A comprehensive account of the British Army from its earliest days to the end of the 19th century. Fortescue's extensive research and vivid writing bring to life the battles, leaders, and soldiers who shaped this legendary military organization.
This volume of Fortescue's comprehensive history of the British Army covers the period from the end of the Peninsular War to the Battle of Waterloo. With detailed accounts of battles and campaigns, readers will gain a thorough understanding of one of the most storied fighting forces in history.
Vol. XII - 1839-52. This volume is mainly concerned with India, and covers operations in Afghanistan and on the Khyber Pass, together with internal security operations in India itself. There is also a section dealing with the revolt in Australia and operations in New Zealand. Finally there is a description of the Kaffir War and the Boer revolt.
Vol. IX - 1813-1814. The French invasion of Russia is followed by descriptions of the situation in the Peninsula, and in North America. Throughout developments in Europe are covered so that the picture of the war for the reader in these years is complete, and second to none in detail.
Vol. X - 1814-1815. The whole of Europe was aflame in these two years, and Fortescue writes most effectively of the military activity and the political background. Italy, the Peninsula, the Low Countries and the American War are all interwoven from the British point of view in a tour de force of military history. He then includes a really valuable summary of events in Europe from 1803 to 1814 before setting out to describe the culminating battle at Waterloo. From the Duchess of Richmond s Ball to the exhaustion on the night after the battle, Fortescue maintains a pace and directness which is fascinating to read.
Vol. VIII - 1811-1812. This volume covers two more years of the slogging war in the Peninsula, together with the 1812 War with the United States in which British troops burned the White House. There are details of many battles in Spain, including Barosa, Badajoz, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca and others of fame during the Peninsula War..
Vol IV Part I of Fortescue s c lassic History of the British Army deals with the French Revolutionary wars from 1789 to the Treaty of Amiens in 1798 which provided a brief breathing space of one year for both sides in the continuous warring between Britain and France which raged until Waterloo in 1815. It includes British operations in the Netherlands, the West Indies, South Africa and Ireland. The whole European area is described with the French and Allied nations included. Naval matters are also included, and the campaigns in Egypt and the Mediterranean are treated in detail. At the same time a close eye is kept on developments within the British Army in terms of recruiting, training, arms, uniforms etc..