Re: Replace Ney at Waterloo?
I would consider replacing Ney with Soult, and Soult with Davout, the reason for this being Soult's poor performance as Chief of Staff.
Napoleon's Waterloo campaign utilized his strategy of the central position. It was absolutely essential that the wings be properly coordinated, and that commanders know what was expected of them.
Napoleon was not accustomed to giving precise and unambiguous orders, relying on Berthier to translate his stream-of-consciousness into something an army could actually do. Soult transcribed Napoleon's orders almost verbatim, and failed to continue Berthier's policy of sending duplicates of important dispatches.
Ney's misunderstanding about his objectives at Quatre Bras, d'Erlon's meanderings between there and Ligny, and Grouchy's ignorance of Blucher's intervention at Waterloo were all in some measure down to Soult.
Soult would have been much more useful commanding the left wing himself. Reille and d'Erlon had both been his subordinates in Spain, and he had had extensive experience fighting against Wellington.
Davout as Chief of Staff could be relied upon to hold his own with Napoleon. His organisational abilities would have ensured that clear orders were drafted. that they flowed smoothly and reliably to their destinations, that detached commanders were kept informed of the changing situation.
Meanwhile, Ney could have been left in Paris as Minister for War. He may not have made a great bureaucrat, but at least his energy and drive would have kept the mobilisation going, and his honesty, loyalty and integrity might have warded off the likes of Fouché.
Last edited by Juvenal; June 10, 2010 at 05:19 AM.
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