Posted on 06/18/2019 9:51:03 AM PDT by harpygoddess
June 18 is the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo in 1815, in which British forces under the Duke of Wellington and the Prussians under Field Marshal Blücher decisively defeated the French under Napoleon to end the "Hundred Days Campaign."
After the allies took Paris in March 1814, Napoleon was initially exiled to Elba. A year later, however, he returned to France amid great acclaim, re-entered Paris, declared himself emperor again, and retook command of the French armies to renew the struggle.
Four days after the debacle at Waterloo - which Wellington described as "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life" - Napoleon abdicated again and was sent into final exile on St. Helena, where he died in 1821. On more than one occasion, Wellington is also said to have remarked:
"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained."
Post includes video, including a Lego re-enactment.
(Excerpt) Read more at vaviper.blogspot.com ...
With life-blood stain its soil, and pay the due
That lifts it to eternal fame, -- for then
'Tis grown a Gettysburg or Waterloo.
~Mark Antony DeWolfe Howe, "Distinction"
BLUCHER!
Cc
Wellington was a man who knew his business.
On a history site I was visiting, someone asked a stupid question. And he got a clever answer.
Question:
What if Napoleon had tanks at Waterloo? Specifically M1 Abram’s, let’s say he had 3 of them and the soldiers running the tanks were familiar with how to use them and he had plenty of ammunition. What would happen?
Answer:
The Duke of Wellington’s A-10s would knock them out.
This post is worthless without video.
For those with an interest in the Napoleonic period, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s historic novels set in that era are fun reads.
The Adventures of Gerard
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1644
The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11247
Gerard is a French cavalry officer.
The Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic Tales
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11656
A young Brit joins the army at a momentous time.
All free at Project Gutenberg.
There’s also Bernard Cornwell’s “Sharpe’s Rifles”.
The series Sharpe’s Rifles is enjoyable too!
Particularly when you see them go into semiautomatic flintlock mode!
Seriously! Its a great series!
The British were beaten and on the verge of being pushed off the ridge.
Luckliy for Wellington, a Dutch division moved up and drove back the assault which would have beeb Napoleons kill shot.
Time to break out my good copy of WATERLOO with Rod Steiger and Christopher Plumber..
I like this one better. But I do like Abba.
Waterloo
Stonewall Jackson
Waterloo, Waterloo
Where will you meet your Waterloo?
Every puppy has its day, everybody has to pay
Everybody has to meet his Waterloo
Now, old Adam was the first in history
With an apple he was tempted and deceived
Just for spite the devil made him take a bite
And that’s where old Adam met his Waterloo
Little General Napoleon of France
Tried to conquer the world, but lost his pants
Met defeat known as Bonaparte’s retreat
And that’s when Napoleon met his Waterloo
Waterloo, Waterloo
Where will you meet your Waterloo?
Every puppy has its day, everybody has to pay
Everybody has to meet his Waterloo.
And this one!
Bonaparte’s Retreat
Well I met the girl I love in a town way down in Dixie
Beneath the stars up above
She was the sweetest girl I ever did see
So I held her in my arms and told her of her many charms, I
Kissed her while the fiddles played
The Bonaparte’s Retreat
All the world was bright as I held her on that night
And I heard her say
Please don’t you go away
So I held her in my arms and told her of her many charms, I
Kissed her while everybody played
The Bonaparte’s Retreat
Thanks. I’ll put it on my list.
I also have that Thomason version of Marbot. I love the sketches throughout.
Thanks harpygoddess. Thoroughly modern miscellany.
Rod Steiger as Napoleon
Christopher Plummer as Wellington and Virginia MacKenna as the Duchess of Richmond
Charge of the Scots Greys
Marshal Ney's Cavalry charge shot from a helicopter
The charge from higher up
From higher still as they circle the Allied Infantry squares
Just read the first one. I foresee a summer of pleasure ahead of me. Thank you Amazon.
When the Prince of Belgium ordered the creation of the Victory Mound created, it destroyed Wellington’s position in front of the woods. The small ridge Wellington hid his troops behind was scraped away to create the mound. When Wellington visited the battlefield many years later and after the Victory Mound had been erected, he is claimed to have said: “Who destroyed my battlefield,” or words to that effect.
However, the view from the top of the mound does give one a marvelous view of the entire battleground area. But as a military historian, I wish it had never been created.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
