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Napoleon 30 Waterloo

Once Napoleon is back on the throne, the Allies immediately reform to attack France.  Basic premise:  Napoleon, if allowed to gain strength, would soon threaten them all. . . France welcomes him back (the Bourbons ruled miserably) with cries of Vive l"Empereur . . . Only three months pass between his complete reinstatement in power and Waterloo . . . 900 letters, the vast majority dealing with trying to get France ready for the coming war . . . seriously weakened leadership as well as number of soldiers . . . No reprisals:  "Of all that individuals have done, written, or said since the taking of Parie, I shall for ever remain ignorant."  Unity above all else! Free press, abolished slavery, invited Lafayette into his coalition (refused), ordered no Britons harassed by French . .
   He says he wants peace, but this is refused on the reasonable premise that "whilst such a man reigns, it would require constant armament and preparation for war." . . . Napoleon ungainly and squat--weight gain . . . 280,000 French troops vs. 800,000 Allies . . . Morale not what it had been, more disorder, more looting after victories . . . N lethargic--some say from hemorrhoids or bladder infection . . . more likely is that he simply made tactical mistakes and was beaten by Wellington . . . rain slows him . . . Waterloo is in Belgium (for all the times I've heard of the battle, I'd never thought exactly where it was) . . . French battle is unaccountably fragmented . . . La Garde recule--never heard before!. . . Army disintegrates . . . N. blunders repeatedly.

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