Key Factors in the Battle's Outcome

Reasons For Victory 5. Wellington holds on at Hougoumont Napoleon had aimed

at the beginning of the battle to capture the centre of the Allied line at La Haye Sainte

to threaten both wings of the Allied line and to step nearer to where the Prussians might

appear later. By attacking Hougoumont first, Napoleon hoped to weaken the Allied

centre, as they were likely to send reinforcements to Hougoumont to protect it and so

weaken their own centre. This did not happen. 6. Ney's mistakes

Ney had mistakenly believed that Wellington was retreating in the afternoon to behind the slope

of Saint Mont Jean and attacked with cavalry. That was not supported by artillery or