1815 Campaign: Waterloo

The Last Stand

All roads have led here, to Waterloo. This was the final battle in our club's 200th anniversary event and heading into the main event the French held a wide victory point lead of 173-to-95. It would take a supreme, masterful effort from Wellington to keep the restored emperor at bay. Will Blucher arrive in time?

Waterloo Photo Report

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Waterloo VP Totals: French (156) vs. Allied (79)

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Campaign Outcome (& some fun speculation)

With our Waterloo scenario ending in French tactical victory, what can we say about the alternate historical universe we created over the course of four 1815 battles?

Wellington's army was routed at Quatre Bras and bloodied to the point of breaking at Waterloo. This would have ended British involvement on the continent and dimmed any post-war career for the duke. On the other hand, Blucher's Prussian army held their own at both Ligny and Wavre and could have withdrawn from the field at Waterloo in good order.

Napoleon's army was by no means a spent force after our four battles. He most certainly would have finished the campaign by seizing Brussels and pursuing Blucher toward the Rhine. 

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But to what end? This is perhaps the greatest "what if" question for any observer of the 1815 campaign. Large Russian and Austrian armies continued to bear down on France and the Prussian army in our campaign fared well enough at Ligny, Wavre, and Waterloo to let Blucher continue the war. Aside from an unlikely negotiated settlement with Vienna, it is inconceivable that Napoleon could have remained on the throne for long, even with a successful outcome at Waterloo.

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1815 Campaign VP Totals: French (329) vs. Allied (174)

Total French Campaign Losses: 32,000 men & 60 guns
Total Anglo-Allied Campaign Losses: 42,000 men & 100 guns
Total Prussian Campaign Losses: 28,000 men & 120 guns

Total Players Participating: 8
Total Combined Game Time: 28+ hours
Fun Had: Considerable