Desay's Rear Guard - The Battle Is Lost

Napoleon still had roughly four hours before sunset to turn things around and win the great victory he had promised the people of france. He dispersed desay's units all along the line, rather than deploying them altogether, in hopes that this would raise the morale of the men. The austrian chief of staff considered the battle won and refused to entertain ominous reports from the front lines which indicated the french might be up something. And so de say's men were able to take up their positions, hidden behind a shroud of smoke from the gunpowder and burning wheat fields.