Napoleon’s Last, Desperate Attack on Wellington

Never did a battlefield present such an anomalous spectacle.

Continuing The Battle of Waterloo,
with a selection from History of the War in France and Belgium in 1815 by William Siborne published in 1844. This selection is presented in 2 installments, each one 5 minutes long. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in The Battle of Waterloo.

Time: 1815
Place: Waterloo Crossroads, 9 miles south of Brussels

Having failed to make an impression on the first line, com posed entirely of British and German troops, a large body of French cavalry passed over the ridge and threatened the Dutch Belgians in the second line. Great was the commotion in that part of the field from which whole masses of men began to move off without firing a shot. Lord Uxbridge again led the remains of his cavalry forward and the enemy were driven back, pursued by Somerset’s brigade but the Dutch-Belgian carbineers disregarded the exhortation of Lord Uxbridge to follow him in the same course. Instead of advancing to the attack they went to the right about, and, galloping through the Third Hussars of the German Legion, fairly fled the field.

Never did a battlefield present such an anomalous spectacle. To all appearance the French were masters of the position of the allies. Their cavalry rode round the English infantry and their strength of numbers overawed the allied horse. Scarcely an English gun gave fire and most of those in front were actually in the possession of the enemy, the gunners having sought shelter within the squares. Yet the guns were safe, for the artillery men had left neither harness nor limber and thus the cavalry were deprived of the means of carrying them off. Meanwhile, the right of the English line had been sharply assailed, but Adams’s brigade, consisting of the Fifty-second, Seventy-first and Second battalions of the Ninety-fifth Regiment, under the immediate direction of Wellington, drove the enemy back over the hill.

Napoleon, finding that all his attempts upon Hougomont had failed, in order to make a lodgment in front of the main position, pushed forward Donzelat’s division against La Haye Sainte, which, after a sharp opposition by Major Baring, was carried.

It was now about half past four o’clock, when the British regiments, although reduced to skeletons, still held their ground; and the Duke rode along the line, encouraging his diminished battalions, when the welcome sound of Blucher’s approach was heard, as the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Prussian brigades debouched from the Wood of Paris, moving upon the right flank of the French army. Lobau, with the Sixth Corps, had been detached to resist this movement; but the Prussians continued to receive reinforcements and at six o’clock they had brought thirty battalions, twenty-seven squadrons and sixty-four guns into action. In vain Lobau, with half that force, sought to maintain his ground; and abandoning Planchenoit, he drew off toward the Charleroi road.

At this critical moment Napoleon, observing the masses of Prussians pouring into the field, determined to attack the right center of the English position with a column of the Imperial Guard; while a second, in support, moved nearer toward Hougomont. The cavalry were at the same time to advance en masse; and this movement was to be made under cover of the whole of their powerful artillery. The interval between these masses was to be filled up with cavalry and Donzelat’s division, now gathered round La Haye Sainte, was to dash forward. These preparations were met by Wellington filling up the gaps already made in his line; and these arrangements were still in progress when forth from the enclosures of La Haye Sainte Donzelat’s corps came pouring.

They advanced in dense skirmishing order and brought several pieces of artillery to bear within a hundred yards of the allied line — doing such dreadful execution on the German legion that Kreuse’s Brunswickers wavered until sustained by Du Plat’s Brunswickers and the Nassau regiments, gallantly led by the Prince of Orange, on which occasion he was severely wounded. The Duke’s presence restored order and the battle was renewed. The Imperial Guard, led by Ney, Friant and Michel, after filing past the Emperor, now passed down the descent from La Belle Alliance. There was a cessation in the firing of the French artillery and simultaneously with this advance the corps of D’Erlon, en echelon of columns, moved partly upon Lambert’s brigade, while their right was engaged with the Prussians; and Reille, with some of his battalions penetrating the Wood of Hougomont, advanced boldly with another portion upon the center of the English line.

It was now seven o’c1ock—the third corps of Prussians had arrived; and their whole force, close at hand, was little less than fifty thousand men, with one hundred pieces of cannon. The French batteries, which had remained silent until the rear of the advancing column had cleared their muzzles, opened with rapidity and precision, doing fearful execution upon the regiments that came within their range. As the leading column of the guard approached, the English batteries played upon them: yet they never paused a moment, but continued boldly to advance, despite the havoc occasioned by the murderous fire. Michel nobly fell, Friant was severely wounded and Ney, who rode at the head of these veterans, had his horse shot under him but, nothing dismayed, he led them on foot and driving in the light troops, they reached the summit. Then Wellington directed the brigade of guards, under Major-General Maitland, to attack this imposing force. Pouring in a destructive volley, they moved upon the enemy with the bayonet and spite of every effort of the officers to rally, this elite of the French army ran down the slope, closely pursued by the British guards.

Napoleon, seeing his guards falling back in confusion, his broken squadrons fleeing, his guns abandoned and having no reserve to fall back upon, shortly after eight o’clock galloped from the field. A cheer was now heard on the right, which flew swiftly along the entire position of the allies and the whole line rushed forward. Darkness soon set in and such confusion prevailed that the advanced cavalry got so completely intermingled among the crowds of fugitives that they could with difficulty extricate themselves and more than one awkward rencounter took place. Guns, tumbrels, the whole materiel, in short, of the routed army, remained in the possession of the British. Then as the Prussians came furiously advancing upon the routed enemy, the Duke, feeling that the day was won, caused the order for a general halt to be passed; and the weary but victorious English lay down upon the position they had so gloriously gained.

Almost every individual of Wellington’s personal staff was either killed or wounded. The Duke, after following the flying army far beyond La Belle Alliance, was on his way back when he met Blucher. Many congratulations passed between the two generals; and the latter readily undertook to follow up the pursuit. Thus was fought and thus ended, one of the greatest battles in modern times; and if its results be taken into account, perhaps the most important recorded in history.

Wolfgang Menzel begins here. William Siborne begins here. Victor Hugo begins here.

More information here and here, and below.

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