March 20^th – Napoleon Enters Paris:  start of Hundred Days War [1815]

Something about the Hundred Days War

 This campaign is given to Napoleon’s brief return to power from Exile in 1815.  The French population, particularly peasant farmers had quickly become disillusioned by Louis XVIII’s inactive government, and the return of political figures seizing land.  French soldiers had largely lost status and income, and some senior commanders had kept in touch with Napoleon during this exile on Elba.  Napoleon took a gamble and returned to France ready to fight again.  The Allies and French government reacted slowly.  Although troops were deployed to stop his advance through France, Napoleon won them over, and returned to Paris on 20 March to take over the government.

Napoleon’s insincere attempts at peace were quickly seen for what they were and the 7^th Coalition against France was formed on 25^th March.  This enabled Napoleon to rouse a defensive force. Despite experienced troops, bolstered by subscription he lacked experienced senior commanders, and the shortage of time resulted in shortfalls in all the key supplies required including cavalry, and munitions.

The Allies were weakened by poor organisation and communication.  A disparate force including British, Prussian, Austrian, Russian and Italian forces in size had potential to quash Napoleon, but needed time to mobilise with only Wellington and Blucher’s forces ready to fight.  Napoleon used information gathered from his well placed sympathisers to calculate his best target for success.  A forward HQ was established, and an impressive array of French forces were massed on the Belgian border (including over 120,000 troops, 20,000+ cavalry and 360+guns).  This was a tribute to Napoleon’s skill but also highlighted the shortcomings of the Allied forces in failing to identify this mounting threat.

But the force lacked a critical element – Napoleon’s health was failing, and he no longer had the energy to mount a sustained attack.  Whilst his strategic ability was not in doubt his increasing weakness caused delays during the subsequent combat which ultimately cost him victory.

Quatre Bras – the first conflict involved the French fighting a combined Dutch-Belgian army. Good example of an encounter battle.  The Allies objective was to hold a crossroads and prevent the French separating them from the Prussians.  If the French had not been slow to begin the action at Quatre Bras the outcome of the battle might have been different and there may have been no battle at Waterloo.  Debatable decision making by Wellington led to the two main forces of Blucher and Wellington being separated, and Napoleon struck to push them further apart and then individually attack each unit.  Napoleon’s weak commanders (Ney and Grouchy) both made errors, and failed to win a decisive victory.

Ligny – Napoleon pushed ahead believing that the Allies were retreating from Quatre Bras.  French victory over the Prussians, at Ligny a Belgian village 14km northeast of Charlerio.  Marshal Gebhard von Blucher headed a force of 84,000 Prussians, and 224 guns, was attacked by 75000 French and 218 guns.  The Prussian objective was to hold and defend the area until support arrived.  Napoleon did not expect the Prussians to stand firm.    Most of the Prussian force was position on the forward slopes around Ligny resulting in heavy casualties from French artillery fire.  Napoleon’s orders went astray and the French met with considerable resistance but Napoleon succeeded in launching a violent attack using heavy cavalry and infantry reserves,  (Imperial Guard and Milhauds cuirassiers) causing the Prussians to admit defeat with a loss of 12,000 men.

By this stage Napoleon was felt to be exhibiting signs of exhaustion.  His communication failed to confirm that Ney had not in fact taken Quatre Bras, and that Wellington continued to have a presence there.

Genappe – a skirmish the day before Waterloo between the withdrawing Allied forces and the pursuing French forces.  Involved the use of both artillery and cavalry.  Fought in a village lined with houses on both sides, which was the focus of the main fighting.  This battle was heavily influenced by the condition of the terrain and weather, where heavy rain made conditions difficult for cavalry and infantry. 

Waterloo – a classic attack and defence battle featuring many of the tactics and formations of the period.  Defeat of the French by a British-Prussian-Dutch coalition, at Waterloo a Belgian village about 16Km south of Brussels.  Napoleon’s 120,000 strong army faced the Duke of Wellington’s 90,000 force (a truly European force of whom only 30,000 were British).  The earlier battles had delayed Napoleon’s ultimate goal of Waterloo, and gave Wellington time to combine his forces with the Prussian army.

The Marquis de Grouchy (Napoleon) used 33,000 troops to block the route that Prussians were taking to join up with the other Allies, with the final force being 67,000 Allies opposed by 74,000 French (considerably better equipped with artillery and cavalry).  The initial action took place around struggles for two key farmhouses, and involved heroic British cavalry charges.  There were heavy casualties, with Wellington finally overcoming the French using a devastating volley and bayonet charge.  Both sides lost similar numbers with the total amounting to over 60,000 men.

Notably the French lost thousands of men to desertion and Napoleon’s strength was finally failing.  However, over 25,000 men were drawn out of the action at Wavre and the force regrouped to a size of 55,000, with another 17,000 conscripts in training.  However Napoleon could never regain his original political strength.  Whilst popular with the masses, he renounced his titles in favour of his son and retired to his palace at Malmaison.

Blucher and Wellington were however halted outside of Paris but Davout’s men.  A strong commander he had been kept in Paris as Governor during the 100 Days War.  Napoleon initially aimed to settle in the United States but with entry blocked he elected to go abroad a British vessel rather than be arrested by local forces.  Unable to settle in America or Britain he was forced eventually to settle on the South Atlantic Island of St Helena, and the end of was in Europe concluded after four decades of combat with the signing of the Second Treaty of Paris on 20 November 1815.

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The battles:

There are Orders of Battle and maps available on-line see the menu on the left.

Quatre Bras – 16 June 1815

Ligny – 16 June 1815

Genappe – 17 June 1815

Waterloo – 18 June 1815  - 190^th anniversary this year.

Wavre – 18 & 19 June 1815

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