Page 48 - All About History - Issue 26-15
P. 48
poleon
he Battle o
Waterloo
Belgium18June1815
After fighting back the advancing
Prussians, it was time for Napoleon to
face the might of Wellington’s troops.
With 72,000 French men meeting
68,000 allies, the emperor found
himself better equipped, but the
coalition was better positioned. The
sun rose to reveal the fi elds deluged;
it was time for Napoleon to put his
famous tactical genius to the test.
La Haye Sainte falls Wellington struggles Battle on two fronts
Forhours,wavesofferociousFrenchsoldiersattack AlthoughthePrussiansareapproaching,theyarestilla At about 3.30pm Napoleon’s troops finally meet Blücher’s
Wellington’s stronghold of La Haye Sainte. Finally, at about good while away and Wellington struggles to drive back the Prussiansfivemileseastofthemainfighting.Yetagain
6pm, they are victorious, though the cost is heavy in both FrenchfromthecrucialfarmhouseofLaHayeSainte.The Napoleon’stroopsareatatacticaldisadvantageasthe
French and British lives. With his new position, Napoleon is BritishcavalrychargeintotheadvancingFrenchinfantry Prussianshavethehighground.Asthefightingintensifies,
abletouseartillerytoattacktheBritishcentre. – the effect is disastrous for the French forces, which are Napoleon is forced to commit more men to the Prussian
substantiallyweakened,butWellington’sleftlinehasalso battle, significantly stretching his forces.
felt the brunt of the attack.
Napoleon delays
Napoleon is aware that
Wellington has the stronger
position, and the sodden The emperor attacks
ground makes moving his men As Wellington’s right flank is
and guns difficult. However, busy defending Hougoumont,
he knows that Blücher’s The Prussian arrival Napoleon decides to unleash his
Prussian army are steadily TheFrenchmanagetobreakthroughthealliedfrontline forces upon the British centre
approaching the field. He butWellington’sforcesusetheirmusketstogreateffect. line. The 18,000-strong force
decidestoriskdelayandwaits Finally,Blücher’sforcesarriveonWellington’sleftandtarget manage to capture Papelpotte
until the ground has dried out. Napoleon’srightflank.TheunitedstrengthoftheBritish and the area surrounding La Haye
Instead, he launches an attack andPrussianforcesoverwhelmstheFrencharmyand Sainte. Victory seems assured.
on the British at Hougoumont Napoleonhasnochoicebuttoretreat.HisImperialGuard However,atabout1pm,Napoleon
farmtomakeadentin aresoloyalthattheysacrificethemselvestogivetheir noticesmovementintheeast.It
Wellington’ssteelydefence. emperorachancetoescapeunharmed. is the Prussians.
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