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Random Facts about the Battle of Waterloo
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO
The battle of Waterloo was fought June 18, 1815, between the
allied British, Netherland and German troops under
Wellington and the French under Napoleon. On June 16
Napoleon had attacked the Prussians under Blucher at Ligny
and forced them to retreat toward Wavre, and Marshal Noy at
the same time attacked the British and Dutch forces at
Quatre Bras, but was forced to retire after an engagement of
five hours. Napoleon's object, however, which was to prevent
a union of the Prussians with Wellington's main army, was
partially gained. The latter commander, having learned the
next morning of Blucher's repulse, moved on to Waterloo
expecting that the Prussian commander, according to previous
arrangement, would join him there as speedily as possible.
On June 17 Napoleon also moved toward Waterloo with the main
body of his army, having directed Marshal Grouchy with
34,000 men and ninety-six guns to pursue Blucher's command
toward Wavre. Both armies bivouacked on the field of
Waterloo, and the next morning Napoleon, confident that
Grouchy would prevent the arrival of the Prussians, delayed
attack until the ground should become dry, a heavy shower
having fallen on the day previous. The forces under
Wellington occupied a semi-circular ridge a mile and a half
in length, and the French were on an opposite ridge, the two
being separated by a valley about 500 yards wide. The plan
of Napoleon was to turn the allied left, force it back upon
center, and gain possession of the enemy's line of retreat.
To draw off Wellington's attention to his right, French
troops were sent about 11 o'clock to attack the chateau of
Houguemont, which the English had fortified. After a fight
of more than two hours this was still in the possession of
its defenders. About 1 o'clock a Prussian corps under Bulow
was seen approaching on the French right, and Napoleon,
finding it necessary to send 10,000 men to check their
advance, was obliged to change the plan of battle. He
therefore ordered a fierce attack upon the allied center.
Wellington massed his troops there, and the battle was
obstinately maintained for five hours, with varying success
to the participants, both commanders hourly expecting
re-enforcements. Wellington was waiting for Blucher and
Napoleon for Grouchy. The French at last were gaining
ground; the allied troops in the center were wavering under
Ney's impetuous onslaughts, General Durutte had forced back
the left, and Bulow's troops on the right had been forced to
yield the position they had taken. Now, however, there were
rumors that Blucher's army was approaching and the allies
again rallied. At 7 o'clock Napoleon, despairing of the
approach of Grouchy, determined to decide the day by a
charge of the Old Guard, which had been held in reserve. At
this stage the advance of Prussian horse on the allied left
forced back General Durutte's troops, and the Old Guard
formed in squares to cover this retreat. Ney's division
surrounded, made a gallant struggle--their brave leader
still unwounded, though five horses had been shot under him,
heading them on foot, sword in hand--but were forced to give
way. The Old Guard held their ground against overwhelming
numbers. Finally, when five squares were broken, the Emperor
gave the order to "fall back." The cry "The Guard is
repulsed" spread consternation through the French army and
threatened to turn retreat into precipitate flight.
Napoleon, seeing this, reformed the Guard in order to give a
rallying point for the fugitives. Failing in this, he
declared that he would die within the square, but Marshal
Soult hurried him away. The heroic band, surrounded, was
bidden to surrender. "The Old Guard dies, but never
surrenders" is the reply popularly attributed to General
Cambronne, and with the cry of "Vive l'Empereur!" the
remnant of the Guard made a last charge upon the enemy and
perished almost to a man. The forces of Blucher being now
upon the field, the rout of the French was complete, and the
Prussians pursued the fleeing troops, capturing guns and
men. There is no doubt that the failure of Grouchy to come
upon the field caused Napoleon to lose his last great
battle. It was subsequently asserted that this marshal was
bribed, but there seems to be no real foundation for so base
a charge. The trouble was that he had been ordered by
Napoleon to follow the Prussians toward Wavre and thought it
necessary to follow the strict letter of his instructions.
Before he reached the village the main body of the Prussian
force was on its way to Waterloo, but one division had been
left there to occupy his attention. Engaged in skirmishing
with this, he paid no attention to the advice of his
subordinate generals who, hearing the terrible cannonading
at Waterloo, besought him to go to the aid of the army
there. Napoleon believing that he was either holding back
Blucher's forces or was hotly pursuing them, did not recall
him to the main army, and the decisive battle was lost.
Grouchy was summoned before a council of war, but the court
declared itself incompetent to decide his case, and nothing
further came of it.
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