Letters from the Battle of Waterloo
Book Review
by Paul Chamberlain
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Edited by Gareth Glover
Letters from the Battle of Waterloo presents a collection of unpublished correspondence to William Siborne from numerous participants of the battle that were not included in Waterloo Letters. The letters include many translated from French or German, and this book brings this correspondence to the public gaze for the first time. It represents a new primary source of value to historians and students of the period. Gareth Glover discusses Siborne’s research for his model and the funding he obtained to complete it. He emphasises that William Siborne’s History of the War in France and Belgium in 1815 (published in 1844), though based on his correspondence over the previous 14 years, was published at a time when the Victorians wanted to hear of great British victories won by British Armies under British commanders, without any significant help from foreign contingents. Following the 75th Anniversary celebrations in 1890, his son Herbert published a selection of letters written to his father entitled Waterloo Letters, which further enhanced the Victorian view. Glover discusses (and refutes) the claims that the investors in the model exerted financial pressure to influence historical fact. The financial cost of the project (£3,000) is placed firmly in perspective relative to the Quarter Master General’s Department, who initially commissioned the project. This department had an annual budget of nearly £6,000 and following Government cutbacks in military expenditure, had to withdraw support for the model. He also examines and refutes claims that Siborne could not read German and so ignored correspondence from officers of the King’s German Legion and the Hanoverian Army. The only criticism of Siborne made in this book is that he failed to obtain any substantial information from the Dutch-Belgian contingents. One commonly held view is that William Siborne’s History and his model belittled the role of the foreign contingents to avoid any reduction in the achievements of the British Army, and this controversy is discussed by the editor of these letters. Indeed, Gareth Glover states his reasons for publishing this correspondence as being to analyse these controversies and to make available further important primary eyewitness accounts of the battle. The correspondence is placed in sections covering the cavalry and infantry brigades, and the artillery, including many letters from KGL officers. Correspondence relating to the models is also included. The letters include some from Major George Baring, Edward Whinyates, John Gurwood and Edward Cotton. Each reproduced letter is accompanied by footnotes to provide brief biographical details of the author and persons mentioned in each letter. Some of the letters were accompanied by sketches to clarify the author’s recollections, and these are included in the book. The correspondence includes many interesting details, such as the role of the 1st Light battalion KGL in attacking d’Erlon’s column prior to the counterattack by the British Heavy Cavalry. Many writers also express their views on the role of other units. Although the letters date from 15 to 30 years after Waterloo, the officers concerned recall the events with great clarity and detail, often confirming their information from their notes and correspondence written at the time of the campaign or very shortly afterwards. One such example is the very detailed account by Major George Baring of the defence of La Haye Sainte by the KGL and Nassau troops. Gareth Glover has performed a useful service in collating and translating correspondence that has, until now, remained unpublished. Many of the letters contain information that is important for our understanding and study of the battle. Letters from the Battle of Waterloo represents a valuable addition to the information available on the Waterloo campaign, and should be an essential addition to any library on the events of 1815. Book Review
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Unpublished Correspondence by Allied Officers from the Siborne Papers