Product Description

What was it like to be a soldier on a Napoleonic battlefield? What happened when cavalry regiments charged directly at one another? What did the generals do during battle? Drawing on memoirs, diaries and letters of the time, this book explores what actually happened in battle and how the participants' feelings and reactions influenced the outcome. Rory Muir focuses on the dynamics of combat in the age of Napoleon, enhancing his analysis with accounts of those who were there - the frightened foot soldier, the general in command, the young cavalry officer whose boils made it impossible to ride, and the smartly dressed aide-de-camp, tripped up by his voluminous pantaloons. This book sheds light on how military tactics worked by concentrating on the experience of soldiers in the firing line instead of the abstractions of drill manuals. Muir considers the interaction of artillery, infantry and cavalry; the role of the general, subordinate commanders, staff officers and aides; morale, esprit de corps and the role of regimental officers; soldiers' attitudes towards death and feelings about the enemy; the plight of the wounded; the difficulty of surrendering; and how victories were finally decided. He discusses the mechanics of musketry, artillery and cavalry charges and shows how they influenced the morale, discipline and resolution of the opposing armies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #287974 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"A stunning evocation of campaigning and battle, presented largely in the words of the participants, and enhanced by Muir's huge...knowledge of his subject." Toby Buchan, Literary Review "A major work." David Seymour, Military Illustrated "An important and useful study." Jeremy Black, Archives "Muir has filled an important gap in the study of the Napoleonic era with this engaging study of the mechanics of a Napoleonic battle." Library Journal

About the Author
Rory Muir is a visiting research fellow at the University of Adelaide. He is the author of Britain and the Defeat of Napoleon, 1807-1815 (ISBN 0 300 06443 8, #35.00), also published by Yale University Press.

Customer Reviews

A well researched and captivating book
Muir uses his extensive research to paint a vivid picture of how the Napoleonic armies fought. The individual accounts are expanded by Muir so that the reader can feel the horror of facing charging calvalry and the tense moments whilst under fire. Overall this is written with extreme clarity and contains a great deal of interesting analysis.

age of wellingon.
Tactics and Experience of Battle in the Age of Wellington would be much precise title for the book. As the author is the expert about Wellington, his most examples are from Spanish campaign of his. Sometimes from such kind of battles that are absolutly inferior to other battles in the same age. Apart from that book is brilliant. Deep investigation of all types of troops.

An interesting read
If you are interested in military history and particularly Napoleonic wars then this book is a very good read. Details all the different troop types used during the period, how they were used and their benefits. Its well written and a worthy addition to any military buffs library