Case Studies - Waterloo and Balaclava

Question 1

When was the Battle of Waterloo?

Answer 1

1815

Question 2

Give a brief description of the Battle of Waterloo.

Answer 2

The Battle of Waterloo saw famous British commander, the Duke of Wellington, inflict Napolean Bonaparte’s final defeat (French). Wellington’s leadership proved decisive.

Question 3

How did Wellington (British) effectively use the battleground?

Answer 3

Wellington chose a good defensive position.

• The battlefield was good for defense as it was only about three miles across.
• He deployed his men behind a ridge to reduce the damage done by enemy artillery.
• He set up two positions on the flanks of the ridge to interrupt the French attack.
• He concealed field artillery in the village of Papelotte in one flank.

Question 4

Describe how the the Battle of Waterloo went.

Answer 4

1. Napoleon attacked with infantry columns, cavalry charges and heavy artillery. The columns were 200 men wide, and could punch through lines, but lacked firepower and were large targets.
2. Wellington used 20 infantry sqaures (each 60m across) with muskets and bayonets to hold back the French cavalry. The field artillery and wounded were protected inside these sqaures.
3. Wellington then sent in the cavalry and infantry in lines, firing devastating volleys.

Question 5

Describe how the Duke of Wellington’s tactics in the Battle of Waterloo were successful.

Answer 5

• He was prepared to defend his position. He needed to avoid being beaten until he was reinforced by the Prussian army.
• He used sqaures for defence, with cannon on the corners and infantry firing in rotation - hard to break.
• He switched from defence to attack just in time and personally led his troops into the fighting. Cavalry were deployed behind the advance to discourage desertion.

Question 6

What errors did Napoleon make in the Battle of Waterloo.

Answer 6

• Suffering with piles and irritable, he was unable to properly assess the battlefield.
• He used 33,000 men to slow the Prussians; they returned late, exhausted.
• He delayed the start as he believed the battlefield was too muddy for cavalry.
• Unsuccessful attack on Hougoumont tied up a quarter of his infantry.
• Late in the afternoon he launched another attack when he could’ve withdrawn.

Question 7

When was the Battle of Balaclava?

Answer 7

1854

Question 8

Give a brief description of the Battle of Balaclava.

Answer 8

The Battle of Balaclava was a Russian attack on a British-held port in the Crimea. The British fought off the Russians, but needlessly launched a costly cavalry charge.

Question 9

Describe the tactics and weapons used in the Battle of Balaclava.

Answer 9

• The 93rd Highlanders under Sir Colin Campbell, using Minié rifles, held a defensive position against an attacking force of Russian cavalry.
• The soldiers (British), formed two-deep lines in their red tunics, outnumbered 4 : 1.
• Their devastating volleys drove off the cavalry. The Heavy Brigade then moved in and defeated a large force of Russian cavalry.
• The use of old methods, like a cavalry charge, against a defensive line of infantry armed with the latest rifles led to a huge loss of life.
• The power of defence becane a centeal characteristic of warfare during this period.

Question 10

Describe what occurred in the Battle of Balaclava : the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Answer 10

• Later in the battle, Russians began to remove the allied cannon they had captured on the ridge.
• Lord Raglan ordered Lord Lucan to recapture the cannon, but orders were vague and poorly explained. In the confusion, Lucan thought he was being asked to attack the Russian cannons.
• Despite the uncertainty, Lucan ordered Lord Cardigan’s Light Brigade to charge the Russian cannon.
• Out of 673 men in the Light Brigade : 113 killed, 134 injured and almost all of the horses destroyed ; for no gain.

Question 11

Describe how Lord Raglan (British + Allies) in the Battle of Balaclava, made many mistakes.

Answer 11

• He knew about the build-up of Russian forces but did not reinforce his defences.
• He was heavily criticised in the British press because of shortages of food and supplies.
• He delayed an attack on Sebastopol, giving the enemy time to build their defences.

Raglan’s actions ar Balaclava exemplifyed the disadvantages of commissions that were bought rather than earned.