Battle of Waterloo: Difference between revisions
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'''The Battle of Waterloo''' took place June 18, 1815 in Belgium. The French army under Napoleon Bonaparte fought the combined allied Anglo-Dutch army under the Duke of Wellington and Prussian Prussian army under Marshall Blűcher. After having nearly defeated the 68,000 man Anglo-Dutch army, the 72,000 man French army was defeated after an all-day battle. This battle marked a turning point in history by ending nearly 25 years of constant warfare between Republican/Imperial France and the rest of Europe. | |||
This battle was the culminating event of the Hundred Days which was Napoleon's attempt to return to power as Emperor of France. Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo marked his final, definitive fall from power and led to his exile on the island of Saint Helena. As a result of Napoleon's defeat Louix XVIII regained the French throne. | |||
The Waterloo Campaign began on June the 14, 1815 when the French army crossed the border into Allied occupied Belgium at Charleroi by maneuvering between the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies. On June 16, 1815 Napoleon defeated the Prussian army at Ligny then turned to follow the retreating Anglo-Dutch army which fell back to Waterloo. However, Napoleon split off a large detachment of his army to pursue the retreating Prussians. This had disastrous consequences for the French army on June 18th. | |||
Before the battle the Duke of Wellington positioned his army on a low ridge south of the village of Waterloo. Two large farmhouses anchored his position in the valley below. These farmhouses were used by his troops as miniature fortresses in front of the main allied defenses. Wellington also placed the majority of his troops just behind the crest of the ridge to conceal them. | |||
This period in June saw a number of heavy rains in the area particularly on the night of June 17th-18th which delayed the arrival of the pursuing French. This gave a great advantage to Wellington's army because the wet ground favored the defenders rather than the attackers. It particularly slowed the movement of the French artillery and rendered the fire of the French artillery less effective. | |||
Another factor that likely effected the outcome of the battle was Napoleon himself. A number of witnesses and commentators mentioned Napoleon's poor health which at one point caused him briefly to leave his command headquarters during the battle. Napoleon's tactical handling of his army during the Battle of Waterloo was problematic. The battle did not begin until nearly noon when the French began a bombardment of the Anglo-Dutch positions. The French launched a series of attacks which were not well-coordinated but eventually began wearing down Wellington's army. | |||
Meanwhile, the French detachment of 30,000 men under Marshall Grouchey which had been intended to pursue the Prussian army failed in its mission. Instead of pushing the the Prussian army to the Northeast away from the Anglo-Dutch army, Grouchey simply followed the Prussian army as it moved to the Northwest towards Wellington's forces. As a result in the late afternoon Blűcher's Prussian forces began attacking the French right flank and right rear. Napoleon was forced to send part of his reserves to combat the Prussians. In a last effort to win the battle Napoleon committed his Imperial Guard to assault the center of Wellington's line. This attack proved to be too little, too late and was pushed back causing the rest of the French army to become demoralized and flee the battlefield. A rear-guard action was fought by the two regiments of the Old Guard which were the elite regiments of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. These men were able to delay the allied counter-attack and permitted many French troops to successfully retreat. | |||
Within a few weeks of his defeat at Waterloo Napoleon surrendered on July 15th. Later the British transported him to exile on Saint Helena. | |||
Historians have cited a few reasons for the French army's defeat. However, the most definitive factor for their loss was the arrival of 40,000 to 50,000 Prussian reinforcements late in the day. [[User:Gary Leonard Cameron|Gary Leonard Cameron]] 22:10, 28 April 2012 (UTC) | |||
Revision as of 16:10, 28 April 2012
The Battle of Waterloo took place June 18, 1815 in Belgium. The French army under Napoleon Bonaparte fought the combined allied Anglo-Dutch army under the Duke of Wellington and Prussian Prussian army under Marshall Blűcher. After having nearly defeated the 68,000 man Anglo-Dutch army, the 72,000 man French army was defeated after an all-day battle. This battle marked a turning point in history by ending nearly 25 years of constant warfare between Republican/Imperial France and the rest of Europe.
This battle was the culminating event of the Hundred Days which was Napoleon's attempt to return to power as Emperor of France. Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo marked his final, definitive fall from power and led to his exile on the island of Saint Helena. As a result of Napoleon's defeat Louix XVIII regained the French throne.
The Waterloo Campaign began on June the 14, 1815 when the French army crossed the border into Allied occupied Belgium at Charleroi by maneuvering between the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies. On June 16, 1815 Napoleon defeated the Prussian army at Ligny then turned to follow the retreating Anglo-Dutch army which fell back to Waterloo. However, Napoleon split off a large detachment of his army to pursue the retreating Prussians. This had disastrous consequences for the French army on June 18th.
Before the battle the Duke of Wellington positioned his army on a low ridge south of the village of Waterloo. Two large farmhouses anchored his position in the valley below. These farmhouses were used by his troops as miniature fortresses in front of the main allied defenses. Wellington also placed the majority of his troops just behind the crest of the ridge to conceal them.
This period in June saw a number of heavy rains in the area particularly on the night of June 17th-18th which delayed the arrival of the pursuing French. This gave a great advantage to Wellington's army because the wet ground favored the defenders rather than the attackers. It particularly slowed the movement of the French artillery and rendered the fire of the French artillery less effective.
Another factor that likely effected the outcome of the battle was Napoleon himself. A number of witnesses and commentators mentioned Napoleon's poor health which at one point caused him briefly to leave his command headquarters during the battle. Napoleon's tactical handling of his army during the Battle of Waterloo was problematic. The battle did not begin until nearly noon when the French began a bombardment of the Anglo-Dutch positions. The French launched a series of attacks which were not well-coordinated but eventually began wearing down Wellington's army.
Meanwhile, the French detachment of 30,000 men under Marshall Grouchey which had been intended to pursue the Prussian army failed in its mission. Instead of pushing the the Prussian army to the Northeast away from the Anglo-Dutch army, Grouchey simply followed the Prussian army as it moved to the Northwest towards Wellington's forces. As a result in the late afternoon Blűcher's Prussian forces began attacking the French right flank and right rear. Napoleon was forced to send part of his reserves to combat the Prussians. In a last effort to win the battle Napoleon committed his Imperial Guard to assault the center of Wellington's line. This attack proved to be too little, too late and was pushed back causing the rest of the French army to become demoralized and flee the battlefield. A rear-guard action was fought by the two regiments of the Old Guard which were the elite regiments of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. These men were able to delay the allied counter-attack and permitted many French troops to successfully retreat.
Within a few weeks of his defeat at Waterloo Napoleon surrendered on July 15th. Later the British transported him to exile on Saint Helena.
Historians have cited a few reasons for the French army's defeat. However, the most definitive factor for their loss was the arrival of 40,000 to 50,000 Prussian reinforcements late in the day. Gary Leonard Cameron 22:10, 28 April 2012 (UTC)