Battle of Waterloo - 200th Anniversary

[[N]Lancier]

https://youtu.be/ZjHw3pkrY-A?list=RD8kYW8OsqzK0

The battle of Waterloo 1815 a year and place which will never be forgotten in the history of the world. On the fields around Waterloo came an end to the Napoleonic Era and the Reign of Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After almost 2 decades of non-stop Napoleonic warfare the fate of Europe was settled by two of the most brilliant commanders of their time on the fields of the battle of Waterloo 1815 the last of the Napoleon battles.

Both born in the year 1769 Wellington and Napoleon never faced each other before on a battlefield, this year 1815 will bring both commanders to a battlefield no bigger then 30 football fields and assemble an army of 140 000 men to determine the faith of Europe.
The man for whom an era is named is about to give his last battle to regain his Empire at the battle of Waterloo 1815.





November 1814
After Napoleon’s first abdication and his exile on the island of Elba, a European congress (including a representative of France) comes together in Vienna to determine the fate of the territories reconquered from Napoleon I, sign a peace treaty, draw up national borders and try to establish a lasting, peaceful new order in Europe.


March 1815
Napoleon escapes from Elba and lands at Golf Juan on the French mainland with 1028 soldiers and a few faithful followers on 1 March 1815. The Congress immediately and unanimously declares him an outlaw and the four main powers - Great-Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia - each agree to raise an army to invade France and depose the usurper. Six days later the deposed Emperor is in Gap. He enters Grenoble on 9 March and Lyon on 11 March 1815. On 20 March, he returns to the Tuileries without having fired a single shot. That same night, he forms his government and starts tackling the reorganisation of his military household and the French army. On 25 March 1815, the Allies – Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain – gather to sign the military treaty of the “Holy Alliance” confirming the resolutions of the Treaty of Vienna signed on 13 March 1815, which banishes Napoleon from Europe and commits the different powers to raising an army of more than 900 000 men


April - June 1815
In response to the wishes of his ministers who are concerned to avoid further conflict, the Emperor writes a letter to the sovereigns of the Allied powers on 4 April 1815 proposing a lasting peace. However the bearers of the letter are arrested and imprisoned. At this point war becomes inevitable! Forewarned of the coalition troops’ attack, which is planned for the beginning of July 1815, Napoleon takes the initiative. On 12 June 1815 at four in the morning, Napoleon leaves Paris to join his army. On 13 June he is at Avesnes where he makes his famous proclamation to the army that ends with the words, “For every Frenchman with a heart, the time has come to conquer or die!” The allied countries take up their arms to fight Napoleon. Wellington’s allied army and the Prussian army led by Blücher are the first to arrive in Belgium


15 june 1815
Napoleon crosses the Sambre at Charleroi and divides his army into two wings.


16 june 1815
Napoleon beats the Prussians commanded by Blücher at Ligny while the other wing of the French troops, commanded by Marshal Ney, comes up against the Anglo-Dutch units commanded by Wellington. The Prussian army loses more than 20 000 men and French losses total around 7000 men. The Prussian army is beaten but not vanquished. It has saved the essentials of its artillery and, above all, retained its fighting spirit. At Quatre-Bras de Baisy-Thy, Marshal Ney finds himself face to face with Wellington and the Prince of Orange, but is unable to put the Anglo-Dutch units to rout. French losses rise to more than 4000 men and Wellington’s troops lose about 5000 men.


17 june 1815
Informed of the Prussian defeat, Wellington regroups his units at Quatre-Bras at the famous position on Mont Saint-Jean where Blücher has promised to re-join them. The movement is discreet, covered by the cavalry. Napoleon orders Grouchy to give chase to the Prussians and marches on Waterloo in torrential rain with more than 70 000 men.


The course of the Battle of Waterloo – 18 June 1815
https://youtu.be/sFXv3Un_LHY

The British troops have taken possession of the château-farm of Hougoumont and spend the night fortifying the position in order to be able to defend themselves in the case of a French attack.

As the hours pass, the farm becomes a real stronghold with the buildings and walls occupied by the elite troops, whilst the light regiments cover the woods and the surrounding area.
The Emperor has probably spent the night thinking about the battle: planning to send his brother, Jerome Bonaparte and his troops to create a diversion, taking out the left wing of the allied troops in order to be able to strike at the very centre of the Duke of Wellington’s troops.
A fierce battle begins … this fighting will conjure up the most repulsive horror scenes imaginable … with the carnage giving way at the end of the day to a furnace and the deluge of the dead and the wounded …
The French attack led by General Drouet d’Erlon’s 1st Corps is the biggest movement of troops to be undertaken on 18 June 1815 in Waterloo.

11h30: The French artillery batteries of the 1st, 2nd and 6th Corps, gathered together into one, single grande batterie of 80 cannons, open the infernal proceedings …
The allied positions reply with similar heavy fire, the battle wages between thunder and lightning …
Jerome Bonaparte’s infantry division leads the attack on the Hougoumont Farm, driving the allied light troops back and, at the same time, taking possession of the land and the woods around the farm.
In the light of this initial success the French now surround the entire defensive position and blockade the north and south gates of the farm. They prepare for a major attack with the aim of taking the North gate … hardly has it been broken down than the troops succeed in entering the property itself.
However, the British resistance is very strong … the French are finally pushed back on the northern side.
A fight to the death is taking place in both camps … a battle within the battle. Explosions from the artillery fire resonate on all fronts … the Hougoumont Farm burns under French
cannon fire … After so many unsuccessful attempts the French pull back their advance, leaving the British victorious in their temerity.

12h30: The French grande batterie takes its place to the left of the allies. The entire front line erupts as they all take fire and everyone is drawn into the combat.

13h30: The 1st infantry Corps of General Drouet d’Erlon attacks the allies. The French advance towards the ridge at Mont-Saint-Jean, but are pushed back by the allied infantry. The British heavy cavalry charges as far as the French grande batterie and succeeds in taking two of their eagles, symbols of the Imperial army. The French cuirassiers and lancers mount a counter-attack.
The French manage to take both the Papelotte Farm and La Haie-Sainte Farm, thanks to the 4th division led by General Durutte.
The Emperor Napoleon sends the order to Marshal Ney to attack using General Drouet d’Erlon’s 1st Corps, along with the four divisions of Quiot, Donzelot, Marcognet and Durutte. These form four, compact phalanxes, each made up of 18,000 men, taking up their positions from the Belle-Alliance Farm to the Papelotte Farm, with sloped arms and shouting ‘Long live the Emperor! Forward!’. Beating the charge they set off to attack the allied ridge.
The Belgo-Dutch forces of the brigade of General Major van Bylandt take up the assault on the ridge in order to hide the presence of the allied troops, who are lying in ambush waiting for the attack.
The charges become heavier and heavier … followed by a dreadful fray when the hidden allies finally reveal themselves … and shoot down the French.
The 1st French Corps finds itself under bayonet attack with two French flags being captured by the British heavy cavalry, which has managed to penetrate on all fronts. Then, spurred on by victory, the cavalry finds itself face to face with the 80 cannon French grande batterie, which it is convinced can be taken with the greatest of ease.
The Emperor takes advantage of the situation and despatches his lancers and cuirassiers. They attack on the flanks, inflicting heavy losses and succeeding in pushing the cavalry back to the ridge.
However, heavy fighting is raging on the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge as well, and the struggle starts once more …

https://youtu.be/oD1Fx7ZgQg4
16h00: The heavy charges of the French cavalry, with Marshal Ney at the front, come face to face with the defensive square formations of the British troops between the Hougoumont and Haie-Sainte Farms. Some eight thousand horses charge again and again for nearly two hours … but without success. The allied objective: to cut down the horses and thus form a cruel barrier, preventing the French from reaching the allied square formations.

16h30: The Prussians join the fray and arrive on the Battlefield, coming to the aid of the Duke of Wellington, who finds himself in a weak position.
As for the French, the 6th Corps of General Mouton, Count of Lobau, reinforce the right front and the village of Plancenoit.

17h00: The Prussian troops join the action on the Battlefield on the allied left flank.

18h00: After many attempts the French troops manage to take the Haie-Sainte Farm on every side … the Prussian Major Baring orders his men to retreat.
The farm is taken but the allies come back in greater numbers and launch a counter-attack … finally regaining possession of the property.

The French reach the Haie-Sainte Farm … but it is too late.
The village of Plancenoit is in Prussian hands. The Emperor once again sends out the Young Guard under the command of General Pelet-Clozeau. With fixed bayonets and without firing a single shot, these soldiers venture again and again into the village on the counter-attack …

https://youtu.be/ZjHw3pkrY-A?list=RD8kYW8OsqzK0
19h30: The Prussians and the allies form a united front, pushing the French army far in front of them. Collapse is at hand!
The French Imperial Guard attacks the allied right flank. It is met with relentless artillery fire from the allied artillery. The allied infantry, lying in ambush, surges up suddenly to take fire … the shots are unremitting and devastating … the Guard retreats.
According to legend, it was General Cambronne who said « The Guard dies, but will never surrender » … allowing Napoleon to flee to Paris.

The Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Blücher meet to celebrate their victory near to the Belle Alliance Farm.
Together they agree that the Prussians alone should continue to pursue the French.

History The battle of waterloo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4K3vjCprE8

https://youtu.be/2ciYKLI82w8
Waterloo Battlefield - main tourist attractions

[[N]Sloop]

I wonder what the participants of the Battle of Waterloo would think about us simulating and gaming their battles.

18 June, 1815 - related links:

http://news.yahoo.com/world-changed-forever-200-years-ago-battle-waterloo-100656888.html

https://www.waterloo2015.org/en/reenactors

http://eastayrshireleisure.com/index.php?a=news_detail&newsId=180&gclid=CJ6mwP-MmMYCFRSEfgodnZcA2A

http://www.twitch.tv/slitherinegroup

http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2015/jun/17/europe-has-much-to-learn-from-the-battle-of-waterloo

http://www.napoleonichistoricalsociety.org/news/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33160368

[Lepic]

BREAKING NEWS:

We are delighted to pass on this wonderful news:

The farm will be open again from June 18th 2015, normally 9.30am - 6.30pm, although during the bicentenary week it will open earlier and close later.

PROJECT HOUGOUMONT is a charity dedicated to raising the funds needed to restore the buildings of Hougoumont Farm on the battlefield of Waterloo. The extraordinary courage of the soldiers who fought here had a decisive effect on the outcome of the battle. Then, for nearly 200 years it remained a working farm, so little changed that even today it is easy to visualise the dramatic events of that fateful day. Today, however, this haunting place is falling into ruin and must be saved. Please take a moment to watch this wonderful introduction by Peter Snow. .
http://projecthougoumont.com/

[[N]Lancier]

https://www.facebook.com/Waterloo2015?fref=photo
https://www.facebook.com/Waterloo2015/p ... e_internal
Waterloo - The French Attack