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Adventures With the Connaught Rangers, 1809-1814
A famous account-two volumes complete in one book
Grattan's account of his service with the famous 88th-The Connaught Rangers-the hardest fighting and possibly least appreciated regiment in Wellington's famous Peninsula Army fighting Napoleon's French, is well known and highly regarded by scholars and students of the Napoleonic Wars alike. For those who may be unfamiliar with it, this is a memoir full of incident and action, well written and charmingly enhanced by the many characterisations of and anecdotes about the irrepressible Irish soldiery who made up its ranks. This edition, at some 560 pages, should not be confused with edited versions in print; it is quite different. Grattan's account originally ran to two volumes and later editors have seen fit to considerably cut the text; had that editing only removed uninteresting, irrelevant or unentertaining material there would have been no purpose in this 'restored' edition. The Leonaur editors are pleased to offer the entire 'Adventures in the Connaught Rangers' unedited-both vital volumes in one edition for your enjoyment. Available in soft cover and hard back with dust jacket for collectors.
Grattan's account of his service with the famous 88th-The Connaught Rangers-the hardest fighting and possibly least appreciated regiment in Wellington's famous Peninsula Army fighting Napoleon's French, is well known and highly regarded by scholars and students of the Napoleonic Wars alike. For those who may be unfamiliar with it, this is a memoir full of incident and action, well written and charmingly enhanced by the many characterisations of and anecdotes about the irrepressible Irish soldiery who made up its ranks. This edition, at some 560 pages, should not be confused with edited versions in print; it is quite different. Grattan's account originally ran to two volumes and later editors have seen fit to considerably cut the text; had that editing only removed uninteresting, irrelevant or unentertaining material there would have been no purpose in this 'restored' edition. The Leonaur editors are pleased to offer the entire 'Adventures in the Connaught Rangers' unedited-both vital volumes in one edition for your enjoyment. Available in soft cover and hard back with dust jacket for collectors.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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September 9, 2025
William Grattan writes a breezy account, but his humorous anecdotes fall into the category of 'you had to be there' rather than working in his retelling. He definitely contributes as far as understanding more about the reality of the fog of battle, yet he is rather too modest or unassuming about his own contribution or experiences despite being in the thick of it - including leading an assault on Fuentes de Oñoro village. For overall campaigns and reassembling history his contribution is less valuable.
Also of value are his opinions. It provides interesting perspective on the likes of Picton his Division commander and Wellington - of note complaints of the unfairness of the criticism of the disorders following the Burgos/Madrid retreat, he expresses surprising distain for Portuguese troops in general. The feel I get from this memoir, is that perhaps Wellington might have been onto something because there is no evidence of planning, preparation or proactivity as an officer of men, rather seeing his job to remain an aloof object of loyalty - little different from the colours or regimental pride.
Overall reading between the lines there is a great deal of value here if read in conjunction and comparison with the many other regimental officer memoirs.
Also of value are his opinions. It provides interesting perspective on the likes of Picton his Division commander and Wellington - of note complaints of the unfairness of the criticism of the disorders following the Burgos/Madrid retreat, he expresses surprising distain for Portuguese troops in general. The feel I get from this memoir, is that perhaps Wellington might have been onto something because there is no evidence of planning, preparation or proactivity as an officer of men, rather seeing his job to remain an aloof object of loyalty - little different from the colours or regimental pride.
Overall reading between the lines there is a great deal of value here if read in conjunction and comparison with the many other regimental officer memoirs.
Displaying 1 of 1 review