tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post5707477013873625497..comments2024-03-21T14:41:14.622-07:00Comments on Graphic Firing Table: Waterloo EveFDChiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-50349211632538799712008-06-18T16:15:00.000-07:002008-06-18T16:15:00.000-07:00Interesting. And a hell of a valid point. Can't ...Interesting. And a hell of a valid point. Can't think of how many times I shook my head at 19th Century battles trying to figure out "Why the hell would someone with the sense God gave a bag of hammers do that?" (think the wall at Fredricksburg, or the Prussian Guard at St. Privat).<BR/><BR/>Uh-huh. Yep. The little man from Corsica cast a hell of a long shadow.FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-80995115495610008562008-06-18T10:26:00.000-07:002008-06-18T10:26:00.000-07:00I'm going to argue with you Chief, but not over th...I'm going to argue with you Chief, but not over the particulars that you wrote about because you are totally accurate them.<BR/><BR/>The reason why Waterloo is a decisive battle is that it set the tone of military expectations and preparations for at least the next 100 years.<BR/><BR/>Napoleonic campaigns are interesting things because they tended to be quick and decisive (contrary to previous military experiences). As you've already noted, they rarely achieved long-term political success but that is beside the point. The great military and political minds of the time failed to note the lack of political success, they got stuck on the flashing swords, roaring cannons, and the thrill of quick and relatively painless victory.<BR/><BR/>This led to the very bad ideas that war:<BR/>1) is a quick and dirty struggle between gentlemen <BR/>2) that it will all be over by Christmas<BR/><BR/>This led to much of the thinking that led to the American Civil War, WWI, and countless little wars in the Affica between colonial powers and the natives. Perhaps more blood has been spilled trying to emulate Wellington's apparent success than any other battle in history and that makes it decisive to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com