by Andrew Uffindell.
Published by Greenhill (1994). ISBN 1-85367-182-7, 272 pages, 33 photographs/line drawings, 20 sketch maps. Price £ 19.50

Studies of the Waterloo campaign tend to look at the Battle of Waterloo mainly, with descriptions of the other actions as sidelines. This refreshing study looks at the Battle of Ligny in the context of the campaign as a whole.

The battle was Napoleon's final victory, taking place on 16th June 1815, two days before his final defeat at Waterloo. During this campaign, Napoleon fatally underestimated the tenacity, if not the skill, of both Wellington and Blucher. Ligny was a battle between the French and the Prussians. Mr Uffindell describes how the latter army was commanded by a formidable and brilliant command team consisting of Blucher and Gneisenau. Blucher was not a strategist, and did not have a great grasp of the conduct of war. However, he was able to inspire his troops, and could work well as part of a team; be it with his Chief of Staff Gneisenau, or with his ally Wellington. Gneisenau was a superb staff officer, and complimented Blucher's failings as a commander. He was very intelligent and had a grasp of strategy, although very mistrustful of his allies, especially the Duke of Wellington.

The book looks at the rival armies and generals, and describes the Prussian Army in detail. This force was a simple, national army; resilient and with an irresistable, united spirit. When the campaign opened, the Prussian troops under Zeithen were aware that the French were on the move across the border into Belgium, and retreated back towards Fleureus, covering the concentration of Blucher's main army at Sombreffe.

The Eagle's Last Triumph describes how the left wing of the French Army under Ney was sent to occupy Quatre Bras, and relates how these troops were tired, hungry and strung out along the line of march. Ney did not know his command well, having only been appointed commander on the afternoon of 15th. He was wary (and prudent, so the book argues) about not pushing north too fast in case his flanks became exposed whilst Napoleon was engaged elsewhere. Wellington was cautious about moving too far away from his communications with Ostend, and therefore moved slowly towards the Prussians. These were the reasons why Ney's force and that of Wellington were positioned where they were as the action at Ligny was fought.

The Battle of Quatre Bras is discussed in relation to D'Erlon's futile marching to and fro between the two battles, and having no impact on either. I particularly like the chapter heading 'The Fatal Peregrinations of D'Erlon' that examines this situation; one that has intrigued historians since. A succession of orders was sent to D'Erlon from Napoleon and his staff instructing him to march to Ligny, and even when he was in sight of the battlefield he turned around in response to an order from Ney to return to Quatre Bras. The book argues that D'Erlon failed to grasp the Emperor's strategy and so marched back to Ney, who was under the (enraged) impression that it was at his battle that D'Erlon was really needed. If this commander had arrived at Ligny, so Mr Uffindell argues, then the battle would have been a crushing defeat for the Prussians, with serious implications for Wellington and the course of the entire campaign.

This book is a refreshing analysis of the Waterloo campaign from the Ligny viewpoint. The book is a very readable and detailed account of the battle, and includes a guide to the site today, for those of you who visit Napoleonic battlefields. A highly recommended addition to any library on the events of 1815.

The Reviewing Stand

The Eagle's Last Triumph: Ligny 1815
The Visual Dictionary of Military Uniforms
The Fall of Napoleon
SHQ Miniatures: 15mm Napoloenics