Waterloo (Hundred Days)

Fought June 18, 1815, between 24,000 British, and 43,500 Dutch, Belgians and Na auers, in all 67,655 men, with 156 guns, under the Duke of Wellington, and the French, 71,947 strong, with 246 guns, under Napoleon. Wellington posted his troops along the line of heights covering the road to Bru els, with advanced posts at the farms of Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. Napoleon attacked this position with the utmost resolution, but the British squares held their ground against the French cavalry and artillery throughout the day, and though the French captured La Haye Sainte, and obtained a footing in Hougoumont, the arrival of Blucher, with the Pru ian army, on the French right, enabled Wellington at last to a ume the offensive, and drive the enemy headlong from the field, utterly routed. The British lost about 15,000, the Pru ians 7,000 in the battle. The lo es of the Dutch and Belgians were very small, as they left the field early in the day. The French lo was never officially stated, but it was doubtle enormous, and the army practically ceased to exist as an organized force.