The Battle of Wavre and Grouchy's Retreat

The story of the French Army that never arrived at Waterloo

Almost everybody who is interested in the Battle of Waterloo knows that the campaign began auspiciously for Napoleon. The Prussian Army under Blucher was first engaged and it suffered a savaging at Ligny after which it retreated. After Quatre Bras Wellington's allied army retreated and took position on the ridge before Waterloo-Blucher, harassed by Grouchy retreated towards Wavre. Though thoroughly mauled, the Prussian Army embodied no spirit of defeat and so was not-as Napoleon or Grouchy believed-an army in flight but a grim, avenging and lethal force undertaking a sweeping manoeuvre which would bring it as promised-just in time-onto the momentous field of battle slamming into the right flank of the French Army to ensure victory and an end to an epoch. Most histories of this campaign concentrate on the action that took place over the fields between Genappe and Mont St. Jean. Grouchy's part in the campaign is often considered as no more than 'noises off' and a footnote about lack of resolve and lost opportunity. This book investigates Grouchy's actions and the activities of his Prussian enemy-and explains why this luckless marshal did not 'march to the sound of the guns.' Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket for collectors.