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Waterloo Battlefield Guide
by David ButteryA British military historian offers an expert introduction to The Battle of Waterloo in this essential companion for battlefield visitors. In Belgium on June 18th, 1915, the Battle of Waterloo marked the climax of the Napoleonic Wars—and a major turning point in world history. The combined forces of the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal von Blücher delivered a devastating defeat to Napoleon. Though the outcome would have a major influence on the shape of Europe for more than a century, the battle itself cannot be properly understood without a detailed study of the landscape in which it was fought. Using eyewitness accounts and an intimate knowledge of the terrain, historian David Buttery vividly reconstructs the events of Waterloo as he takes readers across the battleground as it exists today. He provides essential context for understanding pivotal episodes in combat, including the day-long struggle for the chateau at Hougoumont, the massive French infantry assaults, repeated cavalry charges, the fall of La Haye Sainte, the violent clashes in the village of Plancenoit, the repulse of the Imperial Guard and rout of the French army.
Waterloo Battlefield Guide: Battlefield Guide
by David ButteryMuch of the material available to readers in the English language interested in the exploits of the troops of Hanover, Brunswick and Nassau is in the form of dry official reports, which stick to the basic facts and avoid all sentimentality and emotion. However, unbeknown to virtually anyone in the English-speaking world interested in the more human aspects of these 'foreign' troops fighting alongside the British at Waterloo, there are a number of memoirs and sets of letters, which have been published in Germany over the last two centuries. Until now, these had never been translated into English and so have been inaccessible to the vast majority. This volume seeks to put this right and to bring to life the human story of these German troops their trials and tribulations, their sufferings and their emotions and to finally reveal their views on the battle which many entered with mixed emotions. Highlights include an account of the confusion in the final great advance at Waterloo; eyewitness recollections of the defense of La Haye Sainte; rare battle reports by the Duke of Wellington; and a fascinating series of letters explaining the whereabouts of a number of 'missing' Hanoverian regimental and staff surgeons and subsequent court martials.
Waterloo General: The Life, Letters and Mysterious Death of Major General Sir William Ponsonby, 1772–1815
by John MorewoodThe defeat of Napoleons French army by the combined forces of Wellington and Blcher at Waterloo on 18 June 1815 was a turning point in world history. This was the climax of the Napoleonic Wars, and the outcome had a major influence on the shape of Europe for the next century and beyond. The battle was a milestone, and it cannot be properly understood without a detailed, on-the-ground study of the landscape in which it was fought and that is the purpose of David Butterys new battlefield guide. In vivid detail, using eyewitness accounts and an intimate knowledge of the terrain, he reconstructs Waterloo and he takes the reader and the visitor across the battleground as it is today. He focuses on the pivotal episodes in the fighting the day-long struggle for the chateau at Hougoumont, the massive French infantry assaults, repeated cavalry charges, the fall of La Haye Sainte, the violent clashes in the village of Plancenoit, the repulse of the Imperial Guard and rout of the French army. This thoroughgoing, lucid, easy-to-follow guide will be a fascinating introduction for anyone who seeks to understand what happened on that momentous day, and it will be an essential companion for anyone who explores the battlefield in Belgium.
Waterloo Lectures: A Study Of The Campaign Of 1815
by Lt.-Colonel Charles C. Chesney R.E.This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Waterloo Illustration Pack - 14 maps/battle plans, 18 portraits of the personalities engaged, 10 illustrations. The Waterloo campaign of 1815 was a turning point in world history. After 25 years of almost constant warfare that raged from India to Canada, from South America to the Caribbean, peace among the European powers was decided on a small strip of land in modern day Belgium. The momentous fruits of the campaign have led to the decisions and actions of the belligerents and their armies to be argued back and forth ever since. Colonel Chesney's work is amongst a handful of books that are considered to be "standard" as histories of the campaign that have been translated into French and German. It is fitting that the work of such a learned soldier, who is also a late professor of Military Art and History at the Staff College in Camberley, should be such a balanced and detailed account of the campaign. This ebook is based on the 4th edition which includes all of the changes that Colonel Chesney wished to be incorporated until his untimely death and was published posthumously. Title - Waterloo Lectures: A Study Of The Campaign Of 1815 (4th Edition) Author -- Lt.-Colonel Charles C. Chesney R.E. (1826-1876) Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1907, London, by Longmans, Green and Co. Original - xiv and 251 pages. Illustrations - The original map cannot be provided with this edition due to its A3 size - We have added our Waterloo Illustration pack to ensure that the reader can follow the text.
Waterloo Messenger: The Life of Henry Percy: Peninsular Soldier & French Prisoner of War
by William MahonAt the Battle of Waterloo Sir William Ponsonby, a man who the Duke of Wellington stated had rendered very brilliant and important services and was an ornament to his profession, was killed by French lancers after leading the Union Brigade (the three Dragoon Regiments of the Royals, Iniskillings and Scots Greys) in a charge that wrecked a French advance that threatened Wellington with defeat. Sir William was a career soldier who had led his regiment in the decisive charge at the Battle of Salamanca and served with great distinction during the Peninsular War. Yet historians have blamed him because the charge at Waterloo got out of hand. In this book John Morewood uses family sources, including Sir Williams letters, as well as French and German accounts, to restore his reputation and, by shedding new light on the battle, establishes what really happen to him on that fatal afternoon. It is also a biography of a man whose bravery and professionalism distinguished him as one of the outstanding cavalry commanders of the age.
Waterloo Station: A Novel
by Emily GraysonThese were days of uncertainty and peril, of noble deeds and great sacrifice.An exciting time to be young and adventurous . . . but a dangerous time to fall in love.
Waterloo Witnesses: Military and Civilian Accounts of the 1815 Campaign
by Kristine HughesThe events of Sunday, 18 June, stand as the defining moment of the year 1815, if not of an entire era. The allied victory over Napoleon’s French army at the Battle of Waterloo reshaped governments and boundaries, made or broke fortunes and touched thousands of lives in ways both large and small, and it has been analysed, dissected and refought on paper a hundred times. Perhaps, though, the very best words ever written about that momentous campaign are the first-person accounts recorded as events unfolded. It is these vivid accounts that Kristine Hughes has collected together in order to convey the hopes, fears and aspirations of their authors. They inject the story of the battle with a level of humanity that reclaims it from the realm of legend and restores it to the people who witnessed it. In chronological order her work pieces together a novel view of the battle and events surrounding it as they were experienced by both military men and civilians. The result is a fascinating and varied picture of the individuals involved and the society of the period. Their words make compelling reading.
Waterloo in 100 Objects
by Gareth Glover Andrew RobertsObjects allow us to reach out and touch the past and they play a living role in history today. Through them we can come closer to the reality experienced by the soldiers who fought at Waterloo – that most iconic of all battles. Using stunning photography, rare objects from the Napoleonic era tell us their story of the battle. From the discomfort of the uniforms to the drama of the battle-drums echoing across the battlefield, by examining each object and its place in the Waterloo story, we reach a deeper understanding of what happened on the battlefield and its significance today. Gareth Glover takes us on fascinating journey through 100 objects, from the rare to the memorable, in a unique testimony to importance of the battle of Waterloo, 200 years on.
Waterloo: Four Days that Changed Europe's Destiny
by Tim Clayton'A fabulous story, superbly told' Max HastingsThe bloodbath at Waterloo ended a war that had engulfed the world for over twenty years. It also finished the career of the charismatic Napoleon Bonaparte. It ensured the final liberation of Germany and the restoration of the old European monarchies, and it represented one of very few defeats for the glorious French army, most of whose soldiers remained devoted to their Emperor until the very end. Extraordinary though it may seem much about the Battle of Waterloo has remained uncertain, with many major features of the campaign hotly debated. Most histories have depended heavily on the evidence of British officers that were gathered about twenty years after the battle. But the recent publication of an abundance of fresh first-hand accounts from soldiers of all the participating armies has illuminated important episodes and enabled radical reappraisal of the course of the campaign. What emerges is a darker, muddier story, no longer biased by notions of regimental honour, but a tapestry of irony, accident, courage, horror and human frailty.An epic page turner, rich in dramatic human detail and grounded in first-class scholarly research, Waterloo is the real inside story of the greatest land battle in British history, the defining showdown of the age of muskets, bayonets, cavalry and cannon.
Waterloo: From Elba to Ligny and Quatre Bras
by John HusseyThis, the fourth volume in Andrew Field's highly praised study of the Waterloo campaign from the French perspective, depicts in vivid detail the often neglected final phase the rout and retreat of Napoleon's army. The text is based exclusively on French eyewitness accounts which give an inside view of the immediate aftermath of the battle and carry the story through to the army's disbandment in late 1815. Many French officers and soldiers wrote more about the retreat than they did about the catastrophe of Waterloo itself. Their recollections give a fascinating insight to the psyche of the French soldier. They also provide a firsthand record of their experiences and the range of their reactions, from those who deserted the colors and made their way home, to those who continued to serve faithfully when all was lost. Napoleons own flight from Waterloo is an essential part of the narrative, but the main emphasis is on the fate of the beaten French army as it was experienced by eyewitnesses who lived through the last days of the campaign.
Waterloo: From Waterloo to the Restoration of Peace in Europe
by John HusseyWinner of the 2019 RUSI Duke of Wellington Medal for Military HistoryWinner of the 2017 Society for Army Historical Research Templer MedalShortlisted for Military History Monthly's "Book of the Year" AwardThe first of two groundbreaking volumes on the Waterloo campaign, this book is based upon a detailed analysis of sources old and new in four languages. It highlights the political stresses between the Allies, and their resolution; it studies the problems of feeding and paying for 250,000 Allied forces assembling in Belgium during the undeclared war, and how a strategy was thrashed out. It studies the neglected topic of how the slow and discordant Allies beyond the Rhine hampered the plans of Blcher and Wellington, thus allowing Napoleon to snatch the initiative from them. Napoleons operational plan is analyzed (and Soult's mistakes in executing it). Accounts from both sides help provide a vivid impression of the fighting on the first day, 15 June, and the volume ends with the joint battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras the next day.
Waterloo: Henry Clinton, the 2nd Division and the End of a 200-year Old Controversy
by Gareth Glover&“This in-depth study of the nuts and bolts of a single division is without a doubt the best book I have ever read on Waterloo.&”—The Napoleon Series Winner of the 2017 Society for Army Historical Research Templer Medal This is the most detailed account of the 2nd Division at Waterloo ever published. It is based on the papers of its commander Sir Henry Clinton, and it reveals for the first time the previously unrecognized vital role this division made in the defeat of Napoleon. Author Gareth Glover explains how the division was placed ahead of the main allied squares thus impeding the charges of the French cavalry, and how the 2nd Division supported the defense of Hougoumont, considered by the Duke of Wellington as the key to his victory on 18 June 1815. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this book is the description of the defeat of Napoleon&’s Imperial Guard. Just how the incomparable Guard was stopped and then driven from the battlefield is explained in detail. Once and for all, this 200-year controversy is finally resolved. &“Does a superb job of dissecting the controversy over whether it was Adam&’s Brigade or the Guard&’s Brigade that was instrumental in defeating the Imperial Guard.&”—The Napoleon Series
Waterloo: In The Footsteps Of The Commanders
by Jonathan Gillespie-PayneThis is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
Waterloo: June 18, 1815—The Battle for Modern Europe (Making History)
by Andrew RobertsThe New York Times–bestselling historian’s “masterly . . . concise, pacy, and well-argued account” of Napoleon’s final defeat (The Sunday Telegraph).June 18, 1815, was one of the most momentous days in world history, marking the end of twenty-two years of French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. On the bloody battlefield of Waterloo, the Emperor Napoleon and his hastily formed legions clashed with the Anglo-Allied armies led by the Duke of Wellington—the only time the two greatest military strategists of their age faced each other in combat.With precision and elegance, Andrew Roberts sets the political, strategic, and historical scene, providing a breathtaking account of each successive stage of the battle while also examining new evidence that reveals exactly how Napoleon was defeated. Waterloo is “a vivid, thoughtful, and blessedly concise account” of the battle that “marks the beginning of the modern era” (Kirkus, starred review).
Waterloo: Myth And Reality
by Gareth Glover&“A radical re-assessment . . . This is fascinating stuff . . . a most useful addition to the Waterloo—and indeed Napoleonic—bookshelf.&”—Military Modelling Magazine More has probably been written about the Waterloo campaign than almost any other in history. It was the climax of the Napoleonic Wars and forms a watershed in both European and world history. However, the lethal combination of national bias, willful distortion and simple error has unfortunately led to the constantly regurgitated traditional &“accepted&” version being significantly wrong regarding many episodes in the campaign. Oft-repeated claims have morphed into established fact, and it is high time that these are challenged and finally dismissed. Gareth Glover has spent a decade uncovering hundreds of previously unpublished eyewitness accounts of the battle and campaign, which have highlighted many of these myths and errors. In this groundbreaking history, based on extensive primary research of all the nations involved, he provides a very readable and beautifully balanced account of the entire campaign while challenging these distorted claims and myths, and he provides clear evidence to back his version of events. His thoughtful reassessment of this decisive episode in world history will be stimulating reading for those already familiar with the Napoleonic period, and it will form a fascinating introduction for readers who are discovering this extraordinary event for the first time. &“An enjoyable and informative review of the battle that shaped Europe for the next two centuries.&”—Firetrench
Waterloo: The Aftermath
by Paul O'KeeffeThe consequences of Napoleon&’s most famous defeat are explored in this &“highly readable, richly anecdotal retelling of the battle&’s devastating results&” (Kirkus). In the early morning hours of June 19, 1815, more than 50,000 men and 7,000 horses lay dead and wounded on a battlefield just south of Brussels. In the hours, days, weeks, and months that followed, news of the battle would begin to shape the consciousness of an age; the battlegrounds would be looted and cleared, its dead buried or burned, its ground and ruins overrun by tourists; the victorious British and Prussian armies would invade France and occupy Paris. And for Napoleon, there was no avenue ahead but surrender, exile and captivity. In this dramatic account of the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo, Paul O'Keeffe employs a multiplicity of contemporary sources and viewpoints to create a reading experience that brings into focus as never before the sights, sounds, and smells of the battlefield, of conquest and defeat, of celebration and riot.
Waterloo: The French Perspective
by Andrew W. Field&“This book covers the least familiar part of the Waterloo campaign—the French retreat in the aftermath of the battle . . . a splendid study.&” —History of War This, the fourth volume in Andrew Field&’s highly praised study of the Waterloo campaign from the French perspective, depicts in vivid detail the often neglected final phase—the rout and retreat of Napoleon&’s army. The text is based exclusively on French eyewitness accounts which give an inside view of the immediate aftermath of the battle and carry the story through to the army&’s disbandment in late 1815. Many French officers and soldiers wrote more about the retreat than they did about the catastrophe of Waterloo itself. Their recollections give a fascinating insight to the psyche of the French soldier. They also provide a first-hand record of their experiences and the range of their reactions, from those who deserted the colours and made their way home, to those who continued to serve faithfully when all was lost. Napoleon&’s own flight from Waterloo is an essential part of the narrative, but the main emphasis is on the fate of the beaten French army as it was experienced by eyewitnesses who lived through the last days of the campaign. &“A fine conclusion to Andrew Field&’s series of books on the Hundred Days&’ Campaign that offers a rather different perspective on the subject and is a book all serious Napoleonic wargamers will surely wish to add to their libraries.&” —Miniature Wargames
Waterloo: The French Perspective
by Andrew W. FieldFrom the author of Talavera, an extensive history of the Battle of Waterloo from the losing side&’s point of view. The story of the Battle of Waterloo—of the ultimate defeat of Napoleon and the French, the triumph of Wellington, Blücher, and their allied armies—is most often told from the viewpoint of the victors, not the vanquished. Even after 200 years of intensive research and the publication of hundreds of books and articles on the battle, the French perspective and many of the primary French sources are under-represented in the written record. So, it is high time this weakness in the literature—and in our understanding of the battle—was addressed, and that is the purpose of Andrew Field&’s thought-provoking new study. He has tracked down over ninety first-hand French accounts, many of which have never been previously published in English, and he has combined them with accounts from the other participants in order to create a graphic new narrative of one of the world&’s decisive battles. Virtually all of the hitherto unpublished testimony provides fascinating new detail on the battle and many of the accounts are vivid, revealing, and exciting.
Waterloo: Wellington's Victory & Napoleon's Last Campaign
by Christopher HibbertA portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Duke of Wellington, and the fateful clash of their armies in 1815 from &“a remarkably good writer&” (The New York Times). It was the greatest of battles—the defining military engagement of the nineteenth century that forever ended one man&’s dreams of a European empire unified under his rule. This epoch-defining conflict would ultimately be remembered for the showdown between two of history&’s most legendary commanders: the Duke of Wellington, and Napoleon Bonaparte. In this definitive account divided into three parts, Christopher Hibbert masterfully depicts first Napoleon and his rise to power, then Wellington and the allied armies, and lastly the steps leading up to the battle and the battle itself, the final clash on the fields of Waterloo. It is a gripping, succinct and panoramic survey of this legendary event, the history surrounding it, and the personalities that defined it. Praise for the work of Christopher Hibbert &“Well-written, lucid, and vivid.&” —The Washington Post &“Interesting detail.&” —Booklist &“A skillful storyteller and historian.&” —Publishers Weekly
Waterloo: Why Napoleon Lost the Great Battle
by Paul L. DawsonDuring October 2016 Paul Dawson visited French archives in Paris to continue his research surrounding the events of the Napoleonic Wars. Some of the material he examined had never been accessed by researchers or historians before, the files involved having been sealed in 1816. These seals remained unbroken until Paul was given permission to break them to read the contents.Forget what you have read about the battle on the Mont St Jean on 18 June 1815; it did not happen that way. The start of the battle was delayed because of the state of the ground not so. Marshal Ney destroyed the French cavalry in his reckless charges against the Allied infantry squares wrong. The stubborn defense of Hougoumont, the key to Wellingtons victory, where a plucky little garrison of British Guards held the farmhouse against the overwhelming force of Jerome Bonapartes division and the rest of II Corps not true. Did the Union Brigade really destroy dErlons Corps, did the Scots Greys actually attack a massed French battery, did La Haie Sainte hold out until late in the afternoon?All these and many more of the accepted stories concerning the battle are analysed through accounts (some 200 in all) previously unpublished, mainly derived through French sources, with startling conclusions. Most significantly of all is the revelation of exactly how, and why, Napoleon was defeated.Waterloo, The Truth at Last demonstrates, through details never made available to the general public before, how so much of what we think we know about the battle simply did not occur in the manner or to the degree previously believed. This book has been described as a game changer, and is certain to generate enormous interest, and will alter our previously-held perceptions forever.
Watford and South West Herts in the Great War (Your Towns & Cities in the Great War)
by Eugenia Russell Quentin RussellThis book highlights the importance of Watford as a regional centre within South West Herts during the years of the Great War as well as the cohesion of the local area and the impact events and initiatives had on the entire region. The organization and presence of the Army are discussed before focusing on different aspects of civilian life such as the contribution of civilians to the war effort, the Police and Fire Service, the role of Churches, Schools and the Press and changes in employment and local businesses. As the War wore on and the magnitude of the sacrifice sunk in, hospitals and charities became more prominent. The latter part of the book presents these as well as the many public and private ways of commemorating the War Dead in the aftermath of the conflict. The distinctiveness of such Memorials reflects the legacy of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the artistic communities resident in Bushey and Watford.
Watson's Pier
by Joshua FunderOn 20 December 1977, as Stanley Watson takes the slow train journey to family Christmas, memories from over 60 years ago play in his mind. He had been and still was a man of his time, as as steady, simple and direct as the railway lines he built. As an engineer in the 28th Signalling Company, recently wed and with a young child, he knew it to be his duty to enlist as soon as war broke out in 1914. He left for Egypt in October and he knows his wife is pregnant as he reaches Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, a participant in that fateful landing that is writ large in Australian history. He survived that landing to construct the first pier at Anzac Cove, from which the Anzacs withdrew on the nights of 18 and 19 December. For a long time, he was known as the last man to leave Gallipoli. Watson's Pier is a beautifully told story as seen through the eyes of Stanley Watson, one of the leaders of the escape from Gallipoli. It draws on Watson's story, his writing, oral history and the official war records. While telling one man's remarkable experience of war for the first time, Watson's Pier challenges history on the final moments at ANZAC Cove and offers a new perspective on the meaning of Gallipoli.
Wau-bun, The Early Day in the Northwest: The Early Day In The Northwest
by Mrs John H. Kinzie Dr Louise Phelps KelloggOriginally published in 1856, and then edited (with notes and introduction) by Louise Phelps Kellogg and republished in 1930, there is no better description of early Chicago and the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre to be found anywhere than that contained in Wau-bun, The Early Day in the Northwest.Among the familiar characters who come into the story are Governor James D. Doty, Jefferson Davis, John Lowe, Col. Wm. S. Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton, Eleazar Williams, Augustin Grignon, Jacques Porlier, Chief Four Legs, and many others.The garrison life at Forts Howard and Winnebago, the dangerous passage of the rapids of the Fox River in the Mackinac boats, and the customs of the Wisconsin Indians of the period are all vividly told in this classic.Unmissable American historical literature.“Mrs. Kinzie’s account of the early day in Wisconsin is delightful; it sparkles with humor and with the pleasure of youth in new and strange adventures. The spirit of happiness pervades it and the author’s affectionate sympathy for her husband’s Indian ‘children’ shines on every page. Her description of travel and its vicissitudes in Wisconsin of the early day is full of fun and jollity. She was what we would call today a ‘good sport,’ taking everything with philosophy and good will. The feast of good things is spread for the reader; all that remains is enjoyment of the narration.”—Louise Phelps Kellogg, Introduction
Wave of Terror: A Novel
by Theodore OdrachThis novel is a major literary discovery, and Odrach is drawing favorable comparisons with such eminent writers as Chekhov and Solzhenitsyn. Odrach wrote in Ukrainian, while living an exile's life in Toronto. This remarkable book is a microcosm of Soviet history, and Odrach provides a first-hand account of events during the Stalinist era that newsreels never covered. It has special value as a sensitive and realistic portrait of the times, while capturing the internal drama of the characters with psychological concision. Odrach creates a powerful and moving picture, and manages to show what life was really like under the brutal dictatorship of Stalin, and brings cataclysmic events of history to a human scale.
Wavell's Campaigns In The Middle East: An Analysis Of Operational Art
by Major Lawrence Rucker Snead IIIToday the United States confronts an uncertain world. The strategic environment has changed. It no longer has one main enemy and a military force to confront that foe. Instead, the United States must be prepared to deal with a multiple of possible threats as its military continues to downsize. This new regional orientation and world situation requires that the US Military be ready to fight simultaneous major regional contingencies to achieve the victories that the American people expect.Therefore, this study examines Field Marshall Wavell's campaigns in the Middle East in WWII to provide a historical case study of a similar situation. There he had to simultaneously conduct a large number of campaigns and operations over four theaters of operations against different enemies under difficult conditions to achieve strategic objectives. It compares this case study with the current strategic military requirements facing the US and current US Military doctrine to determine if the US is prepared to deal with multiple simultaneous regional contingencies.Finally, this monograph indicates that the US Military needs to update both its National Military Strategy and it's doctrine in order to be prepared to fight and win multiple simultaneous major regional contingencies in the future. In addition, this study has indicated a number of implications for the conduct of operational art by the US Military.