The French Situation

Napoleon decided to wait for the mud to dry before launching any attack. This allowed him the full use of his Artillery and Cavalry. Before the French could launch their attack, Prussian troops began to arrive on their Right Flank. To counter this, Napoleon moved over VI Corps and some guard batteries to protect the Right from any Prussian attacks. This of course drew off VI Corps from their original role of supporting I corps attack on the center.

The Allied Situation

Wellington plan was to hold everywhere and asses where the main French assault was going to take place. Most of the artillery was spread out on the ridge with supporting brigades of infantry hidden behind the crest. A few companies of Rifles was put forth to hold Le Hay Saint, The remainder of the Light brigade was stationed to the left of Le Hay Saint in support. A brigade of the Guards was deployed in and around Hougemont with the other brigade deployed 300 yards behind and in support. The rest of the allied army was deployed, hidden behind the ridge or woods.

1:30 - 2:30

The French advanced on all fronts, VI Corps moved to block the oncoming Prussians and were deployed and waiting for the Prussians by 2:00. 1 corps deployed on a wide frontage, with artillery to the front, slowly but steadily advance toward the waiting allied line. The cavalry advance in between I & VI corps. 11 corps not hinder by deployed artillery moves rapidly to left, apparently bypassing Hougemont and swinging wide to engage the Dutch Belgians on the extreme Allied Right. III Cavalry corps moved along side in support. All the Guard Infantry and Cavalry stayed in support of I Corps advance.

The Allied army patiently awaited the arrival of the oncoming French Columns.

The French had artillery batteries leading the assault exchanged fire with the British guns along the ridgeline. Most of this fire was at long range and resulted minimal casualties on both sides. The exception being the Light brigade posted in support of Le Hay Saint. Two French 12lb batteries poured heavy onto the brigade, this fire glaring pointed out how badly they were set up and the brigade was going to suffer tremendously for Wellington's oversight.

The French Assault continued its painfully slow advance but by having so many guns out front were able to inflict more casualties as the range slowly lessened. The light Brigade could not back up fast enough and was close to dispersal before it was able to hide behind La Hay Saint. Unable to deploy behind the ridge a Nassau brigade was routed after a few long range artillery burst.

The British was for the most part ineffectual, however the rocket battery on the British left was able to disorder a French Heavy Cavalry brigade, one of British light dragoons brigades seeing the confusion in the French formation immediately launched into a charge and caught the French in disorder and routed them. As was the norm for the day though, the Light Dragoons continued their charge careening right into a Fresh brigade of French Heavies and was in turn routed away.

The hour ended with another British cavalry assault on the Allied right flank, this assault routed a brigade from II Corps as well as some French Hussars (in the process Gen. Heritier was killed by a well placed carbine round). The charge however left the brigade highly exposed to massed artillery and infantry fire and taking the better part valor retreated back behind the Allied Ridgeline.

2:30-3:30

Prussian forces began to arrive in force and deploy on the far left of the allied flank. The French VI corps with some supporting cavalry and artillery moved up to block and protect I corps Right flank from any Prussian attacks. The Prussians feeling out gun slowly advance on VI corps but their presence did draw off some of the pressure on the allied center. I corps advance continued and as did the artillery due[ with the British batteries defending the allied center. The quality and amount of French guns began to tell as some of the British batteries suffered casualties by the end of the hour.

II corps began the hour by launching 9th Division against a British guard brigade defending woods in front of Hougemont. The Guards severely handled the French with the entire division routing out of the woods. The rest of the corps finished the move around the chateau and began to deploy in the front of the Allied right flank. This was a slow process as both II corps and IIIc Corps were disorganized by early fighting.

The Guard Lt Cavalry Division, which had moved up into the French center to occupy the widening gap between I and II corps, launched and assault on the Allied Right Center. They were able to rout some Hanoverians but ran into British and Brunswick squares in the pursuit. The allied brigades stood strong and were able to drive off the Guard lights who reformed back at there starting points.

The far right of I corps had finally made contact with the allied left and captured Patalo after routing some Dutch Belgian Militia holding the town. The allied left was beginning to break and Wellington sent a courier to the Prussian encourage them to attack and apply pressure before the two armies were split in two. Losing the artillery duel, all units were pulled back out of sight of any French guns.

Gen. Cotton who had been located on the allied right moved back and took charge of the cavalry reserve in the center. Throughout the day Gen. Cotton needed to be in two places at the same time. He spent the whole day riding back and forth the allied line launching local cavalry attacks. The French Guard light cavalry since reformed once again launched and assault on the Allied Right center, This time the attack was met by British and Brunswick Light cavalry, a brief swirling melee ensued where both sides bounced off each other.

3:30 - 4:30

I Corps advance finally moved to within engagement range of the British Center. Their attack of the British right has stalled due in part to pressure from the Prussians as well as lack of orders. The focus of the I corps attacks has shifted toe the center, the initial met with some success as a French column was able to rout some Hanoverians off the center. The French though were in turn routed off by British Highlanders. The Guard Heavies and Old Guard moved forward getting ready to exploit any success of I corps.

II corps spent the beginning of the hour reforming and rallying its troops. Wellington believing the II corps attack has stalled and needing to relieve pressure off the center, orders the allied right to advance and attack the French. Unfortunately, confusion reigned supreme within the Allied Right command and were slow to move or react to their new orders.

VI Corps and the Prussians, if cautiously, did engaged each other this hour. The Prussian with the terrain advantage and some timely attacks by Prussian Landwehr cavalry were able to stall or defeat all French attacks this hour. Gen. Cotton leaves the center once again to rally the left flank cavalry.

II Corps resumed its attack and rapidly engage the entire allied right flank. II corps 9th division rallied once again attacks the British guard, but learning from its early mistakes, engages the brigade with superior artillery and skirmish fire, instead of assaulting the guards,. By the end of the hour the French have dispersed all guard from the woods. Their assault however carried them up the hill and even though supported by the Guard light cavalry were in turn dispersed by the fresh Brunswick division. The guard cavalry again falls back, extremely depleted, they are however the only brigades holding the French center.

4:30 - 5.30

I corps cavalry and the Guard Heavy Cavalry supported by a few infantry brigades launched a major assault on the British center. With most units forming square and the lack of infantry support, most attacks were repulsed. The British Highlanders however after inflicting heavy casualties was routed away. Seeing that the allied center was held by only two British brigades and some roughed up Hanoverians, Wellington in a last ditch effort trough the two brigades of British Heavy and Household cavalry at I Corps.

They managed to sweep the French off the ridge, but continued down the slope right into the French old guard. It look as those they might sweep away a brigade of Old Guard as they were able to catch them out of square, due to the swath of fire they took, both brigades routed back to there starting point. Though costly the British attack did give Wellington some much needed relief for the center.

The Allied right flank continued to press II and IlIc corps. Though they inflicted some casualties on the allies by the end of the hour both corps were routed from the field and streaming back to Paris. The guard light cavalry in an effort to stem the tide attack the Brunswickers and though successful in slowing them, were finally dispersed as a fighting force.

The Prussian left was at a stalemate with VI corps. Neither side could get the upper hand and each pretty much just tied each others forces up for the rest of the day. The left however was finally able to pressure I corps extreme right flank. Gen. Cotton, who stayed on the left flank, (Wellington personally left to rally the cavalry in the center) attached himself to some British dragoons and launched a sudden counter attack into the right of I corps. With Cotton personally leading, the attack was in a controlled manner, but as the British cavalry had done all day long, ended in a an uncontrollable charge. The attack was, nevertheless, very successful, routing a brigade of infantry, overrunning a couple of batteries and capturing a general. Deep into I corps, Gen. Cotton realized he had done enough and voluntary retreated behind the allied center, where Wellington had rallied most of the other Allied cavalry.

The End

Napoleon was worried but not panicked. With his Left flank collapsing he needed to deliver a knock out blow and in a hurry. Realizing the slowness of the Allied right's pursuit he estimated he had an hour to deliver this blow. To that end, he ordered VI and the depleted right flank of I corps to occupy and hold the Prussians. The rest of I corps would rally and reform while the Heavy and Guard Heavy cavalry would reform and move to hold off the advancing Allied right. Knowing the Allied center was still weak but reforming, Napoleon launched the 1st Old Guard Division unsupported straight up into the British brigade holding the ridgeline.

The staunch British line delivered devastating after devastating volleys into the guard columns. The initial British volleys, first disordered then routed the Chasseurs of Pied from the field. The Grenadiers of Pied fared little better, with the loss of Chasseurs, the British battalions closed on the flanks of the Grenadier column and proceeded to blast the guards to pieces. Showing their elan the Grenadiers held their ground, but the British fire was to much and in the end they too routed off the ridgeline. Seeing the Old Guard routing was to much for the French army, by 6 pm the whole French army was in retreat.