Maloyalo
No offense was meant - its just when people get into the if's vs the facts sometimes conversations go bad. As I said this was an interesting conversation and I enjoyed both points of view.
Ron
I definately have seen that, about discussions, at least on other subjects on different forums. And I can see how it might even be worse with history, since historians, professionals & buffs, tend to be quite intense in their interest.
I was about to say 'pupiles of history', but dropped it because of my lack of confidence with spelling. But it reminded me of something.
Do you remember the 'Pupiles of the Guard !' and all the other odd regiments Napoleon formed in the 1812-14 period. 'Bis' regiments, Flanquers, etc. He berated Jerome for building too many Guard units, but he was quite infatuated with them himself I think. I think it is most covered in the Book 'Anatomy of Glory', by Le-somebody, have you read it ?
Serious question, if you are up to it. Which French Guard battalions do you think, from your reading, made the actual last assault at Waterloo ? I have to refresh my own memory, but I have leaned towards the low estimates. Possibly only 5 battalions, one being actually the combined remnants of 2 battalions (that were smaller to begin with, and reduced further by some fighting at Ligny).
