Chapter I: Preface

By common consent, this Work is regarded as the best comprehensive account in the English language of the Waterloo Campaign. Even those who differ from the Author upon particular points, most cordially admit the general accuracy and fulness of his History. It is charmingly written, is graphic yet precise, and abundantly witnesses to the Author's most strenuous endeavour to do justice to every one who took part in that great Conflict.

This Work will henceforth be a household book amongst the Teutonic race; and all who read it will gain a very clear insight into the methods of Military Strategy as they were practised by the great Captains of that Age.

It is impossible to repress one's admiration of the heroic bravery displayed in this brief Campaign: whether amongst the Allies at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, or by the Imperial Guard at Planchenoit, or by the Prussians at Ligny, Wavre, and Le Chesnay.

The reader must be good enough to observe that a Prussian Brigade then equalled in numbers a French or an English Division.

This Work has extended to such great length that one half of the _Appendix_ (see pages 42 to 44) and nearly all the Notes have been, most unwillingly, omitted. Only those Foot Notes have been inserted which are absolutely essential to the Text. Room has however been found, at pages 798 to 826, for the Nominal Lists of Officers at Waterloo, &c.

One would most earnestly wish that Wars may cease until the end of Time; but if that may not be, then may they be as bravely fought as was this War of Twenty Days: from the 15th June, when NAPOLEON crossed the Sambre; to the 4th July 1815, the day on which the Allies took possession of Paris.

EDWARD ARBER.

_Edgbaston, Birmingham._

THE TITLE PAGE OF THE THIRD EDITION.

_History of the War in France and Belgium in 1815: Containing Minute Details of the Battles of Quatre Bras, Ligne, Wavre, and Waterloo._

_By Captain W. Siborne_, H.P. Unattached; Constructor of the Waterloo Model.

_Third and Revised Edition with Remarks[1] upon the Rev. G.R. Gleig's_ Story of Waterloo.

_London. T. and W. Boone, New Bond Street. 1848._

TO THE

QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

MADAM,

In graciously deigning to accept the Dedication of these pages, Your Majesty has afforded the greatest possible encouragement to my humble endeavours to record, with simplicity, impartiality, and truth, the incidents of an eventful War, resulting in a long enduring Peace; a War which shed a new and brighter lustre on the valour and discipline of the British Army, and once more called forth the consummate sagacity and far-extending prescience of that illustrious Chief, whom Your Majesty, with wise appreciation and a just pride, retains at its head.

Earnestly hoping that the result of those endeavours may prove not altogether undeserving of Your Majesty's approbation,

I have the honour to be, With profound respect, MADAM, Your Majesty's most humble And most devoted servant, WILLIAM SIBORNE, Captain Unattached.