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The Waterloo Ambush!
June 18, 2014 by warzan
My my how things have changed for me in a week.
Only last week, I set out (reluctantly I might add) to learn a little about Waterloo (today is the anniversary of the Battle 199 years ago), in the process I have become hooked.
From my original position of thinking about Napoleonic era battles as a bunch of men mincing around like prancing peacocks, I have come to realize that is was all quite the opposite. Men of the utmost courage who were facing a huge change in warfare, where battles were still ultimately fought hand to hand, but had the added horror of ranged fire (both light and heavy) thrown in.
What looked like madness to me, marching directly up to your enemy while they were firing right at you, now has become clear that it was not only a valid tactic, but pretty much the only tactic that was possible, given the unique set of conditions warfare faced in those times.
The brightly colored uniforms, allowed easy identification of your comrades, and camouflage would have been fairly pointless for most soldiers as fighting had to be up close and personal.
Having taken the time to learn just a little (yes I know I love to butcher history on the weekender) I am humbled by the courage of these men, and the warfare they engaged in. Frankly it must have been terrifying.
This is a journey I'm fairly sure I'm going to continue for some time to come.
I received a ton of emails and feedback from the Waterloo feature in the weekender, and I'd like to thank everyone for reaching out to support/help. I have since watched some Sharpe for the first time (and the silk stocking full of shit) and quite enjoyed it.
But the movie Waterloo (1970) was by far my favorite watch over these last days.
The scale was incredible and even then they had only 15,000 soldiers and 2000 horses (the battle had something like 150,000 men and 25,000 horses - oh and did i mention 400 cannons! apparently when Naopleon let loose the guns, they were heard in Kent!)
Fabulous movie, unbelievable battle, two incredible men in Wellington and Bonaparte, and I have embedded it above to have a watch of it 🙂
I have been ambushed by Waterloo... will you?
Waterloo is fantastic, comes a close third to Lawrence of Arabia which is following Zula. Old movies still outshining most of the new twaddle.
Super pleased you’ve read up on this type of warfare!
Colonel von trapp seems a litle put out !
Heh Warren and history its like Shark and cheese, trust me its a fun combo.like British and Hanovariran troops fighting.
Thank goodness The Battle of Ignsy didn’t dent the determination of the Prussians .
It was also a charge of the Union Divison that was a factor in the final. The union division had the 6th Inniskilling (yeah I know I have a thing for Irish divisions) but the Scots part held the colours of the 45eme.
Unfortunately a timely counter attack from the French killed many in the union division.
At waterloo and the seventh coalition
Dunno why it cut the end off, just staying the seventh was a collection of very strange bed fellows haha.
Great battle though well done on your looking into the period my friend
I think Marshal Ney’s confrontation with the returning Napoleon was particularly well-done.
This officially started the 100 Days campaign?
It is a fascinating period, but my favourite part of it is probably the early to late revolutionary war where Napoleon was invading into Italy
There is also a great Russian film bases on Borodino as well
Russian cinema has indeed put out some great war movies set in their history. Shame they don’t get much exposure here in the US (not sure about UK), mostly because of the language barrier and the general attitude that “Russkies are bad guys.”
Warren has joined the Dark Side of historical gaming. I’m sure I speak for all my fellow historical Sith Lords when I say: “Welcome!” The 1970 Waterloo is indeed a classic. The American counterpart is the 1993 movie: Gettysburg. Based on Michael Shaara’s iconic novel “The Killer Angels,” it’s an en epic portrayal of what is still the largest battle ever to take place in the Western Hemisphere. It’s “America’s Waterloo,” with something like 180,000 men involved on both sides, and 53,000 casualties. Not to overload you, Warren (this movie is about 4 1/2 hours long), but here’s a link… Read more »
Their is a shortened version out on DVD only 2 and a half hours I think the battle on the hill is epic.
Seconded. I’ve loved Gettysburg since I was in Middle school (when it came out). Absolutely epic film.
Augh, @blackbrunswicker ! You make me feel old! 😀 I’d just gotten out of the military when this came out. Yes, @zorg , my DVD set at home is something like 3 1/2 hours, I’ve heard of shorter versions (like the one you describe). This one on Youtube is the full, director’s cut 4 1/2 hour monster. Includes a lot of . . . well, frankly bad scenes I can fully understand why they were cut. But it also has scenes like Lee confronting his all of II Corps commanders (Ewell, etc . . . not just Trimble – “we… Read more »
Was a pity that Gods and Generals was pretty poor in comparison, and a even bigger pity that the 3rd movie was never made
Very true. The prequel was pretty poor, focused too much on Jackson who is somewhat overrated as a commander (soap box for another forum). The fact remains that Jeff Sharra is not his father, Michael. I’ve tried to read several of Jeff’s novels, both American Civil War and American Revolution, and they’re tough to get through.
Not seen the complete full film keep missing it every time it comes on ill just keep trying but.
I take it that full version is like the directors cuts versions’ more understandable because they haven’t cut half of some of the story out of sections like they did on (aliens) for example.
One of us, one of us!
No matter how exciting or well told a story is, it can’t match up to real deeds by real people. Horus didn’t really revolt against the Imperium, Aegon Targaryen didn’t really invade Westeros with a fleet of dragons; but Alexander did conquer most of the known world before he was 30, a small Greek force did hold the pass at Thermopylae for three days against a much bigger Persian army, and Napoleon did accomplish victory after amazing victory. Many of these events helped shape the world as it is now and they were fought between real people who displayed outstanding… Read more »
Well said, sir. Well said.
Agreed with Oriskany – Brilliant post, Sir!
Well said
Without Napoleon there probably wouldn’t have been such a dominate Prussia in Europe and thus no unification of Germany
Well put @redben I find it amusing when people have a preconceived idea history and historical gaming is boring yet enjoy other genre’s where a lot of the background and storylines are lifted straight from the pages of history.
Epic funny moment at 54:00, when Wellington catches the poor private with a piglet in his backpack. Instead of hanging him, he promotes him to corporal.
“Make it a goat next time, Paddy! You’ll make sergeant!”
Ha ha, I knew you’d enjoy that film. You are a wargamer after all. 😎
Sharpe was an amazing TV series (as was Hornblower), I wish we still made historical warfare series like that still. I have not seen that movie you linked too either – so I think that will be what I do this evening, thanks for finding it/posting it!
Savage stuff, Ponsonby!
When studying Waterloo, don’t forget the 4th of Foot British Regiment? Why? Because they were fresh from taking part in the burning Washington DC!
The scale of that cavalry charge at 1:39:20 is awesome. Damn, I wonder how many wranglers they had for this movie. 🙂
Waterloo is one of my favourite war films of all time. I love the suicidal charge that the french cavalry mades in 1:40, the Blackwatch, the Imperial Guard and Napoleon yelling “Where is Grouchy?!”.
there’s always been a rumour that Bondarchuk got quite a good way into making a much longer version of Waterloo, where you had Quatre Bras but also the Prussians fighting on for grim death against Grouchy and his 30,000 reinforcements – God, I’d love to see that version…
Well after a hard day, glad I got some beers…Night sorted.
Stick with Sharpe Warren…like Band of Brothers you will start to love those lads,
and gives plenty ideas for game scenario…which I will steal as I venture down this route.
Cheers my boy.
I’m really interested in Historical Wargaming, unfortunately I’ve been unable to find a HMG Chapter near where I live
Whereabouts are you?
Also, beware this path leads to madness;) You might end up asking if Napoleon was really a bad guy (Napoleonic Justice Code vs. British Army Corruption vs. over the hill dynasties in Austria and Russia and Germany). History degrees and writing books lies down that way. Also this goes to one of my hang ups with Historical Gaming: fun vs. realism. Watching the Flames of War videos the game seems fun but I can’t invoke my “suspension of disbelief” enough to stop thinking “that’s not how WWII worked!” SciFi and Fantasy is so much easier to let realism go. Of… Read more »
Hell yeah, @bigterp ! Started with hexes and counters with PanzerBlitz, Panzer Leader, Arab-Israeli Wars, ASL, GDW’s Assault, and Rise and Decline of the Third Reich. Those were the days. 🙂
I think the battle around Plancenoit was probably one of the most and maybe overlooked parts of Waterloo
This was my introduction to the Battle of Waterloo
http://www.dicemaestro.com/games-articles/retroactive-battle-waterloo.asp
Let the rest have their football – we have Waterloo – Great movie, same goes for Gettysburg.
I loved Waterloo, ever since playing SSI’s “Battles of Napoleon” that I played as a kid.
For a smaller games you can take a look at sharp practice
So glad you enjoyed it. Stick with the Sharpe boxed set it’s bloody good for a TV series.
sharpes one of this best series out there about wars only thing better than it is north and south about the ACW
Great movie. I remember when it was released. It had a great influence on my early wargames. Me and a couple friends saw three showings back to back on the one ticket. I still have the book that accompanied the release.
The best part for me was the advance of La vieille garde. Stirring stuff.