In short, both Armies admirably and honourably performed the parts respectively assigned to them—the one holding its defensive position with unparalleled bravery and unmitigated perseverance until the moment when its Chief, having defeated the last desperate attempt of his opponent to force his Line, leads it on to victory; the other operating a powerful diversion, by which the effect of that Advance is made still more decisive; and rendering the victory complete by a harassing and vigorous pursuit—and thus was consummated the tactical solution of the plan which had been, with so much skill and foresight, strategically preconcerted by the Allied Commanders.
The Duke, when writing his Despatch descriptive of the Battle, in which he stated that his own Army "never, upon any occasion, conducted itself better," was not unmindful of the important aid he had derived from the Prussians. "I should not," he said, "do justice to my own feelings, or to Marshal Blücher and the Prussian Army, if I did not attribute the successful result of this arduous day to the cordial and timely assistance I received from them. The operation of General Bülow upon the Enemy's Flank was a most decisive one; and, even if I had not found myself in a situation to make the attack which produced the final result, it would have forced the Enemy to retire if his attacks should have failed, and would have prevented him from taking advantage of them if they should unfortunately have succeeded."
On the other hand, the Prince, although, as is manifest upon a perusal of a similar despatch on his part, he was not aware of the circumstances under which Wellington had attacked the very Centre of the French Lines, and had pushed his Advanced Brigades along the rear of those troops to which he himself had been exposed, nevertheless did ample justice to the bravery of the British Army, which, he remarked, "fought with a valour which it is impossible to surpass."
Long may Great Britain and Prussia cherish that mutual amity which was engendered by the zealous and successful co-operation of the Armies of these two great nations in bringing to so prompt and satisfactory a termination a War which (originating in the reassumption of the throne of France by that ambitious soldier and extraordinary man who had once already overrun the Continent with his legions, subjugating Emperors and Kings to the influence of his mighty will) threatened once more to involve the nations in all the calamities and horrors which before had followed in the train of his triumphant but desolating career. The general Peace, which was the ultimate result of their united efforts, still happily continues; and on every successive anniversary do the British and German troops commemorate their glorious and crowning victory; and Europe, grateful for the lasting and inestimable blessings conferred upon her, emblazons forth in the pages of her history, the heroic deeds of the defenders of her liberty and independence.
——"thou fatal Waterloo!
Millions of tongues record thee, and anew
Their children's lips shall echo them, and say—
Here where the sword united nations drew,
Our countrymen were warring on that day!
And this is much, and all which will not pass away."
Battle of Wavre