Note 42 — Chapter IV
Reading edition
Our advanced posts of Hougoumont, La Haye-Sainte, and Papelotte, were of the utmost importance to us, more particularly the former. An eminent military writer (Jomini) says, “Posts that can be readily defended, are of greater value in battle than insurmountable obstacles; since it is sufficient if such posts can be maintained for a few hours by means of mere detachments. Hougoumont with its enclosures, the farm of La Haye-Sainte and the rivulet of Papelotte, presented more serious impediments to Ney, than did the celebrated position of Elchingen.”