During this period; the British army earned itself a formidable reputation as a fighting force. However; due to its role as a police force at home; and demonisation by American propaganda during the American Revolution (1763-1776); the army was viewed as little removed from a penal institution run by aristocratic dilettantes. This view; still held by many today; is challenged by Stuart Reid; who paints a picture of an increasingly professional force. This was an important time of change and improvement for the British Army; and British Redcoat 1740-1793 fully brings this out in its comprehensive examination of the lives; conditions and experiences of the late 18th-century infantryman
#2044443 in Books Greenhill Pr 1992-11Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.80 x 5.75 x 1.50l; #File Name: 1853671274396 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An old favorite returnsBy Jeffrey F. BellThis was the first serious book on land combat in the Napoleonic age that was available in my small boring home town. I actually read it covertly in my high school classes. Some of my friends claim I share some of the Iron Duke's annoying personality traits -- if so this book is the reason!30 years later I would still rate it as the best general 1-vol study of Wellington's campaigns; and the single book I would carry if I were visiting the battlefields. But there are some problems with it that need to be recognised:1) Weller was writing about Wellington; so other armies and generals fighting in Spain at the time tend to get ignored. Of course they were mostly getting whipped by the French; but David Gates in THE SPANISH ULCER managed to make them interesting in spite of this handicap. Also; the whole savage partisan war that made Wellington's operations possible is mostly ignored.2) The book ignores or downplays some of Wellington's bad points. The man was clearly a genius; but that led him to be very unforgiving of the failures of normal people.3) Weller followed Sir Charles Oman on the tactical details of Wellington's battles. Later research by Paddy Griffith in original documents has proven that Oman's ideas on line vs. column and British fire superiority were mostly wrong. The prolonged exchanges of musket volleys described by Weller mostly didn't take place; the redcoats usually won with ambush tactics on the defense and classic bayonet charges on the offense.5 of 7 people found the following review helpful. An engaging narativeBy Brendan J. ParedesI bought this book in preparation for a "Sharpe's Battlefield Tour" of Spain and couldn't put it down. Weller maybe very pro-Wellington; but it is hard not to be when he never lost a battle! Whether this was due to him being a military genius or simply lucky really doesn't matter; since even Napoleon was quick to point out that he'd rather have generals that were lucky that good.Weller paints a picture of a Wellington that is practically precognitive in his ability to figure out what the French were up to and move his troops into position to do the most damage before the French ever really attacked. According to Weller; Wellington emersed himself into the most mundane facets of keeping his army healthy; fed; clothed and armed; and always well positioned. While he might not have been the great producer of talented subordinates that some of his contemporaries were; he knew how to wring every advantage out of a situation and was willing to sacrifice his own reputation at home by avoiding battles on ground that was not advantageous to him; or when the French were able to concentrate a vastly superior force.This volume begins with a description of the two armies; how they fought; how they were equipped and how they operated; giving the reader a clear picture of how Wellington's "Thin red line" was able to consistently defeat the armies and Marshals who conquered Europe. He ends the book with a description of how Wellington and his consistently outnumbered army was able to defeat the conquerors of the continent. In particular; his obsession with intelligence which he managed himself; training; supply; so that his troops would not be forced to strip Spain bare to feed his army as the French did; and there by turning the partisans against his army as well; and a tactical flexibility that allowed him to consistently out maneuver the French. While Oman and Napier second guess Wellington in their volumes; Weller sticks to telling the tale of the Peninsula and leaves the reader amazed with Wellington's good common sense.It should be noted; Weller does not paint Wellington as a genius. The portrait he gives us is one a general who fought smarter and did not take the big risks that Napoleon was famous for. He patiently chose his ground based on his correspondents; his own personal observation; and his enemy's tactical doctrine. And then he patiently maneuvered his troops to cause the most damage to them when they inevitably struck.For someone going to Spain with the intention of seeing where the battles took place; Weller provides a clear description of each site at the end of each chapter; describing the lay of the land; at least as far as it was at the time of publishing. This was invaluable help when trying to figure out exactly where things happened; since Spain does not look upon the Peninsula Campaign (The Spanish War of Independence) with the same pride as the English do.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good read; great guideBy Tim ColeWeller is the ultimate expert on Wellington's carreer; and "In the Peninsula" is not only a good read; but a great guidebook. I have toured a number of the battlefields; Weller's book in hand; and it's almost like he was there at the time!
