"Why no earthworks at Waterloo?" Topic

I asked this elsewhere tonight, having seen a really nice model of the Great Redoubt at Borodino. That did prove quite an obstacle in 1812 and I have often wondered why DoW did not make the slightest effort to create something of the kind at Mt St Jean in 1815.

I accept the plan was to invade France, not to defend Brussels, but he did claim to have long noted the ridge as the ideal to cover the Belgian capital. I accept the reverse slope, but any construction near the crossroads could have greatly strengthened his position. He had months of relative inactivity, but, beyond the odd bit of flooding, nothing seems to have been done to block a French advance.

I have the vaguest idea that he argued that any such construction would have been an impediment to manoeuvring his units, but, in the end, the battle was slogging match in fixed positions.

Interested to hear from the experts. I guess it all depends how much mud it takes to actually stop a cannonball or case shot at closer range

Not an expert, but Waterloo already had several strong points like La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont.

In terms of why he didn't prepare earlier – a huge effort was required to restore the Belgian fortresses to a suitable condition for war. Diverting resources to fortify a field near Brussels would have raised a few eyebrows…especially as that road to Brussels was supposedly covered by his Prussian allies. Might have been considered a vote of no-confidence :p

For the night before the battle itself, it's interesting that the only company of sappers Wellington had within reach was ordered to Braine l'Alleud to fortify it (it got lost), while even the pioneers at La Haye Sainte were ordered to go and assist with fortifying Hougomont. That open right flank was obviously a major concern ahead of strengthening the already strong ridge position on his centre and left.

I imagine trying to dig fortifications in the pouring rain and at night (or in the mud next morning) might have been less than fruitful. Sending the sappers to reinforce the building strongpoints seems the better, and maybe only, option.

Waterloo was one of a number of possible battle locations Wellington had "in his back pocket". Wellington expected Napoleon to come from further to his right pushing the British away from the coast. The move to push between the two armies, the Allies and the Prussians came as a big surprise hence "Bye god he's humbugged me"
The Allied army only moved onto the Waterloo position only on the night before the battle in bad weather. There was no time to create works at that stage.
There was also a degree of natural fortification created by the sunken road on the hill crest and the naturally strong farm buildings before his position. The few engineers helped improve those positions. Though the garrison of La Haie Saint do not seem to have "got the memo" when they burnt the farm gates for warmth.

Too muddy, too rainy and no time.

And too few Royal Engineer/Royal Sappers & Miners personnel. Siting and constructing fieldworks takes serious expertise (think Bunker's Hill).

Got shovel asks the private to his platoon commander?

Out of curiosity how long did it take the Russian to prepare the works at Borodino?

I wondered just that and asked in the other topic.
TMP link

Very interesting responses thanks. I can well imagine the last thing on the minds of the soaked, starving and exhausted gents on the ridge on the night of 17th June was major excavations. Let's face it the bizarre tale that Hgmt could only be prepared for defence by stripping the garrison of LHS of its pioneers tells us something. (of all the regimental pioneers available, why on earth would they have…oh never mind).

I guess I meant why no earthworks prepared well in advance but the answer is now well explained. Hindsight is a great advantage in saying what could have been done…..and I also have to admit Wellington was a rather capable and professional general.

The more I think about it….. Redoubts on a battlefield do seem to have been very much the exception!

Earthworks only become important if the enemy attack them. If Napoleon listens to Davout at Borodino and swings a flank attack around the Russians do the redoubts even get a mention?
Wellingtons use of fortification at Torres Vedras where the terrain let the fortifications span the width of the peninsula would have forced Messena to attack them. But he thought better of it.

It always seemed to me that in the Napoleonic era (and earlier) if an army entrenched it was loudly saying : 'we don't want to fight you right now, but if you are really set on it, come and get us.' And usually an attacking army would avoid attacking any such entrenchments by maneuvering. Only a few times, like at Borodino or Torgau, do you have situations where the attacker was so desperate for a battle that they went ahead and attacked anyway.

So in addition to the other reasons given, perhaps Wellington wanted to give battle at Waterloo and did not want to give Napoleon an excuse to maneuver (and possibly put the Duke at a serious disadvantage).

I'm sure that I have read recently, possibly in Hussey's book that Wellington did order some form of defences to be built, either at Waterloo or further back to the rear of Hougoumont. As mentioned above the company failed to carry out it's orders and I think that the commander waseither court martialled or severely censored after the battle. I will see if I can find the reference over the weekend.

Some information on the Sappers:

PDF link

Adkins tells a different version of the story (p307)

Lt William Faris:

2nd Lt: 1st Jan 1814
Lt: 1st August 1814
Captain: 1st March 1835
Brevet-major: 9th Nov 1846

His promotion to Captain is not outside the norm for his contemporaries, so it doesn't look like Waterloo had any lasting effect on his career.

And more on his later career:

Lt: Col 6 Aug 1849

Retired:24 Nov 1851

After his retirement he received a series of promotions…presumably of an honorary nature…eventually becoming a full general in 1871. He died in December 1874.

When an officer can buy commissions and promotions, a bad campaign performance is not always a career killer.

Hi:

The Royal Engineers (and the artillery too) did not have a purchase scheme…promotion was only by seniority. One reason why promotion was glacially slow in the relatively peaceful period between Waterloo and the Crimea.

One reason why promotion was glacially slow in the relatively peaceful period between Waterloo and the Crimea.

And no mandatory retirement. The head of RE in the Crimea was the son of General John Burgoyne – the Burgoyne who commanded at Saratoga.

The problem with artillery and engineer officers not having to buy their commissions was that they couldn't sell them either. That deprived them of the instant pension fund that infantry and cavalry officers could use to bow out gracefully.

Musketballs +1

And many talented, but poor, colonels could not allow themselves to be promoted to general rank because they'd lose the value of their colonelcies.

Earth works are bad form.

Bit infra dig? Get it? Sophisticated…..

Dig? Earthenworks?

Boom boom. Takes a classically trained Irishman to speak the Queen's Latin

Hi:

Sorry to necro this a bit, but I was interested in finding out how William Faris became a General after retirement…

Turns out this was an arcane consequence of the seniority system.

So for his promotion to Lt-Gen, as an example (his post-retirement promotions all came the same way):

link

The serving Engineer commandant, a Lt-Gen dies.
Another serving Maj-Gen is promoted Lt-Gen in his place.
BUT – Faris and another retired officer are senior to the successor, therefore they both have to get promoted to Lt-Gen in order to preserve the seniority.

Dead man's shoes with a vengeance :)

A classical but modern version of that is seen in many a football(US Soccer) club. Their top players will frequently have a clause that they must be on the top pay rates for the team. Open ended and fine until the club signs a Neymar or Messi and they will be paid quite well every week! Boosts everyone on such a contract instantly and a major problem in the top flight….except that TV revenues continue to bloom exponentially