I had to nominate a starting city for the campaign and chose Brussells, which effectivelt meant the the entire allied army, Prussian's and Allied, began the campaign sitting on the French objective. Which seemed a bit of a cheat, and somewhat boring as basically all I had to do was sit there with my full force and wait for the French.

So, i decided to spice things up a bit and using the maps in Peter Hofschröer's book 'Wellington, his German Allies and the Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras' I deliberately broke up Wellingtons army into detachments and sent each detachment off towards the location it actually held at the start of the campaign.

This meant that most of the Prussian army began marching off to the West and North-West as the King of the Netherlands had specifically requested that no Prussian troops be allowed in the Kingdom of the Netherlands prior to an invasion.

Likewise, most of the Allied troops left Brussels and began moving towards their historical cantonments at the start of the campaign.

This was deliberately making things harder than they needed to be given that I had no idea at this point which direction the French appear. I assumed that the AI has a free choice of starting location and so in theory they could come from anywhere, and my troops were no scattered and becoming more so as time passed and they marched away.

Which was actually more historically correct as in 1815 Wellington had no idea which direction the French would attack from and so had to spread his troops thinly to watch every possible route.

The main French army were eventually spotted at 8:47am by scouts from the Zietens I Corps.

This Corps was en-route to Charleroi, where historically it had fought the first battle of the campaign, and it seems that the AI Napoleon had chosen to mimic his real-life counter-part and begin his invasion from there, and was even now marching on Quatre-Bras.

So, looks like this campaign is going to follow a similar script as the original.

Wellington still in Brussels having breakfast nearly choked on his tea when he heard that French were not only on the march but had almost reached Quatre Bras. 'Damned little Frenchman manages to humbug me even when he does exactly what I expected.' he moaned.

The only forces at the crossroads were Prince Bernard of Saxe Weimar's Nassau Brigade and they could hardly be expected to stop the entire French Army. Orders were rapidly dispatched

'Slight change of plan, about face and come back...Quick!'

The army was to concentrate along the line Quatre-Bras, Mont St.Jean, Brussels, with every column making it's way to the nearest concentration point.

Wellington himself with those units of the Allied Army that were still in the city set-off immediately for Mont St.Jean.

Zieten's Corps had almost reached Charleroi when the orders were received to about turn and concentrate at Quatre-Bras, but it took time for them to do so and the French were close on their heels as they arrived.

They arrived to find the crossroads crowded with marching columns arriving from all directions, and apparently all unsure what to do next. But the arrival of the frist French columns seemed to glavanise everyone into making a decision and everyone immediately decided to headin a different direction/

The Prussian 2nd Corps which was approaching from the west immediately turned about and headed back towards Sombreffe.

The Netherlands 3rd Division approaching the crossraods from the east, did a similar about face and headed instead for Mont St.Jean, where the Naasau Corps were already also heading.

The Prussian 7th Brigade (Bause) which had been en-route to Namur and was just passing through the crossroads suddenly found itself confronted by the whole French Army and had to beat a hasty retreat.

As did the 11th Brigade (Luck) which was still under orders to move to Dinat.

And the 9th Brigade (Borche) en-route to Ciney. It appears that several of the Prussian detacvhments had failed to get the message though most managed to avoid a confrontation with the French. Most instead heading for Sombreffe.

Tippleskirch's Prussian 5th Brigade had been heading for Namur when it got orders from Major General Pirch I, commander of the Prussian 2nd Corps to march immediately to join him at Quatre-Bras.

Tippleskirch had obeyed immediately directing his column by the shortest route to the crossroads only to arrive and find the place apparently deserted. He halted his men and consulted his orders and the map again.

This was definately the place, so where was Pirch and the rest of his corps?

Concluding that they must be on the far side of the town Tippelskirch ordered his brigade to move south through the village, and galloped off ahead to report.

He saw the first French troops off to the west as he passed through the village. A large body of horse foot and guns, and concerned that they might cut his brigade off from the rest of the corps he spurred his horse on thourhg the streets with even more urgency keen to report his arrival and confirm his orders.

He emerged on the far side of the town and almost galloped straight into another large body of French troops apparently having breakfast where he had been told to meet his commanding officer.

His appearance seemd to cause a bit of a stir, and suddenly there were Frenchmen galloping in all directions and drums and bugles were calling the rest to arms. Tippelskirch concluded that his meeting with Pirch must have been cancelled and turning his horse east he decided to put some distance between him and both party's of Frenchmen.

Clearing the village he began galloping east towards Sombreffe, hoping that the French had not decided to picnic on this side of the village too. As soon as he was satisfied that the road to Sombreffe was clear he sent a courier back to the brigade ordering them to march to Sombreffe with all haste.

No sooner had he done so than a young officer galloped up breathless to report that they had seen Frenchmen to the west. Tippelskirch still trying to calm himself after his close encounter with the French gave the young officer a cold stare 'Really?' He asked 'I don't suppose you bothered counting them?'

The young officer looked deflated and Tippelskirch dismissed him 'Return to your unit and tell them to get a move on will you, no point hanging about here.'



The 5th Brigade made good its escape without losing a single man reaching Sombreffe at 10:45am where they were told that two other Prussian columns had marched through the town about an hour ago and had taken the road to Wavre.

10:44am And Wellington waiting nervously at Mont St.Jean could help thinking he'd done this before.

Blucher was with him, having rushed back from Namur an hour earlier, on hearing the French had been sighted, and the concentration of the Allied and Prussian armies was well under way.

At present most of the Prince of Orange's Corps had arrived from Quatre-Bras and Nivelles including:

• 3rd (British) Division - Sir Charles Alten
  
• 2nd (Netherlands) Division - Luitenant-Generaal Baron Perponcher Sedlnitsky
  
• 3rd (Netherlands) Division - Luitenant-Generaal Baron Chassé
  
• 1st (Household) Cavalry Brigade - Major-General Lord Edward Somerset KCB
  
• 2nd (Union) Cavalry Brigade - Major General Sir William Ponsonby KCB
  
• 3rd Cavalry Brigade - Major General Sir Wilhelm von Dörnberg

And the first of Sir Rowland Hill's Corps had arrived.

• 4th (Anglo-Hanoverian) Division - Major General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville GCB GCH
  but missing Mitchell and Johnson's Brigades which were still en-route.
  
• 4th Cavalry Brigade - Major General Sir John Ormsby Vandeleur
  
• 5th Cavalry Brigade - Major General Sir Colquhoun Grant KCB
  
• 6th Cavalry Brigade - Major General Sir Richard Hussey Vivian KCB

Wellington's Reserve had also started arriving.

• 5th (Anglo-Hannoverian) Division - Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton GCB
  
• Hannoverian Reserve Corps - Lieutenant-General Frederich von der Decken
  
• Nassau 1st Infantry Regiment - Lieutenant General Baron August von Kruse
  
• 7th Cavalry Brigade - Brevet Colonel Sir Friedrich von Arentsschildt
  
• Hannoverian Reserve Cavalry Brigade - Victor Baron von Alten
  
• 1st (Netherlands) Cavalry Brigade - Generaal-Majoor Albert Dominicus Trip van Zoudtlandt
  
• 2nd (Netherlands) Cavalry Brigade - Generaal-Majoor Baron Charles Étienne de Ghigny
  
• 3rd (Netherlands) Cavalry Brigade - Generaal-Majoor Jean Baptiste, Baron van Merlen

Not an insignificant force considering the time available.

To which could be added the Prussian units which had already arrived under Blucher.

Zieten's Corps I was almost complete have marched from Quatre Bras.

• Brigade nr 1 - von Steinmetz
  
• Brigade nr 2 - Pirch II
  
• Brigade nr 3 - Jagow
  
• Brigade nr 4 - von Donnersmarck[Henkel]
  
• Kavalerie Brigade nr 1 - von Treskow
  
• Kavalerie Brigade nr 2 - von Lützow
  
• Corps I Artillery - von Rutzel

And the first units of Thielmann's Corps III had arrived, though the remainder many had been blocked by the French advance and were having to take a longer route via Wavre. Those who had arrived were:

• Brigade nr 11 - von Luck und Witten
  
• Kavalerie Brigade nr 1 - von der Marwitz
  
• Kavalerie Brigade nr 2 - Count Lottum
  
• Corps III Artillery - Mohnhaupt

Both Blucher and Wellington agreed that if the French turned up now then they were resolved to fight with such forces as they had available. It may not be enough but it would buy time for the rest of the army to reach Brussels for its final defence.

At 10:55 am the 1st Netherlands Division commanded by Luitenant-Generaal John Stedman marched wearily into Mont St.Jean and reported to Sir Rowland Hill the commander of the Allied 2nd Corps.

Another three infantry bigades and two more artillery batteries to swell the size of the allied armies. But still the French had not moved.

What were they waiting for?

Every minute strenghtened the Allied defences as more divisions rushed to join the defence. What was Napoleon hoping to achieve by the delay?

It looks like the French are on the march again and heading straight for Mont St.Jean. Wellington looks back along the Brussels Road, desperate for more troops to arrive.
Not long now.

Lieutenant General HSH Duke of Brunswick arrived at Motn St.Jean along with his corps adding a further three brigades of infantry, two batteries, and a cavalry regiment to the Allied Reserve Corps.

At 11:26am the first of the Prussian Brigades that had been forced back to Sombreffe by the French occupation of Quatre Bras reached Wavre.

The question now is do they march directly to Mont St.Jean, or do they march to Brussels?

However, the fact is that even if they marched immediately for Mont St.Jean they would not arrive before the French, and if things went badly they would be forced to do yet another counter-march and return to Wavre in order to march on Brussels. Better then to accept that they would not be available to face the French at Mont St.Jean and have them march directly to Brussels. That way if things do go badly they will be ready to assist in the final battle.

The French have reached Mont St.Jean and the scene is set for the first confrontation of the campaign.

NO WAIT! Wellington cannot believe his luck, the French are retreating. they have turned about and are returning to Quatre Bras.

Wellington is confused, should he pursue?

Normally he would say, yes, but his army is still centrating, perhaps this is just a ruse to draw him away from his supports. No! he will wait and let the rest of his army gather.

Originally posted by author:

I'm really quite confused by the AI's decision here. I'm sure it had the numerical advantage so why didn't it force a battle when it had the chance?

And what is it going to do now?

It's objective is to take Brussels, so even if it sues a different road my army occupies the central position so unless it's really devious and sends me off in the wrong direction its not going to ge there without fighting and the longer it dealys the more men I gather to meet that attack.

Worse case scenario I suspect is that AI is just phased and can;t decide what to do, in which case this whole campaign might be a non-event.

Another Prussian Brigade reaches Mont St.Jean consisting of three infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment and an artillery battery.

Napoleon is still retreatng towards Quatre Bras, and more troops are arriving at Mon St.Jean to bolster the strength of Wellington.

von Stülpnagel with Prussian Brigade nr12 has arrived consisting of three infantry and one cavalry regiment, and Major General George Johnstone's 6th (British) Brigade has returned adding one infantry brigade to Sir Charles Colville's 4th Division.

The French have returned to Mont St.Jean. It seems that Napoleon has had another change of heart and has decided to try and blast his way through to Brussels after all.

However, the situation for him now is even worse than it was an hour ago. Because in the time it took his army to march to Quatre Bras and back again even more troops have arrived to bolster Wellington's Army including:

Only Brigade nr's 5 and 7 from the Prussian II Corps and Brigade nr's 9 and 10 from the Prussian III Corps were still on the march and all except the 5th had reached Brussels and were heading north to Mont St.Jean.

Originally posted by author:

My main concern at this point is whether my PC and the game can cope with such a large battle.