The duke of Wellington commanded 94,000 British and Belgian troops. The Prussian army,123,000 strong, was led by Gerhard von blucher.to win, Napoleon had to defeat each army before they could join together. On June 16 he struck the Prussians at ligny. Another part of his forced engaged Wellington. Napoleon pushed the two armies back, but neither was completely beaten. Wellington and Blucher expected the main attack to come at the British next. Wellington made his defensive line on a ridge south of the village of Waterloo. Blucher promised to send reinforcements. After ligny,rain struck the area.the British and Prussians moved quickly to implement their plans,but Napoleon was unusually slow. He waited until midday on June 18, 1815, to attack Wellington-he wanted the ground to become as dry as possible. But this delay gave Blucher more time to reach the field .
Napoleon first hit Wellington's line on the right. His goal was to force Wellington to reinforce that area with troops from his center. Then Napoleon would mass the main French attack on that weakend center and break through. But after two hours of fighting. Wellington's right still held.
As he learned of the Prussians' approach. Napoleon gambled. He sent some troops to meet them and launched a furious cannonade against Wellington,then attacked the center. As the French began to break through, a British cavalry charge routed the French infantry. Then a French cavalry counterattack pushed the British cavalry back. The mounted French then charged Wellington's line many times,facing withering fire. But the line held.
With more Prussians arriving, Napoleon had one last chance: to use his reserves, including the undefeated veterans called the Imperial Guard. But once again he delayed before moving. When he finally ordered the charge,the British and Prussian troops were ready. The French were forced back. Soon after, Napoleon's army and the emperor himself were in an all-out retreat.
Napoleon lost 25,000 dead and wounded and another 8,000 captured. He also lost any last hope of regaining his empire.
