Waterloo as seen by those who foughtThe story of Siborne and his famous diorama of the battle of Waterloo is well known to all those who are interested in the campaign of 1815. It is also well known that to ensure that he had every aspect of his work as accurate as it could be Siborne wrote to as many officers of the British Army as he could; to confirm or refute the given wisdom of events; and to give them the opportunity to relate their own experiences during that momentous day of conflict. Although the replies he received from many willing contributors; from virtually every branch of the service; were elicited for the specific purpose of the creation of the model-published together they have provided posterity with a unique and invaluable archive of information and perspectives on one action. This is possibly the most famous battle the world has known-from the perspectives of many people all of whom viewed momentous events from within close proximity to each other. Here are the voices of Waterloo who would have remained silent but for Siborne's appeal. An absolutely riveting book and an essential source work of the Napoleonic Wars.
#1328407 in Books 2008-06-17 2008-06-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.85 x .16 x 7.12l; .45 #File Name: 184603222964 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. That magnificent infantry...By HMS Warspite18th Century infantry tactics; with their close order drill on the battlefield; must seem as remote as the moon to the general reader used to the dispersed; high-tech battlefields of the 21st century. Yet Napoleonic era infantry tactics were the basis for years of warfare in Europe; and the British infantry; under commanders such as the Duke of Wellington; rightly established a reputation for steadiness and lethality in battle.This Osprey Elite Series book "British Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815"; by veteran historian Philip Haythornwaite; provides a fascinating introduction to the topic. In a brisk 64 pages; Haythornwaite provides an introduction to the era; a discussion of what became the standard "system"; and a narrative of how it was applied. There is consideration of some special circumstances such as light infantry and the movement of larger units. There is a competent summary of the "line versus column" confrontations that often seemed to decide battles; for example at Maida and in the Peninsular War. Illustrator Steve Noon's well-done color plates give a good sense of what various formations and tactics might have looked like on the battlefield."British Napoleonic Infantry Tactics" is too short to provide a complete picture of a complex topic; but it is highly recommended to the general reader as a good introduction.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Brief Yet Inclusive!By Qizhi ZhangGenerally; it was the best all round introductory book on British Napoleonic infantry tactics you could have.It was inclusive; yet waste no words on overly technical matters.Great for Napoleonic war lovers.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The English Tactics versus NapoleonBy Michael ReeseGood General overview of the tactics used. Covers the British Army tactics of the period rather well. Well illustrated formations. Not a book on uniforms. Recommended.
