It is often forgotten that Britain’s struggle against Napoleon ranged across the continents; and the extensive operations of the Royal Navy and the British Army in the Mediterranean was a key battleground in this prolonged war of attrition. Even when Napoleon considered himself the master of Europe; he was unable to control the Mediterranean. Lieutenant John Hildebrand arrived in the Mediterranean as part of the garrison of Malta in 1810. He was then involved in the defense of the island of Sicily; the campaign to capture the Ionian Islands; the siege of Ragusa; and the Occupation of Corfu. With the war ending in 1814; John and his regiment returned home; only to be sent to Belgium when Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815. The regiment was not involved at Waterloo; but was at Hal which guarded Wellington’s flank during the battle. He then marched to Paris with the army.These lively and entertaining memoirs; edited and annotated by renowned historian Gareth Glover; are certain to find a wide readership amongst Napoleonic enthusiasts; providing an intriguing counterpoint to Wellington’s operations in the Iberian Peninsula. ‘In a few minutes we perceived two fully armed boats – with stout rowers – dart from it; with all the energy and alacrity of making a certain capture. I was dismayed at the scrape I had got into; and could not see a possibility of escape.'Lieutenant Hildebrand at the Capture of the Ionian Islands
#543860 in Books Osprey Publishing 2016-06-21 2016-06-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.87 x 7.87 x 7.23l; .65 #File Name: 147281291396 pages9781472812919
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Breaking the siege...By HMS WarspiteThe Chattanooga Campaign of 1863 may tend to be overlooked in favor of other Civil War battles in the West. The struggle to save the Union Army of the Cumberland; trapped in the City of Chattanooga; from General Braxton Bragg's Confederate Army of Tennessee was a pivotal point in the Civil War in the West; and in the career of Union General U.S. Grant. The campaign itself unfolded in ways unexpected to both sides."Chattanooga 1863" is an Osprey Campaign Series title; well authored by Mark Lardas; with illustrations by Adam Hook. The introductory chapters set the stage for the campaign; in the immediate aftermath of the shocking Confederate victory at Chickamauga; and introduce the opposing commanders and their armies and plans. The heart of the narrative is the campaign itself; beginning with Grant's efforts to open a supply line into Chattanooga; and culminating in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The text does an especially good job of breaking down the sequence of the fighting; supported by a nice selection of maps; diagrams; illustrations and photographs. The role of chance and circumstance in the fighting is highlighted. This is a concise and very readable account of an interesting campaign; well recommended to the general reader and the student of the American Civil War.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy R. P. MyersGood book0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Chattanooga 1863By Tim BurbankBasic overview of the campaign. Like the rest of the series a starting point for someone starting out on the CIVIL WAR along with the other volumes on the subject.