'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 13, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE NAPOLEONIC WARS group.

"Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny" - The massed French cavalry attacks - as experienced by a British officer in one of the infantry squares:

"Nothing could be more gallant than the behaviour of those veterans, many of whom had distinguished themselves on half the battle-fields of Europe.

In the midst of our terrible fire, their officers were seen as if on parade, keeping order in their ranks, and encouraging them. Unable to renew the charge, but unwilling to retreat, they brandished their swords with loud cries of 'Vive l'Empereur!' and allowed themselves to be mowed down by hundreds rather than yield. Our men, who shot them down, could not help admiring the gallant bearing and heroic resignation of their enemies."

The French Cavalry Assault:
https://www.waterlooassociation.org.u...

Betsy wrote: "Wow, that would be something to hear from those veterans. When was the book written since the English version came out in 1995?"

It was first published in 1979 in Paris as far as I can tell.

To start off this discussion I will mention the first of my all-time favourite Napoleonic book; "La Grande Armee" by Georges Blond. I had this book sitting in my library for a few years before I read it. That was a wasted few years! I really loved this book. If I remember correctly the author mentioned seeing and talking to some of the aged veterans in his town when he was a young.

LA Grande Armee by Georges Blond

I've set up this thread/page so group members can highlight and chat about their all-time favourite Napoleonic books.

Good point about Borodino Scott! I'm sure the Russian veterans could have said a thing or two about French artillery :)

"Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny" - A bit more on the French artillery at Waterloo:

"Sergeant William Lawrence, 40th Foot, also left a graphic record of the havoc wrought by artillery fire - in this case on the colour party of his battalion:

About four o'clock I was ordered to the colours. This, although I was used to warfare as much as any, was a job I did not all like; but still I went as boldly to work as I could. There had been before me that day fourteen sergeants already killed and wounded while in charge of those colours, with officers in proportion, and the staff and colours were almost cut to pieces. This job will never be blotted from my memory ... I had not been there more than a quarter of an hour when a cannon-shot came and took the captain's head clean off. This was again close to me, for my left side was touching the poor captain's right, and I was splattered all over with his blood.

The Colours:
https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/save-co...

Scott wrote: "Witnessing Waterloo: 24 Hours, 48 Lives, A World Forever Changed

The literary device that Davo ..."

Sounds like a somewhat different way to present the battle! I wonder if the book will become a bit disjointed with so many characters and their stories compressed into such a short timeframe? Keep us posted on your progress Scott.

So many 'what ifs' in this campaign Betsy! And like you I have continually found the subject of interest, but I am starting to wonder if I have read enough on the battle :(

I say that until I see a nice new shiny book on Waterloo or Gettysburg, and I can't help myself :)

On reading my current book on Waterloo it made me think of how many books I have read on the subject, and which would be my favourites. I remember that this book was the one that got me interested in the battle and I think the title stirred up some controversy when it was first published:

Waterloo: New Perspectives : The Great Battle Reappraised by David Hamilton-Williams

My all-time favourite books on the battle and ones that I think will be hard to better is this two-volume set:

& by John Hussey

Betsy wrote: "The Cannonade must have been dreadful, but just as as the cannonade on July 3, 1863, didn't do its job so did this one fail partly because of nature, and even Napoleon couldn't hold back the rain."

Many a British soldier thanked the heavens for that rain!

"Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny" - More on the French artillery at Waterloo:

"No proper study of Waterloo is possible without at least some treatment of the continual French artillery bombardment, whose intensity prompted Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Frazer, commander of Wellington's horse artillery, to identify the significant role played by gunnery at Waterloo: 'The greater part of the action may be called an action of artillery,' he wrote in a letter the day after the battle. Sir Robert Gardiner, another senior officer in the Royal Artillery and thus in a position to render a competent assessment of his opponents' gunnery, judged French batteries 'admirably served throughout the day' and 'causing dreadful havoc'. Captain Arthur Kennedy agreed, observing that 'never was any cannonade known so heavy nor their guns better directed', while Captain Horace Churchill, 1st Foot Guards, described the cannonade as 'butchery'. One can only speculate at the still mor horrific scenes of such concentrated fire had the ground been dry, for as a result of the previous night's torrential downpour shot tended to bury itself in the sodden ground on first impact rather than bound along the ground, killing and maiming anything in its wake."

Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny by Gregory Fremont-Barnes

"Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny" - On the artillery at Waterloo:

"The intensity of the artillery bombardment unleashed by the 246 French guns at Waterloo had scarcely any parallel in the Napoleonic Wars; certainly the British, with only 157 guns of their own, plus one rocket troop, had never experienced anything like it in the Peninsula. In fact, artillery fire inflicted greater losses on Wellington's forces than any other form of fighting. Hardly surprising, then, that Ensign William Thain, 33rd Foot, one of the regiments most severely affected, should declare: 'We all thought from the strength of the enemy and the manner in which their artillery mowed us down in the evening that we had lost the day ...' "

French Cannon Captured at Waterloo:
https://ageofrevolution.org/200-objec...

I liked this bit of his story:

"In 1936 the mortal remains of Ensign Ewart were discovered under a builders’ yard in Salford, it would take another two years for his remains to be reinterred in 1938 on Edinburgh Castle’s Esplanade at a grand ceremony to which the descendants of Ewart’s family were invited along with many other dignitaries and honoured guests."

A much worthier place for his remains!

"Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny" - The author has been discussing the charge of the Union and Household Brigades against the French columns. Of course, the story of Sergeant Charles Ewart of the Scots Greys and the taking of the Eagle of the 45th Regiment was mentioned.

Soldier’s Story: Charles Ewart, the “Most Illustrious Grey”:
https://ageofrevolution.org/themes/so...

Sounds like it should be a pretty interesting book. I will look forward to your thoughts as you go Scott.

Here is a new release that may interest a few group members. I am somewhat cautious with Pen & Sword publications, I sometimes find them a bit hit or miss but this title may be worth checking out:

Napoleon’s Undefeated Marshal: Louis Davout and the Art of Leadership by Martin Sullivan
Description:
The war of 1809 between France and Habsburg Austria, culminating in the titanic battle of Wagram, has been described often as Napoleon’s last successful campaign. Napoleon said later that the manoeuvres and actions of the French army and their German allies in the opening two weeks of this conflict were among the most brilliant and skilful of his entire career. But matters might have gone very differently. A series of miscalculations, mistakes and poor communications, both prior to Austria’s declaration of war and in the early days of hostilities, might have resulted in a major setback, if not a disaster, for the French Emperor. That they did not is due in large part to the decisions and actions of Marshal Louis Davout, the so-called “Iron Marshall” This is the first English study of Marshal Davout's command and leadership in over fifty years. Little known outside of France, Louis Davout was one of the finest generals in Napoleon's army, as evidenced by his comprehensive defeat of the main Prussian force at Auerstadt in October 1806. A hard, even harsh, disciplinarian, an utterly ruthless opponent on the field of battle, Davout was also a loving family man, meticulously concerned for the health and well-being of his troops, and able to command the loyalty of his divisional commanders for far longer than any of his contemporaries. In this new study, Martin Sullivan describes in detail the decision-making processes and actions of Marshal Davout, and from this analysis illustrates leadership concepts and theories which remain relevant to the world of today. Focusing upon the opening phase of the Wagram campaign, he examines in detail the decisions and actions of the participants, Davout, his opponent the Archduke Charles, and Napoleon himself. By this method the art of leadership may be seen exercised in the heat of an intense and deadly conflict.

Betsy wrote: "The names of four men highlight what would become the powerful Prussian Army which would take on Napoleon in 1815. Scharnhorst's reforms were a testimony to his skill. Unfortunately, his death in 1..."

Quite true Betsy!

I am waiting for the second volume to be published on Scharnhorst by Charles Edward White.

Scharnhorst: The Formative Years, 1755-1801 by Charles Edward White

Betsy wrote: "Good description of what must have been terrifying for those men. Still they held firm."

It would have been a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight, watching those French columns march steadily up towards the British positions!

"Waterloo 1815: The British Army's Day of Destiny" - The commencement of the main battle with the French columns as part of D'Erlon's attack on the British positions:

"Columns on this scale had succeeded regularly on battlefields before, particularly where a preliminary bombardment by massed guns had blown holes in the defender's front line, shattered the cohesion of his formations and crippled the morale of those awaiting the onslaught. But Napoleon's bombardment had not achieved this; d'Erlon's seemingly irresistible columns were gradually approaching steady, disciplined infantry - bloodied, certainly, by the cannonade - but whose ranks remained firm. Moreover, massive French columns composed of several regiments - Donzelot's and Marcognet's of four each - advancing thus were not invulnerable, for apart from being slowed by thick mud and wet, shoulder-high rye, they presented a magnificent target to the batteries of Rogers and Bijileveld on the top of the ridge, and could not form square, if necessary, with anything approaching the same rapidity as individual battalions. Thus, impressive though these columns appeared - marching as if on parade in some cases twenty-four ranks deep and about 150 men wide - thousands could neither see the object of their attack nor make use of their muskets, for only the front three ranks could issue fire. D'Erlon's corps might very well punch a hole through the defender's line, but it if failed, this unwieldly formation could not expect, under fire, to form into line to increase its firepower without suffering heavily in the process, especially if Wellington counter-attacked."

D'Erlon's attack:
https://www.waterlooassociation.org.u...

Excellent posts there Isaac and Betsy! Poor old Blucher, strange fellow indeed!

Besty's recommendation of Leggiere's biography about Blucher is an excellent choice. A shorter and fun read is; "The Hussar General: The Life of Blucher, Man of Waterloo" by Roger Parkinson which was the first book I read on the man.

The Hussar General: The Life of Blucher, Man of Waterloo by Roger Parkinson