Benny Michielsen
@bennymichielsen.bsky.social
Software developer, aspiring wargamer and history buff. 🇧🇪🇪🇺
@rgpoulussen.bsky.social I am looking for clips and photos of Antwerp and operations north of it during early October. I have found some in Canadian archives but I’m sure you know where I would also could look?
August 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
@rgpoulussen.bsky.social I am looking for clips and photos of Antwerp and operations north of it during early October. I have found some in Canadian archives but I’m sure you know where I would also could look?
„Für König und Vaterland.“
I’ve hiked 114 km over the past three days and am heading to my start point for today. Only one blister so far.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
I’ve hiked 114 km over the past three days and am heading to my start point for today. Only one blister so far.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
June 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
„Für König und Vaterland.“
I’ve hiked 114 km over the past three days and am heading to my start point for today. Only one blister so far.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
I’ve hiked 114 km over the past three days and am heading to my start point for today. Only one blister so far.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
June 14, 1815 – Thuin.
French troops are massing.
Blücher reaches out.
Wellington replies:
“I can be at Quatre Bras within 22 hours.”
The campaign begins.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
youtu.be/gGt_U_CUdRo
French troops are massing.
Blücher reaches out.
Wellington replies:
“I can be at Quatre Bras within 22 hours.”
The campaign begins.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
youtu.be/gGt_U_CUdRo
Waterloo 210 - 14 June 1815
YouTube video by Battlefield Hikes
youtu.be
June 14, 2025 at 8:25 PM
June 14, 1815 – Thuin.
French troops are massing.
Blücher reaches out.
Wellington replies:
“I can be at Quatre Bras within 22 hours.”
The campaign begins.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
youtu.be/gGt_U_CUdRo
French troops are massing.
Blücher reaches out.
Wellington replies:
“I can be at Quatre Bras within 22 hours.”
The campaign begins.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
youtu.be/gGt_U_CUdRo
The journey begins — in reverse of French objectives.
Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi.
🎧 Suggestions for the soundtrack?
#Waterloo210
Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi.
🎧 Suggestions for the soundtrack?
#Waterloo210
June 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The journey begins — in reverse of French objectives.
Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi.
🎧 Suggestions for the soundtrack?
#Waterloo210
Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi.
🎧 Suggestions for the soundtrack?
#Waterloo210
June 13, 1815 – The reports keep coming in.
Wellington, however, isn’t convinced.
He writes: “There is nothing new here. […] His departure was not likely to be immediate. I think we are now too strong for him here.”
Video below 👇
#Waterloo210
Wellington, however, isn’t convinced.
He writes: “There is nothing new here. […] His departure was not likely to be immediate. I think we are now too strong for him here.”
Video below 👇
#Waterloo210
June 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
June 13, 1815 – The reports keep coming in.
Wellington, however, isn’t convinced.
He writes: “There is nothing new here. […] His departure was not likely to be immediate. I think we are now too strong for him here.”
Video below 👇
#Waterloo210
Wellington, however, isn’t convinced.
He writes: “There is nothing new here. […] His departure was not likely to be immediate. I think we are now too strong for him here.”
Video below 👇
#Waterloo210
June 11, 1815 – News reaches the French court in exile: some 120,000 troops are massed near the Dutch border. Napoleon may be headed for Lille—an ominous sign for the Allied army. A cavalry skirmish with Belgian troops is reported south of Mons. #Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
June 11, 2025 at 7:19 AM
June 11, 1815 – News reaches the French court in exile: some 120,000 troops are massed near the Dutch border. Napoleon may be headed for Lille—an ominous sign for the Allied army. A cavalry skirmish with Belgian troops is reported south of Mons. #Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
June 9, 1815 – Reports keep piling in: French troops are massing near the frontier. Even the Old Guard is said to be on the move.
Napoleon is still believed to be in Paris — but with his veterans marching, that may not stay true for long.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
Napoleon is still believed to be in Paris — but with his veterans marching, that may not stay true for long.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
June 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
June 9, 1815 – Reports keep piling in: French troops are massing near the frontier. Even the Old Guard is said to be on the move.
Napoleon is still believed to be in Paris — but with his veterans marching, that may not stay true for long.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
Napoleon is still believed to be in Paris — but with his veterans marching, that may not stay true for long.
#Waterloo210 #NapoleonicWars
June 7, 1815 – A new report lands on Wellington’s desk: the French plan a feint at Charleroi, then a real strike at Mons and Tournai to cut Allied lines.
Or is it just a show of force before retreating behind their fortresses?
#NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
Or is it just a show of force before retreating behind their fortresses?
#NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
June 7, 2025 at 6:40 AM
June 7, 1815 – A new report lands on Wellington’s desk: the French plan a feint at Charleroi, then a real strike at Mons and Tournai to cut Allied lines.
Or is it just a show of force before retreating behind their fortresses?
#NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
Or is it just a show of force before retreating behind their fortresses?
#NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
June 5, 1815 – Reports are still all over the place. Lille’s garrison might be heading to Maubeuge. Vandamme now commands 18,000 men.
Zieten updates Wellington—in French. Because apparently, he’s not just running a corps… he’s also the translation department.
#NapoleonicWars
Zieten updates Wellington—in French. Because apparently, he’s not just running a corps… he’s also the translation department.
#NapoleonicWars
June 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM
June 5, 1815 – Reports are still all over the place. Lille’s garrison might be heading to Maubeuge. Vandamme now commands 18,000 men.
Zieten updates Wellington—in French. Because apparently, he’s not just running a corps… he’s also the translation department.
#NapoleonicWars
Zieten updates Wellington—in French. Because apparently, he’s not just running a corps… he’s also the translation department.
#NapoleonicWars
June 3, 1815 – More reports of French troops leaving the frontier make the Prussians eager to begin operations. Some rumours even claim the entire Young Guard has been sent to the Vendée. Wellington, however, still opposes an offensive. #NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
June 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
June 3, 1815 – More reports of French troops leaving the frontier make the Prussians eager to begin operations. Some rumours even claim the entire Young Guard has been sent to the Vendée. Wellington, however, still opposes an offensive. #NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
June 1, 1815 – More intelligence arrives: French troop movements seem defensive. Napoleon still in Paris. Border towns are fortified. The Vendée uprising is believed to be drawing French troops away from the frontier. #NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
June 1, 2025 at 6:58 AM
June 1, 1815 – More intelligence arrives: French troop movements seem defensive. Napoleon still in Paris. Border towns are fortified. The Vendée uprising is believed to be drawing French troops away from the frontier. #NapoleonicWars #Waterloo210
May 30, 1815 – Blücher returns to Namur after visiting King Willem. If the French attack, the Prussians move to Sombreffe—either to strike the flank if Wellington is targeted, or to defend there with Wellington hitting the French flank. Mutual support is key. #NapoleonicWars
May 30, 2025 at 7:11 AM
May 30, 1815 – Blücher returns to Namur after visiting King Willem. If the French attack, the Prussians move to Sombreffe—either to strike the flank if Wellington is targeted, or to defend there with Wellington hitting the French flank. Mutual support is key. #NapoleonicWars
May 28, 1815 – Blücher arrives in Brussels and dines with Wellington. They discuss strategy and agree that if Napoleon launches an offensive here, Brussels is the likely target. Blücher will inspect the troops tomorrow. #NapoleonicWars
May 28, 2025 at 6:25 AM
May 28, 1815 – Blücher arrives in Brussels and dines with Wellington. They discuss strategy and agree that if Napoleon launches an offensive here, Brussels is the likely target. Blücher will inspect the troops tomorrow. #NapoleonicWars
May 26, 1815 – Preparations are underway for the meeting with Blücher. The Prussians want clarity: when will hostilities begin? Wellington prefers to wait—either for French troops to be drawn away to the Vendée or Upper Rhine, or for the Austrians to strike. #NapoleonicWars
May 26, 2025 at 7:06 AM
May 26, 1815 – Preparations are underway for the meeting with Blücher. The Prussians want clarity: when will hostilities begin? Wellington prefers to wait—either for French troops to be drawn away to the Vendée or Upper Rhine, or for the Austrians to strike. #NapoleonicWars
May 24, 1815 – Wellington writes to Hardinge that he has invited Blücher to Brussels later this week. Blücher is eager to begin operations: the army is at full strength, supplies are tight, and Prussian finances are strained.
May 24, 2025 at 5:41 AM
May 24, 1815 – Wellington writes to Hardinge that he has invited Blücher to Brussels later this week. Blücher is eager to begin operations: the army is at full strength, supplies are tight, and Prussian finances are strained.
May 22, 1815 – Supplying the Prussian army remains a major issue. Gneisenau complains: they did not come uninvited, but if their help is no longer wanted, they’ll withdraw. Not exactly the smoothest of coalitions. #NapoleonicWars
May 22, 2025 at 7:14 AM
May 22, 1815 – Supplying the Prussian army remains a major issue. Gneisenau complains: they did not come uninvited, but if their help is no longer wanted, they’ll withdraw. Not exactly the smoothest of coalitions. #NapoleonicWars
May 20, 1815 – The Vendée rises for the fourth time. The call-up of the National Guard rekindles royalist resistance. Armed with British-supplied guns, insurgents clash with imperial forces. Napoleon is forced to divert troops to suppress the rebellion. #NapoleonicWars
May 20, 2025 at 7:13 AM
May 20, 1815 – The Vendée rises for the fourth time. The call-up of the National Guard rekindles royalist resistance. Armed with British-supplied guns, insurgents clash with imperial forces. Napoleon is forced to divert troops to suppress the rebellion. #NapoleonicWars
May 18, 1815 – Steinmetz inspects his outposts for the first time since taking command of the 1st Brigade making minor adjustments. Across the army, Landwehr regiments are reduced from four to three battalions to concentrate strength ahead of the coming campaign. #NapoleonicWars
May 18, 2025 at 6:56 AM
May 18, 1815 – Steinmetz inspects his outposts for the first time since taking command of the 1st Brigade making minor adjustments. Across the army, Landwehr regiments are reduced from four to three battalions to concentrate strength ahead of the coming campaign. #NapoleonicWars
May 16, 1815 – Strategy shapes deployments, but so do food and water. Supplying the Prussian army strains Belgium. Coordination with the Dutch authorities and population proves difficult, hurting Prussian popularity.
#NapoleonicWars
#NapoleonicWars
May 16, 2025 at 11:17 AM
May 16, 1815 – Strategy shapes deployments, but so do food and water. Supplying the Prussian army strains Belgium. Coordination with the Dutch authorities and population proves difficult, hurting Prussian popularity.
#NapoleonicWars
#NapoleonicWars
May 14, 1815 – All Prussian corps commanders are busy setting up courier relay posts to get orders and intelligence quickly to and from the new HQ at Namur. Steinmetz takes command of the 1st Brigade of I Corps. #NapoleonicWars
May 14, 2025 at 8:23 AM
May 14, 1815 – All Prussian corps commanders are busy setting up courier relay posts to get orders and intelligence quickly to and from the new HQ at Namur. Steinmetz takes command of the 1st Brigade of I Corps. #NapoleonicWars
May 12, 1815 – A French column crosses the German border near Longwy but is driven back by Prussian uhlans. The first prisoner of the war is taken: a French chasseur. #NapoleonicWars
May 12, 2025 at 9:52 AM
May 12, 1815 – A French column crosses the German border near Longwy but is driven back by Prussian uhlans. The first prisoner of the war is taken: a French chasseur. #NapoleonicWars
May 10, 1815 – Zieten sends Wellington a detailed report: French troops spotted ~30 km south of Mons and Charleroi. Dörnberg reports the mail from France has stopped—communication likely cut. The border is now closed to all crossings. #napoleonicwars
May 10, 2025 at 6:42 AM
May 10, 1815 – Zieten sends Wellington a detailed report: French troops spotted ~30 km south of Mons and Charleroi. Dörnberg reports the mail from France has stopped—communication likely cut. The border is now closed to all crossings. #napoleonicwars
May 8, 1815 — General von Borstell, commander of II Corps, is formally removed from command and charged. Leadership shifts to von Pirch, whose brother commands the 2nd Brigade of I Corps. A family affair at the top of the Prussian ranks. 1/2 #NapoleonicWars #WaterlooCampaign
May 8, 2025 at 7:14 AM
May 8, 1815 — General von Borstell, commander of II Corps, is formally removed from command and charged. Leadership shifts to von Pirch, whose brother commands the 2nd Brigade of I Corps. A family affair at the top of the Prussian ranks. 1/2 #NapoleonicWars #WaterlooCampaign
6 May 1815 — Blücher enforces discipline: four Saxon soldiers are executed, with three more condemned. The Prussian high command relocates from Liège to Namur post-Tienen. General Zieten remains in Charleroi, establishing forward outposts. #napoleonicwars
May 6, 2025 at 5:41 AM
6 May 1815 — Blücher enforces discipline: four Saxon soldiers are executed, with three more condemned. The Prussian high command relocates from Liège to Namur post-Tienen. General Zieten remains in Charleroi, establishing forward outposts. #napoleonicwars
May 4, 1815 – Chaos erupts. Blücher flees as Saxon troops riot. Their units are disarmed, the Guard’s standard goes up in flames, and General Borstell is sacked for defiance. The coalition trembles from within. #HundredDays #napoleonicwars
May 4, 2025 at 7:27 AM
May 4, 1815 – Chaos erupts. Blücher flees as Saxon troops riot. Their units are disarmed, the Guard’s standard goes up in flames, and General Borstell is sacked for defiance. The coalition trembles from within. #HundredDays #napoleonicwars