Grant’s Waterloo Intelligence: Was Dörnberg the Cause of Wellington’s Delays?

Grant’s Waterloo Intelligence: Was Dörnberg the Cause of Wellington’s Delays?

“Grant’s Waterloo Intelligence: Was Dörnberg the Cause of Wellington’s Delays?” by Peter Hofschröer, published in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research (Vol. 76, No. 307, Autumn 1998, pp. 163–176), investigates the role of intelligence and communication in the lead-up to the Battle of Waterloo. Hofschröer examines claims that General von Dörnberg’s actions may have contributed to delays in Wellington’s movements, analyzing dispatches, reports, and contemporary accounts to evaluate the accuracy of this assertion. The article situates the discussion within the broader context of coalition command coordination, operational decision-making, and the strategic challenges faced by Wellington and his allies, offering fresh insight into how intelligence—and its interpretation—shaped one of the most decisive campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars.