Battle of Jena

'September 23 [1826].—Wrought in the morning, but only at reading and proofs. That cursed battle of Jena is like to cost me more time than it did Bonaparte to gain it...'

Walter Scott was writing his "The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte" at the time today's entry was entered into his Journal.  Jena was a victory for Napoleon over the Prussian forces of Frederick William III.  Napoleon's losses amounted to a couple thousand soldiers.  Prussian losses were ten times this amount.

Scott took about a year to complete this work, which was published in June 1827.