#WaterlooRemembered Day 10: Mythbusting Waterloo Historians Gareth Glover and Andrew Field join me to explode a wide range of myths about the battle and campaign - what do we think we know that never happened? Was Waterloo irrelevant? Have a listen to hear their takes on these and many more questions. https://anchor.fm/the-napoleonicist/episodes/Waterloo-Remembered-Day-10-Mythbusting-Waterloo-efd6bu
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I am not disagreeing at all, Hougoumont in context of Boney's battle plan is not a must to be taken, and could be masked as you describe it.
Otherwise I see no reason why not to debate other aspects, that is a reason of a forum.
By the way I bought your French - Perspectives Waterloo for my kindle - very enjoyable read so far and very interesting to read your conclusions, which opens new perspectives.
You describe very well the problems Boney had to find good material for commanders, on the other hand, full blame on him that he chose those he did - but maybe - as you point out he had no big alternatives.
He could have employed Murat - despite all misgivings - he used Ney despite all those bombastic words Ney claimed he would do when capturing Boney.
What I don't understand is his wing commander concept, this failed him in 1812 and 1813, 1814 did run better because he was directly controlling the affairs, like in his glory days. The Armée du Nord was small enough for him to command as in the old days, moreover much disturbing that he did not concentrate all his forces for the 18th - but this is judgement by hindsight again.