I might as well admit up front, I am a Waterloo nut. I think part of the lure has always been the remaining questions & uncertainties.
I think the participants I know the least about, are the many Dutch-Belgian regiments, who accounted for at least a third of Wellington's army. I have come accross practically no eyewitness accounts of those soldiers, to measure against the many english accounts that are available, and which in generally (with a few exceptions) speak very poorly of the DB performance that day, if mentioned at all.
My gut feeling, is that their performance is unknown and unproven still. Some went unwitnessed, much unrecorded, and generally ignorred by the general drift of historians. Some pretty remarkable events are alledged. Did they really happen ?
Bylants Brigade was the only large unit placed forward of the ridge & in a exposed position, directly in front (one british officer said 'pistol range') of the large French grand battery (70-80 cannon). Why ? Most say they retreated before the french infantry attack and left the field. Some dispute that. There may be an anamoly in the nature of this brigades casualty figures. For one they are high, and secondly the ratio of dead to wounded is closer then normal (more dead). Was this because of point blank cannon bombardment ? I have read at least one suggestion it was done purposely by Wellington because he was so disatisfied with their performance at Quatre-Bras. Some say the DB casualty reports are completely unreliable.
One or more Nassauer troops (in Dutch-Belgian service) near Hougemont shot at Wellington (their own comanding general!) as he returned to the ridge during his inspection of the sector, right prior the start of the battle.
Did most of the DB cavalry actually fight, in advances and withdrawls or mainly remain only in reserve in the 2nd line, with some regiments refusing to charge, as some assert ?
Did the DB contingent play an important part in the defeat of the last French assaults that culminated with the Old Guard attack ? I have read at least one report (DB) that say the infantry units were very heavily engaged, defeating at least one french column on their own. Most do not mention this, and only mention a single DB battery that assisted. Very odd, that something as large as a Brigade is so uncertain.
I think the participants I know the least about, are the many Dutch-Belgian regiments, who accounted for at least a third of Wellington's army. I have come accross practically no eyewitness accounts of those soldiers, to measure against the many english accounts that are available, and which in generally (with a few exceptions) speak very poorly of the DB performance that day, if mentioned at all.
My gut feeling, is that their performance is unknown and unproven still. Some went unwitnessed, much unrecorded, and generally ignorred by the general drift of historians. Some pretty remarkable events are alledged. Did they really happen ?
Bylants Brigade was the only large unit placed forward of the ridge & in a exposed position, directly in front (one british officer said 'pistol range') of the large French grand battery (70-80 cannon). Why ? Most say they retreated before the french infantry attack and left the field. Some dispute that. There may be an anamoly in the nature of this brigades casualty figures. For one they are high, and secondly the ratio of dead to wounded is closer then normal (more dead). Was this because of point blank cannon bombardment ? I have read at least one suggestion it was done purposely by Wellington because he was so disatisfied with their performance at Quatre-Bras. Some say the DB casualty reports are completely unreliable.
One or more Nassauer troops (in Dutch-Belgian service) near Hougemont shot at Wellington (their own comanding general!) as he returned to the ridge during his inspection of the sector, right prior the start of the battle.
Did most of the DB cavalry actually fight, in advances and withdrawls or mainly remain only in reserve in the 2nd line, with some regiments refusing to charge, as some assert ?
Did the DB contingent play an important part in the defeat of the last French assaults that culminated with the Old Guard attack ? I have read at least one report (DB) that say the infantry units were very heavily engaged, defeating at least one french column on their own. Most do not mention this, and only mention a single DB battery that assisted. Very odd, that something as large as a Brigade is so uncertain.