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British Experience of Warfare > Waterloo > Flashcards

Waterloo Flashcards

1
Q

what did Dr. Ben Weider say about the battle

A

Napoleon had an accumulation of setbacks/ misadventures that were beyond his control and comprehension.
The war should have ended at Ligny (June 16) if Ney had been true to his potential. Two days later, victory would have been won [at Waterloo] if Ney had not bungled his tactics and above all if Grouchy had been at the top of his form.
Despite Ney’s failure, victory might yet have been won if not for the untimely rain that delayed the start of the attack by three hours.
Considering the precarious Anglo-Allied position when Blücher arrived, Wellington could not have held out for three more hours.
Waterloo was an unthinkable disaster, as if the gods had willed it to be so. Despite all this, Napoleon did not fail his reputation as a great captain

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2
Q

how long did the battle last

A

around 11 hours

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3
Q

when was the battle

A

18th June 1815

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4
Q

how many men fought for the allies including the Prussians

A

200,000

60,000 horses

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5
Q

what is the estimate of casualties per minute

A

90

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6
Q

Wellington’s tactical genius factors

A
  • chose sloping ridges as place to meet Napoleon
  • his holding strategy at Quatre Bras drew Napoleon to Waterloo where the bulk of the Allied forces where in position (2 days prior to waterloo)
  • he greatly appreciated the importance of Hougomont on the right flank of his army - he said closing of gates at 12:30 was crucial to his success
  • super-efficient use of volley fire, square, reverse slope - saved his army from defeat - tried and tested in the Pen Wars
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7
Q

french failures factors

A
  • Nap’s strategy to divide forces led by Wellington and Blucher was masterful but
  • he fell into Wellington’s trap to meet him at Waterloo and played into his hands - could have perhaps waited for Welly to come to him
  • Marshal Grouchy’s failure to stop Marshall Blucher’s Prussians from reaching Waterloo greatly contributed to Allied victory - bring in Ligny
  • Ney’s impetuous cavalry charge at around 4pm was a catastrophic failure for the French as Welly’s infantry had formed a square and was pivitol in blunting French chances of success - Nap fell ill
  • wasn’t just about Welly - CA - Welly had degree of fortune on the day
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8
Q

other factors that aided success at Waterloo for Welly

A
  • heavy rain delayed Nap’s attack
  • without the rain he may well have defeated Welly before Blucher arrived to outflank the French at 3pm
  • Nap was ill - hindered his leadership abilities/ capacity for success
  • success breeds success, defeat breeds defeat
  • Welly’s army was high in morale after Pen wars and battles in France before Nap’s abdication in 1814
  • battle lost before it began in hearts and minds of the French
  • even if Nap had won the day at Waterloo his army would have been broken and it would have been fairly easy for the coalition forces to finish him off for good - must have weighed on the minds of the French
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9
Q

what did Welly admit Waterloo was

A

the nearest god damn run thing you ever did see

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10
Q

what happened at Quatre Bras in the prelude to Waterloo

A
  • 16th June 1815
  • Marshall Ney commanded a smaller force of French soldiers and a cavalry of 20,000
  • Welly sent some 35,000 (about half of his forces) men to engage the French although he always intended to draw them back to Waterloo
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11
Q

what happened at Ligny in the prelude to Waterloo

A
  • 16th June 1815
  • Between French and Prussian forces
  • Nap was determined to separate the two allied armies
  • Bulk of nap’s army fought hard against the Prussians but the Prussians retreated
  • Marshal Grouchy was ordered to ensure that the Prussians did not arrive at Waterloo, he failed in this mission contributing to allied victory
  • cle ver plan tho from Nap
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12
Q

why was it essential for Welly to protect Hougomont

A
  • if it fell to the french Welly’s right flank would have been exposed
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13
Q

what happened to La Hossaont

A
  • fell a couple of times

- unsurprising as it was right between the two armies

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14
Q

key events at Waterloo

A
  • rain delayed the battle
  • the valley was sodden which was no good for cavalry charges or infantry assault
  • Nap open with powerful artillery barrages - as an artillery officer he knew how to do so effectively
  • then sent in his infantry - charge of the Scot’s Greys - an epic Calvary charge from the British side of around 500 heavy artillery - the likes of which we never really see again
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15
Q

Discuss Hougomont

A
  • British closed gates at 12:30pm
  • British infantry held it for the whole battle
  • aided Welly’s defensive strategy till Prussians arrive
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16
Q

what was the importance of the charge of the Scott’s greys

A
  • To counter Marshall Ney’s infantry assault

- Napoleon then sent his lances to counter this - almost like a game of chess

17
Q

when did Blucher’s Prussians arrive

A
  • 4pm
  • but held by the french forces at the farm of Plancenoit just behind the French lines and the right flank of the French still too far away at this point to save Welly from defeat
  • but it meant the French where essentially fighting two battles on one battlefield at this time
  • but then Nap fell ill
18
Q

discuss Ney’s impetuous charge

A
  • Nap ordered Ney to capture La Haye Sainte in centre of battlefield before he went off ill
  • Ney did effectively but then wrongly believed Welly was in full retreat
  • led the French up ridge to destroy British infantry
  • led cavalry up ridge to find British infantry in square on the reverse slope of the hill to counter the French attack
  • pivotal moment of Wellington’s stalwart defense, he knew exactly what he was doing - cautious , tentative
19
Q

what happened at 7pm

A
  • Prussians now pushing into the right flank of the French
  • French almost surrounded by allied forces
  • Napoleon sent in his imperial guard
  • the imperial guard were the elite, masters, veterans - he rarely sent them in because he never felt he needed to
  • confirms that the writing was really on the wall for the French
20
Q

what were some contributing factors to allied victory over Napoleon

A
  • Welly chose battlefield cleverly
  • closing of the Hougomont gates
  • tactics allowed him to carry out his defensive strategy to wait out for the Prussians
  • Napoleon may have defeated Welly before Prussians arrived had it not rained
  • Nap fell ill - had he been there perhaps Ney’s charge wouldn’t have happened - he would have realised it was a mistake
  • Marshall Grouchy’s inability to halt the Prussians
  • Soldiers in Welly’s army high in morale!
  • even if Nap won the whole of Europe was against him - coalition armies would have been victorious at some stage

British Experience of Warfare (12 decks)

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