The
summer of 1815 was full of hope and opportunity for France, but the hope was
tempered by a sobering realization of the overall situation. In March, Napoleon
had returned to the throne and been immediately declared an outlaw by most of
the major powers of Europe. By June the Duke of Wellington had massed 107,000
men in Belgium, alongside 123,000 Prussians under Field Marshal Prince Blucher.
Approaching from the east were two Austrian and Russian armies, each numbering
200,000 men. Napoleon needed to mount an aggressive campaign to try and
alleviate the pressure, knock Britain out of the war, and collapse the alliance
before the Russians could bring their armies into action. Only then could he
hope to negotiate favorably to keep his throne. To that end, in mid-June he
moved north with his 128,000-strong l’Armee du Nord to do battle. The
fate of Europe would be decided in Belgium.
Napoleon’s
plan of campaign was both simple and daring. Faced with two armies both approximately
equal in strength to his, he decided to use the strategy of the central
position to defeat each in turn. L’Armee du Nord would attack at the
junction of the armies, get between them, and crush Blucher’s army and the
reserve Imperial Guard. Meanwhile, the other wing would hold Wellington in
check. After defeating Blucher, Napoleon would then leave a wing to pursue the
Prussians while he turned and drove Wellington off the Continent. After that,
it would be on to Brussels and victory.
On
June 15, l’Armee du Nord opened the campaign. Despite an excellent
fighting withdrawal by a brigade of the Prussian army, the French army surged
ahead irresistibly. By nightfall, Napoleon’s army was close to accomplishing
its objective of dividing the Allied armies. A key point was the crossroads at
Quatre Bras, lightly held by a Dutch-Belgian division numbering 8,000 men. On
the 16th, both wings of Napoleon’s army fought battles: at Quatre
Bras against Wellington, and at Ligny against Blucher. At the end of the day
Napoleon stood victorious and had driven the Prussians off the field, but
command confusion prevented the victory from being total. A late start by the
French on the 17th, plus weather problems, enabled Wellington to escape
northward. The Duke decided to make a stand on a series of ridges south of Brussels, near the village of Waterloo. Napoleon pursued and planned to give battle on
June 18, while Blucher’s troops regrouped 30 miles eastward at Wavre and
prepared to march.
Thus
ensued the Battle of Waterloo, one of the most famous engagements in history.
Napoleon repeatedly attacked Wellington’s force on the 18th, and several times
came close to routing the Duke’s army from the field. Prussian troops arrived
in the afternoon and evening, and forced Napoleon to reinforce the French right
flank. These attacks finally broke the French Army, and Napoleon’s forces fled
the field in disorder. The Emperor was finished. Abdication and exile on St. Helena were to become his fate.
Our
tour will examine the key battles, personalities, and events of this famous
campaign. We will begin on September 12 at Brussels with a group lunch and
orientation, and afterwards head south to Quatre Bras and Ligny where we will spend the afternoon examining these two important battles and
their effects. Our stops will include the Duke of Brunswick Monument, Quatre Bras Intersection, and the area where
Blucher was trampled by French cavalry. We will then check in to the Holiday Inn Brussels Airport and have an evening at leisure.
On
Saturday, September 13, we will engage in an in-depth tour of the Battle of
Waterloo, including a walking tour of the French and British battle lines. We
will stop at the Waterloo Visitor Center and the Lion Mound. The battlefield
tour will start with the action at Hougoumont, followed by
a walk along the I Corps attack and British cavalry countercharge, a
look at the British squares versus the French Cavalry, La Haye Sainte, and
the final attack of the Imperial Guard. We will also drive over to the
Prussian lines and look at the breaking of the French Army. Our tour
will conclude with a visit to Waterloo Chapel, which contains several
memorials to units in Wellington’s army.
Waterloo is one of the most famous and closely studied campaigns
in world history. This is a rare opportunity to visit its sites with an expert
guide, and gain an enhanced appreciation of what was at stake in central Belgium in 1815.
Meeting Time and
Place
Unless,
you are already aboard our bus as it returns from Monschau, Germany after our
Battle of the Bulge tour, please assemble at 12:00 Noon on September 12 in the Waiting Area on Level 0 at Brussels International Airport, just inside
the exit door to the Bus Pick-up area. Most flights from the U.S. to Brussels Airport will arrive at the airport well before Noon so this should give you ample time to de-board, clear customs, collect your luggage, sip some
coffee, convert some dollars to euros, and be in place to meet us. In late
August, we will ask you to provide us with your flight numbers and times so that
we can monitor your flight in case you run late. If it is clear that you will
arrive late, we will keep a staff member at the airport to collect you and bring
you to join our program in progress.
If
you decide to fly into Brussels a day or two early, and need overnight
accommodations for the night of September 11 or earlier, we recommend that you
stay at the Holiday Inn Brussels Airport, where we will lodge you for the
nights of September 12 & 13. If you wish an earlier reservation, please
contact us and we will arrange such early reservation for you so that it folds
into your reservation for the nights of September 12 & 13.
ABOUT OUR TOUR
LEADER
Christopher L.
Kolakowski, Executive Director of the
Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association in Kentucky, is a long time
student of the Napoleonic Wars. He has spent his career interpreting military
history with the National Park Service, New York State government and the Civil
War Preservation Trust. He is the author of articles on the Civil War,
American Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and both World Wars.
Program Schedule:
Friday, September 12
12:00 Noon For those not returning
with us from the Battle of the Bulge tour:
Assemble in the Waiting Area on
Level 0 at Brussels International Airport, just inside the exit door to the Bus
Pick-up area.
1:15 PM Group
Lunch
2:15 PM Begin
Tour
5:15 PM Check in Holiday Inn Brussels Airport
Saturday, September 13
8:15 AM Depart on Tour
5:30 PM Arrive Back at Holiday Inn Brussels Airport
REGISTRATION FEES
q Double: $575 per person ($1,150 per Couple)
q Single: $695
If You Must Cancel we will
refund 100% of your fees paid. However, to receive a 100% refund, you must allow
30 days from the date of our receipt of your notice of cancellation
What is Included in your Registration Fee:
· the services of an expert
historian chosen for his knowledge and experience
· deluxe transportation to sites as
indicated
· Friday & Saturday night
lodging at the Holiday Inn Brussels Airport
· Saturday & Sunday breakfasts
· Friday & Saturday lunches
· refreshments and snacks during the
tour
· map and information package
The
Holiday Inn Brussels Airport is a full service hotel and provides
complimentary shuttle transport to and from Brussels International Airport.
