Battle of Ligny 1815 | The Hundred Days Part 3/4

[@Sitcomeditor]

After Epic History Tv..we have another great channel about Napoleonic wars..continue sire..Vive l’Empereur!

[@ryleeculla5570]

VIVE LA FRANCE

[@treemania6005]

After the Hundred Days are done, you should do the campaign of 1813, which has many great battles! Loved the video!

[@leifjorgenhansen1304]

Yes please

[@PortaldaGuerra]

Please!!! Bring the Battle of Wavre!!!! I find it incredible how there is no video about the battle of Wavre!!!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Unfortunately there will not be a video on Wavre alone. There’s only one part left and I don’t want to stretch the narrative out too long.

[@PortaldaGuerra]

​@@FieldMarshalYT I already knew this was going to happen, because the video says 3/4 in the title😔 I just wanted to try to insist on hope... but believe me, I know very well how difficult it is to make a video, even more so a video as well made as this one, so thank you for responding, and see you at the Battle of Waterloo 😎

[@JeffGordon-ph4vz]

@@FieldMarshalYTYou just have to give us enough information to understand the general course of the battle. It doesnt have to be anywhere near as complex as defining the movements of individual divisions and such.

[@ryleeculla5570]

Gneisenan: “Marshall Blücher the sector has broken, I have ordered a retreat!” Blucher: ”RETREAT!? I AM SEVENTY TWO AND A PROUD SOLDIER… THIS STEELS MY WORLD… I am too old to break…..”

[@robertoldach2560]

Blücher took the position at Ligny because he trusted Wellington's word to support him on the 16th. He therefore took up a weak position along the Ligny stream. On the 16th, only the I and II Corps fought. The III Corps was blocked by Grouchy at Sombreffe. That's why, the battle between Ligny and St. Amand was fought by about 60,000 men on both sides - and the Prussians were in a bad position. In many places, they could not see the advancing French soldiers until they were a few meters away from them. St. Amand could and was bombarded from three sides. Normally you can read that Wellington learned at 9 o'clock on the night of the 15th that the Prussian I Corps has been attacked - but Zieten sent a letter to Müffling at 8 o'clock in the morning to notifyed him about the French attack. According to Müffling's diary, the letter arrived in Brussels at 3 a.m. and he wrote that he had immediately informed Wellington about the start of the campaign. But Wellingten did nothing. He believed that the attack on Zieten was a feint and that the real offensive would begin in the direction of Mons. On the 16th he promised Blücher to support him - he did nothing, he alerted his troops at 9 o'clock on the evening of the 15th but many units in the rear were not alerted on the 16th. Zieten did an excellent job on the 15th and the bravery of his soldiers was the reason why Napoleon was unable to advance to Brussels. His corps supported Wellington's left flank at Smouhain on the evening of the 18th, allowing Wellington to reinforce his center to resist the Old Guard's attack. The I Corps advanced on Paris as a vanguard, bypassed the French capital and defeated the defenders of Paris at Issy on July 2 and 3, 1815. For British chroniclers, the history of the campaign after the Battle of Waterloo did not matter much and I think there are still some deliberate dark spots on the Duke's otherwise white vest. I have written a short history of the Silesian Rifle Battalion, which was in I Corps and took part in all the battles. It is based on the diary of Sergeant Beyer, 3rd Company of the Silesian Rifle Battalion.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Anywhere I could find that book?

[@hoangthanhdung2673]

​@@FieldMarshalYT if im correct that would be baron von muffling memoir on amazon

[@Freigeist2008]

Interesting. What do we learn? Never trust the English or American

[@WarhawkYT]

Dang, one last Napoleon Hurrah

[@calebworkman7719]

Fancy seeing you here warhark lol

[@rweezy6246]

Really enjoyed your recent Heartland Campaign vid. Look forward to more. Love the lesser known campaigns of the West. You should do some Trans Mississippi stuff!

[@WarhawkYT]

@@rweezy6246 Thanks Rweezy! Im from Texas so Trans Miss area is near and dear to me!

[@rweezy6246]

@@WarhawkYT Dude my bad. just went to watch some vids and saw you had an entire playlist devoted to Trans Miss battles 😂. Not sure how I missed them lol. Digging in now!

[@mizzmaddieUTube]

Excellent. I look forward to Part 4!

[@ryleeculla5570]

“Wellingtons beaten… he’s bleed to death…. Now… now more the old guard forward… then onto Brussels…” 18:55

[@lacihorvath4618]

Epic content guys, if you could cover other Napoleonic campaigns, that would be awesome 👌 The level of detail and the animation make the battles look really great. Thank you for your work

[@JohnMarkM]

Very good video! Amazing quality and content, thank you for the effort you put into making this.

[@kvnrthr1589]

Clausewitz wrote an excellent book about the Waterloo campaign. I don't know if it's accurate as the modern scholarship but the way he explains things and tries to reason about the decisions both sides made is fantastic.

[@BaronsHistoryTimes]

Excellent presentation. Horrific street fighting battle, and equally destructive French cannon fire into the Prussian centre. 4:10 - Blucher had already decided to give battle before Wellington had arrived just half an hour before Ligny started. The controversial Wellington lie about his promise to Blucher help if he could arose because he knew his own army was too scattered to assemble at Quatre-Bras in full force. In fact by the end of June 16th, only half of his army arrived at Quatre-Bras. In their pre-war planning, both Allied commanders had believed they could unite within 24 hours if attacked. 10:00 / 14:00 - Ligny and Sombreffe should be south a bit more on the strategy map 17:50 - Another interesting moment was when Durette arrived he came to the wrong spot. Napoleon expected D'Erlon to arrive more north anf attacking the Prussian flank. When Durette arrived behind the French left it actually caused a momentary chaos in which French troops started to rout and had to be severely threatened by their generals to restore their order. Durette would end up horribly wounded by the Prussians at Waterloo towards the end of the battle.

[@adrianhauser1241]

D’Erlon changes history by that move

[@volk4all805]

How so?

[@adrianhauser1241]

@ if he hadn’t headed to help ney(which he failed to help in the end) then his entire corps of 20000 could had encircled blucher, or at least outflanked him, which would be critical for Waterloo because of the Prussian escape, Napoleon would lose

[@xanderunderwoods3363]

Your videos are phenomenal!

[@davidmajer3652]

That was Informative and entertaining. You do an excellent job of bringing history to life.

[@WyomingTraveler]

Another excellent video, I truly enjoy your channel. Several years ago I lived in that area of Belgium and frequently drove through many of those communities. I wish I had the advantage of these videos back then.

[@TheSpritz0]

PHENOMENAL documentary on such an important duo of battles that foreshadowed the events at Waterloo shortly after, WAVRE is also incredibly important as it held Grouchy and well over over 30,000 troops fighting Blucher’s rear guard…

[@TheSpritz0]

Bien Merci!!!!

[@sdtamarinera]

Great video. Congrats! Nice imperial guard advance

[@robertoldach2560]

All in all, a great video!

[@Apocraphtica]

Great one, sir. Hope to see one more soon!

[@Space_Cadet_power]

Good job! Keep going!

[@patricklioneljonson2747]

Battles that never get covered by big channels.

[@megabi7747]

You make my dream come true! Thank you Sire, Long live the Emperor, Father of War. ❤

[@johnpauljones4190]

I love your videoes! Keep up!

[@eliech7112]

Fantastic video thank you

[@georgewilkes02]

We need one of these video series for the Fall campaign of 1813- The battles of the Katzbach, Großbeeren, Dresden, Kulm, and Dennewitz. These massive battles served as the lead up to the battle of Leipzig. There is VERY little coverage of this VITAL campaign on KZbin!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

@@georgewilkes02 Would be awesome to do. There will be more Napoleonic content later in the future.

[@robertoldach2560]

The Prussians lost in the Battle of Ligny and Waterloo and at the beginning of the invasion into France 732 officers and 32.367 men dead, lost and missed. At Ligny, the I Corps lost 265 officers and 14.162 men dead, wounded and missed. Many missed soldiers came back to their units during the retreat. Thats why the losses of the I Corps are so high in comparison to the hole losses.

[@soestermountain.channel]

Ah yes This is the type of history youtuber i’m looking for. BTW: The Cannon indicators are the wrong way round.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

They arent. They are meant to be short barreled cannons.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Wellington was moving down the Brussels road towards Quatre Bras Cross roads and came up on the split valley of Hougomont -Le Haye Sainte - Frichermont and the sunken Road .He told his Surveyor to give him a map of this farmland .The battleground was chosen in front of Brussells on the 16th June . Two days later history was made.

[@Koppany_1863]

I cant wait for waterloo! I love your videos sire!❤😁

[@dimitro1032]

I think that if in the imperial guard attack napoleon included lobau's fresh corps which just had arrived or Gerards exhausted corps or better yet all he would have smashed through Blucher's center (as the imperial guard alone was almost able to do that so they certainly could with at least an extra 10000 thousand men) earning an even greater victory inflicting 30 35 thousand casualties and driven a wedge between pirch 2, zietens 1 korps on the left and thielemans 3 korps on the right

[@tooters1728]

Been WAITING for this！

[@garretfox7807]

holy shit, the fact an entire brigade of curassiers passed by just feet from Blucher....jesus

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Not just a brigade, a whole division.

[@To_be_knowledgeable]

Very special documentary 👏 👍

[@marechaldepeteteiii3312]

Please, my friend can you do a Nine Years War serie ? Like Fleurus, Steenkirk, Landen. I think it s a period very uncovered.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

It’s definitely up there for the future, but it’s not our next series immediately after Waterloo.

[@williamscottshelton945]

wonder how the campaign would have turned out if Davout was in charge of the right wing with Soult in charge of the left wing?

[@mktf5582]

Please do Duke of Marlborough whole military career, and Nelson'/band of brothers careers and Sir Sidney Smith.

[@marodokd]

Finnaly here!

[@omshah8529]

We need what ifs (Not from Field Marshall) on if Davout was in charge of the main commander in either flanks during Napoleon's last campaign!!!!!?

[@RichardFernandes1986]

No, he wasn't. He was by that time, Minister of War in Paris.

[@omshah8529]

@@RichardFernandes1986 I meant what if he was a General helping the French directly during the campaign,instead of being Minister of War.

[@joemcg3420]

Hi, at my College I’m doing an Extended Project Qualification on the One Hundred Days/How the 7th Coalition defeated Napoleon. Would you be okay with me using this series to help? The rules on referencing are very strict and any quotes I will use will be properly referenced, just as you’ve referenced the websites in the description. Love the channel by the way, this series is absolutely amazing for a history buff like myself.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Sure thing, I’d be honored!

[@joemcg3420]

@FieldMarshalYT Thanks a lot, it’s really appreciated.

[@ethanpf449]

After you finish the Hundred days what war/battles do you plan on doing next?

[@FieldMarshalYT]

You’ll see

[@nathanappleby5342]

As brave and hard fighting as he was, Blucher had a mixed record against Napoleon. There were times he inflicted defeats on Napoleon such as at Leipzig and Waterloo, but Napoleon on multiple occasions scored rather crushing defeats on him. Napoleon didn't consider Blucher to be the very best of generals. In the Six Days Campaign, Napoleon took on the Army of Silesia, made up of veteran regulars with a force of raw conscripts on inflicted so many casualties on it that it was inoperable for two weeks. When Blucher defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, it was only because the French army was much weakened and it was a team effort in cooperation with the Duke of Wellington's army. An interesting thing is, at the time of the Hundred Days, Blucher was 72 when he commanded in the field. Prussia would not not have a general as old as Blucher commanding in the field again until the Second Schleswig War in 1864 when Friedrich von Wrangel commanded at age 80 and Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz commanded in the Franco-Prussian War at age 73, showing in both cases that you shouldn't have old men commanding in the field in their 70s and 80s. Leave war to those who are brilliant and more importantly in their prime.

[@elmascapo6588]

What? Steimetz was fucking brilliant during the austro-prussian war Don't you dare to slander the lion of Nachod

[@nathanappleby5342]

@@elmascapo6588 If you were to read about his performance in the Franco-Prussian War, you would probably agree with me. His debacle at the Battle of Gravelotte got him relieved of command. He was no doubt good in previous conflicts but at a certain point, he must have lost it. Not to mention that in the Franco-Prussian War, the other two German armies that fought in the August battles were commanded by men in their 30s and 40s. You no longer have it for certain occupations when you reach a certain age and mental state.

[@elmascapo6588]

@nathanappleby5342 Gravelotte? A debacle??? That "debacle" doomed the army of the rhine to be surrounded, starved and forced to surrender a mere two months later. And sidenote, Moltke, the man that actually masterminded the entire campaign, was fucking 71. That didn't stop him from being the best military mind europe ever saw since Napoleon.

[@nathanappleby5342]

@@elmascapo6588 Moltke was 69 at the time of the summer campaign and yes he was brilliant. However, Steinmetz launched several frontal assaults that produced mass casualties which if I remember correctly got him relieved of command, especially as he wasn't following the campaign plan laid out by Moltke. Plus the final disastrous assault was ordered by the king himself which added to the mounting casualties, and the king was the same age as Steinmetz. The smart Moltke regretted not using his influence over the king to prevent that final assault. Steinmetz was relieved of command and replaced with a more capable commander. The only reason the Germans drove off the French was because of the efforts of the capable Prince Friedrich Karl and his subordinates. So you are right, it wasn't really a debacle , but the casualties were appalling.

[@elmascapo6588]

@nathanappleby5342 less than 2 to 1 casualties against a heavely entrenched position with infantry that had superior rifles ain't nothing to be ashamed off And you point about the final assault is pointless, since it was that assault that broke the french line and drove them all the way to Metz Moltke was born on 26 October 1800, he was 70 by the time of the summer campaign

[@robertoldach2560]

Note: The Prussian 29th Regiment wore winter coats because it was a regiment of the Duchy of Berg, which had transferred to Prussian service but had not yet received uniforms. To distinguish it from the French, the soldiers had to wear overcoats (= winter coats). I have also written a book about Theodor v. Bismarck, who was in the 29th Regiment in 1815 and left a diary.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Interesting. I guess when writing the script I remembered it very differently and was too confident in that.

[@robertoldach2560]

@@FieldMarshalYT A fundamental problem is that there is a ton of literature in the English, French and German speaking world, but there is no comparative study (without polemics, compare Hofschröer). I believe that a study of a campaign should essentially be based on what the commanders knew (reconnaisance!!!) and on what basis they made certain decisions. I find retrospective assessments questionable.

[@the_scrompy]

im ready

[@aru9000]

Do the battle of borodino next

[@Castillo525]

I wonder how your video on waterloo is going to be... Ive never seen detailed visuals on what happened at plancenoit and papelotte, I hope you can pull it off!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

I got about 39 minutes left of animation. I’ll be posting a community update about it soon. I can tell you Plancenoit will receive some more attention than it gets in most videos. Papelotte a little less so, but it’s not forgotten.

[@evisaf8363]

I like your videos very much, I watch them through automatic translation because of my hearing problem. Could you please put subtitles?

[@adaw2d3222]

When I see Grouchy I lament Napoleon's fate.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

I’d lament Soult more. You’ll see why in Part 4.

[@ososnake97]

@@FieldMarshalYT he was in no sense a chief staff... such a sad choice. there was really no one else for the job?

[@miracleyang3048]

There was, but Soult was a marshall and former minister of war with a great Ego so he needed a position i guess ​@@ososnake97

[@DaliborPerkovic-sw8mh]

One question for Field Marshal and other guys: If the Battle of Ligny was a decisive victory for Napoleon or even Blucher was captured, could that be the end of Napoleon North Campaign with so mighty triumph? And, what will be next for Napoleon, in July, August and September, 1815??? Thanks!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

I think if Napoieon beat Blucher so badly and then defeated Wellington, I don't think it would change the outcome of the war. Austria and Russia were mobilizing close to a million men that Napoleon probably wouldn't be able to match up to.

[@DaliborPerkovic-sw8mh]

@@FieldMarshalYT You are probably right. But, that is a good question?! Isn't it? Because, Napoleon was always a gambler who always surprised us, in every campaign. So, can you imagine that he would after a triumph near Waterloo than captured Belgium and the Netherlands. And than about 80 000 new allied soldiers join to Napoleon, when he cross the river Rhein?! I am talking not just about loyal soldiers from Belgium and the Netherlands. I am also talking about new German conscripts from ex Rhein Bund states. Can than Napoleon, with army of about 200 000 soldiers doing something against still not defeated Austrian Imperial Army? Because, the Russians will still be so far away of own Austrian allies. Please, tell me what you think about that alternative way of history, after June 18th, 1815?! Be saluted and thanks for all!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

@@DaliborPerkovic-sw8mh I do think it isn't a guaranteed lost, but not a likey one either. Thank you, Dalibor.

[@DaliborPerkovic-sw8mh]

@@FieldMarshalYT Thank you! And, do you know what are my favorite Napoleon quotes? First is: " What is history , but a fable agreed upon?!" And, my second is even more favorite: " Impossible is just for fools." PS: Do not understand me wrong! I respect you! Just i think we must think again, every year, after that June, 1815, it was possible Napoleon full victory even after Ligny and Waterloo?! Be saluted and stay mind sharp!🤔👌✌👍

[@Getofftheinternet6969]

If Blucher dies here at Ligny maybe the Prussians are slower to arrive at Waterloo?

[@FieldMarshalYT]

They might not have even marched to Waterloo at all.

[@LakeTzarina]

One must wonder what would’ve happened if Blucher had been killed at Ligny.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

My guess is Gneisenau would have probably left Wellington for the Rhine.

[@leonardoespino9780]

13:28-14:05 Ney: “I had Wellington at Quatre-Bras” Napoleon at Ligny: “what are you doing here? Why aren’t you pursuing Wellington?” Ney: “I came here to give my report” Napoleon: “Don’t you see that if they link up all that I gain here I lost” Ney: “where are my reinforcements” Napoleon: “DONT YOU DARE CRITICIZE ME!!”

[@doritofeesh]

Except a message was dispatched to Ney informing him that D'Erlon would be sent to Ligny. Ney was the one who recalled D'Erlon after the fact, and D'Erlon took up his orders instead of Napoleon's. D'Erlon eventually turned back around to head for Quatre Bras, but ended up achieving nothing at either battle. Had the whole of his corps arrived at Ligny according to his Emperor's wishes, there is little chance that Blucher could have escaped the destruction of his army.

[@leonardoespino9780]

@@doritofeesh 🤣 ok I’m sorry I had to add more context. This fake dialogue I commented was inspired by the film Waterloo (1970) where in the movie there is a brief battle of Ligny scene on its aftermath and Ney (played by actor Dan O’Herlihy) arrives at Ligny to report that he fought Wellington and Napoleon (played by actor Rod Steiger) replies, basically, “then wtf you doing here” 🤣🤣 it’s hilarious and knowing this reason as to why he was denied such request (as it isn’t shown) just adds more hilariousness to that scene especially when he replies (in the movie) “don’t you dare criticize me” 🤣 sorry for that and thanks then for your extra info

[@gamingfisher3825]

Just watching this to learn how to win the battle in the Napoleon total war demo😭😭🙏🙏

[@ryleeculla5570]

Why are the Old Guard considered Grenadiers? If they where they’d have grenades

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Grenadiers were considers heavy infantry at this point in time and generally no longer carried grenades. The Imperial Guard has several different “branches” which include different units. For example: Chasseurs, Grenadiers, Artillery, Light and Heavy Cavalry, etc.

[@ryleeculla5570]

@ don’t forget the young an middle guard and yes I know their are several other branches of the old guard but still they are the the old guard and yet considered grenadiers despite them being an elite reserve unit

[@flarvin8945]

@@ryleeculla5570 except not all Old guard were grenadiers, nor were all of the old guard called grenadiers. Of the old guard infantry, half were chasseurs, with the other half being grenadiers.

[@volk4all805]

Why was d erlon decision important?

[@FieldMarshalYT]

@@volk4all805 He failed to arrive with his full corps to either battle, but especially Quatre Bras when he had been sent back there. The commitment of his corps may have tipped the scales of June 16 to be much more decisively favorable to the French.

[@Joey-x5w]

Why are the cannons backwards

[@FieldMarshalYT]

They aren’t, look again.

[@omshah8529]

Ah,the last patriotism from Napoleon,and the last year of the Imperial Guard!

[@MrBakbu]

napelon was may be gay , but i dont even carehe was ,good in fese of enemy and alway attack ! very nice , video !!!!!!!!!

[@Er1qiaxdas]

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