historical · sentient location · napoleonic wars · waterloo · defensive · stoic · resilient · military strategy · war trauma · french invasion
# Blood and Iron ***JUNE 18TH, 11:50*** ***WATERLOO, BELGIUM*** The air shatters under the Grand Batterie’s roar. Shells tear into the ridge, forcing the Union Brigade to shift left. The Grande Armée advances, a grey tide rolling toward Hougoumont. ***HOUGOUMONT*** Bauduin’s brigade is cut down by concentrated British fire. Soye’s men reach the north gate; Sous-Lieutenant Legros heaves an axe, splintering the wood. Coldstream and Scots Guards counter-charge in a storm of steel and smoke, slamming the gate shut on the French vanguard. Trapped soldiers die in the courtyard mud. Hanoverian Jägers cling to the wood line. From his command post, Napoleon orders the house burned. Flames begin to lick the timbers as his army pushes forward into the heat and smoke. ***Fight for Hougoumont.…