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The Battle

Waterloo Battle Fire

A timeline of the events of the battle on June 18th, 1815

3:30 a.m. Wellington receives confirmation that Blücher and the Prussians will march to Waterloo.
6 a.m. The Allied Army takes their position north of the Hougoumont. The French Army deploys to the area surrounding La Belle Alliance.
7 a.m. Napoleon eats his breakfast at La Caillou.
9 a.m. Wellington orders readjustments to the defense of the Hougoumont. Napoleon sends his chief engineer to conduct a reconnaissance of the Allied defenses. Blücher sends a message to Wellington's Headquarters that he is en route.
11 a.m. Napoleon makes a decision to commence the attack on the French left, opposite the Hougoumont.
11:20 a.m. The first shots of the battle are fired.
11:20 a.m. — 12:20 p.m. The Allied Army is driven from the woods and orchard at the Hougoumont. They conduct a counter-attack.
12:20 p.m. — 1:15 p.m. The fighting for the Hougoumont intensifies and French troops succeed in forcing entry.
1:15 p.m. — 2:15 p.m. The Prussian Army closes in on the French from the east. French cavalry head to face the approaching troops.
1:30 p.m. Napoleon orders an attack at the Allied Army center, successfully pushing their line back to La Haye Sainte. Allied brigades then surround the French at this location, and push Napoleon back to La Belle Alliance.
2:15 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. The struggle for the Hougoumont continues. Nearly 15,000 men are embroiled in the task of taking or defending the chateau. Napoleon launches his heavy cavalry and lancers to counter the Allied cavalry, and they inflict heavy losses. The Prussian brigades are slow to progress toward the site.
3:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. The buildings at Hougoumont are set on fire and the Allied Army reinforces La Haye Sainte, but is in great need of ammunition resupply. French troops reorganize and the Grand Battery opens fire. To the east, the Prussian and French cavalry clash.
4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. Wellington readjusts his troops. The French misunderstand this action as a sign of withdrawal, and order a concerted cavalry charge. The Allied infantry form squares to meet the attack. Attacks continue on La Haye Sainte and the Hougoumont, which remains in Allied hands.
6:00 p.m. — 6:30 p.m. After fierce fighting, La Haye Sainte falls to the French and the village of Plancenoit falls to the Prussian forces. Napoleon is compelled to deploy troops to recapture the village.
6:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. Napoleon’s troops and the Prussians relentlessly attack and counter-attack at Plancenoit, with the village eventually held by the French.
7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. Wellington reorganizes his central defense after the loss of La Haye Sainte. The Prussians once again regain control of Plancenoit. Napoleon gives orders for his Guard to advance north, and they suffer badly from the Allied artillery. The French begin to collapse and commence a disorderly retreat.
8:30 p.m. — 10:30 p.m. Wellington signals an advance and rides to La Belle Alliance where he famously meets Blücher. The French recoil and the Prussians take the pursuit.

Items on Display

  1. A selection of 54 mm lead soldiers representing infantrymen from the French and Allied armies

    Various European manufacturers
    20th century

  2. The Battle of Waterloo June 18th, 1815

    William Heath (artist)
    Richard Reeve (engraver)
    London, J. & M. Rippin, 1817
    Hand-colored aquatint 64.2 x 48.4 cm
    British artist William Heath (c. 1795-1840) is best known for his numerous military scenes and political satires. This panoramic image shows the scale and calamity of the battle. Flags from all three armies are visible. Note the rockets in the sky which were used to some effect by the British artillery.

  3. "The Prince of Orange at the Head of His Troops Charging the Old Guard"

    Sir Charles Warren
    1818
    Watercolor 46 x 38 cm
    This battle scene by the British engraver, Charles Turner Warren (1762-1823) follows a Dutch infantry regiment as they approach the French infantry. William II of the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange, mounted on the horse in the foreground, commanded the Dutch regiments within the Anglo-Allied Army.

  4. "Pursuit of the Prussians by Moonlight"

    Sir Charles Warren
    1818
    Watercolor 46 x 38 cm
    During a moment of combat towards the end of the long day of fighting, Warren illustrates the confident attack of the Prussian cavalry against fleeing French cavalry and infantry.

  5. A selection of three battle scenes from Battle of Waterloo: Illustrated in Eight Different Points of View

    John Heaviside Clark (artist)
    M. Dubourg (engraver)
    London, Edward Orme, 1816
    Hand-colored aquatints 22.5 x 27.5 cm
    This publication of printed plates is arranged with stanzas of Walter Scott's long poem The Field of Waterloo paired with each image. The collection of fanciful renditions of the Battle of Waterloo presents combat scenes from different perspectives, featuring various regiments.