Wellington at Waterloo

328 Pages·1967·31.645 MB·English

by  Jac Weller

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JAC WELLER
A LEADING MILITARY HISTORIAI
SHOWS HOW NAPOLEON
SUFFERED HIS FINAL DEFEAT
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Welling
JAC WELLER
What actually took place on the battlefield at
Waterloo on 18 June 1815? Wellington's victory
over Napoleon is famous, but the reasons for It
are not so well known. Mr. Weller, an expert on
militarytacticsand weaponry, describesthe battle
itself in vivid detail and explains its importance in
history. He stresses the military principles that
have remained constant, in spite of enormous
technological changes.
Napoleon's escape from Elba in February 1815
shocked Europe. France was then enormously
powerful, and in six months' time Napoleon could
have an efficient veteran army of 600,000 in the
field. Wellington assumed command of an Anglo-
Dutch army early in April. It was in poor condition
and had divided loyalties. In less than three
months he reorganized, supplied, and trained his
troops, and obtained new units.
Wellington had studied Napoleon's strategy
and tactics carefully. He had chosen the battle
site months earlier, because it provided the kind
ofterrain herequired for histypical defensivetype
of battle. Napoleon's massive attackswerethrown
back by the allied artillery, infantry, and cavalry,
but it was the "thin red line" of British foot
—
soldiers Infantry battalions deployed two or
—
four men deep that was most important in the
French defeat.
The fighting began in the afternoon and raged
into the long summer evening. The French Grand
Army, numerically superior, attacked for nearly
nine hours but consistently lost. Wellington dis-
posed of his troops and materiel flawlessly and
was present himself at each critical point '^
needed. Finally the tide turned, and I'"'*'
his own units forward. As the Prussians
(continued on
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WELLINGTON AT WATERLOO

Wellington
Waterloo
at
Jac Weller
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