On Sunday, June 14th, the miniatures games club gathered to refight The Battle of Waterloo for the 200th anniversary of the engagement. We used Black Powder rules set and it is dubbed 'Boys Own Waterloo' to distinguish it from attempts at historical accuracy, but rather a tribute to the folklore, legends, and colour of the battle. I started collecting and painting the miniatures for this project some 5 years ago and there were 1700 on the day, all in correct uniforms (except for one 1806 Bavarian infantry unit).

Before the battle commenced, the four French generals and l'Empereur met for a fine breakfast of croissants, baguette, cheese, strawberries, grapes, and wine. A plan was decided upon and orders were issued.

10 players and 10 hours.

The set up, as seen from the French right.

At 1100 hrs, the battle is opened. D'Erlon on the right discovers that the mud has prevented his cannon from deploying. All French artillery other than that of Reille on the left is not in position and available for 90 minutes! Reille begins shifting left, having been instructed to screen Hougomont but not get bogged down fighting it, but instead to to to draw as many British units from their center to his flank as possible.

The Duke of Wellington meanwhile has learned that Blucher and his Prussians should be expected to arrive to fall on the French left starting at 1300 hrs.

On the Anglo-Dutch left, the Prince of Orange has advanced his Dutch-Belgian militia against the advancing French columns and supported them with regulars.

 The Dutch-Belgian militia would fare as badly as expected, but the line would return to the hilltop in good order.

Without their artillery being ready, the initial French advances are tentative.

 Lobau's Corps occupies the orchard of La Haye Saint and engages in musketry with the KGL riflemen within.

With some difficulty, the French manage to drive Orange's garrisons out of the villages of Frischermont and Papelotte on the extreme end of the Anglo-Dutch line.

As seen from the British right, Reille's columns are making real progress against a hastily thrown together defense. The French are somewhat distracted though as Sous Lt LeGros, a giant of a man, takes up an axe and begins to hack his way through the gate of the walled farmhouse. Seeing this bravery and strength, Reille will allow four units to assault the chateau. They will be repulsed ny a heroic defense by the Coldstream Guards.

The first columns of General D'Erlon reach the heights of Mont St Jean, but the cavalry of Uxbridge and the infantry of Picton coordinate to repulse them. The bulk of the French columns get bogged down in the bottom of the valley, becoming disordered by steady for from the Belgian infantry and the fire from the green-jacketed riflemen deployed in the sandpit. Napoleon was fretting that half of D'Erlon's Corps was bogged down in the villages on the right and letting themselves get comfortable in there.

This is approximately 1330 hrs now. The French have sighted Prussians arriving from Wavre and the Young Guard infantry can be seen marching to meet them. Kellerman's cavalry follows them. There is an urgency and some doubt among the French as the Prussians are coming and the main line of British has not yet been seriously threatened.

1400 hrs and the French have recoiled from all attacks. The Anglo-Dutch line is solid and the bulk of the French reserves are committing to the right. The Old Guard Grenadiers and Chasseurs are ordered forward by Napoleon, perhaps to bolster the appearance of D'Erlon's Corps.

What the French have managed to do by this time is to silence most of the Anglo-Dutch artillery. Now, having pulled back out of musket range, they can damage the British lines while recovering a little bit. Surprisingly, Picton's forces still have their 'First Fire' markers indicating that they have not fired a volley yet today.

Leading Prussian units including Uhlans force the French near Frichermont into square. Bulow's column, marching since 4 in the morning, are arriving piecemeal, but are trying to be aggressive in order to save the British and their allies.

General Alten, unengaged as yet, sends forward his fresh units on the attack, seeking to hurl back the French of Lobau's Corps. Brunswick infantry follow up in support cheering loudly. Behind Lobau, Reille's Corps can be seen marching from the French left to the center, around Chateau Hougomont without assaulting it (having learned their lesson)

At 1600 hrs, Napoleon orders the Old Guard Grenadiers to advance forward. Elements of D'Erlon and Lobau join them in a general assault on the heights. The last reserves of the French are being committed against what appears to be a still strong Allied line. The Imperial Guard would be repulsed and would fall back in good order, but the resulting attack would break the last resistance of the Prince of Orange and the Dutch-Belgian corps. Their Dragoons and Nassau infantry would remain on the field but they were too exhausted to take any further part.

At the same time, the French throw one more assault against Hougomont and manage to hurl back Cook's Coldstream Guards and occupy the forward half of the chateau. The Voltigeurs are exhausted but they are inside and cling to their gains.

The French attack on the British center continues with the Grenadiers a Cheval and the Chasseurs a pied taking their turns to press forward.

Simultaneous and determined attacks all along the French center (now that they have shifted their gravity) succeeds in breaking both Picton's Corps and Uxbridge's. Wellington is in the center of a King's German Legion square extolling them desperately to hold on and continue the battle.

1730 hrs. Alten's Highlander line is broken by a charge by Reille's determined columns. The Brunswick infantry stands alone to face five times their number of advancing French. Marshal Ney leads the columns of D'Erlon in an assault on the KGL square where shelters Wellington.

Bulow's Corps has arrived on the field but the French Young Guard have proved to be better soldiers than the Prussian landwehr forces. Two more Prussian Corps will be arriving over the next couple of hours, but it is too late. The Battle is lost.

As the sun begins to set, Marshal Ney offers Wellington and his King's German Legion square one opportunity to surrender. "Shit", says the Duke of Wellington.