Full Description
Waterloo is perhaps the most famous battle of the 19th century, and surely in the top ten of all military engagements in the last 500 years. Many have sought reasons why Napoleon lost the great battle. This book presents the litany of failures by one of Napoleon's key subordinates, General Drouet d'Erlon, which led ultimately to defeat. Using newly uncovered source material in archives in Paris, the author presents the campaign from the view point of d'Erlon to explore his failings over four days that changed the course of European history. The book explores for the first time what really happened at Hougoumont, La Haie Sainte, and on the French right wing as the Prussians closed in. The actions between Papelotte and Frischermont were critical in the story of the battle, but have so far been seldom studied. As no red coated soldiers fought here, and the Waterloo mythos says the red coats won the battle, the study of half of the battle has to a large extent been ignored.
Contents
Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1815; 15 June; 16 June; Fatal Perambulations; Durutte Attacks at Ligny; 17 June; The Prussians; 18 June; Battle is Joined; D'Erlon Moves Off; Durutte's First Attack; Marbot's Patrol; The Allied Response; The Fate of Marcognet's Division; Of the Greys and Guns; Jacquinot's Counterattack; The Cuirassiers; Durutte's Second Attack; Frischermont; Papelotte and La Haie; The Prussians; Countering the Prussian Threat; 6th Corps is Sent to Stop the Prussians; Prussians and More Prussians; Plancenoite; D'Erlon's Last Offensive; Route and Retreat; Conclusions; Endnotes; Bibliography
