CONCLUSIONS

It seems unlikely that Wellington made the statements claimed in the notes of the conversations examined here. What is certain is that the Duke made certain promises of support to Blucher he knew he could not keep. These assurances led to the Prussians deciding to fight a major battle at Ligny in unfavourable circumstances and contributed to their defeat. Wellington, not wishing his image to be tarnished by admitting his errors here, had good reason to be somewhat circumspect with the whole truth. He told his close associates various tall stories to inflate his image and protect himself from criticism of his failures. To those with an open, questioning mind, Wellington left enough clues in his statements to indicate what they really were tall stories. However, that has not prevented certain anglophone historians from repeating and embellishing such stories and presenting them as historical 'fact'.

Wellington's actions are understandable. However, those that have based their accounts on such dubious statements have played the greater role in this false representation of history.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks go to Derek S. Mill, Dallas Gavan and Vic Powell for their assistance in the production of this essay.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Maxwell, Sir Herbert, 'The Life of Wellington', 2 vols, (2nd ed. London, 1900), vol II, pp 19-20. My attempts to locate the original manuscript have been unsuccessful.
[2] Philip Henry, Fifth Earl Stanhope, 'Notes of Conversations with the Duke of Wellington 1831-1851' (London, 1938), p 109.
[3] The correspondence was edited by his daughter Alice, Countess of Strafford and published as the 'Personal Reminiscences of the Duke of Wellington' by John Murray, London, in 1903. The letter containing this account can be found on pp 185-188.
[4] Maps nos. 46/3-4, 47/1-2
[5] Albedyll, 'Geschichte des Kurassier-Regiments Konigin (Pommersches) Nr. 2', (Berlin, 1904), vol ii, p 307.
[6] WP 1/465. Letter to Bathurst, 22 May 1815.
[7] Muffling, 'Aus meinem Leben', (Berlin, 1851), p 238.
[8] Nineteenth Century, 1893, p 432.
[9] Muffling, Geschichte, p 12.
[10] Raglan Papers, A 24-31.
[11] WD, vol xii, p 475.
[12] WSD, vol x, p 526; Nineteenth Century, 1893, p 432.
[13] Muffling, 'Aus meinem Leben', p 239.
[14] Raglan Papers, A 24-31.

More Were the Prussian Positions at Ligny Exposed

Introduction
The Sombreffe Position
Wellington and the Windmill at Bussy
De Ros
Stanhope
Ellesmere
Conclusions
Large Ligny Map (extremely slow: 472K)
Jumbo Ligny Map (monstously slow: 1.42Mb!)