MEMORANDUM ON THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO

by the Duke of Wellington

In discussing the Battle of Waterloo and the !ilitar" !o#e!ents $re#ious thereto it
is necessar" to ad#ert to the state of Euro$e at the !o!ent and the !ilitar"
$osition of the Allies on the one hand and of Buona$arte and France on the other%
The &o'ers of Euro$e had in ()(* !ade $eace 'ith France go#erned +" Louis
,-III% A .ongress 'as asse!+led at -ienna co!$osed of !inisters fro! the
$rinci$al &o'ers engaged in the $re#ious 'ar and fro! His Most .hristian Ma/est"
to regulate and settle #arious $oints left unsettled +" the treaties of $eace not onl"
as +et'een France and the &o'ers engaged in the 'ar +ut 0uestions affecting the
relati#e interests of all arising out of the long and e1tensi#e 'arfare the
conse0uence of the French Re#olution%
Buona$arte ha#ing a+dicated his $o'er and ha#ing retired to the island of El+a
under the sanction of a treat" returned to France earl" in March ()(2 'ith a
detach!ent of his 3uard 'hich had attended hi! to the island of El+a arri#ed at
&aris on the 45th of March and o#erturned the go#ern!ent of 6ing Louis ,-III%
'ho fled to Lille and su+se0uentl" to 3hent in the Netherlands7 'hen Buona$arte
usur$ed the go#ern!ent of France%
Whate#er 'e !a" thin8 of the settle!ent of the go#ern!ent of France of the state
of $ossession of the different $arts of Euro$e and of the 'orld as fi1ed +" the
treaties of $eace and +" the su+se0uent di$lo!atic transactions at -ienna at that
!o!ent co!$leted the" constituted at the ti!e the $u+lic la' of Euro$e and the
state of $ossession of the se#eral &o'ers under authorit" thereof% This !ust ne#er
+e lost sight of in the consideration of this su+/ect%
Fro! the !o!ent at 'hich Buona$arte dro#e Louis ,-III fro! &aris and usur$ed
his throne it 'as o+#ious that the 'ar 'ould +e rene'ed7 and the first thing that
'as done +" the !inisters of the Allies at -ienna u$on learning the in#asion of
France +" Buona$arte his !arch u$on &aris and his usur$ation of the
3o#ern!ent 'as to rene' and to render a$$lica+le to the circu!stances of the
!o!ent their for!er treat" of alliance concluded at .hau!ont in the !onth of
March ()(*%
Field Marshal the Du8e of Wellington +eing the $leni$otentiar" of His Britannic
Ma/est" at the .ongress at -ienna at that $eriod ha#ing concluded and signed the
treat" of alliance on the 42th of March and all the arrange!ents connected 'ith that
instru!ent and ha#ing +een a$$ointed to co!!and the Allied ar!" asse!+led in
the Netherlands set out fro! -ienna and reached Bru1elles in the first da"s of A$ril%
The treat" of $eace of ()(* had rendered necessar" the occu$ation of the
$ro#inces co!!onl" called the Belgian $ro#inces +" an ar!" co!$osed of British
(
Hano#erian and Dutch troo$s under the co!!and of His Ro"al Highness the
Hereditar" &rince of Orange7 the 3er!an $ro#inces on the left +an8 of the Rhine
e1tending fro! the $ro#ince of Loraine to the 9unction of the Rhine 'ith the Meuse
+" &russian troo$s7 the Italian $ro#inces for!ing 'hat had +een called the 6ingdo!
of Ital" +" the Austrian ar!" :indeed this Austrian ar!" 'as at a+out this ti!e
engaged in the acti#e o$erations of 'ar 'ith Murat 6ing of Na$les;7 the $ro#inces
in &oland for!ing the 8ingdo! of <a1on &oland +" the Russian ar!"%
Thus then the ar!ies of the Allies 'ere distri+uted o#er Euro$e 'hile the greater
$art of that of England had +een detached to North A!erica7 and not'ithstanding
that the treat" of $eace had +een concluded at 3hent on the 4*th of Dece!+er
()(* +et'een His Britannic Ma/est" and the United <tates sufficient ti!e had not
ela$sed to ena+le His Britannic Ma/est"=s !inisters to +ring +ac8 the troo$s to
Euro$e%
On the other hand Buona$arte found an ar!" in France co!$letel" organi>ed
consisting of not less than 425555 !en 'ith cannon and all that 'as re0uired to
render the! efficient for the field% There 'ere +esides !an" old soldiers a#aila+le
for the ser#ice 'ho had +een $risoners of 'ar in England in Russia and
else'here +esides the !en discharged fro! the cor$s of the I!$erial 3uard%
It is o+#ious that the first !easures of the 3enerals co!!anding the ar!ies of the
Allies !ust ha#e +een defensi#e% Those in the Belgian $ro#inces and those on the
left +an8 of the Rhine !ust ha#e +een strictl" and cautiousl" for!ed u$on these
$rinci$les% Their forces 'ere 'ea8 in co!$arison 'ith the French force o$$osed to
or 'hich !ight +e +rought against the!% The latter en/o"ed other ad#antages in the
nature and strength of their frontier%
These Allied troo$s 'ere at the out$ost% The" 'ere destined to $rotect the !arch of
the other ar!ies of the Allies to the countries 'hich 'ere intended to +e the +asis of
the o$erations to +e carried on against the ene!" for 'hich the treat" of the 42th
March had !ade $ro#ision%
The ar!" in the Belgian $ro#inces under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington
fro! the first da"s of A$ril had $articular interests to attend to as each of the other
ar!ies had each in the districts under its charge +esides the general o$erations of
the 'ar% That ar!" co!$osed of British Dutch and Hano#erian troo$s had to
$reser#e the co!!unications 'ith England Holland and 3er!an"% It 'as
connected 'ith the &russian ar!" +" its left the co!!unication of 'hich 'ith
3er!an" 'as a+solutel" necessar"%
The &rince <o#ereign after'ards 6ing of the Netherlands to 'hose go#ern!ent
the Belgian $ro#inces had +een ceded +" the .ongress of -ienna had fi1ed its seat
at Bru1elles7 and the 6ing Louis ,-III% ha#ing found hi!self under the necessit" of
'ithdra'ing fro! France altogether had deter!ined to reside at 3hent%
Buona$arte had great ad#antages 'hether for an offensi#e o$eration on the
$ositions of the Allies or for the defence of his o'n in the nu!+er the $osition and
4
the strength of the fortresses on the north?east frontier of France% He !ight fi1 and
organi>e his ar!ies 'ithin these out of sight and al!ost 'ithout the 8no'ledge of
the Allied 3enerals e#en to the last !o!ent $re#ious to an attac87 and it 'as
i!$ossi+le for the Allies to atte!$t to carr" on an offensi#e o$eration against the
French $osition 'hich should not include the !eans of carr"ing on one or !ore
sieges $ossi+l" at the sa!e !o!ent%
The incon#eniences difficulties and disad#antages of this defensi#e s"ste! 'ere
aggra#ated +" the uncertaint" of the length of ti!e 'hich it !ight last@ that is to sa"
till the Austrian ar!ies ha#ing ter!inated their o$erations in Ital" against Murat
should ha#e reached the U$$er Rhine and there for!ed a /unction 'ith the ar!ies
of Ba#aria and Wurte!+erg and the Russian ar!ies should ha#e retrograded fro!
&oland should ha#e crossed 3er!an" and ha#e for!ed u$on the Rhine the
Maine and the Moselle%
It is co!$lained of +" the &russian historian .lause'it> that he had ne#er +een a+le
to o+tain the sight of a return of the ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e of
Wellington !ade u$ in the for! of 'hat is called Aa line of +attle%A This at +est is the
co!$laint of a 'ant of a return !ade u$ in a $articular for!7 and it 'ould not ha#e
+een noticed here if it 'ere not desira+le to dra' the attention of the reader to the
general te!$er and tone of this Histor"%
The re$utation of its ar!" and a+o#e all of the 3enerals co!!anding the sa!e is
an o+/ect of the greatest i!$ortance to an" nation7 and 'e find the historians of all
nations not e1ce$ting as 'e see those of the British too read" to critici>e the acts
and o$erations not onl" of their o'n 3enerals and ar!ies +ut li8e'ise of those of
the +est friends and allies of their nation and e#en of those acting in co?o$eration
'ith its ar!ies% This o+ser#ation !ust +e +orne in !ind throughout the $erusal of
.lause'it>=s Histor"%
In res$ect to the return !entioned it is forgotten +" 3eneral .lause'it> that the
ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington 'as not li8e that under the
co!!and of Marshal &rince BlBcher co!$osed of the troo$s of all ar!s and
esta+lish!ents of and +elonging to one nation +ut the" +elonged to se#eral the
infantr" ca#alr" and artiller" in so!e cases +elonging each to different nations7 that
the se#eral cor$s of troo$s co!$osing the Allied ar!" in 0uestion 'ere not of
unifor! strength of nu!+ers 'hether considered +" nations +" +attalions +"
+rigades or +" di#isions7 that the disci$line and !ilitar" 0ualities of the se#eral
cor$s of troo$s and a+o#e all their efficienc" and !ilitar" e1$erience in the field
'ere #er" #arious% The greatest $art of so!e of the cor$s co!$osing the ar!" 'as
co!$osed of !en latel" recruited% The 'hole of the Hano#erian ar!" 'as a !ilitia
e1ce$ting so!e +attalions of the Hano#erian Legion 'hich $ro$erl" +elonged to the
British ar!" and had ser#ed under the co!!and of Field Marshall the Du8e of
Wellington in <$ain%
It 'as necessar" to organi>e these troo$s in +rigades di#isions and cor$s d=ar!Ce
'ith those +etter disci$lined and !ore accusto!ed to 'ar in order to deri#e fro!
D
their nu!+ers as !uch ad#antage as $ossi+le% But these arrange!ents in allied
ar!ies for!ed as this one 'as are not !atters of course% The sa!e national
feeling res$ecting its ar!ies e#en in the least $o'erful nation 'hich has +een
alread" ad#erted to as ha#ing an influence o#er the critical !oralit" of the historian
is not 'ithout its influence in the for!ation of such arrange!ents of organi>ation% No
troo$s can +e e!$lo"ed in an allied ar!" e1ce$ting each cor$s and detach!ent is
under the i!!ediate co!!and of its o'n national officer%
The organi>ation and for!ation of cor$s to ser#e together and under the co!!and
and su$erior direction of 'hat officer +eco!e therefore and +eca!e in this case a
!atter 'hich re0uired great attention and la+our and of great difficult"% To these
considerations 'as to +e added that so!e of the troo$s 'ere fit onl" for garrison
duties7 'hile on the other hand the i!$ortance of the fortresses 'as so urgent as
to re0uire for their garrisons a $ro$ortion at least of the #er" +est troo$s%
This state!ent 'ill ser#e to sho' that the for!ation of a return of the ar!" under
the co!!and of Field Marshal the Du8e of Wellington as Aa line of +attleA 'as not
#er" eas"%
The t'o Allied ar!ies the one in the Netherlands the other in the $ro#inces on the
left +an8 of the Rhine 'ere as has +een alread" sho'n necessaril" on the
defensi#e% The" 'ere 'aiting for the /unction of other large ar!ies to attain +" their
co?o$eration a co!!on o+/ect% But their defensi#e $osition and i!!ediate o+/ects
did not necessaril" $reclude all idea or $lan of attac8 u$on the ene!"% The ene!"
!ight ha#e so $laced his ar!" as to render the attac8 thereof ad#isa+le or e#en
necessar"%
In that case the Allied 3enerals ought and in all $ro+a+ilit" 'ould ha#e ta8en the
initiati#e% But in the case e1isting in ()(2 the ene!" did not ta8e such a $osition as
is thus su$$osed% On the contrar" he too8 a $osition in 'hich his nu!+ers could +e
concealed his !o#e!ents $rotected and his designs su$$orted +" his for!ida+le
fortresses on the frontier u$ to the last !o!ent%
The Allies could not attac8 this $osition 'ithout +eing $re$ared to attac8 a su$erior
ar!" so $osted@ the" could not therefore ha#e the initiati#e of the o$erations in the
'a" of attac8%
The" had the o$tion of ta8ing the initiati#e in the 'a" of defensi#e !o#e!ent% But
such defensi#e !o#e!ent or alteration of the 'ell?considered original $osition
ta8en u$ +" each of the Allied ar!ies !ust ha#e +een founded on a con#iction that
such $ositions 'ere fault" and !ight +e i!$ro#ed or u$on an h"$othesis of the
intended !o#e!ents of attac8 +" the ene!"% There 'as no reason to +elie#e that
the first 'as the case7 and it !ust ne#er +e lost sight of that to found u$on an
h"$othesis 'hich !ight and $ro+a+l" 'ould $ro#e erroneous considering 'hat the
ad#antages 'ere of the $osition of the ene!" on the frontier the alteration of the
$osition of the Allied ar!ies !ight ha#e occasioned 'hat is co!!onl" called a false
!o#e!ent7 and it !ust +e o+ser#ed that 'hate#er !a" +e thought of Buona$arte
*
as a leader of troo$s in other res$ects there certainl" ne#er e1isted a !an in that
situation in an" ti!es in 'hose $resence it 'as so little safe to !a8e 'hat is called
a false !o#e!ent%
The initiati#e then rested 'ith the ene!"7 and the course to +e $ursued +" the Allied
3enerals res$ecti#el" 'as to +e $re$ared to !o#e in all directions to 'ait till it
should +e seen in 'hat direction the attac8 should +e !ade and then to asse!+le
the ar!ies as 0uic8l" as $ossi+le to resist the attac8 or to attac8 the ene!" 'ith the
largest force that could +e collected%
There is a good deal of discussion in the Histor" of 3eneral .lause'it> u$on the
e1$edienc" of the !aintenance of the defensi#e $osition ta8en u$ +" the Allied
ar!ies $articularl" +" that under the co!!and of Field Marshal the Du8e of
Wellington7 and that e#en for the attain!ent of the o+/ects in #ie' for the $osition of
the last !entioned it 'ould ha#e +een +est to occu$" a $osition in the countr"
ha#ing for its sole o+/ect the earl" /unction of the t'o Allied ar!ies 'ith a #ie' to
fight a great +attle 'ith the ene!" under the co!!and of Buona$arte%
It is not difficult to critici>e the $articular $ositions occu$ied +" an" ar!" 'hich
$ositions 'ere ne#er as in this case the o+/ect of actual attac8% It is not so eas" a
tas8 first to define $recisel" a $articular o+/ect for the o$erations of a defensi#e
nature for an" ar!" ta8ing into consideration not onl" $olitical o+/ects and #ie's
+ut li8e'ise those of a !erel" technical and !ilitar" nature@ such as in this case
the $reser#ation of the co!!unications of the ar!" 'ith England 'ith Holland and
'ith 3er!an"7 and ne1t to define the $ositions to +e occu$ied +" t'o ar!ies in
order to carr" on such o$erations%
Bru1elles 3hent the co!!unications 'ith Holland and 3er!an" according to the
#ie' of the historian ought to ha#e +een gi#en u$ and the ar!ies united or
$re$ared to unite in order to fight a general +attle 'ith the ene!" as the +est !ode
of securing all the o+/ects of their res$ecti#e defensi#e $ositions% But it is not stated
or e#en hinted 'here each 'as to +e $osted 'here the" 'ere to unite nor 'here
'as to +e the great +attle on 'hich the contest 'as to +e decided% It is o+#ious that
the historian could not indicate such $ositions@ he 'as too 'ise to !a8e the atte!$t%
He could not +ut +e a'are that 'hen the Allies should ha#e a+andoned their
defensi#e $ositions in the Netherlands and should ha#e left in the $o'er of the
ene!" to occu$" 'ith his hussars and light troo$s Bru1elles and 3hent the
co!!unications 'ith England and Holland through Ant'er$ and 'ith England
through the to'ns on the L"s and Ostend the" 'ould not ha#e +een nearer the
attain!ent of the o+/ect of fighting a general +attle than 'hile in the $ositions ha#ing
for their o+/ects to !aintain and secure these ad#antages%
The initiati#e for such general +attle !ust still ha#e +een in the hands of
Buona$arte% He !ight ha#e a#oided it +" !erel" re!aining 'ith his !ain +od"
'ithin the French frontier7 'hile 'ith his hussars and light troo$s he 'ould ha#e
2
$ossessed Bru1elles and 3hent and the co!!unications 'ith England and Holland
and 'ith 3er!an" through Holland%
The historian sho's in !ore than one $assage of his Histor" that he is not
insensi+le of the !ilitar" and $olitical #alue of good !oral i!$ressions resulting fro!
!ilitar" o$erations% He is sensi+le of the ad#antage deri#ed +" the ene!" fro! such
i!$ressions%E4F He is a'are of the o+/ect of Buona$arte to create throughout
Euro$e and e#en in England a !oral i!$ression against the 'ar and to sha8e the
$o'er of the then e1isting ad!inistration in England% He is sensi+le of and can
conte!$late the effect of the !oral i!$ression u$on the other ar!ies of Euro$e
and u$on the go#ern!ents in 'hose ser#ice the" 'ere resulting fro! the defeat or
e#en 'ant of success of the Allied ar!ies under the co!!and of the Du8e of
Wellington and &rince BlBcher% But he is not sensi+le of and cannot calculate u$on
or e#en consider the effect of the !oral i!$ression resulting fro! the loss of
Bru1elles and 3hent the flight of the 6ing of the Netherlands and of the 6ing Louis
,-III% the creatures of the treaties of $eace and of the acts of the .ongress of
-ienna7 and this 'ith the loss of the co!!unications of the ar!" under the Du8e of
Wellington 'ith England Holland and 3er!an" 'ithout !a8ing the s!allest effort
to sa#e an" of these o+/ects%
If this historian had ho'e#er in0uired in England or else'here he 'ould ha#e
found that the feeling u$on such e#ents 'ould ha#e +een as strong as he ad!its it
'ould ha#e +een in case of the 'ant of success of the o$erations of the Allied
ar!ies 'hose o$erations are under discussion% In England in $articular these
su$$osed e#ents 'ould ha#e +een se#erel" felt% But let us consider 'hether the
a+andon!ent of all the o+/ects 'hich the Allies had in #ie' in !aintaining an"
$osition in the Netherlands 'ould ha#e ena+led the 3enerals of the Allied ar!ies
the +etter to fight a great +attle 'ith the ene!"%
The ene!" 'ould ha#e had the o$tion 'hether to fight the +attle or not and the
initiati#e of the !o#e!ents $re$arator" to it after ha#ing had all the ad#antages
$laced in his hands and the Allied 3enerals ha#ing thus gi#en u$ those o+/ects the
$ossessionEDF of 'hich alone in a $olitical or e#en a !ilitar" $oint of #ie' could
/ustif" their fighting a +attle at all at least till the" should +e in a state of co?
o$eration 'ith the other ar!ies of Euro$e%
The ene!" ha#ing the initiati#e 'ould ha#e !o#ed across the co!!unications of
the ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington% In the $ossession of the
great to'ns of all the roads and of the resources of the Belgian $ro#inces he
'ould ha#e had to decide 'hether he 'ould or not force the t'o Allied ar!ies to
retire fro! the Meuse% But in the h"$othesis that the ene!" 'ould fight a +attle for
such an o+/ect 'h" should the AlliesG The Du8e of Wellington 'ould ha#e lost all
for 'hich as the co!!ander of an ar!" he ought to desire to contend7 and neither
his $osition nor that of the ar!" under &rince BlBcher could ha#e +een i!$ro#ed
+" a great +attle e#en under the h"$othesis that the result 'ould ha#e +een a great
#ictor"%
H
<uch a one 'ould not ha#e restored to the Du8e of Wellington the ad#antages
'hich he en/o"ed in the state of $re$aration of the ar!" under his co!!and for the
ad#ance into France in co?o$eration 'ith the other Allied ar!ies 'hen the" should
ha#e ta8en their stations and should ha#e +een $re$ared to ad#ance%
The restoration of the co!!unications 'ith England Holland and 3er!an" 'hich
'ould ha#e +een the result of such successful +attle 'ould not ha#e i!!ediatel"
restored and re$laced his !aga>ines not located in fortresses and 'hich 'ould
ha#e fallen into the ene!"=s hands +" the su$$osed change of $osition 'ith a #ie'
to fight this great +attle% After all the initiati#e of this +attle !ust ha#e rested 'ith the
ene!"7 and there could +e no !ilitar" reason for fighting it or $olitical reason
e1ce$ting the !oral i!$ression throughout the 'orld of its successful result%
It is useless to s$eculate u$on su$$osed !ilitar" !o#e!ents 'hich 'ere ne#er
!ade and o$erations 'hich ne#er too8 $lace or the o+/ects of the se#eral chiefs of
3enerals o$$osed to each other%
But although it 'as not desira+le that the Du8e of Wellington should +rea8 u$ his
defensi#e $ositions in the Belgian $ro#inces 'ith a #ie' to ta8e one 'ith the ar!"
under his co!!and ha#ing solel" in #ie' the o+/ect of fighting a great +attle in
coo$eration or in con/unction 'ith the &russian ar!" it 'as still desira+le that he
should occu$" this defensi#e $osition in such !anner and ta8e such $recautionar"
!easures as 'ould ena+le hi! to asse!+le at the latest $eriod of ti!e the largest
dis$osa+le force at his dis$osition after $ro#iding for the defence and securit" of his
!ilitar" co!!unications 'ith England Holland and 3er!an" and of the o+/ects
entrusted to his care and $rotection under the treat" of $eace and acts of the
.ongress and +" the Allied !inisters in conference at -ienna% He accordingl" fro!
the !o!ent at 'hich he arri#ed in the Netherlands in the +eginning of A$ril turned
his attention to the strengthening the $osts on the frontier7 and 'or8s 'ere
constructed at Ostend Nieu$ort I$res Menin .ourtra" Oudenarde Tourna" Ath
Mons .harleroi and Na!ur% It is true there 'ere field 'or8s generall" on the site of
the ancient 'or8s +" 'hich these to'ns 'ere defended7 the defence of 'hich 'as
aided +" the ancient ditches and !eans of inundation% His orders at that ti!e to the
Juarter!aster?3eneral and the 3eneral officers sho' 'hat his instructions 'ere in
the #arious h"$othetical cases therein stated%
There are se#eral great roads leading fro! the northern de$art!ent of France and
the great fortresses therein situated +" each of 'hich these $ro#inces !ight ha#e
+een in#aded and 'hich it 'as necessar" at least to o+ser#e@

One fro! Lille@E*F u$on Menin .ourtra" and 3hent%

One fro! Lille@ u$on Tourna" and 3hent or u$on Ath and Bru1elles%
K

One fro! .ondC@ u$on Tourna" Ath Enghien and Bru1elles%

One fro! .ondC and -alenciennes@ u$on Mons and Bru1elles%

Each of these 'as a great $a#ed road u$on 'hich there 'as no o+stacle of a
defensi#e nature e1ce$ting the field 'or8s of 'hich it a$$ears the Du8e of
Wellington ordered the construction%
The historian .lause'it> has detailed the $ositions of the &russian ar!" the
distances of each $art fro! the other and the length of ti!e 'hich 'ould ela$se for
the co!$letion of the asse!+l" of the 'hole% It cannot +e stated that the Allied ar!"
under the Du8e of Wellington could ha#e +een asse!+led in an" e0uall" short
$eriod of ti!e7 +ut if it is considered that the o+/ects for the $rotection of the ar!"
under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington 'ere e1tended o#er a tract of countr"
of greater length than 'ere those $rotected +" the Allied ar!" under the co!!and
of &rince BlBcher it 'ill +e found that this $art of the countr" continuous in its 'hole
e1tent to the French frontier and tra#ersed in all $arts +" e1cellent $a#ed roads
leading fro! so!e one or other of the French fortresses re0uired for its $rotection a
s"ste! of occu$ation 0uite different fro! that ado$ted +" the &russian ar!" under
&rince BlBcher%
But 'hat follo's 'ill sho' that not 'ithstanding the e1tension of the Allied ar!"
under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington such 'as the celerit" of
co!!unication 'ith all $arts of it that in $oint of fact his orders reached all $arts of
the ar!" in si1 hours after he had issued the!7 and that he 'as in line in $erson
'ith a sufficient force to resist and 8ee$ in chec8 the ene!"=s cor$s 'hich first
attac8ed the &russian cor$s under 3eneral Lieten at da"light on the (2th of 9une7
ha#ing recei#ed the intelligence of that attac8 onl" at three o=cloc8 in the afternoon
of the (2th he 'as at Juatre Bras +efore the sa!e hour on the !orning of the (Hth
'ith a sufficient force to engage the left of the French ar!"%
It 'as certainl" true that he had 8no'n for so!e da"s of the aug!entation of the
ene!"=s force on the frontier and e#en of the arri#al of Buona$arte at the ar!"7 +ut
he did not dee! it e1$edient to !a8e an" !o#e!ent e1ce$ting for the asse!+l" of
the troo$s at their se#eral alar! $osts till he should hear of the decided !o#e!ent
of the ene!"%
The first account recei#ed +" the Du8e of Wellington 'as fro! the &rince of Orange
'ho had co!e in fro! the out?$osts of the ar!" of the Netherlands to dine 'ith the
Du8e at three o=cloc8 in the afternoon% He re$orted that the ene!" had attac8ed the
&russians at Thuin7 that the" had ta8en $ossession of +ut had after'ards
a+andoned Binch7 that the" had not "et touched the $ositions of the ar!" of the
)
Netherlands% While the &rince 'as 'ith the Du8e the staff officer e!$lo"ed +"
&rince BlBcher at the Du8e=s head 0uarters 3eneral MBffling ca!e to the Du8e to
infor! hi! that he had /ust recei#ed intelligence of the !o#e!ent of the French
ar!" and their attac8 u$on the &russian troo$s at Thuin%
It a$$ears +" the state!ent of the historian that the $osts of the &russian cor$s of
3eneral Lieten 'ere attac8ed at Thuin at four o=cloc8 on the !orning of the (2th7
and that 3eneral Lieten hi!self 'ith a $art of his cor$s retreated and 'as at
.harleroi at a+out ten o=cloc8 on that da"7 "et the re$ort thereof 'as not recei#ed at
Bru1elles till three o=cloc8 in the afternoon% The &russian ca#alr" of the cor$s of
Lieten 'as at 3osselies and Fleurus on the e#ening and night of the (2th%
Orders 'ere forth'ith sent for the !arch of the 'hole ar!" to its left%
The 'hole !o#ed on that e#ening and in the night each di#ision and $ortion
se$aratel" +ut un!olested7 the 'hole $rotected on the !arch +" the defensi#e
'or8s constructed at the different $oints referred to and +" their garrisons%
The reser#e 'hich had +een enca!$ed in the neigh+orhood and cantoned in the
to'n and in the neigh+orhood of Bru1elles 'ere ordered to asse!+le in and in the
neigh+orhood of the $ar8 at Bru1elles 'hich the" did on that e#ening7 and the"
!arched in the !orning of the (Hth u$on Juatre Bras to'ards 'hich $ost the
!arch of all the troo$s consisting of the left and centre of the ar!" and of the
ca#alr" in $articular 'as directed%
The Du8e 'ent in $erson at da"light in the !orning of the (Hth to Juatre Bras
'here he found so!e Netherland troo$s ca#alr" infantr" and artiller" 'hich had
+een engaged 'ith the ene!" +ut lightl"7 and he 'ent on fro! thence to the
&russian ar!"E2F 'hich 'as in sight for!ed on the heights +ehind Lign" and <t%
A!and% He there co!!unicated $ersonall" 'ith Marshall &rince BlBcher and the
head 0uarters of the &russian ar!"%
In the !ean ti!e the reser#e of the Allied ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e of
Wellington arri#ed at Juatre Bras% The historian asserts that the Du8e of Wellington
had ordered these troo$s to halt at the $oint at 'hich the" 0uitted the ForMt de
<oignies% He can ha#e no $roof of this fact of 'hich there is no e#idence7 and in
$oint of fact the t'o ar!ies 'ere united a+out !id?da" of the (Hth of 9une on the
left of the $osition of the Allied ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington%
These troo$s for!ing the reser#e and ha#ing arri#ed fro! Bru1elles 'ere not
/oined +" those of the (st di#ision of infantr" and the ca#alr"@ EHF and not'ithstanding
the criticis! of the &russian historian on the $ositions occu$ied +" the ar!" under
the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington and on the !arch of the troo$s to /oin 'ith
the &russian ar!" it is a fact a$$earing u$on the face of the Histor" that the Allied
British and Netherland ar!" 'as in line at Juatre Bras not onl" t'ent"?four hours
sooner than one 'hole cor$s of the &russian ar!" under 3eneral BBlo' the
a+sence of 'hich is attri+uted +" the historian to an accidental !ista8e +ut li8e'ise
+efore the 'hole of the cor$s under 3eneral Lieten 'hich had +een the first
N
attac8ed on the (2th had ta8en its $osition in the line of the ar!" asse!+led on the
heights +ehind Lign" and ha#ing their left at <o!+ref%
It 'as $erfectl" true that the Du8e of Wellington did not at first gi#e credit to the
re$orts of the intention of the ene!" to attac8 +" the #alle"s of the <a!+re and the
Meuse%
The ene!" had destro"ed the roads leading through those #alle"s and he
considered that Buona$arte !ight ha#e !ade his attac8 u$on the Allied ar!ies in
the Netherlands and in the $ro#inces on the left of the Rhine +" other lines 'ith
!ore ad#antage% But it is o+#ious that 'hen the attac8 'as !ade he 'as not
un$re$ared to assist in resisting it7 and in $oint of fact did on the afternoon and in
the e#ening of the (Hth 9une re$ulse the attac8 of Marshal Ne" u$on his $osition at
Juatre Bras 'hich had +een co!!enced +" the aid of another cor$s d=ar!Ce
under 3eneral Reille% These 'ere the troo$s 'hich had attac8ed on the (2th at
da"light the &russian cor$s under 3eneral Lieten 'hich cor$s the Allied troo$s
under the Du8e of Wellington relie#ed in resistance to the ene!"%
The &russian ar!" after a contest of so!e hours= duration u$on the heights +ehind
Lign" ha#ing +een under the necessit" of retiring that $art of the Allied ar!" under
the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington 'hich 'as engaged at Juatre Bras
!aintained its ground at Juatre Bras and e#en gained ground u$on the ene!"%
The fields of +attle 'ere in sight of each other and a re$ort 'as recei#ed% But
although the e1act result of the +attle 'as not 8no'n it 'as /udged that it had not
+een successful to the &russian ar!"% Field Marshal the Du8e of Wellington 'as
infor!ed of so!e of the details at night7 +ut still he considered that his o'n
$ositions +eing untouched and the continued !arch of the troo$s under his
co!!and gi#ing hi! an increase of strength at e#er" !o!ent he felt the ut!ost
confidence in the final result of the o$erations in $rogress%
The &russian ar!" retreated to'ards Wa#re%
It !ust +e o+ser#ed in the historian=s account of these +attles that the cor$s of
ReilleEKF at the co!!ence!ent of the +attle of Juatre Bras /oined 'ith the cor$s of
Ne"% In $oint of fact it 'as seen in the field% That cor$s 'as during the +attle
ordered and did !arch to its right to'ards the !ain +od" of the French ar!"% It
'as then halted and counter!arched to'ards its original destination% The reasons
for these eccentric !o#e!ents are not 8no'n% .ertain it is that the cor$s of Reille
did not fire a shot after the co!!ence!ent of the +attle of Juatre Bras% That 'hich
it is reasona+le to su$$ose is that Marshal Ne" had re0uired that the cor$s of Reille
should +e sent +ac8 to hi! u$on finding that he could !a8e no i!$ression u$on the
$osition of the Du8e of Wellington at Juatre Bras 'hose ar!" 'as at e#er"
!o!ent recei#ing reinforce!ents of ca#alr" infantr" and artiller" fro! Ni#elles and
other $laces on its right%
Field Marshal the Du8e of Wellington=s aide?de?ca!$ .olonel the Hon% Ale1ander
3ordon 'ith t'o s0uadrons of hussars shortl" after da"light on the !orning of the
(5
(Kth dro#e in the ene!"=s #idettes u$on the ground of the &russian contest on the
afternoon of the (Hth 9une% These retired into the #illages of Lign" and <t% A!and
Oc% on the strea!%
.olonel 3ordon co!!unicated 'ith 3eneral Lieten at <o!+ref and ascertained
e1actl" the line of retreat of the ar!" under Marshal &rince BlBcher u$on Wa#re% As
soon as the e1act $osition of the &russian ar!" 'as ascertained and the intentions
of its 3eneral 'ere 8no'n to the Du8e of Wellington he +ro8e u$ fro! the $osition
of Juatre Bras shortl" +efore !idda" in $resence of the 'hole ar!" of the ene!"
'ithout interru$tion or !olestation and ordered the !arch of the infantr" of the
ar!" under his co!!and to the ground in front of Waterloo 'ith the e1ce$tion of
the light troo$s at the out$osts 'ith 'hich and the ca#alr" the Du8e re!ained on
the ground at Juatre Bras%
The Du8e sa' throughout the da" of the (Kth the !o#e!ents of the &russian ar!"
u$on the field of +attle of the $receding da"% No $ursuit 'as !ade of the &russian
ar!" or !o#e!ent of an" 8ind !ade +" the French ar!" till a late hour on the
afternoon of the (Kth7 and indeed the account gi#en +" Marshall 3rouch" in a
$a!$hlet in his o'n defence $u+lished in the United <tates sho's that the
account gi#en in the Histor" is as nearl" as $ossi+le an accurate re$resentation of
'hat $assed on the (Kth according to the re$orts in the Allied ar!" under the Du8e
of Wellington% Would it not ha#e +een a fair conclusion for the historian to dra' that
the $osition occu$ied +" the Allied ar!" under the Du8e of Wellington at Juatre
Bras and the successful resistance of that ar!" in the +attle of the $receding da"
!ight ha#e had so!e effect in $roducing the unusual tran0uilit" of the French ar!"
throughout the da" of the (Kth the !orro' of a successful attac8 u$on the $osition
of an" ene!"=s ar!" 'hich had retiredG
The ene!" did not !o#e till +et'een D and * o=cloc8 in the afternoon at 'hich hour
large !asses of troo$s a$$eared on the &russian field of +attle% One +od" !arched
in the direction of Na!ur another in the direction of Wa#re 'hich last is su$$osed
to ha#e +een the cor$s under the co!!and of Marshall 3rouch"% The largest +od"
and the great !ass of the ca#alr" !o#ed do'n the high road leading fro! <o!+ref
to Juatre Bras to'ards the left of the British troo$s of the ar!" of the Du8e of
Wellington 'hich still re!ained on that ground% These 'ere $ut in !otion as soon
as their out$osts 'ere touched +" those of the ene!" and /oined the !ain +od" of
the ar!" $osted in front of Waterloo% Here 'ere all the troo$s co!$osing the ar!"
under the Du8e of Wellington e1ce$ting a s!all cor$s de reser#e still re!aining at
Hal on the high road fro! Bru1elles to Mons% All the re!ainder 'hether engaged at
Juatre Bras on the (Hth or 'ho had /oined on the e#ening of the (Hth or 'ho had
+een turned off fro! Ni#elles to Waterloo and the troo$s falling +ac8 fro! the
$osition at Juatre Bras 'ere on the $osition at Waterloo on the (Kth in the
e#ening%
The 'hole of the &russian ar!" 'as at the sa!e ti!e in the $osition at Wa#re%
((
The t'o Allied ar!ies co!!unicated 'ith each other throughout the night of the
(Kth 9une and the ca#alr" of 3eneral BBlo'=s &russian cor$s of Marshal &rince
BlBcher=s ar!" 'as on the ground in front of Ohain through the defile +et'een the
$ositions of the t'o ar!ies at da"light on the !orning of the ()th%
Thus then it a$$ears +" the re$ort of this historian that after the affairs at Lign"
and Juatre Bras the t'o Allied ar!ies 'ere collected each on its o'n ground in
$resence of the ene!" ha#ing a short and not difficult co!!unication +et'een
the!7 each of the! in $resence of the ene!" and +et'een the ene!" and
Bru1elles7 all their co!!unications 'ith England Holland and 3er!an" and all the
i!$ortant $olitical interests co!!itted to their charge +eing secure%
It has +een stated and +elie#ed that the ca#alr" of BBlo'=s cor$s 'as seen on the
heights in front of Ohain +et'een the Allied ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e
of Wellington and the defile leading to Wa#re at an earl" hour on the !orning of the
()th%
It is a curious fact in elucidation of the !o#e!ents of the Allied ar!" under Marshal
&rince BlBcher that Marshal 3rouch" has $u+lished in his Defence $rinted in the
United <tates of A!erica a letter fro! Marshal <oult addressed to hi! dated the
()th 9une at ( o=cloc8 &%M% in 'hich Marshal <oult states "Nous apercevons la
cavalerie PrussienneA 'hich 'as the #er" ca#alr" seen +" the Du8e of Wellington
as stated shortl" after da"light in the !orning of that da"%
It is a curious circu!stance that this ca#alr" should not ha#e +een o+ser#ed in the
French ar!" at an earlier hour than one o=cloc8 in the afternoon% It !ust +e
concluded that at that hour no 8no'ledge e1isted in the French head?0uarters that
other troo$s had $assed the defile or had +een engaged on the left of the ar!"
under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington%
The first heard of the o$erations of Marshal &rince BlBcher=s ar!" 'as a re$ort
+rought fro! the right of the ar!" under the co!!and of the Du8e of Wellington at
a+out H o=cloc8 in the e#ening that at that !o!ent the s!o8e of the fire of artiller"
could +e $ercei#ed at a great distance +e"ond the right of the ene!"=s ar!" 'hich
firing 'as su$$osed at the ti!e to +e at &lanchenoit%
The re$ort of the +attle !ade at the ti!e +" the Du8e of Wellington to the British
and the Allied go#ern!ents of Euro$e has long +een +efore the $u+lic% In that re$ort
he does full /ustice to the e1ertions !ade +" his colleague the &russian
.o!!ander?in?.hief and +" the 3eneral officers and troo$s to aid and su$$ort hi!
and to the effectual aid 'hich the" ga#e hi!% He states no detail e1ce$ting that the
+attle 'as ter!inated +" an attac8 'hich he does not re$ort that an" &russian
troo$s /oined +ecause in fact none 'ere on that $art of the field of +attle% He
states ho'e#er that the ene!"=s troo$s retired fro! the last attac8 u$on his
$osition Ain great confusion and that the !arch of 3eneral BBlo'=s cor$s +"
Frischer!ont u$on &lanchenoit and La Belle Alliance had +egun to ta8e effect7 and
as he could $ercei#e the fire of his cannon and as Marshal &rince BlBcher had
(4
/oined in $erson 'ith a cor$s of his ar!" to the left of our line +" Ohain he
deter!ined u$on the attac8 'hich succeeded in e#er" $oint%A He added that he
Acontinued the $ursuit until long after dar8 and then discontinued it onl" on account
of the fatigue of the troo$s 'ho had +een engaged during t'el#e hours and
+ecause he found hi!self on the sa!e road 'ith Marshal BlBcher 'ho assured hi!
of his intention to follo' the ene!" throughout the night%A He then adds AI should
not do /ustice to !" o'n feelings or to Marshal BlBcher and the &russian ar!" if I
did not attri+ute the successful result of this arduous da" to the cordial and ti!el"
assistance I recei#ed fro! the!% The o$eration of 3eneral BBlo' u$on the ene!"=s
flan8 'as a !ost decisi#e one7 and e#en if I had not found !"self in a situation to
!a8e the attac8 'hich $roduced the final result it 'ould ha#e forced the ene!" to
retire if his attac8s should ha#e failed and 'ould ha#e $re#ented hi! fro! ta8ing
ad#antage of the! if the" should unfortunatel" ha#e succeeded%A
When the t'o Field Marshals !et on the sa!e road it is 'ell 8no'n that the"
e!+raced in the $resence of their troo$s and 'ere cordial friends u$ to the da" of
the death of &rince BlBcher% <urel" the details of the +attle !ight ha#e +een left in
the original official re$orts%
Historians and co!!entators 'ere not necessar"%
The +attle $ossi+l" the !ost i!$ortant single !ilitar" e#ent in !odern ti!es 'as
attended +" ad#antages sufficient for the glor" of !an" such ar!ies as the t'o
great Allied ar!ies engaged%
The ene!" ne#er rallied7 Buona$arte lost his e!$ire for e#er7 not a shot 'as fired
after'ards7 and the $eace of Euro$e and of the 'orld 'as settled on the +asis on
'hich it rests at this !o!ent%
It is i!$ossi+le to close this $a$er 'ithout o+ser#ing that Field Marshal the Du8e of
Wellington=s letters $u+lished +" .olonel 3ur'ood afford $roofs that he 'as
con#inced that the ene!" ought to ha#e attac8ed +" other lines rather than +" the
#alle"s of the <a!+re and the Meuse7 and that e#en u$ to the last !o!ent $re#ious
to the attac8 of his $osition at Waterloo he concei#ed that the" 'ould endea#our to
turn it +" a !arch u$on Hal% He states this in letters to the Duc de Feltre on the
(2th and to the Duc de Berri and 6ing Louis ,-III dates at D P A%M% ()th 9une7
and there are orders to his $atrols of ca#alr" on the nights of the (Hth and (Kth
9une to o+ser#e $articularl" the ene!"=s !o#e!ents to'ards Ni#elles%
It !ight +e a nice 0uestion for !ilitar" discussion 'hether Buona$arte 'as right in
endea#oring to force the $osition at Waterloo or the Du8e of Wellington right in
thin8ing that fro! the e#ening of the (Hth Buona$arte 'ould ha#e ta8en a 'iser
course if he had !o#ed to his left ha#e reached the high road leading fro! Mons to
Bru1elles and ha#e turned the right of the $osition of the Allies +" Hal%
It is o+#ious that the Du8e 'as $re$ared to resist such a !o#e!ent%
WELLINGTON
(D