The Battle
Authors: Alessandro Barbero
THE BATTLE
THE BATTLE
A NEW HISTORY OF
WATERLOO
ALESSANDRO BARBERO
Translated from the Italian by John Cullen
Copyright © 2003 by Alessandro Barbero
Translation copyright © 2005 by John Cullen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Walker & Company, 104 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011.
Published in 2006 by Walker &Company
Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck Publishers
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.
eISBN: 978-0-802-71831-0
Originally published in Italy as
La battaglia, Storia di Waterloo
by Gius. Laterza & Figli in 2003
First published in hardcover in the U.S. in 2005
This paperback edition published in 2006
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
The history of a battle is not unlike the history of a ball! Some
individuals may recollect all the little events of which the great result
is the battle won or lost; but no individual can recollect the order in
which, or the exact moment at which, they occurred, which makes all
the difference as to their value or importance.
—
Wellington
I object to all the propositions to write what is called a history of the
battle of Waterloo. . . . But if a true history is written, what will
become of the reputation of half of those who have acquired
reputation, and who deserve it for their gallantry, but who, if their
mistakes and casual misconduct were made public, would NOT be
so well thought of?
—
Wellington
Leave the battle of Waterloo as it is.
—
Wellington
CONTENTS
PART ONE - "We'll See Tomorrow"
2. "Who Will Attack the First Tomorrow?"
3. "The Decisive Moment of the Century"
5. The British Army: "The Scum of the Earth"
6. The French Army: "All Must March"
9. "As Bad a Night as I Ever Witnessed"
20. Napoleonic Infantry Tactics
23. The Defense of the Chateau
24. The Bombardment in the Hougoumont Sector
25. The Attack on the North Gate
31. The First Attack on La Haye Sainte
34. The Attack on the Sunken Lane
35. The Firefight Along the Chemin d'Ohain
36. The Intervention of the British Cavalry
37. The Charge of the Household Brigade
38. The Charge of the Union Brigade
41. "Tu N'es Pas Mort, Coquin?"
44. The Second Attack on La Haye Sainte
45. The Great French Cavalry Attacks Against the Allied Squares
47.
"Vous Verrez Bientot Sa Force, Messieurs"
50. "I'll Be Damned If We Shan't Lose This Ground"
52. "Infantry! And Where Do You Expect Me to Find Infantry?"
53. The Last Effort to Take Hougoumont
54. The Capture of La Haye Sainte
55. The Advance of the French Artillery
56. The Renewed Attack on Plancenoit
60. The Imperial Guard's Advance
61. The Attack of the Imperial Guard Grenadiers
64. The Squares of the Old Guard
65. The Meeting at La Belle Alliance
70. "I Never Wish to See Another Battle"