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Small Wars: Their Principles and Practice
A Revised Edition of the First Printing to Include All Footnotes, 14 Maps, and Comprehensive, Highly Detailed Index
596 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1896
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About the author
Charles Edward Callwell
29 books3 followersMaj Gen Sir Charles Edward Callwell (1859-1928), Anglo-Irish military writer and thinker, intelligence officer and talented linguist, author of Small Wars (1896) and Military Operations and Maritime Preponderance (1905). Interest in Callwell's work revived in the 1990s because of its relevance to peacekeeping and its treatment of asymmetric conflict. He was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1878 and in 1886, as a captain, was awarded the Royal United Service Institute gold medal for an essay on British army operations since 1865 which became the basis for Small Wars, assuring his career as a military writer. It was republished in 1899 and 1906 and translated into French. In the Second Boer War (1899-1902) Callwell served on the staff of Sir Redvers Buller and then commanded a mobile column. He retired in 1909 to devote himself to writing but was recalled in 1914 to be Director of Military Operations and Intelligence.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2020
Small Wars: Their Principles and Practice by Charles Edward Callwell is the reprint of the 1896 publication. This edition is from Endeavour Press. Callwell (1858-1928) was an Anglo-Irish officer who ended his career as a major-general and received a knighthood for his services. He personally fought in the 1880 Afghan War, the 1880-1 First Boer War, the 1897 Greco-Turkish War, and the 1899-1902 Second Boer War before retiring in 1909.
Seldom is it the big wars that bog us down, WWI being the notable exception. It is the little ones that cause the most problems for governments and nations. War historically has been seen as large armies moving against each other. WWII, the American Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars all were mainly large forces against large forces. However, many conflicts of colonial powers, especially England and France, involved fighting small local bands of rebels or securing peace on their terms. Small war fighting did not go unnoticed in America either. The interwar period saw the US Marines engaged in several actions throughout latin America. Later this experience would get the Marines into Vietnam as the small war experts...thirty years after the fact.
Callwell draws on personal experience and history to show the success and failure of military units in small wars. He explains what tactics should be used and why. Similarly, he explains why some traditional thinking does not work in smaller scale conflicts. Some of the examples seem humorous (in hindsight) and typical of the military and military intelligence. One example was the taking of a fortified position in the middle of the jungle. There were no roads and men, equipment, and animals had to cut a path through the heavy jungle to reach the objective. When they finally arrived, they found the fort to be not only unfortified and unarmed, but a lamasery occupied by a single monk. The tactics are good and most have stood the test of time; however, some are dated. Modern GPS, equipment, and MREs (rather than food on the hoof) have simplified some aspects. The primitive enemy now is more than likely to have the internet and satellite communications and operate much more coordinated than the Zulu or Boers. Also, the Camel Corps is most probably a thing of the past.
An extremely important military book that has been modified and updated by modern services, but still many of its lesson are lost in actual combat.
Seldom is it the big wars that bog us down, WWI being the notable exception. It is the little ones that cause the most problems for governments and nations. War historically has been seen as large armies moving against each other. WWII, the American Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars all were mainly large forces against large forces. However, many conflicts of colonial powers, especially England and France, involved fighting small local bands of rebels or securing peace on their terms. Small war fighting did not go unnoticed in America either. The interwar period saw the US Marines engaged in several actions throughout latin America. Later this experience would get the Marines into Vietnam as the small war experts...thirty years after the fact.
Callwell draws on personal experience and history to show the success and failure of military units in small wars. He explains what tactics should be used and why. Similarly, he explains why some traditional thinking does not work in smaller scale conflicts. Some of the examples seem humorous (in hindsight) and typical of the military and military intelligence. One example was the taking of a fortified position in the middle of the jungle. There were no roads and men, equipment, and animals had to cut a path through the heavy jungle to reach the objective. When they finally arrived, they found the fort to be not only unfortified and unarmed, but a lamasery occupied by a single monk. The tactics are good and most have stood the test of time; however, some are dated. Modern GPS, equipment, and MREs (rather than food on the hoof) have simplified some aspects. The primitive enemy now is more than likely to have the internet and satellite communications and operate much more coordinated than the Zulu or Boers. Also, the Camel Corps is most probably a thing of the past.
An extremely important military book that has been modified and updated by modern services, but still many of its lesson are lost in actual combat.
May 21, 2017
Written just prior to the turn of the 20th century Callwell attempts to take lessons learned from the
numerous colonial wars and put them altogether in a single volume. While there are some nuggets of information that relate to the 21st century most of the book is outdated. Still it is a good historical read. Wither your the English fighting the "savages in India, South Africa, New Zealand, or Afghanistan, the French in Tonkin or Africa, the Spanish in North Africa or the Americans on the Plains of the Mid-West there are lessons to be learned. Sit back and enjoy learning about fighting in squares, how to fight in hilly terrain, the jungle, the desert the proper use of cavalry, why you don't fight at night, build fortifications; and why there is nothing more frighting to the "savage" then a properly trained army with steely bayonets conducting a well organized charge.
numerous colonial wars and put them altogether in a single volume. While there are some nuggets of information that relate to the 21st century most of the book is outdated. Still it is a good historical read. Wither your the English fighting the "savages in India, South Africa, New Zealand, or Afghanistan, the French in Tonkin or Africa, the Spanish in North Africa or the Americans on the Plains of the Mid-West there are lessons to be learned. Sit back and enjoy learning about fighting in squares, how to fight in hilly terrain, the jungle, the desert the proper use of cavalry, why you don't fight at night, build fortifications; and why there is nothing more frighting to the "savage" then a properly trained army with steely bayonets conducting a well organized charge.
September 22, 2022
Must Read for Anglo Canadians
Must read for Anglo Canadians who have been robbed of their culture and history. The Canadian invasion of Sudan against slave trading Muslim
fanatics is covered as well as the rebellion by a Catholic theology school drop out who believed he was Christ returning to free Catholics in Red River.
Must read for Anglo Canadians who have been robbed of their culture and history. The Canadian invasion of Sudan against slave trading Muslim
fanatics is covered as well as the rebellion by a Catholic theology school drop out who believed he was Christ returning to free Catholics in Red River.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews