In this third volume John H. Gill brings to a close his magisterial study of the 1809 war between Napoleonic France and Habsburg Austria. This final volume begins with the principal armies of both antagonists recuperating on the Danube’s banks. As they prepared for the next encounter; important actions were taking place in distant theaters of war: Eugene brought his army into Hungary and won a crucial victory over Johann on the anniversary of Marengo; Prince Poniatowski’s Poles outflanked another Austrian archduke along the Vistula; and future marshal Marmont drove an Austrian force out of Dalmatia to join Napoleon at Vienna. These subsidiary campaigns all set the stage for the clash that would decide the war: the titanic Battle of Wagram. Second only in scale to the three-day slaughter at Leipzig in 1813; Wagram saw more than 320;000 men and 900 guns locked in two days of fury that ended with Austrian retreat. The defeat; however; was not entirely complete and Napoleon had to force yet another major engagement on the Austrians before Charles would accept a ceasefire. This under-appreciated battle at Znaim introduced an extended armistice that finally ended with a peace treaty signed in Vienna in October. Gill makes use of an impressive array of sources to present a lively account that covers the conflict from the diplomacy of emperors to the common soldiers suffering the privations of campaigning and the horrors of battle as they attempt to carry out their duties. Enriched with uncommon illustrations; more than 40 specially prepared maps; and extraordinary order of battle detail; this work concludes an unprecedented English language study of Napoleon’s last victorious war.
#1952055 in Books Jonathan Leach 2005-12-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .58 x 5.51l; .72 #File Name: 1846770017256 pagesCaptain Of The 95th Rifles An Officer Of Wellington s Sharpshooters During The Peninsular South Of France And Waterloo Campaigns Of The Napoleonic Wars
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. this book has little in the way of detail concerning what it was like to be one of the famous green RiflemenBy HowardThis book should be essential reading for anyone interested in the era; but it misses that mark. Captain Leach's chief qualification for writing about the 95th Rifles in the Peninsular campaigns is the fact that he was there. Past that; this book has little in the way of detail concerning what it was like to be one of the famous green Riflemen; actively involved in some of the greatest battles and campaigns of the Napoleonic era. The book has no illustrations; and indeed contains not even a single map. It's more of a "this happened on this date; and this happened the following day" kind of memoir. Each time historic context was sorely needed; Leach wrote something like; "Better pens than mine have written extensively about [this] episode; I can add nothing meaningful". The modern reader is left without any context or background. The prose is dated and somewhat cumbersome; and this doesn't help. Riflemen of the 95th were chosen for their intelligence; and most were literate. Several wrote books and memoirs; and I wish that I could recommend another book. Unfortunately; this is the first one of it's kind that I've read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerOUTSTANDING VIEW OF PENINSULA WAR THROUGH EYES OF OFFICER RIGHT THERE7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. InsightBy JewelThis was an easy read. I was expecting a heavy blow by blow tome. This turned out to be the notes/diary of a young man caught up in war. It showed the joy and foolhardiness of youth but gave insight into the life on the march. I walked; rode and struggled with this young captain. This is a book I will read again to see what I missed in my 1st read.
