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The Battle Of Waterloo And Its Effect On Today 's Artillery

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The Battle of Waterloo and its Effect on Today’s Artillery
SSG Aviles-Torres, SSG Blackburn, SSG Letalu,
SSG Mageo, SSG Rodgers
13B40 001-18
Senior Leaders Course
SFC Metz

The Battle of Waterloo and its Effect on Today’s Artillery

Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the world’s greatest military strategists, led the French at the Battle of Waterloo. During his time as a General, even in defeat, his tactics in the way he used artillery were beyond reproach. His successes and errors made throughout the Battle of Waterloo had a direct effect on how we use artillery today.
The Battle of Waterloo, which took place on 18 June 1815, was the final battle of the Napoleonic wars and ended Napoleon’s reign as emperor. The French marched …show more content…

As the battle went on, the Prussian Army was fast approaching. When Napoleon received word of the impending Prussian arrival, he decided to send 20,000 troops, to his left flank, to intercept the Prussians. Although, this was a sensible approach, it severely weakened the main attack. The French finally push through and took La Haye Sainte (the estate in the center of the Battlefield) but, this would end up being a small victory in a battle that would have an inevitable outcome. The British retreated their men, behind the ridge, in an attempt to hide them from the French viewpoint. The French, thinking they had the British on their heels, sent their elite soldiers (Old Guard) up the middle of the battlefield and over the ridge. Unknowingly to the French, Duke Wellington hatched a plan to hide some of his troops. As the Old Guard begins its assault, of the British center line, they are surprised by British troops lying in wait, on their flanks, in the high corn fields. The Old Guard is routed by three horse batteries attacking their flanks. With the Prussian Army destroying the left flank of the French Army, Wellington sounds the general charge. The charge is successful in pushing back the French lines. Napoleon regroups his Old Guard and orders them to attack. By this time, the Old Guard is down to under 200 men. Once again, Wellington uses his plan to hide

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