Description:

Waterloo: The Attack of I Corps — Comte d’Erlon’s Assault and the Allied Counterattack

A deep, source-driven study of the Battle of Waterloo’s most decisive — and most overlooked — turning point: the massive infantry assault launched by Comte d’Erlon’s French I Corps on the afternoon of 18 June 1815.

Twenty thousand men and eighty guns surged forward that day in what the Duke of Wellington himself called “one of the most serious attacks made by the enemy.” For a brief, terrifying window, this Napoleonic Wars offensive came closer to breaking the Allied line than almost any other moment in the battle. It was only narrowly stopped by two overstretched Allied infantry divisions and two cavalry brigades — a counterattack that arguably saved the day.

Despite its importance, this phase of the Waterloo campaign has received surprisingly little focused study until now. Historian Graeme Callister fills that gap with a meticulously researched account that blends battlefield narrative with tactical and human-level analysis — covering troop morale, unit cohesion, command decisions, and the lived experience of soldiers under fire.

Drawing on rarely examined French regimental registers alongside firsthand letters, memoirs, and diaries in French, English, Dutch, and German, the book reconstructs the attack from the ground up:

• The organization, command structure, and readiness of both French and Allied forces
• The terrain, grand tactics, and strategic decisions that shaped troop positioning
• A close look at the four attacking divisions — Quiot, Donzelot, Marcognet, and Durutte — plus the supporting grand battery and cuirassier brigade
• The Allied infantry and cavalry response that repelled the assault

This is essential reading for anyone researching Waterloo military history, Napoleonic warfare, 19th-century battlefield tactics, or the individual soldier’s experience of combat — offering fresh insight into why men held their ground, broke ranks, fought, or fell in one of history’s most studied battles.

This book provides a detailed analysis of the attack of the Comte d’Erlon’s French I Corps, and the subsequent allied counterattack, at the Battle of Waterloo. This assault by 20,000 men and eighty guns in the early afternoon of 18 June 1815 came as close as any to winning the battle for Napoleon. It was eventually repulsed – just – by two stretched Allied infantry divisions and two brigades of cavalry and was, in the words of the Duke of Wellington himself, “one of the most serious attacks made by the enemy.” Until now, there has been surprisingly little in-depth analysis of this crucial moment in the battle – something that this book seeks to remedy. Graeme Callister combines a detailed narrative with a thorough analysis of how the event unfolded. All aspects of the attack are covered; from the grand tactics to the human experience of being in the firing lines, considering the soldiers’ experience, morale, leadership, condition and cohesion. Using rarely before analysed material from the French regimental registers, it examines the service records of individuals involved in the action, alongside the first-hand accounts and reminiscences of those who left them. The book begins with an assessment of the background of each of the forces: their composition, command structures, and the condition of their men. It then discusses how they found themselves to be in their positions on the battlefield, exploring the grand tactics, terrain, and wider strategic situation. The main part of the analysis focuses on the attack itself, looking at the formations and direction of the attacking forces (the four divisions of Quiot, Donzelot, Marcognet, and Durutte, plus the grand battery and supporting cuirassier brigade) and the tactical approach of the men set to meet them. Based on a wide range of primary sources, including those in French, English, Dutch and German, this book offers fresh perspectives on a crucial part of the Waterloo story, and helps us to understand why men advanced or stood, fought or ran, and lived or died amidst the maelstrom of battle.

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FAQ: –

1. What is “Waterloo: The Attack of I Corps” about?

The book zooms in on one pivotal moment of the Battle of Waterloo — the massive infantry assault led by Comte d’Erlon’s French I Corps on the afternoon of 18 June 1815. Author Graeme Callister breaks down how close this 20,000-strong attack came to breaking Wellington’s line, and why the Allied counterattack ultimately held it back.

2. Who wrote Waterloo: The Attack of I Corps, and what’s his background?

The book was written by Dr Graeme Callister, a Senior Lecturer in History and War Studies at York St John University, who brings an academic, research-driven approach to this often-overlooked phase of the battle.

3. What sources does the book rely on for its research?

Callister draws on a mix of French, English, Dutch, and German primary sources — including rarely examined French regimental registers — to trace individual soldiers’ service records alongside firsthand letters and personal accounts from those who fought in the attack.

4. Which French divisions and units are covered in the book?

The analysis focuses on the four attacking divisions under d’Erlon’s command — Quiot, Donzelot, Marcognet, and Durutte — along with the supporting grand battery of artillery and the cuirassier cavalry brigade that backed the assault.

5. How long is the book, and who publishes it?

It’s published by Pen & Sword Military, runs to 256 pages with 12 mono illustrations, and was first released in September 2024, with e-book editions following in 2025.

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