Letters of Private Wheeler, 1809 - 1828

by B.H. Liddell Hart

These are the letters - in the form of a frank and amusing diary - written by a private in Wellington's army who fought throughout the Napoleonic wars and it includes a colourful eye-witness account of the Battle of Waterloo. Private Wheeler's record covers the Peninsular Campaign, keeping order during the coronation of Louis XVIII whom he called "an old bloated poltroon" and his later posting to Corfu where he enjoyed reporting on the barbarous habits of the natives with obvious enjoyment. Wheeler wrote his accounts before the muskets of battle had cooled, and he was a master of lively anecdote and mischievous characterisation. Nothing escapes his sharp eyes, whether it is the local landscape or the looks of the local girls. Sir Basil Liddell Hart, the editor, joined the Army and served in the same regiment as Private Wheeler during the First World War. In 1937 he became personal advisor to the War Minister and was military correspondent to The Daily Telegraph from 1925-35 and to The Times until the outbreak of the Second World War. He lectured on strategy and tactics at staff colleges in numerous countries and wrote more than thirty books. He died in 1970.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, War, Military History, Military Fiction

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

British military authority Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart early advocated tank and air warfare.

Usually known as captain before his knighthood, this English soldier and historian led theorists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._H._L...

Reviews

[Monty Milne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written accounts of the Napoleonic wars by private soldiers are as rare as hens' teeth, and it is wonderfully serendipitous that a box full of Private (later Sergeant) Wheeler's letters survived in his family for several generations before finally being discovered and published in relatively recent times. Wheeler undoubtedly had a gift and his occasionally erratic spelling and grammar only give added power to his forthright style.

All of this is well worth reading. Wheeler wears his prejudices on his sleeve: his Protestant bigotry is not surprising, but it is interesting to see his admiration for Napoleon and his disdain for the French Royals. Often, his prejudices are so pungently expressed that you have to laugh: here he is on the entry of the victorious British army into Madrid, to the wild enthusiasm of their Spanish allies:

"Amidst all this pleasure and happiness we were obliged to submit to a custom so unenglish that I cannot but feel disgust now I am writing. It was to be kissed by the men. What made it still worse, their breath was so highly seasoned with garlick, then their huge mustaches well seasoned with sweat, dust and snuff, it was like having a hair broom pushed into one's face that had been daubed into a dirty gutter."

Wheeler had a number of lucky escapes but did not escape injury. I liked his account of his friendship with a Frenchmen he befriends when they are both recovering from their wounds - whom he meets again (slight spoiler) in Paris after Waterloo - this is heart warming and delightful and reads like an episode in a Bernard Cornwell novel. I was also fascinated by his account of peacetime garrison duty in British occupied Corfu in the 1820's, particularly his friendship with an old Swiss veteran of a Sicilian regiment, who is a wonderfully well drawn character. Thoroughly recommended!

[Rob Markley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First rate memoir of a ranker... rare itself. Made even more interesting by the famous Liddell Hart editing and commenting.

[Aidan Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive account of the life of a ranker in the Napoleonic Wars.

Absolutely full of insights into how Wellington's infantry lived and fought.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noteworthy primary source that gives a refreshing view of military life in the Napoleonic era.

[lukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

veľmi pekná zbierka prameňov a listov

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love first hand historical accounts. Wheeler describes his life in the British army from 1809 to 1828, through the Napoleonic wars and beyond. His perspective from the position of a common soldier gives you a different understanding than something written as an official account.

My interest in this book was to understand what was going on in Europe at this time, my having an ancestor in the British navy. I found it enlightening.

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, just fantastic. Anyone with an interest in military or Napoleonic history must read this book. It is the collection of letters written by Private (later Sergeant) Wheeler back home to his family while he served in the Peninsular, then at Waterloo and later on garrison duty in the Med. I learned a huge amount about the battles and about daily life, routine and discipline as well as anecdotes about the famous commanders and all sorts of trivia. A brilliant read.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Private Wheeler is just simply a great human being with a superb flair for letter writing. A great insight to the battles and day to day life in the British army serving in the Napoleonic war. You don't have to be a military buff to enjoy this book.

[Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The soldier's point of view of war and peace in the 19th century. Excellent.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

First rate personal account of life in the army of Great Britain during the Napoleonic wars and after.

[Adrian Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best primary sources for the Peninsular War, expressed with great style. Highly quotable.