"Battle for Papelotte farm 1815" Topic

I have read many books on the Battle of Waterloo. Besides the Battle of Gettysburg, it is the most read about battle and has tons of books about. In every book I have read about the battle, the conflict at Papelotte farm is not mentioned or skimmed over in maybe a paragraph or page at most. Any one know of a book out there on it? I know the farm changed hands a few times during the battle and that even the Prussians were fought over the farm at the end of the battle. I would love more information about it.

Bernard Coppens & Patrice Courcelle's "La Papelotte Waterloo 1815. Les Carnets de La Campagne – No 4 " – afraid it is in French.

This is a marvellous resource for the battle. Let me just attach a link to one small section. See the last paragraph page 4 but, even better read the reference notes for it and see how the various accounts varied;

PDF link

If you want something in english, you might try Erwin Muilwijk's 'Standing firm at Waterloo', which looks in detail at the Dutch-Belgian (and Nassau) contribution to the battle and which, of course, covers Papelotte.

Hi Delort,

do you have Erwin book ? are there specific elements in it about D' Erlon's Attack ?

best regards.

"Wellington's Hidden Heroes" is meant to cover the DB contribution but strikes me as largely based on British accounts of their Allies role Franklin's "Waterloo, Netherlands Correspondence" is much better and has much on what happened in that top Eastern corner.

Otherwise, much French Perspective of or Correspondence of British, Prussian or even Hanoverian, but that hamlet down in that valley is largely overlooked. I think it was seen as a side show and if you walk down there you will see why. Any break through could never have been exploited as the topography is quite impassible heading South to North

looks like I need a copy of Standing firm at Waterloo. Thanks

green beanie

Yes, sadly, most accounts only appear to cover it very lightly. Tim Clayton (Waterloo, page 517) also mentions it briefly but does include the Prussians firing on fellow allies by mistake. The same with Mark Adkin's The Waterloo Companion, which mentions Papelotte Farm now and again, including some photos (pages 143-144) and also the 'friendly fire' incident.

It seems from most accounts, the main action involved skirmishing, albeit they also mention the place changing hands now and again. There must be more to read so perhaps Standing Firm might be the way to go, if indeed it does contain enough info on that topic to satisfy the reader.