Hurrah!

Wellington's army of 67,000 included only 24,000 British troops. In addition there was a Prussian army of 48,000 giving a combined allied army of 115,000 facing a French army of 68,000. But the Prussians did not arrive until late in the day, by which time the battle was desperately close fought, leading to Wellington's famous remark that it was "a damned close thing, as close a thing as you ever saw".

See here for a short account of a long battle.

Terrific detail, Peter

And I am just so impressed with how good wiki has become on a vast array of subjects. Some look down there noses at them -- not me.

One of my mates sent me something about General Blucher, the Prussian General at Waterloo (who was 70-something at the time of the battler).
Apparently, he was prone to horrific DT's due to chronic alcoholism and didnt have enough control of his limbs to mount his horse until he had drunk a pint of overproof brandy

He became convinced that his head was made of stone and hence used to smash it in to any immovable object he could find

He also became convinced that he had been impregnated with an Elephant when he was captured by the French (later to be exchanged for a French General) - On his return he mercilessly beat a number of doctors who tried to tell him that this was a bit unlikely…..

Impregnated with an elephant? I presume he had a funny walk.

Peter -

Yes, well, I suppose we ought to remark in passing that a bunch of Prussians pitched up late for the gig. That alone is more than they'll be doing over at our real government in Belgium (how sadly ironic) where, even if they were to mark such a glorious day, it would be by lowering to half mast that foul dago dishcloth of a Euro flag.

By the way, the illustration is of the Scots Greys (The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards) jollying along to give the Monsieur Frog what for. Typical of our historic regiments, they have a few quirky habits and traditions. A short history, including why they're in the habit of mourning the Czar, is here:

http://www.andrewcusack.com/blog/2006/06/the_royal_scots.php

Wellington was a Co. Meath man (despite his protestations to the contrary!). There is a statue of him in Trim.

- Impregnated with an elephant?- Now there's a thought to bandy with...

Hope that there is no movement to normalize these practices, for Gods sake. You never know.

Reg - Good follow up. I've been to Trim and missed it.

Happy Waterloo Day to you too Pete!

Is this a drinking holiday? One of the most popular bars in Austin is named The Waterloo.

Daphne -

Every day is a drinking day as far as I'm concerned, even if it's only to get as much in before the bastards ban it.

Unfortunately, most Britons will be unaware of the anniversary of one of the great days in our glorious history. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if most Britons now haven't even heard of the battle! What with Urdu, environmental propaganda and Let's Be Nice To Each Other Studies crowding out the curriculum, the little darlings haven't the time to learn about piffling matters such as their nation's history.

Pete - They probably wonder why they would name a battle after a railroad station.

Pete, you need to pour yourself something uplifting - you're sounding a little morose there darlin'. Try my margaritas, they'll make you sing.

Nonsense Mahons! It was named after an ABBA song !

Daphne -

There's no escaping female intuition! Yes, the black dog has me in its paws today. Being a conservative/libertarian news junkie, I'm well used to the daily grind that leads, inevitably, to madness and depression, and today there are a couple of items which have got me down particularly. Still, I'll be right as rain once I pop out and find myself a liberal to kick.

Pete - that shouldn't be too hard, just go stand on the sidewalk.

>>Wellington was a Co. Meath man (despite his protestations to the contrary!). There is a statue of him in Trim.<<

I think actually he came from Dublin, born on St. Stephen's Green. At least there's a sign on a house there saying that's where he first saw the light. He was MP for Trim though.

I don't think he was any great shakes as a general, and never beat the enemy unless he had high numerical superiority. He also bought his initial rank of Major in the army, and later when his brother gave him a loan bought the rank of Colonel. It is said that he made so many mistakes before Waterloo that he would have been court-martialed if the English-Prussians had lost.

As a PM he was known for repressive legislation, and can hardly be a suitable hero for Pete Moore. He did, however, emancipate the Catholics in the face of strong Tory opposition.

Reminds me of a story. I once had a friend who was gay and was in a quandary about whether to tell his very conservative sister, with whom he lived.
He was receiving psychotherapy for various reasons. He once told the therapist of a recurring dream: he would be walking through the Tate Gallery, come to the statute of the Duke of Wellington, climb it and start looking into the mouth of the statue.
The therapist immediately asked him if he knew any quotations by Wellington. The solution was clear to both when my friend replied: ‘Only one: “publish and be damned” ’

Tragically ambiguous words. The sister couldn't accept the news, the siblings split up and the sister shortly afterwards killed herself.

Noel Cunningham -

I don't think he was any great shakes as a general, and never beat the enemy unless he had high numerical superiority.

You're clearly confusing Wellington with someone else. He did gain a reputation as a sometimes defensive commander during the Peninsular War. However, he had to keep the Iberian people on his side and was forced to supply his forces from elsewhere. The French weren't so hampered and looted what they needed. Wellington, then, had to avoid being encamped too long in any place that would put his supply train in jeopardy.

He also bought his initial rank of Major in the army, and later when he brother gave him a loan bought the rank of Colonel.

It was common for a Gentleman in the 18th and 19th Centuries to buy his rank, and Wellington entered the British Army as an Ensign.

As a PM, Catholic Emancipation aside, Wellington's chief aim was to avoid the evil of the French Revolution speading across the English Channel. All he did in politics has to be seen with this understandable objective. I recommend a decent book on the Iron Duke.

Noel

Wellington was an astute general who learnt his craft in the penisnula war. He beat most of Napoleon's best generals in those years, but Waterloo was the only battle where faced the Corsican upstart.

Unlike Napoleon, Wellington always tried to minimise casualties among his troops. Napoleon never gave a **** about that. France suffered horribly, as did most of western Europe, as a result of his insane ambition to conquer the whole continent.

Looking at that pic, I feel so sorry for the horses. It wasn't their war and it sure as blazes wasn't their battle.

Peter,

Speaking of Wellington and the Peninsular War, did you ever read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke? Wonderful.

Wheeee, my last ATW comment for a while. Y'all take care now. I'll miss you.

Abrazos!

The daughter has a strange fascination with this battle. She avidly watches any and all documentaries on it, and was riveted by Bondarchuk's film. She wound the DVD back 4 times to take in the massive aerial shot of the French cavalry swirling around the allied squares.

Trust Noel to chime in with some revisionist nonsense about a great British general. FYI old boy, achieving strategic superiority in numbers and ground before the tactical battle starts is what makes a great general a great general.

I'm curious though. Who do you consider to be a truly great general, let's say from the Napoleonic era onwards?

Hmmmm... how about General Humbert? With a small force of around 1000 French and a few Irish rebels, but with no artillery, he routed a force of 6000 Redcoats at Castlebar. :)

He was also present at the Battle of New Orleans, where the victors were again outnumbered 3 to 1.
Aparently the British tactic of "achieving strategic superiority in numbers and ground" didn't have the desired effect there.

Well in that case how about Clive at Plessey? It doesnt get more outnumbered than that...

Noel,

According to Wiki (which, of course, is always right!) he was born in central Dublin but spent much of his childhood at the family home outside Trim.

We're both right.