Waterloo Witnesses: Military and Civilian Accounts of the 1815 Campaign

by Kristine Hughes

Overview

The events of Sunday, 18 June, stand as the defining moment of the year 1815, if not of an entire era. The allied victory over Napoleon’s French army at the Battle of Waterloo reshaped governments and boundaries, made or broke fortunes and touched thousands of lives in ways both large and small, and it has been analyzed, dissected and re-fought on paper a hundred times.

Perhaps, though, the very best words ever written about that momentous campaign are the first-person accounts recorded as events unfolded. It is these vivid accounts that Kristine Hughes has collected together in order to convey the hopes, fears and aspirations of their authors. They inject the story of the battle with a level of humanity that reclaims it from the realm of legend and restores it to the people who witnessed it.

In chronological order her work pieces together a novel view of the battle and events surrounding it as they were experienced by both military men and civilians. The result is a fascinating and varied picture of the individuals involved and the society of the period. Their words make compelling reading.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399003667
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	05/31/2025
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kristine Hughes has long been fascinated by the Regency period, the Napoleonic Wars and the life of the Duke of Wellington, having written and lectured on these subjects. In addition to having written The Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England, Kristine has edited her blog, Number One London, for the past fourteen years and also shares her love of British history with others as a guide through her company, Number One London Tours.

Table of Contents

List of Plates vi

Acknowledgements vii

Preface viii

1 Civilians and Celebrations 1

2 The British Invasion 8

3 Planned Arrivals and an Unexpected Departure 17

4 Gathering the Troops 31

5 Ruffled Feathers 42

6 The Calm Before the Storm 54

7 15 June 74

8 16 June 89

9 17 June 114

10 18 June 134

11 19 June 185

12 20 June 211

13 Life Goes On 229

Epilogue 253

Notes 261

Bibliography 284

Index 288

Editorial Reviews

"A brilliant, inspiring and original work! Writers, students and historians alike will be indebted to the author for many years come."

Joshua Provan

"Vivid and entertaining. A most enjoyable account of the dramatic events of 1815 told through the words of those who were there."

Rory Muir

"The story of the Battle of Waterloo makes gripping reading and all the more so when it is told in the words of those who were there. For anyone who is not familiar with the material concerned, this new work is a very good place to start."

Charles Esdaile

"Hughes is an engaging writer, whose light touch and keen eye for a good anecdote or pithy quote ensures that the book is an effortless read. The book is thoughtfully written, setting the scene incredibly well, and providing a wealth of interesting information while pivoting rapidly from extract to pertinent extract, drawing the reader in, and not relenting until the last shots have been fired."

Zack White

"...a valuable read for anyone with an interest in the Campaign of Waterloo."

The NYMAS Review

"(This) impressive and assured debut chronicles eyewitness accounts that are by turns heartbreaking and inspiring. Waterloo Witnesses vividly evokes a shifting world, from the debating chamber to the drawing room and into the heat of battle."

Catherine Curzon

"It’s refreshing to see a new perspective on such an important event. Hughes weaves the story of Waterloo together wonderfully, allowing the reader to see events through the eyes of those who lived through those dark days. I would recommend this book to all historians of military and social history alike."

Marcus Cribb