Part II, Book 1, Chapter 6
Four o’Clock in the Afternoon
I know there are people who are really into battles who would get a lot out of these chapters, in much the same way as I enjoyed the chapters that got into the nitty-gritty details about horse-drawn travel logistics or the bit in Champmathieu’s monologue about washerwomen’s work. Les Misérables: there’s something in it for everyone!
Unfortunately, these battle analyses are not for me. I am barely holding on, you guys.
The TL;DR of this chapter: things are not looking so hot for the English. There’s a whole laundry list of what’s happened to various generals (shot in head, lanced, killed by a little French drummer boy). It’s looking like everything’s coming up Napoleon.
However, Hugo notes that Wellington’s section in the center had cleverly hidden their artillery in the terrain, cutting into the landscape and using the tall crops as cover. A scout sent by Napoleon saw nothing and reported that there was no obstacle to the French troops. I don’t think that scout is getting full marks on his performance review!
Wellington stood his ground even as things were looking pretty bad for him; at one point a guy asked what the plan is for everyone else should Wellington die and he responded, “Do as I do,” which is a pretty baller response. At 4 PM the English line fell back and Napoleon was thrilled, assuming that they were beating a retreat.
We know that’s not the case, which means there are still more battle chapters to come.
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