Waterloo

18 June 1815

Waterloo. The name rings in the annals of history. Given the dramatic geopolitical impact of the French defeat, Napoléon’s definitive exile, and his death some 6 years later, it is fair to say that the destiny of Europe hung in the balance as the forces massed near Waterloo. On the morning of 18 June, 1815 the outcome was uncertain; today we know the outcome that had a major impact on the 19^th century. “Napoléon met his Waterloo” has been transfigured many times since then by substituting someone else’s name in the place of Napoléon. At least 125 towns or cities located on all the continents of the world are named Waterloo. Why should this small 19^th century town some 15 kms from Brussels gain such fame?

The answers lie in the geopolitics of the period. The Emperor Napoléon had made much of Europe part of the French Empire. But the bigger they are, the harder and farther they can fall.

Napoléon abdicated in April 1814, following from his 1813 retreat from Russia, and under immense pressure from the major and minor powers of Europe. Within a year of his abdication, he left his exile on the Island of Elba to attempt to again gain control of Europe. Raising an army he eventually marched his some 72,000 troops, artillery and cavalry to a point about 6 km. south of Waterloo and set up his last headquarters on 17 June 1815 at the Ferme du Caillou.

Dating from 1757 it belonged to a 78 year old farmer, Henry Boucquéau. The troops occupied the barn and farmyard while the farm house was emptied to make way for Napoléon’s campaign furniture. He arrived at 20:00 hours, ate dinner and then rested. During the night he continued to rest and dictated the order of battle and several letters. At 0900 the next morning he breakfasted with his general staff, had the maps spread out in this room, and gave his final marching orders.

Meanwhile in Waterloo, at a coach-inn dating from the 18^th opposing Napoléon, set up his headquarters on 17 June.

The preceding evening Wellington, to allay the fears of the populace, had attended a ball in

Brussels even though he knew that Napoléon had been sighted crossing what is today the French frontier.

Across the Brussels Road from the inn was the

Chapelle Royale, constructed in the form of a round domed building and blessed in 1690 in the presence of

the Governor-General, the Marquis de Castanaga (the area then being part of the Spanish Empire).

Between 1824 and 1899 the edifice was expanded by the addition of the large church behind the round chapel, forming

the structure that Marie-Claire would attend as a teenager. It is not known whether Wellington or officers of his staff visited the Roman Catholic church. But today there are a number of British memorials in it associated with the Battle of Waterloo.

At 11:30 on 18 June, 1815 with some 190,000 men from 7 nations massed in the area the battle
began when Napoléon sent his brother, Prince Jérôme Bonaparte to lead what was intended as a
diversionary attack on the Château d’Hougoumont, on the British right. Feeling that he could capture the château, Jérôme maintained an unremitting attack for 8 hours, resulting in the deaths of 6,000 men – Scots and Coldstream Guards, Nassauers and Hanoverians on the allied side and French on the other. This “diversionary” attack, while it occupied a significant number of the allies, also occupied a more significant proportion of the Napoléon’ smaller army. Some estimates suggest that Napoléon was able to field about 72,000 men while the allies fielded up to 121,000 (68,000 English, Dutch and Belgians under Wellington’s direct command and 53,000 Prussians, Austrians and Hanoveriens under the direct command of Feldmarschall Blücher.

At this time Blücher and the bulk of his men were some distance away and would not join the battle until about 17:30 or 18:00. Given this
balance of forces on the field in the morning, Jérôme Bonaparte’s persistence in maintaining a “diversionary” attack for 8 hours is questionable
and may well have contributed in large measure to the eventual French defeat.

At 13:30 the main French attack was launched
with an 80 gun bombardment and a powerful infantry push on Wellington’s left. After the barrage a French infantry corp of 18,000 took Papelotte on their right but failed to take the farm of La Haie Sainte on their left.

Control of La Haie Sainte farm would be an important factor throughout the battle.

In the centre the shattered remains of an allied brigade, having been fully exposed to the cannon barrage, were quickly overrun. Struggling over the crest of a small slope, the French were met by the withering fire of two British brigades.

Sensing the confusion of the French, Sir Thomas Picton led the two brigades in a bayonet charge against the densely packed French column. The supporting French cavalry being occupied elsewhere, and supported by a brilliantly timed British cavalry attack, Picton was able to drive the French infantry from the field leaving 3,000 prisoners and over 3,000 dead or wounded behind them.

At 16:00, following a cannonade on the right of the British centre, the French Maréchel Ney unleashed part of his cavalry on the British.

As the mauled British infantry regrouped, the French batteries opened fire again. But Wellington had withdrawn his men below the crest of the hill so little damage was done by the French artillery. Once the French artillery stopped, the allied infantry scrambled into squares, a strong defensive tactic against the expected cavalry attack. Wave upon wave of French cavalry under Milhaud swept down on the squares, slowly reducing them. Between cavalry charges the French artillery continued their havoc. Finally with the French cavalry disorganized after being repeatedly repulsed, the British launched another brilliantly timed cavalry counterattack.

At 17:00 Napoléon learns that far to the east, the Prussians were advancing. Knowing that time was running out, Napoléon throws his remaining cavalry into the fray. The allied squares again withstood the incredible force of alternate French artillery barrages and Kellerman’s cavalry charges. Lord Uxbridge, though outnumbered, leads his cavalry once more against the French counterparts.

While it was eventually the French who retired, the cost to the British had been dramatic, and Wellington’s heavy cavalry was effectively finished. Although the allied infantry squares had held, in the centre of their position there were few living men remaining.

The farm of La Haie Sainte all day long had been a thorn in the side of Napoléon. Located on the right flank of the French behind the farm walls, Major Baring’s 1,000 men of the King’s German Legion had harassed French movements with their cross-fire. At 18:00 Napoléon ordered a major effort to take the farm. At last surrounded by the strengthened French legions, and out of ammunition, the British were forced to fight their way out. Only 42 men remained to accompany Baring. A British counterattack failed to retake the farm.

To the east Duruette retook Papelotte farm. But even further east the Prussians were making headway against the French (Lobau’s corp).

At 19:30 with Blücher’s Prussians closing from the east and threatening his right wing, Napoléon plays his last card, but unfortunately for him it is not a trump card. He commits his elite Imperial Guard. If he could break through to Waterloo, the road to Brussels would be open and he would win Europe. If he failed, his Empire was lost.

After a terrific French bombardment the Imperial Guard attacked the decimated allied squares. The first columns broke through the allies only to be repulsed by a brilliant Belgian counterattack under General Chasse. The second two columns met Maitland’s foot guards and were halted in savage fighting. As the French pushed forward reinforcements, destiny hung in the balance. Sir John Colborne, risking all in one move, took his 52^nd Light Infantry out of the line and took the remaining French column in the flank. As the Imperial Guard reeled, Wellington swept his whole line forward. Napoléon had met his Waterloo. And the rest, as they say is history.

While Napoléon would escape the immediate pursuit by Blücher and the Prussians, he would eventually surrender, and be exiled to the inaccessible island of Sainte-Hélène, where he would die 6 years later.

Today the site of the battle is still in large part farmland, with the exception of the "British Lion" atop the dominant man-made hill. The lion, in all its majesty, faces toward Paris; a reminder of the French defeat. One hundred years later the alignment of forces would be somewhat different as Europe plunged into waht would be known as World War I.

NOTE: We have borrowed heavily from the resources of the various museums in and around Waterloo to compile this.