The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was a pivotal engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. The British Army, along with their allies, faced off against the French forces commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte. The British line infantry played a crucial role in the battle, and the outcome had a significant impact on European history.

Here are some key points about the British line infantry at the Battle of Waterloo:

1. Organization:

   • The British infantry was organized into line regiments, with soldiers forming lines and columns on the battlefield.
   • Each regiment typically consisted of several battalions, and the soldiers were armed with muskets.

2. Equipment:

   • The British line infantry was armed with the Brown Bess musket, a smoothbore flintlock musket with a socket bayonet.
   • Officers and some elite troops might have carried more specialized weapons, including rifles.

3. Tactics:

   • The British Army, under the command of the Duke of Wellington, employed a defensive strategy at Waterloo.
   • The infantry formed squares to defend against cavalry charges and utilized firepower to repel French assaults.

4. Squares and Defensive Formations:

   • In response to the French cavalry charges, the British infantry formed square formations.
   • These squares, with bayonets fixed, provided a solid defense against charging cavalry.

5. Farmhouses and Defensible Positions:

   • The British and their allies occupied defensive positions, including the farmhouse of Hougoumont and the château of La Haye Sainte.
   • These positions were strategically important and became focal points of intense fighting during the battle.

6. Support from Allied Forces:

   • The British infantry fought alongside other Allied forces, including the Dutch-Belgian army commanded by William, Prince of Orange, and German and Brunswick troops.

7. Critical Moments:

   • The British line infantry played a crucial role in repelling multiple French attacks throughout the day, including infantry assaults and cavalry charges.

8. Late Arrival of Prussian Forces:

   • The timely arrival of the Prussian army, led by Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, significantly influenced the outcome of the battle.
   • The Prussian forces attacked the French right flank, forcing Napoleon to divert his attention and resources.

9. Final Assault:

   • The combined efforts of the British and Prussian forces eventually led to the defeat of the French army.
   • The final assault, including the charge of the British heavy cavalry, the Household Brigade, played a decisive role.

The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Napoleonic era and Napoleon's rule. The British line infantry's resilience, combined with the strategic brilliance of the Duke of Wellington and the timely arrival of the Prussian forces, contributed to the victory of the Allied forces on that historic day.