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While many books have been published on Waterloo, none have rivalled this in either scale or authority.
The text, based on Adkin’s fastidious research, including many days spent on the battlefield itself, does far more than simply narrate the events of 18 June 1815. The author provides as much analysis as he does description: plans are examined, commanders assessed and manoeuvres painstakingly related to the ground. Armies, weapons and tactics are comprehensively explored and evaluated.
As with Adkin’s companions to the battles of Trafalgar and Gettysburg, the text focuses on myths and controversies surrounding the events, as well as elements often neglected in other narrative accounts –such as the performance of the French ‘Grand Battery’ or the Prussian attacks on Plancenoit.
Divided into ten sections, The Waterloo Companion can be dipped into as a reference guide or read cover to cover. Featuring little-known information and first-hand accounts of those who fought at Waterloo, it also covers soldier and command structures, tactics and topographical details. Each section is put in context of the battle and enhanced by maps, plans, drawings and diagrams.
The Waterloo Companion is an absolute must-have for any historian hoping to further their understanding of one of the world’s most famous land battles.
| Acknowledgements | 6 | |
| Introduction | 7 | |
| Abbreviations and Symbols | 10 | |
| Prologue: The Eagle's Return | 11 | |
| Section 1 | The Campaign | |
| General Situation in Europe--March 1815 | 21 | |
| Situation Facing Napoleon--March/April 1815 | 21 | |
| Situation Facing Wellington--April 1815 | 25 | |
| Situation Facing Blucher--April/May 1815 | 27 | |
| Overall Campaign Strategies | 27 | |
| Section 2 | Orders of Battle | |
| General | 35 | |
| Overall Strengths at Waterloo | 36 | |
| Anglo-Allied Strengths | 37 | |
| French Strengths | 51 | |
| Prussian Strengths | 65 | |
| Casualties at Waterloo | 73 | |
| Comparisons | 73 | |
| Section 3 | Command and Control | |
| General | 75 | |
| The French Commander-in-Chief--Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte | 76 | |
| French Senior Commanders at Waterloo | 82 | |
| The Anglo-Allied Commander-in-Chief--Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington | 92 | |
| Anglo-Allied Senior Commanders at Waterloo | 98 | |
| The Prussian Commander-in-Chief--Field-Marshal Prince Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher | 109 | |
| Prussian Senior Commanders at Waterloo | 112 | |
| Section 4 | The Battlefield (Including Memorials) | |
| General | 117 | |
| Key Terrain Features | 126 | |
| Villages | 128 | |
| Farms and Other Buildings | 134 | |
| Other Features | 148 | |
| The Condition of the Battlefield on 18 June 1815 | 154 | |
| The Battlefield Deployment of the Armies | 156 | |
| Section 5 | The Infantry | |
| General | 163 | |
| Anglo-Allied Infantry | 163 | |
| French Infantry | 186 | |
| Prussian Infantry | 207 | |
| Section 6 | The Cavalry | |
| General | 213 | |
| Anglo-Allied Cavalry | 215 | |
| French Cavalry | 234 | |
| Prussian Cavalry | 253 | |
| Section 7 | The Artillery | |
| General | 257 | |
| Types of Ordnance at Waterloo | 257 | |
| Artillery Ammunition | 263 | |
| Factors Affecting Artillery Usage and Effectiveness | 269 | |
| Anglo-Allied Artillery | 273 | |
| French Artillery | 285 | |
| Prussian Artillery | 301 | |
| Section 8 | Other Arms and Services | |
| Engineers and Pioneers | 305 | |
| The Wounded and Medical Services | 312 | |
| Supply Services | 325 | |
| Section 9 | The Highlights | |
| General | 329 | |
| The Struggle for Hougoumont | 329 | |
| D'Erlon's I Corps Attack | 343 | |
| The French Massed Cavalry Attacks on the Anglo-Allied Squares | 356 | |
| The Struggle for La Haie Sainte | 366 | |
| The Struggle for Plancenoit | 379 | |
| The Imperial Guard's Final Attack | 391 | |
| Section 10 | Myths and Controversies | |
| Myths | 405 | |
| The deployment and performance of Bijlandt's Brigade | 405 | |
| That the buildings and walled garden at Hougoumont were defended solely by the British Guards | 407 | |
| That d'Erlon's corps was destroyed by Picton's division and the Union Brigade | 408 | |
| Controversies | 409 | |
| Epilogue | ||
| Wellington | 421 | |
| Blucher | 422 | |
| Napoleon | 422 | |
| Bibliography | 425 | |
| Timechart | 426 | |
| Index | 429 |
Overview
While many books have been published on Waterloo, none have rivalled this in either scale or authority.
The text, based on Adkin’s fastidious research, including many days spent on the battlefield itself, does far more than simply narrate the events of 18 June 1815. The author provides as much analysis as he does description: plans are examined, commanders assessed and manoeuvres painstakingly related to the ground. Armies, weapons and tactics ...