Waterloo Association

An historical society for those interested in the Battle of Waterloo and the Peninsular Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington.

[Waterloo Association @WaterlooA]

Born #OTD 1758 - Horatio Nelson

[Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity @NRWGCharity]

On this day in 1758 Horatio Nelson was born.

Nelson went on to become a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. He is undoubtedly best remembered for his crashing victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

To this day Nelson remains Briton’s most famous sailor.

[Marcus Cribb @mcribbHistory]

Fought #OnThisDay 27 Sept 1810 the Battle of Buçaco (Bussaco).

Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army held an indomitable position against Massena's larger army (including Ney).

Through savage fighting, attacking columns were pushed back time & again.

[Owen W.H. Davis @OWHDavis]

If you’re tempted by Gareth’s upcoming talk at the Essex Archives, I’ll also be speaking there about one of Essex’s child soldiers, William Mansfield, who enlisted at 16 and spent 31 years in the British Army, fighting Xhosa warriors, Marathas and even French privateers!

[Waterloo Association @WaterlooA]

Born #OTD 1758 - Horatio Nelson

[Waterloo Association @WaterlooA]

'Essex & the French Wars 1795-1815' is a joint event of @WaterlooA & Essex Record Office, Chelmsford, Sat 17 Oct, 10am-4pm, covering the Revolutionary & Napoleonic wars incl. the role of Essex men in the battles of Trafalgar & Waterloo. Details here:
https://t.co/JmkLJJkeSd

[theknightirish @theknightirish]

This is the second thesis I want to read properly and at leisure so I’ve had it printed off and bound as well. I’m pleased I found a painting with Prussian cavalry and British infantry for the cover! Anything by @KKriegeBlog is worth reading… 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 📚

[Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity @NRWGCharity]

On this day in 1810 Wellington’s Anglo – Portuguese army defeated a French army under Marshal Masséna at the battle of Bussaco.

This engagement was an important check to the French advance into Portugal.

Subsequently Wellington withdrew to the Lines of Torres Vedras.

[Dr Graeme Callister @GraemeCallister]

Exciting news! 🎉

"Napoleon's Conscripts" is available TODAY to order from Helion - & for the next week, it comes with a £5 discount!

The book tells the story of conscription in Napoleon's army - the system, the law, and crucially how ordinary men navigated through it all. 1/3

[theknightirish @theknightirish]

A great day in York with @WaterlooA. Great talks, great speakers, great subjects, great craic. And even more books care of @GloverGareth! 📚

[Waterloo Association @WaterlooA]

New video on the Waterloo Association’s YouTube channel: "Who owned Waterloo? Battle, Memory, and Myth in British History 1815-1852" - in which Dr Luke Reynolds explores how the Battle of Waterloo was fully incorporated into Britain's national identity
https://t.co/orvFeugp3z

[Tom Fournier @tom4141tom]

Reenacting memories: 2005 when you hang out with Trash!

[Generals and Napoleon @AndNapoleon]

#DidYouKnow ⚔️Serving on Marshal Davout’s staff could be almost as dangerous as fighting in the front ranks? 💥🇫🇷

Louis-Nicolas Davout—the famous “Iron Marshal”—had little patience for officers who tried to direct a battle from the safety of the rear.

🐎During battle, Davout deliberately sent members of his own staff into the most dangerous sectors of the fighting, sometimes placing them in command of troops and ordering them to reinforce positions where the situation was most desperate. 💣⚔️

His philosophy was simple: an officer commanding soldiers under fire should be willing to share their danger.

At the Battle of Auerstädt in 1806, that philosophy came at a terrible cost.

🔥 Davout’s III Corps defeated a Prussian army more than twice its size—but his staff officers repeatedly exposed themselves to enemy fire while carrying orders, rallying troops, and helping direct the battle.

The casualties among them were so severe that afterward Davout informed Napoleon's chief-of-staff, Marshal Berthier, that nearly all of his staff officers had been killed or wounded and that he needed replacements. 😮

For Davout, staff officers weren't supposed to watch the battle from a safe distance.

👉 They were expected to help fight it.

It was another example of the extraordinary discipline—and brutal standards—that helped make Davout one of Napoleon’s greatest battlefield commanders. ⚔️

One officer later described his service with Davout, "I can assure you that to serve under him is a truly serious matter." 🦅🇫🇷

#DidYouKnow #MarshalDavout #Napoleon #NapoleonicWars #MilitaryHistory #History #FrenchEmpire #GeneralsAndNapoleon

[Tom Egan @tomjmegan]

Spent today playing Commands & Colours: Napoleonics - The Battle of Eggmühl (22 April 1809 - Day Two), beautifully represented in 20mm by @aquestingvole.

Commanded French 🇫🇷 as Napoleon; relentlessly hammered ourselves against Austrian lines, ultimately to a hard-won victory!

[Dr Graeme Callister @GraemeCallister]

Ever wondered how Napoleon used conscription law to push his social agenda in France?

Some thoughts in my latest article 'Every Frenchman is a Soldier: Conscription & Social Distinction in Napoleonic France' in Atenea, the Journal of the Spanish Association of Military History

[Tom Fournier @tom4141tom]

Waterloo 210

Oh that black powder provided by the site caused a lot of fouling!

At the end of the battle it was impossible to ping our muskets!

Photo by Deb Lewis Brown

[Waterloo Association @WaterlooA]

NEW! A new video has been uploaded to the Waterloo Association’s YouTube channel - "The Convention of Cintra and the Liberation of Portugal" - Dr Stephen Summerfield takes us back to the events of 1808...
https://t.co/3jhKqEZq8g

[Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity @NRWGCharity]

Not long now till our next amazing online event.

Topic: The Glorious 1st of June, The 'What If' Question

Speaker: Dr Chris Ware

Date: 26th July

Time: 7:30pm

Tickets and Info: https://t.co/6i8VoFWCO6

[theknightirish @theknightirish]

June’s @Helionbooks Reason to Revolution new publications have arrived! 📚 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇷🇺 🇫🇷

[Tom Fournier @tom4141tom]

Reenacting memory: Waterloo 2025.

After the first night on the field I had posted some pictures.

A Twitter connection from Barcelona, @luckychavi replied with this amazing video!

Thought it captured the surreal vibe perfectly!