u/Thaddeus_Winters

Ney’s hesitation at Quatre Bras on June 16th is one of the biggest "what-ifs" of the entire 1815 campaign. By waiting so long to attack Wellington at the crossroads, he missed a golden opportunity to crush the Anglo-Allies early and join Napoleon to finish off the Prussians at Ligny. ​It always bugged me that Davout was stuck in Paris running the War Ministry while Ney was losing his head on the front line. What if the "Iron Marshal" had been put in command of the left wing at Quatre Bras instead?

​I’ve been thinking about the stark contrast between Napoleon’s early campaigns and his final performance at Waterloo. ​Imagine a hypothetical scenario where the 27-year-old Napoleon of 1797— fresh off his brilliant victory at the Battle of Rivoli, sharp, physically energetic, relentless, and decisive—wakes up in command of the French army on June 18, 1815, instead of his older, exhausted 45-year-old self. ​Assuming he still has the 1815 Army of the North and faces the same Strategic/Tactical situation against Wellington and Blücher: ​Tactics: How would his tactical choices at Waterloo change compared to what actually happened? Would he still attempt a straightforward head-on assault, or pull off something far more aggressive and maneuver-heavy? ​Command & Subordinates: How would a younger, hyper-active Bonaparte handle subordinates like Ney or Grouchy? ​Timing: Does he attack earlier in the morning regardless of the muddy ground? ​How do you think the younger version of Napoleon turns Waterloo into a French victory?