31.05.2004, 16:42
Zitat:The Battlehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/waterlo...loo3.shtml
11:30am - The French launched their diversionary attack on Hougoumont. The Allied line hid behind the ridge except for Bylandt's Dutch-Belgian brigade which was forced to retire. The diversionary tactics were not carried through as Napoleon's brother, Jerome, made an attempt to capture the farm. He involved his division and a brigade from another division in a full-scale battle. Wellington stood firm.
1:00pm - The Grand Battery of heavy artillery opened fire before d'Erlon's Corps marched forward in their traditional columns across the field from the French right past La Haye Sainte. They came under fire from the garrisons at La Haye Sainte. Despite suffering heavy casualties from Allied artillery fire, the French succeeded in capturing Papelotte and surrounding La Haye Sainte. As Wellington's troops moved forward from the ridge to engage the French before they could break columns and form a line, the reserves moved up to support the left.
At the same time as the infantry was attacking, Napoleon intercepted a message from Bulow to Wellington revealing the Prussian's presence in the St Lambert area to his right. He sent Lobau's infantry and Domon's and Subervie's cavalry to face the Prussian troops.
As his centre began to give way and La Haye Sainte became vulnerable, Wellington sent in his reserve led by Picton's brigade to plug the gap. The French were beaten back from La Haye Sainte and Wellington ran home his advantage by having the cavalry brigades under Somerset and Ponsonby attack. The French infantry were surprised and easily overcome, but the Allied cavalry was badly decimated during a counter attack by a cuirassier brigade and some lancers.
Once again Wellington withdrew behind the ridge and reinforced La Haye Sainte while Prince Bernhardt of Saxe-Weimar retook Papelotte. The left flank was now very weak but Napoleon's right flank was also badly wrecked. Wellington was unable to take advantage of this without Prussian support. Artillery continued to be fired on both sides and a battle continued at Hougoument while, at St-Lambert, Lobau stood against the Prussians.
3:00pm - Knowing that La Haye Sainte was a key stronghold, Napoleon ordered Marshal Ney to capture it, thereby smashing the Allied centre. Through the smoky haze, Ney had seen lines of Wellington's wounded soldiers walking along the road to Brussels. Possibly believing the British were retreating, he ordered his cavalry to charge across the battlefield towards the ridge. Wellington's infantry formed squares behind the ridge to receive them and the Allied artillery lined up in front of them, enabling the gunners to continue firing until the last possible moment and then to take refuge behind the squares. Wellington's formation stood firm and the French cavalry made little impact especially as Ney no fresh infantry reserves available, as they were tied down by the Prussians. The French artillery also had to cease firing because, had they continued, they would have inflicted casualties on their own side as much as on the enemy's. Wellington was short of cavalry and artillery but counter attacked by sending in his cavalry reserve to stand between the infantry squares.
Despite sending in more cavalry to attack, the French eventually had to retire. However, an infantry force did manage to capture La Haye Sainte which Wellington was unable to reinforce. This meant that French artillery were able to line up right below the ridge so making the Allied infantry sitting targets if they appeared over it. Wellington could only await further developments. Ney called on Napoleon for reinforcements. "Some troops!", he replied, "Where do you expect me to get them from? Do you want me to make some?" At the time Napoleon was more concerned about the Prussians who were continuing to advance and had captured Plancenoit. Desperate to stop them from joining Wellington, he decided to send his Imperial Guard to recapture Plancenoit first and then sent the remainder to fight Wellington's troops.
7:00pm The group marched in echelon across the field between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. The troops near Hougoumont were fired upon by Allied forces and decimated, but those on the side of the French-held La Haye Sainte got through and went up and over the ridge. The Allied forces were waiting for them and, although the Guard broke through the front line, Maitland's brigade in the reserve surprised them by hiding in the corn. The Guard fled, some of them forming squares in the centre of the battlefield to block the Allied advance and screen their Emperor's retreat from the battlefield. It was the first time that the Imperial Guard had ever been forced to retreat. Under orders from Wellington who had seen the Prussians advancing on his left, the Allied line swept down from the ridge and successfully defeated the Guard. The Prussians retook Plancenoit and Papelotte.
9.00pm - Blücher met Wellington at La Belle Alliance. A fresh Prussian cavalry pursued the retreating French. Blücher wanted to name the battle "La Belle Alliance" but Wellington insisted upon a tradition of his, that it be called after the place where he had spent the night before the battle, Waterloo.
Nach Bussaco, jetzt noch ein Britischer (und Alliierter) Sieg gegen die Franzosen, Marschall Ney war auch bei Bussaco anwesend.