Battle Of Waterloo Analysis

Understanding the Battle of Waterloo is important to know, because it shows that bad decision making and bad intelligence reporting can lead to one's defeat. Since 1804, Napoleon was trying to create his own empire over Europe. He was defeated in 1805 by the British, but he continued to move forward across Europe before being forced to surrender. He returned to Paris in March 1815, prompting Britain, Prussia, Russia and Austria to declare war. Napoleon invaded Belgium in June, attempting to take over Brussels. He sent his men to engage Wellington, also sending a battalion against General Blucher's Prussian army. Blucher decided to retreat as Wellington's army wasn't holding the front line against Napoleon's army. A decisive battle is now set
The terrain of the battlefield was now a problem for Napoleon, as the ground was soft and muddy. This will make it very difficult to strategically place his troops and cannons in an effective manner. This had put Napoleon in a bad predicament as he chose to wait until later in the day to allow the ground to dry out a small amount. This would be ultimately a bad decision for this gave the Prussian army time to reinforce Wellington at Waterloo. Attacking in the morning would have put Napoleon's infantry and cavalry troops stuck in the mud on the battlefield, leaving them as very easy targets of opportunity. Drawing out some of Wellington's troops and attacking them was the only way Napoleon could make a dent in the front line. (The Battle of Waterloo BBC
The cannon balls stuck in the mud and did not bounce off the ground and take out some of the front line, as was intended. Napoleon's brother charged in with 5,000 troops to attack Wellington's army. Even though they outnumbered the 1,500 British troops who are in a hardened facility, they would not defeat them. The hardened facility had holes in the walls, allowing the British troops to take out Napoleon's troops as they marched on the structure. Napoleon continued his attacks all day, and around noon they managed to open the main gates of the structure allowing approximately 40 of Napoleon's men in. The British troops counterattacked and regained control of the main gates killing almost all of Napoleon's men. (The Battle of Waterloo BBC