

3,100:

9th Cavalry Division (Stroltz) 10th Cavalry Division (Chastel)

Prussian III Corps

(Thielmann)

24,000:


June 16

NN

Landmarks

Bachelu

Foy

Piré

Perponcher

Brunswick

Picton

JérômeBachelu

Foy

Piré

Perponcher

Perponcher deploys his division in a long thin line to appear larger as only Merlen’s small cavalry unit stands in support to the rear. Perponcher plans to hold up the French advance on three towns until reinforcements arrive. Ney deploys Foy and Bachelu to the front with Piré’s cavalry to the rear; he does not know where the rest of his forces are but expects them any minute. Ney plans to scatter the few units to his front by driving in the Anglo-Dutch left wing and occupy Quatre-Bras, thus separating the two enemy armies.

Foy clears Gemioncourt while Bachelu clears Piraumont, making Perponcher’s position west of the Brussels road untenable. Perponcher’s forces retreat to Bossu Wood, hotly pursued by Piré’s cavalry, and rally only in the safety of the woods. By this time, Jérôme’s division deploys in front of Bossu Wood for the French. Piction’s division deploys to strengthen the left wing and Brunswick’s corps deploys along the Brussels Road for the Anglo-Dutch. These forces arrive just after Wellington himself who takes command.

Quatre Bras

Piraumont

Pierrepoint

Bossu Wood

Thyle

Sart-Dames Avelines

Gemioncourt


French Left Wing(Michel Ney)

18,300



11,300

Brussels Road

NN

Landmarks

Brunswick Picton

Jérôme

Bachelu

Foy

Piré

Perponcher

Ney continues the attack. Jéröme begins clearing Bossu Wood; Foy advances but halts when his right wing becomes vulnerable after Bachelu’s advance is halted by Kempt’s brigade hidden behind a slight rise and then thrown back by a bayonet charge. Piré is active on all fronts, forcing Kempt to withdraw after a stiff cavalry charge and trying to exploit the gap between Perponcher and Brunswick. The latter charge inflicts many casualties but Wellington effectively seals the gap with Brunswick’s troops. By now Ney receives Napoleon’s orders to drive off the enemy to his immediate front and march east to hit the Prussian flank only to discover his reserve, D’Erlon’s corps, is marching east! Hes is further enraged when only part of Kellermann’s cavalry arrive to support him while Alten’s division arrives to support Wellington.

Foy

Piré

Perponcher

Alten

Kellermann

Ney maintains pressure on Wellington’s front. Bachelu half-heartedly attacks Thyle which Wellington reinforces with some of Alten’s forces; Foy engages Picton; Jérôme clears Bossu Wood but sights even more Anglo-Dutch forces to the west. Kellermann also takes part in the attack when Ney instructs him in a fury to tread the enemy into the ground – with a single cavalry brigade. Kellermann puts his cavalry into a quick trot towards the Anglo-Dutch line so they do not have time to realize they are attacking, and then suddenly charges in a sprint. It succeeds in cutting through the Anglo-Dutch line and running down two regiments before being surrounded.

Picton

Perponcher

Alten

Kellermann cuts his way back to French lines. Ney tries to renew the attack and seize the crossroads by joining Foy’s front-lines but cannot. With the arrival of Cooke’s division, Wellington completely outnumbers Ney.

Wellington launches a triple attack, recapturing Bossu Wood, Gemioncourt and Piraumont in a swift advance before dusk ends the fighting. Ney fails to seize the crossroads of Quatre-Bras but prevents Wellington from sending a single soldier to help Blücher.

Jérôme

Foy

Piré

Kellermann

Picton

Perponcher

Cooke



19,100




18,300

Landmarks

Quatre Bras

Piraumont

Pierrepoint

Bossu Wood

ThyleGemioncourt

Brussels Road

NN

Ziethen

Vandamme

Thielmann

Grouchy

Gérard

Lobau

D’Erlon


Bonaparte deploys Vandamme on the left, Gérard at the center, Grouchy on the right with the Guard and Milhaud’s cavalry in reserve. He plans to keep the Prussian left in play with Grouchy, clear the St. Amands with Vandamme and storm Ligny with Gérard. Once Ney arrives to envelop the Prussian right, Bonaparte plans to commit the Guard to clinch victory. Throughout the battle, artillery fire is to rake the St. Amand salient, taking advantage of the excellent targets on the forward slopes. Blücher deploys Ziethen on the right, Thielmann on the left and Pirch in reserve. He plans to use the field’s rough terrain, defending all of the towns guarding the Ligny Creek, to fight the French to a standstill.

Bonaparte hears no fighting to the west and logically concludes that Ney has occupied Quatre-Bras and will reach the battlefield in time to destroy or capture two-thirds of the Prussian army. Vandamme begins clearing the St. Amands with one of his right wing divisions as Gérard attacks Ligny with his two left wing divisions.

Bonaparte adds the Guard’s artillery to the great center battery which rakes the forward slopes, decimating the Prussian reserves Blücher is rushing to support his right. Blücher deploys much of his reserve artillery to counter the French batteries but suffer many casualties in their exposed position. Blücher forms a strong force on his extreme right to hit the French left flank but Vandamme contains it with a shift of his right division to the area. Ziethen launches a vicious counterattack to retake St. Amand-le-Chateau but Vandamme commits his entire force and advances steadily, capturing St. Amand-le-Hameau. Gérard meanwhile captures most of Ligny but is held up at Ligny Creek and the battle begins to grind both sides down. On the French right, Grouchy pins Thielmann by suddenly clearing Boignée and attacking Tongrenelle. Bonaparte remembers Lobau’s corps is still to the rear and orders it forward to the battlefield.

Landmarks

French Right Wing(Bonaparte)

Pirch

Ziethen

French artillery continues to wreak havoc on Prussian reserves. With Ligny still a costly, indecisive stalemate, Blücher draws forces from Pirch and Thielmann for an attack on the right. Bonaparte responds by shifting a cavalry division from the right to the extreme left and stiffening Vandamme with the Young Guard. He then brings up the rest of the Guard and Milhaud’s cavalry for the decisive attack against the Prussian center but is interrupted by a mysterious column to the northwest. Blücher sees Vandamme’s men waver and launches a grand attack, recapturing part of St. Amand-le-Chateau. Meanwhile, Thielmann sends his cavalry down the road towards Fleurus and pushes the French away from Tongrenelle.

The mysterious column is finally identified as D’Erlon’s corps but, before Bonaparte can give it orders, all but a division of infantry and cavalry, march off to the west. Although baffled, he continues to prepare for the decisive stroke against the Prussian center. The Guard infantry deploys on either side of Ligny, supported by cavalry; Milhaud’s cavalry scatters Thielmann’s cavalry attack; the Young Guard first halts Blücher’s attack and then throws it back; Grouchy launches pins Thielmann’s entire line with an attack. Ligny meanwhile continues to absorb men at an alarming rate as Gérard throws in his last reserve. In the Prussian camp, Blücher learns that Wellington is deeply engaged at Quatre-Bras and cannot send troops; he therefore collects his last reserves to finish off the French left and hit the center in flank.

Before Blücher can renew his attack on the French left, Bonaparte orders the Guard and supporting cavalry forward as Vandamme and Grouchy launch pinning attacks. The Prussian line on either side of Ligny buckles, then breaks. Blücher promptly leads his cavalry against the Guard on the left but the elite unit repulses it easily. Blücher is unhorsed and vanishes but gains time for his infantry to withdraw. Prussian Chief of Staff Gneisenau grasps the danger the army is in and moves one of Thielmann’s divisions to reserve. For the French, Lobau’s corps arrives at Fleurus too late to affect the battle.

French Right Wing(Napoleon Bonaparte)65,000



With Thielmann covering the retreat from the heights of Brye, the Prussian army retreats in decent order; Gneisenau and his staff agree on Wavre as the rally point because it is the only town name they can read on their maps in the darkness. Rather than organizing a pursuit, Bonaparte sets up headquarters at Ligny, thinking the Prussian army is shattered beyond repair. Meanwhile, an aide miraculously finds an unharmed Blücher in the wreckage of the battlefield and hurries him north.

Wagnelé

Marbais

Brye

Sombreffe

Tongrenelle

Mazy

Tongrinne

BalatreBoignée

Ligny

Ligny Creek

Fleurus

St. Amand-le-Hameau

St. Amand-la-Haye

St. Amand-le-Chateau

Mont-Potraiux

Prussian Army(Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher)83,000 June 17

NN VIVI

IIIIIIIVIV II

IIIIIIIIII

IVIV

IIIIGDEGDE

IVIVII

IIII IIIIII

IIII

Thielmann vs Grouchy at Wavre

Wellington vs Bonaparte at Waterloo

II

VIVIIVIVGDEGDE

IIIIIIII

IIII

RESRES

IIRESRESII

IIIIIVIV

IIIIII

IIIIII

Wellington learns of the Prussian defeat early in the morning and prepares to retreat just before one of Gneisenau’s aides arrives to inform him of the retreat to Wavre, challenging him. Wellington responds that he will make a stand in front of Mont-St.Jean if a single Prussian corps comes to his aid. This is certainly possible as both Ziethen and Pirch rally their troops during the night while Thielmann covers their withdrawal and Bülow approaches. Meanwhile, Bonaparte leaves Grouchy with 33,000 men on the right wing to neutralize the Prussian army for a few days but unfortunately issues orders leisurely and does not dismiss him until that evening. Bonaparte plans to take his remaining units and detachments from Grouchy’s force to join with Ney’s – altogether 72,000 men – to smash the Anglo-Dutch army. Ney is not yet aware of Bonaparte’s plan and awaits orders all morning instead of pinning the Anglo-Dutch force.

As Bonaparte leads his troops west, he receives Ney’s report and becomes convinced that Wellington is present in full force. He rushes to Quatre-Bras but is too late; Wellington is already retreating. Bonaparte sends D’Erlon’s I Corps in pursuit but a model rearguard action by Uxbridge’s cavalry delays the French until heavy rainfall ends all pursuit near Mont-St. Jean. Wellington, still worried about his right flank, leaves most of Hill’s II Corps near Hal. In the east, Exelmans discovers Thielmann at Gembloux but is unable to prevent his withdrawal; he and Bülow link up before retreating to join the rest of the army at Wavre. Blücher returns to take command and promise Wellington he will march to his support with two corps and all four if able. Grouchy’s directs his reconnaissance to the northeast and cannot conclusively report where the Prussian army is retreating to.

All troops camp in miserable conditions throughout the night as the rain continues almost non-stop until dawn. Despite being beaten two days before and greatly inhibited by traffic, the Prussian army is in remarkably high spirits as Blücher leads it west. In the night, Exelmans defies orders and leads his cavalry all the way to Wavre, capturing enough prisoners to prove the Prussian army is marching to support Wellington. Soon after, Grouchy hears artillery fire to the west as Bonaparte commences battle; his subordinates argue vehemently to march to the sound of the guns but Grouchy insists he is following orders to pursue the Prussian army and prevent it from intervening in the west, which he can do from Wavre. A vaguely worded message from Bonaparte only confirms his decision.

IIIIII

IIIIII

IVIV

II

IIII

Bonaparte

Grouchy

Landmarks

Brussels

French II Corps (-)

(Reille)

5th Division (Bachelu) 6th Division (Jerome) 9th Division (Foy) 2nd Cavalry Division (Piré)

French Imperial Guard (+)

(Druot)

Young Guard (Duhesme) Middle Guard (Morand) Old Guard (Friant) Light Cavalry Division (Lefèbvre-Desnoüettes) Heavy Cavalry Division (Guyot) 3rd Cavalry Division from III Corps (Domon) 5th Cavalry Division from II Cavalry Corps (Subervie)

French VI Corps (-)

(Lobau)

19th Division (Simmer) 20th Division (Jeannin)

I Corps – Ziethen

II Corps – Pirch


IV Corps - Bülow

Subordinates

SubordinatesSubordinates

Prussian I Corps

(Ziethen)


Prussian III Corps

(Thielmann)


French I Corps

(D’Erlon)


French IV Corps

(Gérard)



(Milhaud)







June 17June 18

Wellington deploys his army along a reverse slope to hide his reserves with the exception of a brigade masking his left center and another occupying La Haye and Papelotte. His main line is almost entirely infantry with virtually all of his artillery, interspersed with various nationalities; he holds back a strong reserve of cavalry and infantry. His left is up in the air in expectance of Blücher’s arrival while his right is deployed in depth, anchored by his elite Guards division; Chassé’s division occupies Merbe Braine to the west in case of a French flanking maneuver. Wellington plans to use the towns in front of his line to absorb the French attack and reinforce his main line with reserves until Blücher arrives to hit the French right flank. Wellington strictly prohibits his subordinates from advancing down the ridge. In case of defeat, a forest to the rear protects against a cavalry pursuit.

Mont-St. Jean

Merbe Braine

Hougomont

Paris Wood

Plancenoit

Rosomme

Lasne Brook

La Belle Alliance

La Haye

Papelotte

Smohain Brook

Bonaparte deploys his army in three lines on high ground but still cannot see Wellington’s reserves. The first line comprises Reille and D’Erlon’s infantry under Ney; the second comprises Lobau’s infantry along with Kellerman and Milhaud’s cavalry under vague command; the third comprises the Guard infantry and cavalry under Bonaparte. He places a third of his artillery on a ridge in front of his army in a great battery. Bonaparte plans to use this great battery to blow a hole in Wellington’s left center while Reille pins down his reserves; D’Erlon is to then smash the weakened Anglo-Dutch left center with a stiff infantry attack, followed by the Guard if necessary. Although he receives Grouchy’s report of Blücher’s movement west by way of Brussels early in the morning, Bonaparte does not respond until six hours later. Bonaparte rebuffs his Chief of Staff Soult when he suggests explicitly recalling Grouchy because he is confident he can defeat Wellington before Blücher arrives.

La Haye-Sainte

NN


Landmarks

French Left Wing(Bonaparte)


Break-down by corps

Break-down by divisions

Break-down by brigades

Break-down by divisions

Bonaparte agrees with Druot that they must allow the ground for artillery to be effective and delays the attack for over two full hours. The battle finally opens with Jérôme’s attack against Hougomont; using only part of his division, he clears the woods to the south but hastily carries the attack to Hougomont’s walls and gates. The British guardsmen within are barely able to close the gates and repulse the French attack.

Jérôme renews his attack on Hougomont, sucking in the rest of his division and then part of Foy’s. Anglo-Dutch artillery fire prevents the French from encircling the chateau and allows Wellington to feed in reinforcements, but proportionately less than Reille commits. As The British guardsmen continue to repulse waves of French infantry, Bonaparte orders the great battery to fire. Its effect is spectacular but ineffective: the slight ridge protects Wellington’s main line and the shots do not ricochet over it due to the wet ground. Bylandt’s brigade, exposed in front of the line, suffers greatly however. To the east, Bonaparte spots dark masses of Bülow’s troops and promptly sends Lobau’s infantry along with Domon and Subervie’s cavalry to cover his right flank. Despite Bülow’s unexpected appearance, Bonaparte is confident Grouchy is pinning most of the Prussian army.

Costly and ineffective attacks against Hougomont continue as Bachelu also becomes involved, tying down ever more French troops. On the right, Ney sends D’Erlon’s entire corps forward but overlooks the outdated divisional columns three of its four divisions are in, severely reducing its firepower and increasing its vulnerability. Bylandt’s brigade, already shaken by its losses at Quatre-Bras and today’s artillery fire, quickly routs. Picton shouts his entire division forward from behind the ridge and delivers a crushing volley to D’Erlon’s center while Quiot’s division is held up at La Haye-Sainte. Only Durutte on the right makes progress, capturing Papelotte. To the east, Bülow’s corps rests before advancing.

Picton is killed as D’Erlon’s massive assault appears to overwhelm the Anglo-Dutch center. Wellington orders a local cavalry charge which Uxbridge swiftly executes with two brigades, shattering D’Erlon’s attacks and capturing thousands of prisoners. Uxbridge loses control of his force and it charges the French great battery; the Anglo-Dutch cavalry are repulsed by French artillery fire and then routed by an opportunistic charge by Jacquinot’s cavalry.

Wellington uses an overall lull in fighting to rebuild his center from his reserve. Jérôme finally brings up artillery to set Hougomont ablaze but its defenders still hold out in the walled garden. Bonaparte receives Grouchy’s afternoon message which definitively shows he will not arrive in support. Bonaparte thus orders Ney to capture La Haye-Sainte immediately, which he attacks with the less damaged units from D’Erlon’s reorganizing corps. Meanwhile, French artillery conducts counter-battery bombardments, virtually clearing the ridge of Anglo-Dutch artillery. To the east, Bülow skirmishes with French cavalry around Paris Wood.

Ney’s infantry attack wavers against La Haye-Sainte. Based on wagon movement to the Anglo-Dutch rear, Ney concludes Wellington to be retreating and orders a mass cavalry charge by Milhaud against the enemy center. The Guard cavalry on the right gets caught up in Milhaud’s movement and also charges; this congested cavalry charge, with no supporting infantry, on wet ground, against Wellington’s unbroken infantry, is expectantly ineffective. Bonaparte, focused on the security of his right flank, does not notice Ney’s hasty charge at first. Bülow’s corps emerges from Paris Wood where Lobau strikes its leading division.

More Prussian forces arrive, forcing Lobau to retreat to a ridge in front of Plancenoit while a cavalry screen to his left deters Bülow from attacking prematurely. Bonaparte sees Ney’s bloody cavalry charge and despairingly realizes he must at least support it so he orders Kellermann and supporting Guard cavalry forward. Uxbridge charges Milhaud’s cavalry and pushes it off the ridge before Kellermann intervenes. With the arrival of Bülow’s corps, Wellington transfers Wincke’s brigade from his left into reserve and recalls Chassé’s division from the west.

The French cavalry push Uxbridge’s cavalry back and reengage the Anglo-Dutch right center. Wellington’s cavalry reserve is now a spent force and the subsequent battle inflicts heavy casualties on both sides. The French cavalry still fail to break through when only a few artillery batteries would be necessary to pierce Wellington’s line. On the French right, Bülow attacks Lobau with two divisions and besieges Plancenoit. More Prussian forces arrive as Bülow’s fourth division approaches the front, forcing Bonaparte to make urgent plans to restore the situation.Anglo-Dutch Army

(Duke of Wellington)68,000


French Left Wing(Napoleon Bonaparte/Michel Ney)72,000

NN

The French cavalry push Uxbridge’s cavalry back and reengage the Anglo-Dutch right center. Wellington’s cavalry reserve is now a spent force and the subsequent battle inflicts heavy casualties on both sides. The French cavalry still fail to break through when only a few artillery batteries would be necessary to pierce Wellington’s line. On the French right, Bülow attacks Lobau with two divisions and besieges Plancenoit. More Prussian forces arrive as Bülow’s fourth division approaches the front, forcing Bonaparte to make urgent plans to restore the situation.

The French cavalry fight bitterly but must retreat; they fail to spike the Anglo-Dutch guns, leaving them intact when their gunners return later. Ney attacks the Anglo-Dutch right with Foy and Bachelu but they are unsupported by cavalry and must retreat. Bonaparte orders Ney to take La Haye-Sainte which D’Erlon’s corps at last does when its defenders run out of ammo. French skirmishers reach the ridge and establish a few batteries, enough to pummel Anglo-Dutch reserves. Reille meanwhile takes the initiative, masking Hougomont and hitting the Anglo-Dutch right flank with Jérôme’s division. It is here that Ney requests infantry reinforcements to finish off Wellington’s center, only to be rebuffed by Bonaparte, even though the situation on the right flank is not hopeless. Bülow captures much of Plancenoit but is thrown out when Bonaparte commits the Young Guard; Bonaparte overcautiously deploys the rest of the Guard in a long line behind Plancenoit in case of a breakthrough.

Blücher directs Pirch’s only division south to prevent the French army from retreating and orders Bülow to retake Plancenoit, which he does before losing it again when Bonaparte commits part of the Old Guard. Satisfied with the situation on the right flank, Bonaparte places the rest of the Guard back in reserve in preparation for a final attack on the weakened Anglo-Dutch line. Wellington must commit Brunswick’s corps to stiffen his center and engage D’Erlon’s corps. One of Ziethen’s divisions arrives, allowing Wellington to transfer Vivian and Vandaleur’s cavalry from his left wing to reserve which, along with Chassé’s division, form his final reserve. Chassé’s division deploys right behind his center after a French deserter informs him of the upcoming Guard assault; Wellington orders his front line to take cover behind the ridge.

Bonaparte leads the Middle Guard forward for Ney to command but withholds the Old Guard in reserve. Bonaparte then proclaims to his troops that the force to the northeast is not Ziethen’s corps but Grouchy’s army. This lie and the sight of the Guard advancing heightens the morale of the French troops; they renew the attack as best they can all along the line. Ney sends the Guard to attack Wellington’s right center, not his weaker left center, because of congestion around La Haye-Sainte. Anglo-Dutch guns enfilade the Guard from the left as it advances; Bonaparte’s orders are to break the enemy units with the bayonet. The Guard reaches the ridge before the Anglo-Dutch infantry stand up and engage. Blücher also renews his attack, capturing Papelotte and much of Plancenoit.

The Guard is repulsed. Wellington orders a general advance while Blücher continues to push his troops forward: Ziethen completely outflanks the French right wing as Bülow struggles to overcome the Young Guard, which clings to Plancenoit. Word of the Guard’s repulse quickly spreads, causing the French army to rout. Reille’s troops maintain some order until Anglo-Dutch cavalry surge forward, scattering them in the open field. Bonaparte orders the Old Guard to cover the retreat before his staff urge him to flee the battlefield. The Old Guard halts the Anglo-Dutch cavalry near La Belle Alliance before withdrawing further. Wellington and Blücher meet at La Belle Alliance and agree that the Prussian cavalry will pursue alone to avoid any friendly fire incidents.

Mont-St. Jean

Merbe Braine

Hougomont

Paris Wood

Plancenoit

Rosomme

Lasne Brook

La Belle Alliance

La Haye

Papelotte

Smohain Brook

La Haye-Sainte


Landmarks

French Left Wing(Bonaparte)




French Left Wing(Napoleon Bonaparte/Michel Ney)72,000

NN

Landmarks

French Right Wing(Grouchy)

Prussian III Corps(Thielmann)

Due to congested roads west and the French approach, Thielmann is not able to march west as ordered. Instead he deploys his rearguard corps to defend the four Dyle River crossings and delay the French advance. Grouchy’s subordinates continue to press for an immediate movement west to the increasingly louder sound of the guns. Grouchy’s army is dispersed: Vandamme’s infantry and Exelmans’ cavalry are opposite Wavre while Gérard and Pajols are still approaching the battlefield. Grouchy plans to pin the Prussian army once he concentrates his own.

Vandamme disobeys orders and attempts to storm Wavre with his leading division before the rest of the army arrives. The attack fails miserably once it reaches the bridge, which is raked by Prussian artillery and skirmishers hidden within Wavre’s houses. Meanwhile, one of Gérard’s divisions arrives to the French rear. Grouchy receives Bonaparte’s afternoon message which reports the French deeply engaged at Waterloo and sight of Bülow’s corps to the northeast; Grouchy is nearly powerless to help Bonaparte.

Grouchy resolves to carry Wavre with half his force while the other half captures Limale and marches west. Vandamme attacks Wavre and Bierges Mill, is repulsed at both but renews the attack relentlessly as Exelmans threatens Lower Wavre. Gérard mistakenly marches to Wavre instead of Limale as ordered so Grouchy orders him to take the Bierge Mill crossing. To the south, Pajols’ cavalry finally arrives opposite Limale. Thielmann sends desperate appeals for assistance to Blücher but receives no reply.

Vandamme and Exelmans continue to attack their assigned crossings, albeit ineffectually. Gérard is killed as he renews the attack against Bierge Mill so Grouchy leads it himself, also with no success. To the south, Pajol surprises the Prussian detachment at Limale and captures the bridge just as Teste’s division arrives to consolidate the position. Thielmann leaves minimal forces to defend the three remaining crossings and sends the rest of his corps south. Grouchy matches Thielmann’s build-up on the plateau by leading Gérard’s other two divisions to Limale.

Thielmann attacks the French forces on the plateau in front of Limale but Pajol hits his right flank; Thielmann withdraws his attack force north to the woods. Three of four crossings are still under Prussian control and no French forces march west.

Lower Wavre

Wavre

Dyle River

Bierge Mill

Limale

French Right Wing(Emmanuel de Grouchy)

33,000

Prussian III Corps(Johann von Thielmann)

15,000

Quatre-Bras | Grande Armée: 4,000 or 21% Anglo-Dutch Army: 4,600 or 19%

Ligny | Grande Armée: 11,000 or 14% Prussian Army: 16,000 or 19%

Waterloo | Grande Armée: 33,000 or 46% Allied Armies: 21,000 or 19%

Wavre | Grande Armée: 2,600 or 8% Prussian Army: 2,500 or 17%

Overall | Grande Armée: 50,600 or 41% Allied Armies: 44,100 or 20%

Waterloo, 1815Casualties & Aftermath


Grouchy defeated Thielmann on June 19 before learning of Bonaparte’s defeat and retiring south. Bonaparte arrived in Paris on June 21 to a hostile national legislature which refused to grant him more power, instead forcing his abdication the next day. Militarily, Soult rallied 55,000 regulars of the battered French army, bringing Davout’s Paris army strength to 117,000 along with 170,000 replacements in northeastern France’s depots. The Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies were strung out around Paris or besieging fortresses and the other Allied armies were slow in pushing back weak French defensive armies. Bonaparte realized the opportunity for a magnificent counter-stroke and requested temporary command of the army. The provisional government denied him this opportunity and forced him into exile. Davout, disgusted with the web of politics in Paris, negotiated peace terms which reduced France to its borders of 1790.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps

http://www.theartofbattle.com


Waterloo Campaign

Documents

Transcript of Waterloo Campaign